OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[dreth]

Hello All! I currently live in Florida but i am looking to move to Australia. Before I can make the move I need some info about the country to help ensure that i dont regret the move.
I ride a 2004 trx 450r. I love to trail ride or xc race and even a little mx. I need to know where is the best place to live over there that will put me closest to the most riding with the least amount of traveling and still allow me to get a job and afford to live. I am an electrician here. My wife has 10 plus years in the banking business, my dad drives dump trucks and operates heavy equipment. My mom is very computer literate and currently does some of the billing for liberty medical supply. We all need to work.
So my questions are..
#1. Would YOU live there if you were in my shoes?
#2. Are there jobs?
#3. How is the riding?
#4. What does it cost for renting a home per month?
#5. What is the average electrical bill per month.
#6. Is there anything else that i need to know that would or should effect my decision?

Thanks Guys or should I say Mates. Us quad riders have to stick together.

[yogie]

Mate the only place to be is Victoria, now we're going to hear all the nay sayers and whingers say their state is the best, but their wrong. We have plenty of bush (not george, by the way ) and jobs a plenty, the only draw back with Vic is we're a nanny state



if you wanto to ride sand, well it wont happen in vic, go to NSW for that.
rent will average at about 300 per week
power bills 3-4 hundred per 1/4
one thing though is the cost of living here is very high compared to the USA, that will shock you at first.
Food will be more exspensive.
and we have the best footy in the land.
_________________
2005 KFX700
With a few bells and whistles
and the twin yoshi's
American Star A-arms, tie rods
elka stickers
Shorty Shifter
I have a Waco
rossco gave me a flexx sticker
honda thumb
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durablue stickers

[priesty]

I notice you didn't mention what climate.
If you're from Florida region then our equivalent would be S/East Qld area. Victorian winters could be a rude shock (think Seattle), whilst most of Western Australia = Arizona.
Plenty of extremes to choose from....
cya soon.
_________________
The term "Foolproof" seriously underestimates the ingenuity of Fools.


08 700xx

[t&l performance]

perth western australia only place to be
best dunes
heaps of jobs electricians are always being hired
alot of dump truck/machinary jobs
foods not to bad yogie just eats alot
and my power bills are around $250 every 10 weeks
but everyone is going to praise up there own state its just natural
just watch the tasmanians

[IRS 525]

yogie wrote:

Mate the only place to be is Victoria, now we're going to hear all the nay sayers and whingers say their state is the best, but their wrong. We have plenty of bush (not george, by the way ) and jobs a plenty, the only draw back with Vic is we're a nanny state if you wanto to ride sand, well it wont happen in vic, go to NSW for that. rent will average at about 300 per week power bills 3-4 hundred per 1/4 one thing though is the cost of living here is very high compared to the USA, that will shock you at first. Food will be more exspensive. and we have the best footy in the land.

Victoria has the best riding and weather in Oz hands down (no bias. the other states etc just won't admit it), but we can't get rec reg and don't have ride parks here for Quads so you can't ride in the bush ATM without the risk of a fine etc (I've been lucky and haven't received one yet). Plenty of good events and MX meets though.

You should all be able to get work in the Latrobe Valley in Gippsland at the power stations etc (big $$ in shut down/maintenance work). There is also a big logging industry here and always work for logging truck drivers. Gippy is where the riding is best, (not out to the West ).

Best bet would be to come over for a look and check it out for your self. Maybe even tee up a job while you're here if you like it.

Must be a bit depressing to live there ATM with the oil spill and all .
_________________
09 Polaris 525 IRS
Honda TRX 450R

[dreth]

Thanks guys for all the replies so far. I still wish to hear from more of you though. Also, I ask that you remember that i am not familiar with some of your terms. Thankfully my wife is from england so she is helping me translate.

Climate is important. After google searches we seem to like the climate in the area where NSW and Qld meet.
Im not a fan of sand dune riding, id rather tree and bush cover to weave in and out of. Elevation changes would be a bonus.
What do you consider a high cost of living? We pay $2.75 a gallon for petrol, $3.39 a gallon for milk, $2.25 for a loaf of bread, $150 every 4 weeks for electricity, $1000.00 per month for mortgage , $85 per month for hight speed internet and phone service. and $500 per month for our 4 door 4x4 ford truck

Where is Gippy located?

