Beyond Noosa

If you want to rent a car, it has to be assured that you have to be ready for possible sets of rules. However, it should not take off your interest in renting a car because the whole process is actually hassle-free. You just have to make sure that you are clear on different requirements that are needed to be followed.

Indeed, renting a car during a certain travel or journey can provide a more pleasant experience for a traveler. Like any other things in the world, renting a car is associated with several regulations that are according to the company or the agency itself. One of the rules is the age requirement. A person has to check on the age bracket that is needed in order to rent a car from a certain rental agency.

There is also another requirement for a deposit. Many rental companies would ask you to apply a $350 deposit if you’ll be paying using a credit or a debit card. However, most of the rental places would only require $300. The said deposits are not required if the payment is done in cash.

The rental agencies are also going to require you to carry insurance on the rented vehicle. This is to make sure that their vehicles are covered in cases of accidents. This is also the main reason why one of the add-on services that a renter can get from the rental agencies would include a liability coverage, collision as well as personal injury.

A second driver requirement has to be actively licensed. There is also an age limit which will vary from an agency to another. A renter also has to make sure that he or she understands that adding a second driver on the vehicle that is rented will possibly be assessed of a certain fee. However, there are again other rental agencies that do not charge a fee for such. As you can see, there are different other rules that you have to understand when you rent a car which can be checked on upon talking to a representative from the rental places.

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Napier might be the Art Deco capital, but the tiny town of Tirau, in New Zealand’s North Island, is the self-proclaimed ‘corrugated iron capital of the world’. It’s a big claim for a little town – population 700 – but for this once blink-and-you-might-miss-it town on State Highway One, between Hamilton and Rotorua, it’s reason to stop and take in this quirky country village with great shopping.

I’ve always loved corrugated iron, the relatively inexpensive building material used, and reused, for farm sheds and shanty towns. From shiny, shimmering virgin silver to rust-ridden russet tones, its undulating surface catches light and shadow for dramatic effect.

It’s had a renaissance of sorts recently as a trendy building material, holding up bars, lining restaurants and bathrooms, and as an art surface for painters and photographers.

But in Tirau, it’s been given a new lease of life, sculptured into quirky shop signs, unusual statues and animal-shaped buildings.

It all started in 1998 with a wool shop built from corrugated iron in the shape of a sheep. When the town needed a new building for a visitor information centre, the community decided to build it in the shape of a sheepdog, adjacent to the sheep, and the rest, they say, is history.

Local shopkeepers and business have joined in the fun with cute colourful signs. Even the local church has a corrugated iron Good Sheppard out the front.

Tirau means ‘the place of many cabbage trees’ and the town logo looks gorgeous rendered in corrugated iron.

This has meant plenty of work for local corrugated artist, Stephen Clothier, of Corrugated Creations, which is located just outside Tirau. The ‘mechanic-turned-handyman’ was initially reluctant to take on the sheepdog project, but once finished he was inundated with orders for signs, garden features and letter boxes.

Each artwork is individually designed for the location and handmade, including the frame. 

With galleries, art and craft stores, coffee shops and more, Tirau makes a great place for picking up some unique NZ gifts or souvenirs. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to check them all out, or buy my own corrugated souvenir. But I’ll be sure to stop off next time I’m in New Zealand.

There are dozens of cheapest car rentals Gold Coast, how can you be sure that you will get the best service? What do you need to look for on a car rental company? To make sure you get the services suitable to your needs, you can check out the following aspects.

Which is better, short term or long term vehicle lease? You can rent the car for a short time or on weekly and monthly basis. It really depends on your purpose. Short term rent is usually for business purposes, like business trips that don’t last more than a week. For long term lease, it is usually for leisure purposes like family vacation. But regardless of the length of time that you’d be renting the car, what’s important is you book the car continuously on the exact number of days you’ll be using it instead of renewing it day after day. Car rental companies usually gives out special rates when you book it for longer days.

Do you need car rental with a driver or without? Self-driven cars are usually used on family vacation, by the students and young professionals. Families who choose this will have privacy in their trip, compared with having a company-assigned driver whom they do not personally know. Students choose self-driven for obvious reasons, they want their freedom. Chauffeur-driven cars come handier for businessmen who need to focus on the task ahead and not on the wheels.

Do you have special needs or wants? Regardless if your purpose is for business or pleasure, you might a couple of special needs. If you’re travelling with a toddler, baby seats and extra spaces must be taken into consideration. Of course, expect added fees for this.

What about the insurances? It’s always a wise choice to include insurance every time you get the services of the cheapest car rentals Gold Coast. It is for your own sake. Imagine if you encountered an accident and all the cost and damages is in you – that’s just turning a sweet dream into a nightmare! But if you have insurance coverage that’s included on your rent contract, your mind is set to have fun and not to worry.

These are just couple of things that you need to consider when choosing the cheapest car rentals Gold Coast to ensure that you end up with a memorable trip. Just visit at  www.carrental.com.au/gold-coast-car-hire

Apples are ready to pick at Shields' Orchard

‘Bite Me!’ screams the shiny red gala as I pluck it from the tree. I oblige, crunching into the crisp white flesh, juice dribbling down my chin. The flavour is far sweater and fresher than any store-bought apple I’ve tasted recently, and I start filling my basket as I walk among the apple trees at Shields’ Orchard, Bilpin.

Sydneysiders are blessed, as the ‘food bowl’ of the Hawkesbury region is within easy reach of the city, although with development encroaching on the area, I wonder for how much longer – something being explored  by the Contested Landscapes of Western Sydney field study. 

Shields' Orchard, Bilpin

Gala apples are ripe for picking at Shields’ Orchard now, so check their website for picking details. You don’t have to pick your own, though it makes a fun family outing, as you can purchase picked fruit from their shed, along with delicious homemade jams. (I love the peach and mango.)

Local produce available at Enniskillen Orchard

For berries, stone fruit and more apples, head to Enniskillen Orchard in Grose Vale, where you can can have a coffee while checking out their extensive range of local produce, including nuts, jams, sauces and olives.

Both Shields’ and Enniskillen Orchards are founding members of Hawkesbury Harvest and are part of the original Hawkesbury Farm Gate Trail, which now extends to include the Sydney Hills to Brooklyn, Penrith Valley, and Wollondilly Harvest Experiences.

Check out the seasonal guide on the Hawkesbury Harvest site to see what fruit and vegetables are currently in season and plan your day, or just take a leisurely drive and stop at whatever roadside stalls take your fancy. It sure beats supermarket shopping and your tastebuds will love you for it.