Questions about Canada

[Mitch243]

I've gotten depressed with how I can't achieve anything in Australia so I'm bailing with a spur-of-the-moment working holiday through Canada.

Couple of questions to those who have travelled before:
- Any hints/tips/help/advice regarding Visa application? I want to fast track it, has anyone done a partial application here then gone over there to finish it?
- Who is the best travel insurance provider? I've heard good things about both CoverMore and 1Cover.
- Which bike? I have a Ironhorse Sunday or a Polygon Collosus AX. I keep getting mixed advice from my mates regarding which bike. I'm kind of leaning with taking the Sunday and buying a cheapish hardtail over there.

Anything else, as a complete pleb, I should know?

 

[pink poodle]

I crashed my sowboard in queenstown a few years ago. I ended up in hospital and ambulance. I did not receive any reciprocation of health benefits. I was lucky to have insurance. There may be a reason I dont know for this and don't claim knowledge, just experience.

Smart traveller should know.

 

[willsy01]

If you're over 30 you have basically zero chance of working in Canada, I know that much.

 

[Mitch243]

If you're over 30 you have basically zero chance of working in Canada, I know that much.

21 and just graduated from Engineering, so I got a degree which I can use as tissue/toilet paper when I run dry.

No one's hiring at the moment and the next graduate intake is September, may as well make a party of it!

Kinda hoping I can pull some shitty bike/snow related job for peanuts (not shabby at wrench spinning or brake bleeding ), or worst case Maccas to ease the food bill!

 

[natskis]

I wouldn't ever go to another country without insurance.

Pay more if you have to.

Cover your body and your bike/s.

 

[willsy01]

Kinda hoping I can pull some shitty bike/snow related job for peanuts (not shabby at wrench spinning or brake bleeding ), or worst case Maccas to ease the food bill!

I've read that it is far from uncommon to be served by an Australian person in Whistler et al. I'd be amazed if you can't find something.

 

[pink poodle]

I've read that it is far from uncommon to be served by an Australian person in Whistler et al. I'd be amazed if you can't find something.

Thy are called JAFAs. Good idea to have some pennies saved up, neither of those places have a reputation for paying people very well. Or work hard here for a few months then just have a solid holiday.

 

[SuchisLife]

In the winter 80% of the workforce in whistler is Aussie, but supposed ly not the easiest place to land a job so if you know someone who is living and working over there it can make it easier.

 

[pink poodle]

I wouldn't ever go to another country without insurance.

Pay more if you have to.

Cover your body and your bike/s.

This is true. Length of time you are going to be in each country etc may have some sway over the nature of insurance you take out. Travel insurance might need to be replaced by some form of local health insurance. But make sure you have insurance! I can't stress it enough.

With your bike/s you may be able to cover them on your parents house and contents insurance. Again length of trip will effect this. If you can do this it is sweet option as it will probably be new for old, where as travel insurance for stolen items is generally based on depreciation.

 

[s.dogg]

You don't need a visa to work in NZ so that is awesome!

You do need one for Canada and it can take a month or so from memory.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/australia-australie/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx

Above link has all the information on them.
I'm pretty sure you also need to be in Australia to apply for the working visa so get it sorted before you go to NZ.

Go to Whis with enough money for at least a month, including lift pass. If you have done a engineering degree you must at least have half a brain so you should get some kind of job.
But if you don't get a job, at least you have spent a month in Whis.


If you do get a good job and house you won't be back here by September. Its an addictive place.

 

[Snuffy]

I've read that it is far from uncommon to be served by an Australian person in Whistler et al. I'd be amazed if you can't find something.

Heck, when I was up there two summers ago, the wrench (who was very understanding when I asked for the brake levers to be flipped around on a hire bike) used to work at one of my local bike shops back home....

Travel halfway around the world to meet... the same people.

 

[Danny B]

I could be wrong but provided you're working in New Zealand and have a 'permanent address' you shouldn't have any issue accessing ACC - NZ mandatory state-owned accident compensation scheme, which will cover you for accidental injury (at work or play). You'll be paying an ACC levy in your NZ income tax.

However, If you bust your shoulder or your pelvis or something really serious, you'll have to return to NZ for any follow up care or further treatment. My brother has done both shoulders and has to fly back to NZ every 6-12 months for treatment. So taking this into account travel insurance is a good option, but make sure the cover includes 'extreme sports'.

You'll definately be able to put a DH bike to good use in QTown. Might want to consider a jump bike too.

 

[willsy01]

Thy are called JAFAs.

I give up. What does it stand for?

 

[scblack]

I give up. What does it stand for?

Ill have a guess - Just Another Fucken Australian....?

 

[pink poodle]

This isn't the trivia thread...SC is correct. The reception they receive is of a mixed nature. One can imagine the rep some Australians would develop for themselves in a place where they will eventually just pack up and leave it behind. Not all fortunately.

With the travel insurance they usually only cover your expenses in the country of injury and (if required) a flight home with care. If you require treatment that can be done at home they will push for that and you will have to foot the bill.

Are we allowed to name and shame insurers? Cause I have a list of travel insurers who have bent me or friends over....I also have a list of insurers who deliver. That list is pretty short!