I live on the east coast so we have not been effected by the spill yet. Im not a big fan of the ocean, i like to ride on dirt.

THANKS AGAIN! We are planning a trip as soon as we can get visas and such.

[NeKeleC]

Well i won't go into which state is best... but following what someone else said

Victoria is like seattle cold wet and miserable lots of jobs though mining and otherwise (just need to wear water proof snow clothes 80% of the year)

Western Aus is like Arizona hot, dry, dusty, miles of dirt between nowhere lots of jobs, mining only!!!

NT don't bother nothing worth being there for, only the locals will tell you otherwise!!

South Aus blend between Victoria and Western Aus

New South Wales lots of riding be a bit like California but 10 hours from one side to the other very populated along coast line expensive place to live (in Sydney district)

Queensland (south east) best place to live (bit like Florida) weather is perfect not too cold (like Victoria) but not too hot (like WA & NT) only minutes to local tracks or an hour to ride parks with camping facilities, plenty of quad action happening all the time (race meets and social rides)
There is also plenty of work in the south east corner for all the fields you have mentioned, the only thing with your electrical field, in America your training is narrowed compaired to ours unless you are an electrical engineer in the US you will need to do a bit of study over here and some prac time to get your licence because a standard electrician from Aust is the same as electrical engineer in the USA
Cost of living is about $1300 per month electricity is about $140 a month

And to all the sotherners don't get upset there is no need to be jealous of QLD there is plenty of room up here for you all u just need to do the 6 month induction that is located in Mt Isa......
_________________
The main thing is to have fun I just think second place is no fun

Me - 09 Quadracer 450R No 339
Mrs -09 Quadracer 450R No K77

[IRS 525]

dreth wrote:

Thanks guys for all the replies so far. I still wish to hear from more of you though. Also, I ask that you remember that i am not familiar with some of your terms. Thankfully my wife is from england so she is helping me translate. Climate is important. After google searches we seem to like the climate in the area where NSW and Qld meet. Im not a fan of sand dune riding, id rather tree and bush cover to weave in and out of. Elevation changes would be a bonus. What do you consider a high cost of living? We pay $2.75 a gallon for petrol, $3.39 a gallon for milk, $2.25 for a loaf of bread, $150 every 4 weeks for electricity, $1000.00 per month for mortgage , $85 per month for hight speed internet and phone service. and $500 per month for our 4 door 4x4 ford truck Where is Gippy located? I live on the east coast so we have not been effected by the spill yet. Im not a big fan of the ocean, i like to ride on dirt. THANKS AGAIN! We are planning a trip as soon as we can get visas and such.

Gippsland is located to the South East in the State of Victoria. I live in Jeeralang (Near the Morwell National Park) and ride straight out of the drive way into some of the best bush tracks and hill climbs in Australia and It's only cold for about 3 months of the year. Queenslanders are just SOFT .

You can get a really nice house on 5 acres for around $350.000 to $400.000 AU. Hour and a half to the beach in Summer and an hour and a half to the Snow in Winter (Some great trail riding around Mt Baw Baw). Hour and a half to the center of Melbourne.
My Mate who does Maintenance/shut down work at the power stations makes $150.000 AUD a year. I don't work. I'm a pro trail rider lol.

If you come to Australia and you're in the State of Victoria PM me and I'll be happy to show you around Gippsland. I have an 04 TRX 450R you can ride while you're here as well .
_________________
09 Polaris 525 IRS
Honda TRX 450R

Last edited by IRS 525 on Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:20 pm; edited 4 times in total

[4stroker]

dreth wrote:

Climate is important. After google searches we seem to like the climate in the area where NSW and Qld meet. Im not a fan of sand dune riding, id rather tree and bush cover to weave in and out of. Elevation changes would be a bonus. What do you consider a high cost of living? We pay $2.75 a gallon for petrol, $3.39 a gallon for milk, $2.25 for a loaf of bread, $150 every 4 weeks for electricity, $1000.00 per month for mortgage , $85 per month for hight speed internet and phone service. and $500 per month for our 4 door 4x4 ford truck

We pay $1.30 a litre for petrol ($4.92 a gallon), $3.50 for 2 litres of milk ($6.62 a gallon) electricity is about the same, as is internet.

