Aussie Visitor

[baldeagle]

Hi all, we are planning a trip to the UK and would anticipate staying for around 6 months. We would expect to arrive in April. We are expereinced caravanners here in Australia and have covered most of our country over the years as well as New Zealand so part of our plan is to purchase a Motorhome and hopefully sell it before we depart in September. We have done a lot of "wild camping" here mainly in our outback but also happily stay in van parks too. We have not planned an itinery as yet but our preference is to stay out of the big cities and tour the country side.

Are there any companies there who will sell you a motorhome and then buy it back at the end of a trip ?? We would appreciate any advise on this.

Baldeagle (so named cos no hair,not after the big bird from America)

[Roger]

G'day Baldy!!! There are a few of us on here who have done similar things that you want to.

If you do a search on an old thread of mine I think that covers my experiences.

Major changes in recent times -

The UK government is making it as hard as possible for tourists to buy vehicles and last time I was in the UK you needed to hold an EU or UK drivers licence to transfer the registration and even buy insurance (you must have insurance but cant buy it and then the coppers wonder why so many people drive without insurance - end rant). Insurance companies are worse than the government and have persisted with pre UK entry into the EU rules about buying additional iinsurance (Green Card) for travel in mainland Europe.

Germany is far more civilised, you buy export plates and Europe wide insurance at the time the previous owner transfer ownership to you - no need for anything other than a passport and driver's licence. The new rego documents will list your address in Australia. Takes about an hour to complete the task including making the export plates. Only downside is that you must not sell the vehicle in Germany - but no big deal with the likes of eBay operating across the whole of Europe.

mobile.de - Deutschlands größter Fahrzeugmarkt. Suchen, kaufen oder verkaufen Sie Neu- und Gebrauchtwagen has some excellent motorhomes.

Arriving in April - head South around the Med until about June then head North/East to Scandanavia and the UK for the Summer months.

[watchthis]

Hi Baldeagle
Welcome to the site. I hope you have a good sense of humour!! There all MAD on here but a great bunch with a wealth of know how. There is a company in Kent doing exactly want you want they have a motorhome on ebay at the moment--item number 270527628878 they are called selectfirst (that's there ebay trading name). It might be worth a look....By the way I have nothing to do with them!!. If you need any info about anything just post it and you will get lot's of reply's..They really are a great bunch on here---Best of luck with your plans.
Bye for now
Freddie

[Hallii]

Do not forget your rain gear, wellington boots, hat, gloves etc. It's cold over here mate, you won't find any jelly fish on the beach though, just a bit of sewage sometimes.

Wild camping is possible here but you have to plan ahead, you can have a look around this website when you have planned your trip. It will be best to do at least some planning, (I know this is hard for you but you can't just head off into the bush as we havn't got any and anyway someone owns every little bit of green space,) you will need to plan.

Go to London and get out as soon as you can, it's a dirty expensive and very crowded place. Head for places like Stratford on Avon, Shropshire, York, Bath, Yorkshire, in fact anywhere but London.

You will find we have something called "park and ride" just outside most cities, they are car parks with a bus into town. Use these as you will find parking impossible.

Do not speed, the Police delight in using speed cameras everywhere and you WILL get caught.

PM me if you want to stay in Worcestershire, you can stay on my drive, I will let you have electric for free as well!

As regards buying a campervan over here, it would be best to look up a few dealers around where you will be first of all and let them know how much you want to spend. Then you will need a UK resident to buy it for you, you can then drive it legally after you have got UK insurance.

Join the Caravan and Camping Club or the Caravan Club, both have thousands of small farm sites that cost as little as £3 a night. There will be few facilities but you will often have the field to yourself, a tap and toilet cassette empty point. I use them often, it is a good way to move slowly around away from the hustle and bustle of our overcrowded cities.

You will be considered to be a New Zealander by your obvious N.Z. accent, it's probably easier to say you come from the South Island or something, as they probably won't believe you.

You will need to study the language a bit, for instance:- Fart means gas out of your bottom. Bugger is a term of endearment, "you old bugger" means you have a life long friend. Fag is a cigarette. Fosters is a men's clothing chain store. And many more.

Beer is always served warm, we have special warming fridges to keep it so, so if you want cold lager like what you drink you have to buy it in cans (not tinnies) and cool it yourself.

We have no poisonous spiders but we do have one poisonous snake, the Adder, but don't worry, we have destroyed so much of their habitat that only a few exist in protected areas. The ducks and swans can give a nasty peck if you forget to feed them bread and the seagulls are airborn bandits, they will attack without warning to steal anything edible. Chips (fries) are favourites, with salt and vinegar on.

Be careful when photoing the Houses of Parliament, Palace, River Thames or what ever, the Police don't like it and might arrest you and delete your photos. They might do £1000 of damage to your expensive camera as well, as happened to a professional friend of mine.

The days of the friendly British Bobby are gone, just keep out of their way and avoid eye contact.

Post again for anything you want to know, I am an expert, I have lived here for many many years.

Hallii

[BedfordMJ]

hmmm bugger can also mean something else I'm not so sure Foster's menswear is still around now.
I'd recommend a visit to the Lake district and also Channonry point in Scotland for dolphin watching.

[ajs]

.

hallel

just pithed myself...... you cynic you...

regards
aj

[channa]

Originally Posted by ajs

.

hallel

just pithed myself...... you cynic you...

regards
aj

numptysadly tis true,, that aint cynical but a sad fact!!

Channa

[bigboack]

Originally Posted by channa

numptysadly tis true,, that aint cynical but a sad fact!!

Channa

Oi you two not on here, You have your own thread for that.

Welcome Aussie visitor. Youll have a ball.

[channa]

Originally Posted by bigboack

Oi you two not on here, You have your own thread for that.

Welcome Aussie visitor. Youll have a ball.

Indeed, But Aussie one you have to visit Whitby Its where that Captain Cook fella set off from and discovered the antipodes...( he did seriously)

A few years back a boat arrived built in Freemantle a replica of Cookies boat called Endeavour...came home ...and a serious party

I was there that day along with a million others and it was fantastic. The Capt sailed straight into the harbour no messing about I swear 6 inches tolerance either side of the ship !!!

Weirdly my lasting memory was a sheet someone had hung outside there window it said.

'' Welcome Home ..only 200 years late !!''

I never know whether I am batting or bowling ( wrong thing to say to an Aussie) but more than happy if I am about to give you a tour of North Yorks.

Channa

[nickit]

Try these guys for a buy back deal

Again, no connection but heard good things

Coolcampervans - Budget campervan hire and sales in the UK

http://www.coolcampervans.com/camper...-buyback.shtml

Depending how long you want the van for I personally would be looking on ebay.

We hired when in Oz and NZ but if id been there longer than 3 months i'd defenatly bought.

Loads of others have given good advice about where to go but don't miss the Lakes or Scotland.


Nick