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Must See Markets In The Hunter, Newcastle and Surrounds

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Everybody loves going to a market! Whether it is a farmer’s market, a handmade market, or a second hand goods market; there is something for everyone. Both Shane and I have been to our fair share of markets. We have explored the items, checked out the venues and tasted the many wonderful things you come across. Not only have we been to see them, we have also participated and been a stall holder at multiple markets across the Hunter area! So what better way to share our experiences and review them for you, as a must see markets in the Hunter, Newcastle and surrounding areas post! It’s time to introduce you to what the areas have to offer.

Depending on your interests and what you are after will depend on the market you want to go to.

So let’s start with Farmer’s Markets –

Must see farmers, handmade and mixed markets in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounds

Farmer’s markets are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, jams, honey, spreads, biscuits, cakes, sweets, dairy products, meat, wine and more! They include products like soap, creams, candles and lotions. They are where you want to be if you want the freshest produce and locally produced food and drinks from the farmer’s and artisans directly.

Newcastle City Farmer’s Market –

Where – Newcastle Showground, Curley Rd, Broadmeadow NSW

When – Every Sunday 7am-1pm

The Newcastle Farmer’s markets are the biggest market of its kind in the area. They cover the showground and have plenty of options for parking; on site and street parking available. Extremely convenient being on every week so you can get to know the locals and keep returning! If you are a foodie, not only can you get all your fresh fruit, veggies and meat, but you also get to taste so many different cuisines. There is your standard take away options like hot chips, burgers and hot dogs, but then there is pancakes, waffles, fresh juices and more! It is a great, big all rounded market where you can find all your fresh needs.

Pro’s –

  • Regularly on
  • Lots of variety
  • Meet the farmer
  • Plenty of food options for breakfast and lunch
  • Plenty of fresh produce

Con’s –

  • Parking – street parking and can be quite difficult and a bit of a walk.
Lake Macquarie Famer’s Market –

Where – Speers Point Park

When – Every second and fourth Saturday of the month 7.30am-1pm

The Lake Macquarie Farmer’s market is located in Speers Point Park. It is no where near as big as the Newcastle Farmer’s market, however still has some nice local stalls featuring fruit, veggies, and other locally produced goods. Being on regularly, it is a great chance to go out in the morning, walk along the lake and pick up all your fresh produce on the way back to the car. Be careful though, some items can sell out very quick, so it could be best to get in early!

Pro’s –

  • Nice area. A good spot for a stroll on the water after looking at the markets, and a park for the kids to play.
  • Plenty of parking
  • Good variety
  • Regularly On

Con’s –

  • Quite small, only a few stall holders
  • Being such a beautiful area, and having lots of space, could definitely have many more stallholders
Handmade Market’s –

Claire Edwards Art and Shane Patmore Photography at the markets. Must see farmers, handmade and mixed markets in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounds

Handmade markets are our specialty. They are where Shane and I attend as stallholders wherever possible. The markets are full of handmade items, gifts, clothing, jewellery, art and more, individually crafted by the stall holders themselves. There are locally produced foods and wines, cheeses and breads. If you are looking for something a little bit more unique and personal, this is where you want to be.

Handmade in the Hunter –

Where – Corner of Broke Rd and Halls Rd, Pokolbin

When – Every Saturday 9am-3pm, some Sundays during peak times

Handmade in the Hunter is located at Sobel’s Wine in Pokolbin. Right in the heart of the wineries, it is a beautiful spot and focuses on local handmade crafts, goods, foods, and drinks.  While it is not a huge market, there are lots of things to see and do in the area so it can be included on a day trip to the Hunter Valley. When you arrive, the white gazebos catch your eyes, so it is easy to see from the road where they are. You start from one end and work your way through, exploring the candles that look like desserts, chili that burns your taste buds, and look at all the beautiful handcrafted items. Located close by are chocolate and cheese factories! My favourite.

Pro’s –

  • Regularly On
  • Stallholders are rotated so there is no duplicate stalls – lots of variety
  • Beautiful location
  • Everything is handmade! And you get to meet the maker as they are the stall holder

Con’s –

  • Street parking – a little bit difficult when you have children especially. There is some off street parking, but not a great deal.
  • Only approximately 30 stall holders, so quite a small market.
  • Not many food stalls at the market itself, however lots of restaurants and cafes in the area for a meal.
Olive Tree Markets –

Where – Civic Park, Newcastle Corner of King and Darby Street

When – 1st Saturday of every month, 1st and 3rd Saturday during November and December, 9am-3pm

Olive tree markets is an art and design market. It features lots of talented local artists and creators selling their works. There is fashion, jewelry, home wares, travel accessories, food and more.  It is in the heart of Newcastle, and is always full of people and buzzing with music and the smell of food. For an art market, it really is huge! We were quite surprised the first time we went with the amount of people milling around the stalls. Even the stalls themselves are set up with such style and it creates a beautiful mood to the market. Once you have done the rounds, there are lots of food vans with options for lunch. Alternatively, take a stroll down Darby Street where there are lots of cafes and restaurants. We have been multiple times now, and never get tired of going. There is always something new and exciting to see!

