Comment: Kiwis cross the ditch - The Fush and Chup Tour

Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 17, 2013 at 06:39

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Kiwis cross the ditch - The Fush and Chup Tour

Well after two years of planning after our great trip from Sydney to Cape York and back we have shipped our Landrover Discovery and Bronson the bear back over to Brisbane from Tauranga, New Zealand.

Kiwibound eventually

Fantastic to see a fellow kiwi out there doing it. We lived in Australia for 13 years after being transferred there for work and on retirement did the Grey Nomad thing and travelled the loop. There are just so many places to go and so many things to see, it's a big fascinating country with great countryside and history.

I am fascinated with the fact that you appear to had transported your vehicle over more than once for travel. Can you please give an indication on the cost of this exercise? I have often said that it's a pity there is not an inter island type service between NZ and Australia.

BTW our blog for the trip around Australia was http://keepontravellingwith-gillandpeter.blogspot.com if it's of any interest.

We now live between Australia and Mt Maunganui depending on where the sun is shining most.

Enjoy your trip

Peter

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Reply By: ososlo - Wednesday, Mar 04, 2015 at 01:22

Wednesday, Mar 04, 2015 at 01:22

Hi Peter and thanks for your comments..I just had a look at your blog as well and we seem to have the same philosophy when it comes to travelling over here in Oz...You certainly do not want to have too many plans set in stone!..

Apart from the fact we are housesitting for a set length of time, that is about the only fixed part of our lives at present!

As far as the shipping of the car goes, shipping it over under a carnet does restrict you to a one year time frame but it can be extended for another year.

It does require that you leave a sizeable deposit back home with the AA ($20K) in our case so that you do not leave the vehicle here in Oz when we return...it is really just designed for travellers and to stop illegal importing of the vehicle...you get the money back plus interest when the car returns to NZ.

It cost me $1948 from the Mount to Brisbane in shipping/container costs.

On top of that you have the extra insurance for the sea crossing.

We obviously have everything insured over here but I have cancelled our NZ insurance so you get the credit of that back.

The customs agent over here had quoted me $1000 to get it through customs and quarantine here ...it ended up being twice that due to AQIS wanting to wash it (it was meticulously clean!)..The AA in Auckland stuffing up the dates on the carnet which meant customs seizure and extra travel for the container and staff and various other bits!

I have yet to hit the AA up about the extra cost incurred by their mistake but in the end of the day you pay up or you don't get the car.

Generally it is easy enough, people are importing cars every day and the carnet system allows a quick and "easy"way of allowing you to travel in a different country.

We look forward to our travels ahead and bringing it to those of you who are interested..
There is so much to see in this Tweed Valley region that we will be quite busy over the next two months just poking around the back roads

Thanks once again for your comments...I'm just stoked that someone reads the blog!...I am even more amazed at the numbers who have read our first blog!

Regards
Graeme

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