Tips

If you haven't decided when to travel to AU take into consideration where you will travel to and if WA en the NT are part of where you want to go remember they have a dry and wet season. The best time to visit them is during the dry season. Around May or June would be perfect I think. Everything will be in bloom from the wet season, it will not be too hot and you will be able to aces all worthwhile places, such as The Kimberley.

Traveling around Kangaroo Island in November means you will not have the most amazing weather, mostly cloudy but by the end nice and warm during the day, and you will be able to camp for free in most wild camp sites ( most of them have no showers and no power). You are supposed to pay $15 and place it in an envelope but nobody checks. 

The guides in Kangaroo Island do inform that most of the wildlife come out during the day in winter time, when it is nice and cool. 

So up to you to decide.

Once you are planning to travel across AU for more than a month it is worth considering buying a campervan. If you do so in most of AU you need to ask for the " pink slip". That is a paper that proves a mechanic checked the vehicle and gave it the all clear. The only state where this doesn't apply is WA. In WA a pink slip is not needed to buy or sell a car or van. 

From experience I can advise you to, unless you are a mechanic or a hobby mechanic, to either get it checked before you buy one on Gumtree or spent some more and buy from a professional. It will save you a lot of money and you will be able to enjoy your vacation worry free. 

Just look at the ads on Gumtree and see what the previous owner has had to replace. These are older vehicles with a lot of mileage and who had many different drivers. You could be lucky and get a bargain     that gets you trough your trip without a hick up, but you might not...

Whatever you choose get yourself a roadside assistance insurance, I paid $75 and saved a lot by having one. I would also advice a third party insurance. I got one from Just Car insurance and paid $165. Both are valid for one year so an extra value when trying to find a buyer once your are leaving. I changed from third party to comprehensive after my accident so that my damages in case of an accident are covered as well, it cost me $54 a month and I could cancel when I left AU.

You probably read it on other blogs or forums and you will read it here, get yourself a Camp 7 or 8 if by now there is one. In the month November I paid $23 dollars for accommodations. I think that says enough.

When travelling around WA I would also strongly advice you to get ..... for the South of WA, costs $10 and ..... for the North, costs $20. You can buy these at camp stores or roadstops.

Free wifi -> Target, Mc Do, shopping malls, libraries, some city shopping centres.

Clothes -> T shirts and shorts are way less expensive in AU in shops like Target or K Mart than in Europe AND the same quality. So might be a good idea to come over with a half empty suitcase and buy your summer clothes over here!

Fuel. In contrary to EU diesel is more expensive than unleaded petrol. Also prices for fuel are dependent on where you are. When you are in a remote area such as The Kimberly or Uluru the sky is the limit. Normal prices are about 140 cents a liter. When in f.e. Uluru they charged up to 202 cents.

So getting some jerrycans to fill up when in a big city will not only come in handy when running out of fuel it will also help save some money when you just need a top up before getting to a less expensive pump station. 

Fruit. Don't buy them at the supermarket but buy them from the people by the side of the road. Much cheaper and just as good if not better.

Milk. If you don't have a freezer buy instant full cream powder milk. 

Internet on smartphone. I chose Optus pre paid monthly for $2 a day and it gives you 500mb a day. You need it if you have a blog or communicate with friends and family via Facebook etc...

Special thanks to

Yves Horemans for always being there for me and getting me through the hard moments.

Robyn Morgan for being my lifeline in Australia, and always welcoming me in her home.

Brenda and Cydie LiIsle for inviting me in there home when I most needed it. Showing me around the great local spots, treating me as a part of the family, introducing me to their family and making me pmsl! I will always cherish them. True friends! 

Jacqueline Wanders-Mulder, Karin Vanden Berghe, Annick Cammerman, Seppe for always helping me put things in perspective and lift my spirits.

Kay Danes and Jodie Power for sending positive thoughts when I needed them.

Eva Ryckaert and Thomas Batjoens for offering me a bed in Belgium until I find a new appartement.

What I learned about myself

I am a survivor I keep going no matter what. The last 6 months have been a test of character and I have come out stronger.

I am not as anti social as I always thought I was. I have opened up to people and in doing so have become more self confidant.

I love being on my own but I also need the company of others, meeting new people exchanging experiences. Meeting people like Gordon at Renners Springs. Top bloke! 

Women actually do like me in a romantic way...

Conclusion I am a pretty ok kinda guy.