An average home loan interest rate here is about 7.5%, so with a 30 year term you can only borrow approx $150,000 with $1000 a month payments. You need at least $400,000 to get a decent house here.

It sounds a lot dearer but I would guess that our wages are a fair bit better here. If you moved to the right area you could quite easily earn the following:

Qualified Electrician: $70,000+ (mines alot more)
Bank job: $45,000+
Heavy Equipment Operator: $60,000+ (mines alot more)
Reception/Admin: $35,000+

Im basing those assumptions on you living in an area like Brisbane/Gold Coast, which from what you have said about climate sounds ideal for you.

Other areas of Australia you could earn alot more. You and your Father for example could make big bucks in Western Australia or Central Queensland. Your wife and mum could probably get jobs in the mines too (admin etc). It is probably not the kind of lifestyle you are used to or want though!!

Also as someone said before you probably wouldnt be regarded as a Qualified Electrician right away here, you would have to do training or something surely...

I would be interested to know what kind of wages you guys are used to in the US...
_________________
2002 SE Banshee

[Huskygoat]

NT don't bother nothing worth being there for, only the locals will tell you otherwise!!

Qlder need pull their head out their bucket.

Facts The two biggest Quad Races happen in Northern Territory. Finke and Kamfari....

Fact Darwin has the only Quad Track in Australia.

Fact Has the most MX rounds in Australia..

IS the last frontier ....You can ride anywhere...

the Most quads per capita in NT is sold in the NT

IS the home of the SxS

A electrician earns $100 000 plus 2 on 1 off

average rent here is $500 a week

You can hunt here ( go crazy if you like)

I wouldn't bother with the other states .....to many tree huggers..

Huskygoat
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[NeKeleC]

Dreth i have just been able to see your last post ( it was awaitig approval before) and it sounds like our costs of living are fairly similar except for fuel over here it equals $5 per gallon.
And if climate is important don't look at Victoria go to where you thought (NSW - QLD border area) best climate in Australia (don't listen to the Victorian, if victoria is so good there wouldn't be so many of them moving to Qld)
You say your not big on the beaches, we've lived on the gold Coast for 7 years, been to the beach 4 times, 3 of which were at night and we wouldn't live anywhere else!!! (my wife is from Victoria and she would't go back)

Hey IRS 525 queenslanders are soft are they, didn't a Qld'er just win the quad section at finke??? Didn't Jason Crump a Qld'er just win the world speedway title with a broken arm!!! You just can't beat Qld all the other states are just nancy states..
_________________
The main thing is to have fun I just think second place is no fun

Me - 09 Quadracer 450R No 339
Mrs -09 Quadracer 450R No K77

[Noy Q75]

W.A. (Perth)has some nice sand dunes were it is leagel to ride, they have a ATV only motorbike track that also host 3 endro events a year,also many other tracks/clubs have lots of diffrent endro events and it cost you $6 to get off road rego for your bike a year. and a pine plantation were you can go for a quick ride after work etc . lots of guys on quads over here in W.A. and the W.A. guys always win and clean up at all the M.X. events so you know were better riders LOL .. Have a look at the weather in Aus coz you go over east like Vic and you get 4 seasons in one day iv been there and seen it with my own eyes (just keep in mind were the places are that are leagel and were you are going to get in the poo. lots of people forget to mention that part )

and as for jobs Pfft the only people that arnt working in W.A. are the lazy and the other ones who dont want to coz the goverment pays for them.the lowest payed sparky i have ever seen over here is $30 hour. and been a sparky you should be able to walk into a job for there always in demand here .

