Pre-Departure Useful Links
Accommodation in Australia
Short term accommodation:
Airbnb: Global business, growing rapidly and gives access to short-term rentals direct with the property owner.
Longer term house and apartment rental:
Real Estate: largest property website in Australia with 1000’s of rental property listings.
Domain: Similar to Real Estate, listings of rentals and properties to buy.
Real Estate View: Another large rental and property sales listing website.
Car Hire in Australia
Main National Car Hire Companies:
Avis: Australian site for the global Avis company.
Budget: Budget rent a car’s Australian rental site.
Europcar: Locations in all major capital cities in Australia.
Hertz: Australian website of the US company and one of the largest rental companies in Australia.
Sixt rent-a-car
Thrifty: Australian franchise of Dollar Thrifty.
Bayswater Car Hire: Discounted car hire only in Perth and Sydney.
Discounted Car Hire Through Airlines:
Often you can access cheaper car hire rates with the major firms through promotions offered on the international airlines’ websites – even if you aren’t flying with them. There are also frequent flier bonuses offered from time to time:
Qantas Car Hire
British Airways car hire web page.
Singapore Airlines car hire web page.
Emirates Car Hire web page.
South African Airways car hire web page.
Air New Zealand car hire web page.
National Australia Bank link to the information page to open the best migrant bank accounts (in our opinion), no bank account keeping fees, no minimum deposit, additional savings account option. PLEASE NOTE accounts can only be opened when you arrive in Australia.
Commonwealth Bank link to open an account with the largest bank in Australia, though no longer offers a savings account to migrants pre-departure (almost no interest on funds in account) and account can only be opened 14 days before arrival in Australia.
Opening Bank Accounts link to the page on this website with a detailed comparison between the major banks bank account service for migrants, how the process works and how to activate your account when you arrive in Australia.
Transferring Money
Transferring Money link to the section with tips and guidance for transferring money to Australia as well as details about preferred foreign exchange companies in the UK and South Africa.
Buying Property Before Arrival
Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) – understand the restrictions on types of property foreign investors and temporary residents can buy.
First Home Owner Grant – government website to access the details of the home buyer grant details for each state and territory.
Shipping Personal Effects
Department of Immigration and Border Protection website for a summary and links to further information on bringing items into Australia, moving to Australia (and what you can bring) and duty free allowances.
Shipping Household Effects link to the section of this site that has more detail and tips for getting quotes to ship your effects to Australia.
Australian Department of Agriculture website for links and a summary of items of quarantine concern, prohibited goods and how to clear items through customs, etc.
Prohibited Items and Items to Declare on arrival in Australia.
Items of Biosecurity Concern in unaccompanied personal effects.
Orientation Services
Aussie Orientation Services – for help with finding schools, rental accommodation, settlement support and orientation.
Pension Transfers
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) link to the tax office pension contribution web page.
CPA Australia – Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) link to search for a CPA Financial Planning Specialist (FPS)
Pre-Departure Tax Advice
CPA Australia – find the contact details for an Australian Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)
