Information for International Competitors

Shipping Your Vehicle To Australia

In an effort to help efficiently and cost effectively release vehicles once imported to Melbourne it is better to clear all vehicles at one time, to ensure a significant cost saving to each of you. To do this you need to discuss with us the arrival time for your vehicle in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. We suggest the vehicle arrive in Melbourne at the end of April to allow a couple of weeks before the start of the event to get the vehicle cleared.

Your preparation is most important to ensure smooth release once the vehicle lands in Melbourne, prior to the vehicle departure in your country.

You can ship your vehicle using a cash bond or by using a "carnet de passage" which is available through your local motoring organisation. the type of carnet required is for motor sport or recreation, not for exhibitions (exhibitions do not allow use on the road and are usually issued by your industry chamber of commerce).

A carnet ensures import duties or a cash bond is not required whilst the vehicle is used in Australia for the term of the carnet (usually 12 months).

The carnet must be applied for prior to shipping the vehicle to Australia. The carnet must include a general description of all items in the vehicle including tool kits, camping gear, spares, etc.

If you do not take out the carnet, you have to have a cash bond lodged with customs (approximately 15% of the vehicle value, subject to country of import) until the vehicle is re-exported.

Once the carnet is in place, ensure you follow this procedure.

• Ensure the vehicle (and all internal items) are completely clean from any dirt or contamination. Including under carpets, inner guards, fuel cap covers, engine bay, wheels, internal corners of bullbars, etc. All vehicles will be inspected by Quarantine and any sign of dirt will require washing of the whole vehicle at a significant cost and delay to you.
• Provide a list of Vehicle identification numbers and their location on your vehicle. Include, chassis and engine numbers. And make certain they match the carnet.
• Arrange a Freight company to ship your vehicle to Melbourne, Australia.
• Ensure the container ETA is at least 3 weeks before the start of the event. We recommend the last week of April, as organisers of the event are not in Melbourne after the 1st of May.
• Ensure that the Bill of lading notes the contact person here in Australia. If you require Australian 4wd Events to be your contact, please deal directly with us for details you need to complete the paperwork.
  This allows us to arrange customs and quarantine documents before your arrival, and ensures prompt clearance of your vehicles when you arrive, by moving the containers directly to the customs and quarantine centre for inspection.
• Send all original documents by signed courier to; Australian 4wd Events, including:
  • Shipping insurance
  • original carnet
  • Packing and/or items list
  • Bill of lading
  • Chassis and engine numbers including location on vehicle

Driving Your Vehicle in Australia

In preparation for driving your cars in Australia, here is some information:

Vic Roads will issue a TAC85 which is the Transport Accident Cover or 3rd party insurance. New South Wales accept this so you don't need a NSW Unregistered Vehicle Permit to travel Interstate. The cover can be for the duration of your stay, say 30 days and that will cost about $A80.00.

We can arrange the forms in advance if you provide the following:

• Name and address of owner/driver
• Vehicle registration number. The vehicle must have a current registration in the country of origin for the duration, so provide date of expiry
• Vehicle engine number
• If available the vehicle VIN number
• Make and colour
• Body Type: station wagon, utility, car
• Start and end dates of cover required.

On your arrival you can take these prepared forms to our local office and sign up.
Car not required to have a road worthy certificate but must be roadworthy.

Most important. make sure the vehicles are clean. it causes significant delays in clearance and costs if the vehicles are not clean!

For more details go to the Australian Automobile Association website: www.aaa.asn.au/pages/import.htm

Other Important Information for International Teams

Fuel/Water

You need a fuel range of 500kms for normal dirt road driving (100kph). We will have you passing through fuel outlets during the event.
Unleaded petrol and diesel are the most used fuels in Australia.
Fuel costs vary, allow $2 per litre.

Water will be available in Broken Hill at the start of the event but you should top up in Melbourne or Sydney. We normally ask you to carry 20 litres, but this may blow out to 40 litres because of the drought and the fact water is scarce (in fact unavailable) in the competition areas.

Food

All food and water must be carried with you during the event once you head to the outlaying stations for special stages. You can purchase supplies in town. You may pass small towns with supplies but you cannot rely on their being open and must be self sufficient. Small amounts of wood are available for cooking fires. A small gas burner is preferred.

Communications

We use UHF radios which are 477mhz radios and mobile telephones on the Next G network which work well in the competition area.
Our communications sponsor can hire out UHF radios as well as satellite telephones in case any teams wish to have them onboard for safety. Next G mobile telephones can be purchased as a pre pay option at outlets in Melbourne and Broken Hill. Mobile telephone service on the GSM system will only be available in main cities such as Melbourne, for some of the journey up to Broken Hill and in the township of Broken Hill, but not in the competition areas.

Support crews

Our event does not allow for support crews.
The whole idea of the event is to be self reliant and drive smart enough as not to break anything. You need to carry all parts you may require with you or take a penalty to accepting outside help which we will provide to keep you going.

Money/credit cards

Most outlets in Broken Hill and the region accept credit cards, Visa and Mastercard being the most popular. Automatic tellers and banks are in Broken Hill.
A large supermarket is open seven days a week and accepts credit cards.

Weather

May heralds the cooler months of the region with temperatures of around 15 - 21 degrees Celsius during the day and a much colder 6 - 8 degrees Celsius at night. Rain is possible.

Although the wind can pick up out on the plains, the dust does hang around with so many vehicles traversing the roads during our event.

Distance from Melbourne

Broken Hill is roughly 10 - 12 hours drive from Melbourne. We recommend that you break your journey and stay overnight at Mildura as this will allow you to drive the very remote Silver City Highway, from Mildura to Broken Hill in the morning, arriving at Broken Hill at lunchtime.

There is only one service station on this stretch of road and at night it is frequented by wildlife such as cattle, emus and kangaroos which will damage your vehicle if you collide with them. Mildura has many hotels, caravan parks and services so it is the ideal place to stop. If you wish to cover the journey in one day, please ensure you leave Melbourne by 4am in the morning as it is dark by 5pm during winter.

Accommodation

During your time in Melbourne we recommend you discuss with us the possibility of staying with marshals or 4x4 club Members. If you wish to stay in a hotel please choose one in the eastern suburbs which is closer to the organisers and workshops of CCDA members or other competitors who can assist with your needs once you get here. Ferntree Gully, Lilydale, Croydon and other towns in this vicinity are perfect.

Please let us know your dates for arrical and departure and let us help you with this part of the organisation of your stay as we can help ease the costs.

If the event schedule calls for you to book your own accommodation at any stage during the event you can contact the Broken Hill Tourist Office.

They can also assist with your accommodation and travel information on the way to the event.
Telephone: +618 8087 6077
Fax: +618 8088 5209
Email: tourist@pcpro.net.au
Website: www.murrayoutback.org.au

Extended Touring

If you wish to extend your time in Australia, the Broken Hill Tourist Office can also assist in exciting places you can visit in your four wheel drive after the event.