I have been to South Aus (i come from there) not to much great there
I have been to Vic and well What a hole LOL if you want to live in a place like that we have a area over here called fremantale and its all old and run down like Vic .
Iv been to N.S.W. and it wasnt to bad but they have major issues witht the way they drive over there (bloody crazzy )

And im sure you have to pay to drive on the freeways over Vic/NSW ?? whats with that ?? you pay rates etc and you still have to pay to drive on the freeways !! all the raods in W.A. are FREE

The company i work for is called Alight . send them a email and attach your work history etc and see if you get a bite with them so yuo could even have a job before you get there ??
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[NeKeleC]

Hey Husky Goat you only have all that quad racing cause there's nothing else to do in the NT and there's plenty of nothing to do it in!
Most quad per capita you say that's cause bugger all people live there and they all buy farm quads, not race quads!
Go crazy hunting yes you can cause there is nothing to hit for miles!
You can ride anywhere thats true cause they have no road rules cause it's still all dirt roads, they haven't figured out the bitumen thing yet!
And the only time in Qld we have our head in the bucket is after a weekend of having too much fun on the town with all the night life! which is a step up from the NT night life, which is friday night at the pub with ya mate larry and a juke box in the corner!

i've fallen off my chair i'm laughing so hard

This is all meant as good fun!!!
_________________
The main thing is to have fun I just think second place is no fun

Me - 09 Quadracer 450R No 339
Mrs -09 Quadracer 450R No K77

[IRS 525]

NeKeleC wrote:

Dreth i have just been able to see your last post ( it was awaitig approval before) and it sounds like our costs of living are fairly similar except for fuel over here it equals $5 per gallon. And if climate is important don't look at Victoria go to where you thought (NSW - QLD border area) best climate in Australia (don't listen to the Victorian, if victoria is so good there wouldn't be so many of them moving to Qld) You say your not big on the beaches, we've lived on the gold Coast for 7 years, been to the beach 4 times, 3 of which were at night and we wouldn't live anywhere else!!! (my wife is from Victoria and she would't go back) Hey IRS 525 queenslanders are soft are they, didn't a Qld'er just win the quad section at finke??? Didn't Jason Crump a Qld'er just win the world speedway title with a broken arm!!! You just can't beat Qld all the other states are just nancy states..

That wasn't the Queenslander in Crump it was just the Ranga in him
_________________
09 Polaris 525 IRS
Honda TRX 450R

Last edited by IRS 525 on Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:37 pm; edited 1 time in total

[Ozpilot]

I live in NSW. If you want dunes come here. If you want the things you are talking about go to W.A.

Seems to me Qld would just be more of what you're used to unless you want to trade off some lifestyle for $$$.

At the moment the place for folks like your family is W.A. - for work and for riding lifestyle. Cost of living will be a little higher than you're used to but the work and $$$ are likely to be easiest to find in W.A.

[NeKeleC]

Yes Qld's colour is maroon same colour pallet as ranga
_________________
The main thing is to have fun I just think second place is no fun

Me - 09 Quadracer 450R No 339
Mrs -09 Quadracer 450R No K77

[Huskygoat]

Nekelec ....In NT we live life where you blokes watch it on a tv .... fair go on the dirt road bit we only got electricity last year....

oh and we got a big rock ....lol .. not sure what is does..

Do you fish ???? if so NT is the best..
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[Overlord]

Mate, I would be staying right where you are if you come to Australia you will pay 3 times as much as what your used to paying for everything. We have a Government that is crazy about getting as much TAX out of its citizens as possible. Hope you got plenty of money if you are coming down under.

COME AT YOUR OWN DOWNFALL BIG FELLA OUR GOVERNMENT WILL LOVE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR YANKI DOLLARS. SAD BUT TRUE.


Regards Overlord

[IRS 525]

Victoria is not a hole

You got anything like this out your back door in WA?

_________________
09 Polaris 525 IRS
Honda TRX 450R

Last edited by IRS 525 on Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:47 pm; edited 3 times in total

[Huskygoat]

Thats so True about our Government ..... Have you heard of New Zealand....
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[Overlord]

Gee Husky, I thought NZ was just as bad if not worse. Dam Yankees dont know when there on a good thing.


Regards Overlord

[Overlord]

Victoria is not a hole but its the biggest Nanny State in Australia.


Regards Overlord

[IRS 525]

Overlord wrote:

Victoria is not a hole but its the biggest Nanny State in Australia. Regards Overlord

It's true
_________________
09 Polaris 525 IRS
Honda TRX 450R

Last edited by IRS 525 on Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:06 pm; edited 3 times in total

[priesty]

Kind of curious, what made you consider Australia & why you're moving ?
_________________
The term "Foolproof" seriously underestimates the ingenuity of Fools.


08 700xx

[Overlord]

Caring that's an understatment more like fine the fun right out of ya dont you mean.


Overlord