A European backpacker has revealed the unexpected costs of his $9,000 road trip after copping a $1,300 seatbelt fine on his first day behind the wheel in Australia while preparing for an Ironman event.
Dutch traveller Milan has been exploring and working in Australia since November last year, taking on adventures, challenges and unwanted vehicle fines.
Milan bought a Toyota HiAce for $9,000 to see Australia, and on his first day of driving, he received an unwanted fine for not wearing a seatbelt on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
“The thing was, it was the first day I got my van. So I was probably excited and happy about my van,” he told Yahoo News Australia.
“I forgot to put my seatbelt on.
“I got a $1,300 fine, which is crazy to me.”
Queensland drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt face a $1,295 fine and four demerit points.
Milan said he had received other fines during his time on the road, bringing the total to about $2,300.
He said seatbelt enforcement was different in the Netherlands, where he was used to occasional targeted police operations rather than cameras specifically designed to detect seatbelt offences.
Milan bought the Toyota HiAce for about $9,000 to explore Australia, using it to travel and sleep in as he tries to keep costs down. Source: Supplied
Milan’s take on proposed working visa changes
The 22-year-old is in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa and has completed 88 days of regional work to qualify for a second-year working holiday visa, and is now travelling solo from Darwin to Sydney while training for an Ironman event.
The federal government has proposed introducing a ballot system for second and third-year working holiday visas, with second-year places capped at 45,000 and third-year places at 5,000, down from 57,000 and 31,000 people respectively who qualified last year.
Milan said he was not overly concerned about the proposed changes, as he had about two months left on his current visa when he applied for his second year and believed he should be unaffected.
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The 22-year-old said Australia’s distance and proposed working holiday visa changes could deter young backpackers. Source: Supplied
But he feels like the proposed changes could discourage young travellers from coming to Australia, which offers a healthy work-life balance.
“I think that’s a bit weird because Australia also needs travellers like me,” he said.
“I think Australia is very attractive, but a lot of people are too scared to come here because it is far and they don’t want to go alone.”
The reality of travelling solo across Australia
Milan is driving solo from Darwin to Sydney on a journey expected to take about 55 hours, as he is currently stopped at Airlie Beach.
He has packed his bike and belongings into the van and is keeping costs down by sleeping at free campsites and preparing his own meals, all while training for the IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne on November 8.
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Milan admitted travelling solo has made his road trip more expensive, particularly when it comes to fuel in remote parts of the Northern Territory.
“I must say, it’s quite expensive, especially in the Northern Territory in the outback,” he said.
“It would be better if I went with another person, so you can share the costs of fuel.”
Milan is travelling solo from Darwin to Sydney while preparing for an Ironman event in Melbourne. Source: Supplied
But travelling alone also means he has more freedom to carry his belongings and bike without having to coordinate with someone else.
“It’s pros and cons. Because now I also have a lot of stuff, including my bike,” he said.
$4,000 spent chasing the Ironman dream
In addition to the road trip, Milan estimates he has spent about $4,000 on his Melbourne Ironman challenge, including his bike, shoes and entry fees.
He had initially planned to compete in a full Ironman at Port Macquarie this Sunday, but plans were flipped on their head after persistent knee problems affected his training.
“I like to train and take care of my body and my mind,” he said.
“I want to do the Ironman, for a nice story for my kids, and grandkids and make it something inspiring.”
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