Originally Posted by podgypossum

While we are on this subject. A very important tip for those planning to travel outside metroplitan areas in Aus.

Whenever you leave the last town heading into the bush or desert, please, please please, set your trip metre to zero. Driving here is very different to UK, and breaking down in the middle of nowhere with not even a tree as a landmark makes it extremely difficult to pinpoint where you are, how far from nearest town or breakdown service station. By setting hte trip metre it at least lets the services know how far from the last town you are. This can be hundreds of kms sometimes.
I spent nearly 2hrs once trying to help a German tourist who broke down in the desert, hitched a lift to a small town but had no idea how far she was from the car!!

Originally Posted by podgypossum

You dont need to do anything when you get to Oz unless you breakdown. Then you just ring the state motoring organisation depending where you are. Make sure you have your card on you though.

Queensland = RACQ

S.A. = RAA

W.A = RACWA

NSW = NRMA

If you want to join the Aus equivalent just join up at their nearest office or do it online.

Originally Posted by Flying Banana

And also worth taking a look at the map on long cross country's and see where the fuel stops are, running out of fuel 100 clicks from the nearest servo isn't fun either!

Originally Posted by cresta57

I was a member of the AA when I was in the U.K. I had been a member since 1990. When I arrived here in Australia I went into the RACQ to enquire about joining and they simply swapped my AA membership for RACQ they also made sure my RACQ card stated member since 1990 which makes me a silver member and entitles me to a further discount on various products available through the RACQ. I didn't have to pay to join the RACQ until the expiry date on my U.K AA card either so the remaining time on my AA card wasn't wasted.
If you do a search I'm sure I posted about it at the time as I was so amazed

Originally Posted by fraser

Hello mate I think your 1-0 is the wrong way round, I'll help you out, go and look in your papers and find either your passport or birth certificate then find where it says nationality and tell me what it says

HTH

Originally Posted by cresta57

I was a member of the AA when I was in the U.K. I had been a member since 1990. When I arrived here in Australia I went into the RACQ to enquire about joining and they simply swapped my AA membership for RACQ they also made sure my RACQ card stated member since 1990 which makes me a silver member and entitles me to a further discount on various products available through the RACQ. I didn't have to pay to join the RACQ until the expiry date on my U.K AA card either so the remaining time on my AA card wasn't wasted.
If you do a search I'm sure I posted about it at the time as I was so amazed

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond

I know someone else, very local to me, who did exactly the same, transferred their AA membership and got a Silver membership with the RACQ immediately.

Maybe it is just the QLD RACQ that do it ?