 

[Mitch243]

This isn't the trivia thread...SC is correct. The reception they receive is of a mixed nature. One can imagine the rep some Australians would develop for themselves in a place where they will eventually just pack up and leave it behind. Not all fortunately.

With the travel insurance they usually only cover your expenses in the country of injury and (if required) a flight home with care. If you require treatment that can be done at home they will push for that and you will have to foot the bill.

Are we allowed to name and shame insurers? Cause I have a list of travel insurers who have bent me or friends over....I also have a list of insurers who deliver. That list is pretty short!

Please do.

Danny B - I was actually in Queenstown in November, returned to Australia for a graduation ceremony (for the benefit of my folks, otherwise I would have just stayed). That's why I'm leaning towards a DH bike and a hardtail. Hardtail to hit Gorge Road (your picture) and do really shitty laps of the XC trails there (which are really, really cool for XC trails).

But its also an equally valid point to take the Polygon - it really is a brilliant bike. While not designed for the b00tal DH runs they have over there I'm pretty sure I could happily pick my way down all of the runs on it. Plus it'd be way better than any cheap bike for the trail riding they have over there. I'd still need to pick up a BMX or something for Gorge Road.

 

[pink poodle]

I think I will just make 2 recommendations based on my choices over the years and experiences of myself or friends...
- travelinsurancedirect.com.au (great prices and what seems to be pretty generous inclusions/exclusions)

- allianz (mate had a massive crash, intense medical risks/complications and these guys looked after him really well.)

I figure a list of grievances and bitch I g about insurance companies is more likely to cause trouble than naming a bike shop! But I wouldn't use:
- vero (i busted my shoulder on day 3 of a month long trip to Nz. They were terrible to deal with and didn't want to follow the doctors instructions to fly me home. At first refused to! Wanted me to spend a month in queens town unable to do anyting fun and I had busted my writing arm. In the end I was shafted for a chunk of the return flight because i was unable to get a budget ticketand they didn't pay out for a bunch of unused stuff i had already paid for like my season pass (3 days!!!) A and bus tickets etc. They took all my original receipts and refused my rights of appeal. It was a few years ago and they may have changed, but who wants to test thaat?)

- covermore (the insurer at flight centre. Rediculously expensive!!! A friend's snowboard was stollen o/s. These guys depreciated it so far that she got about $200 for board and bindings! She was most unhappy). The board was in it's second season.

These examples are a few years old now. I have been using my recommendations for a while due to happiness.

There has been a few other incidents. I have written off a lot of insurers because of their PDS. If it has exclusions around the type of activities I can do on snow (off piste etc) I won't use it. So always check the PDS and if you are in doubt call them up for clarity. I assume you will ride bike and play in snow on this trip.

 

[Doggy]

Im gonna come to Covermore's defence here. I used them on my last trip to Whis when I thought it would be an awesome idea to break my ankle the day before we flew home. I had paid for all my medical straight up and kept all doctors reports and receipts to have all this paid back to me and they organised overnight accom at Vancouver airport and return flights with a skybed due to the whole flying sitting upright in cattle class not working out with afore mentioned ankle, cost of that alone was around $14000 for my wife and I if we had to buy it. I could have used their wage insurance too but more own one paid me a lot better than theirs did. Admittedly everything they did is what you would expect from having travel insurance but they didnt skip a beat and I was more than happy with them.
I havent had to use them to make a claim over lost or stolen stuff so no comment on that but from a medical point of view they were all good

 

[Mattydv]

I
Couple of questions to those who have travelled before:
- As an Australian Citizen do I need a visa to work in New Zealand?
- Is any health care in New Zealand reciprocated from Australia, or do I need travel insurance (took out travel insurance last two times I went to NZ, but this isn't a pure holiday as such).
- Which bike? I have a Banshee Legend or a Polygon Collosus AX (Also have a light XC bike). I'm kind of leaning with taking the Legend and buying a cheapish hardtail/BMX/Single Speed commuter in Queenstown, which I can then offload to head to Canada.

Anything else, as a complete pleb, I should know?

I lived in Dunedin for two years as a full time student.

No, you don't need a work visa.
I never had medical insurance in NZ, and had a number of injuries (broken bone, torn ligaments and tendons. Required ED admittance once, multiple physio appointments, dr appointments, specialist appointments). The NZ government pays for it all. Everything. I didn't pay a single cent. Ever. If you're living there, afaik, you don't need medical insurance if you're willing to go through the public system. I may be wrong, but that was my experience. Also, pharmaceuticals are heavily subsidised.
I'd take the Polygon, myself.

Make sure you get an IRD number as soon as you get there (mine took a while), and expect a fairly low wage. I don't think there's really anything else you need to know.

Shoot Rabatt a message as well, he did the NZ thing for a while.

 

[Mitch243]

Change of plans, my homie who I was travelling with bailed (he didn't have the cash funding to do Canada) so now I'm going there directly, holding off for a month for the Visa and whatnot.

Seeking advice from people who have claimed travel insurance, with respect to medical and bike theft. Who were you with and would you use them again?
Seeing as its stupidly last minute, any tips on how to pick up a cheap flight?

And I'm still getting mixed advice from mates regarding which bike. Some say the trail riding over there is better than the bike park, and the Polygon will suffice in the park. Others say "are you retarded? DH bike all the way!!"