Hi all,
As a native of the great southern land, let me share a few tips:
As in other lands, used car salesman don't rate highly on the ethics scale. Caveat emptor.
With not much $, you will be looking at a well used, maybe almost clapped out vehicle.
Do you have a plan for when the van develops a major problem and you are say 500K from a mechanic?
If you are knowledgable re mechanics, you may be able to suss out a good van, but be aware of the potential for breakdowns - and if they happen in an isolated spot, you are pretty much at the mercy of the local mechanic and the waiting time for parts to arrive to where you are.
On the other hand, it's strongly preferable to have your own wheels - if you can share with others you may be better placed to pay more for a better condition van with a view to on-sell it at the end of the adventure.
The value of older used cars has dropped to close to 'bugger all' as the Aussie expression goes.
Be cautious of where you camp for the night, if you just park anywhere the police or other authorities will move you on. There are good facilities available at reasonable price at caravan parks etc but they are becoming rarer. Check with RACV, AAA in NSW, and you can get lots of info on options on the road.
The cost of petrol is on the rise here at the moment too - it may be cheaper to get a flight with Jet Star or Virgin Blue and hire a car at your destination for a few days, believe it or not! Driving distances are incredibly long and make the lines on the map seem quite tiny and not representative of the real thing.
Good luck, Aussies are generally very friendly and will give you a hand along the way as long as you ask nicely and show a little respect.
Shane
Melbourne, Australia
Current price on unleaded petrol around 145c / litre
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