kat83

Hi,

Moving to Cairns 4th July - just booked our flights yesterday - very exciting!!

We're hoping for some advice about short term accomodation when we arrive and also if anyone can recommend good letting agents in Cairns?

1. Wondering if anyone in Cairns knows of the Whiterock Leisure Park? It is located south of Cairns and looks like a reasonbly priced option for us to book a cabin for 5 days short term accomodation while we visit different suburbs and hopefully view apartments. I emailled the owner about an early check in as we arrive in at 8am after a long journey and she promptly emailled me back saying that wouldn't be a problem - so it's a thunbs up for customer service so far!

2. We are hoping to arrange viewings of modern, furnished two bedroom apartments for around $250 per week and have seen lots of availability on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au but just wondering if this is the best way to arrange viewings or contact letting agents directly or should we wait til we arrive and visit the letting agent offices? We like the look of the northern beach resorts (Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Kewarra Beach, etc.)

3. We will be renting a car for approx 1 week until we can purchase one - if anyone knows of a good value car rental company at the airport it would be a big help to us!! Also any tips of buying a second hand car as cheaply as possible would be much appreciated too!! Oh and also we want to get a tomtom (i have no sense of direction whatsoever!) and wonder if we should purchase one in the UK for approx. £80 then download OZ maps (is this free?) or wait til we arrive and buy one?

It's funny how you come on to ask one question and more just pop into your head! Thanks to anyone who can help with the above

rocket01

This is probably the cheapest and easiest place to book a car http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com/

There is also plenty of 2nd hard cars for sale in the local cairns post, probably the cheapest way to go to get one.

Best if you buy your tom tom from here https://shop.1wow.com.au/productcart....asp?idpage=11 There is a shop on the mulgrave rd situated close to town.

rocket01

That rent seems very expensive is it for a week only? I would recommend waiting till you get here.

Sally Simpson

$250 per week for a furnished 2 bed rental is about right R!

Personally, I would wait until you get here to arrange viewings. It would also be good if you drive around the areas first as you may decide one area is more you than another. Make sure you bring references with you too.

There is a rental company near the airport that do older cars
www.cairnsoldercarhire.com

We used Mini car rentals
www.minicarrentals.com.au

You could also look at this one -
www.cairns-car-rentals.com They also do older cars.

I think most places do free pick-up from the airport.

I don't know what that holiday park is like but I do know that the Coconut holiday park is meant to be one of the best
http://www.coconut.com.au/
No idea about cost though and you are arriving in holiday season.

If you are buying a car privately, you need to be very certain that there is no outstanding credit on it. I can't remember how you can do this but hopefully someone elase will know.
This is quite a good site too!
http://www.carsales.com.au/

kat83

Excellent info - thanks alot! Oh i didn't think about the possibility of a second hand car having outstanding finance!! Hopefully some1 will know of a way to check this, in the uk it is quite easy to do online through the RAC or AA so if anyone knows of a similar oz website that would be really helpful to us!! thanks again

Bix

Advice here...........
http://www.racq.com.au/motoring_advi...and__registers

Sally Simpson

Oh well done Bix

Bix

Following your lead madame.

kat83

Thanks Bix - i've stored the web address in my favourites and will use it to make sure we don't get a nasty surprise when buying a car!! Cheers

rocket01

Whats chance off a 2nd hand cheap car still having finance on it still? I recon about 0.0001%

Bix

You may be right but chance to it having no rego, CTP or safety cert is much higher.

Buyer beware.

mikeyp

At work I have come across a few people who have been living long(ish) term at White Rock Leisure Park - can't say they've had great things to say about it..........I would advise you to perhaps look at the other options

Mike

Bix

I would take heed of what Mike says.

I don't know the actual establishment but it backs onto the main railwayline and Bruce Highway.

White Rock in general is a shite place IMO.

rocket01

My wife works here and its nice http://www.trinity-links-resort.com/

Bix

Lived there for 3 months a while back.
Good gated complex.