Pro’s –

  • One of the biggest markets in the Hunter
  • Very talented artists, selling amazing works – If you are looking for something unique and original, this is a good place to start
  • Lots of food options for a meal at the markets, but also in the streets close by
  • Locally produced goods where you can talk to the maker/creator

Con’s –

  • Parking can be difficult, on street paid parking and not many close by car parks, so you may need to walk
  • Very busy traffic in this area
Mixed Markets –

Must see farmers, handmade and mixed markets in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounds

Then finally, there are what I am going to class as the mixed markets across the Hunter. They are the markets that can sell anything! Second hand goods, imported items, hand made bits and pieces, food, drinks and alcohol. We have attended these markets as both stall holders and just to browse. Almost anyone can find something interesting at these markets.

Maitland Markets –

Where – Maitland Showground

When – 1st Sunday every month, 1st and 3rd Sunday during Oct-Dec, 8am-2pm

Maitland markets are the biggest market of its kind in Newcastle. They cover the entire showground. Featuring a mix of handmade goods, second hand items, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, plants and more, they are a great choice for anybody looking for something in particular, or just for a browse. There are multiple entries to the market, so depending which one you enter will depend what you see first. One end is full of fresh produce,flowers and plants. The other is full of second hand items and antiques. There are the undercover stalls which are generally handmade items, and then there is everything else! They also have regular events like ‘Christmas in July’, ‘Father’s Day’, animal/zoo displays and more. For the kind of market it is, I never tire of going here. The stalls always vary and there is always something new to see.

Pros –

  • Regularly On
  • Huge market – plenty to see!
  • Lots of takeaway food options for breakfast or lunch, as well as seating
  • Lots of varierty
  • On rain or shine
  • Great place to grab a bargain

Con’s –

  • Some stalls are very similar or carry similar goods
  • Parking – the showground gets very busy, so street parking is generally the way to go and it can be quite difficult and a fair walk to get to the markets
Adamstown Markets –

Where – Corner of Brunker Rd and Glebe Rd, Adamstown

When – Every Sunday except public holidays and January 7am-12pm

Adamstown markets is regularly on, and has been running for a long time. It is mostly second hand goods, and antique items with a few local produce and plant stalls. It can also be described like a large ‘garage sale’. As it is primarily second hand goods, it can be a good place to pick up some bargains. There are a lot of stallholders that sell clothes and children’s toys. While it is still an interesting market to check out, we find that for us, it is something we can attend every couple of years and that is okay. There are larger markets in the area on regularly that we prefer to visit. For those that love a garage sale, you should check it out.

Pro’s  –

  • Regularly On
  • Great place to grab second hand goods

Cons –

  • While larger than some markets, it is still quite small
  • While it is good to look, I find we can be in and out within 20 minutes, not something to do if you are planning on a nice day out!
  • Not many food options
Warners Bay Markets –

Where – The Esplanade, Warners Bay

When – Third Saturday of every month 8am to 2pm

Warners Bay Markets is located on the waterfront in a beautiful location. The market is full of handmade items, locally produced goods, second hand items, fashion, jewellery and more. It is buzzing with people, music and food. There are lots of locally produced goods where you can meet the maker, and discuss how they got to where they are. For the ladies, there are so many unique stalls selling clothing and jewellery, and you can find some amazing bargains. We find parking is the biggest negative here. There is little street parking which is generally full and reverse angled. The alternative is parking behind the street front in a car park that is also always. Keep in mind you may need to walk a little to get to the stalls. Overall though, it is a great mixed market in a popular location that we never get tired of checking out.

Pro’s –

  • Plenty of stalls, lots of variety for everyone!
  • Great location – on the waterfront, walking and cycling paths
  • Lots of shops and restaurants across the road to choose breakfast or lunch
  • Dog friendly area

Con’s –

  • Parking can be difficult and may be a bit of a walk if you park in the shopping area
Other markets of interest –

Now these are most definitely not all of the markets in the Hunter/Newcastle region. These are just the markets both Shane and I have been to personally and have the knowledge to review. They are just our opinion and yours may be completely different, so don’t be scared to check them out! It does give you a good all rounded idea to what there is available and shows there is something for everyone.

The more markets we go to, the more we will keep growing our list, so stay tuned!

 

 

Australian Beginners Guide to Japan – Planning Your Trip

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We are such beginners. Such ‘tourists’!

There are so many things that we learnt and would do differently. That’s why we thought a beginners guide to Japan and planning would be a perfect way to start our travel posts off.

Japan is a country we had talked about and was at the top of our list of places to visit. It is a place where the first thing that comes to mind is ‘sensory overload’ but is also contrasted with so much history and culture.

So how did it all start?  

We got an email. Both Shane and I have signed up to multiple travel agencies and airline companies, which means we get a lot of emails notifying us of sales. And some, some are just tempting enough to get us.

The title of the email ‘Fly over, fly back free!’, it had us. It didn’t matter when the flights were for, we jumped at the opportunity to go to Japan. A place we had not been before, and somewhere we had been wanting to explore.

That’s our first tip for beginner travelers.

Sign up to travel companies and different airlines mailing lists! It is generally free and you get emails notifying you of upcoming sales, special offers, and just general travel information. It is a perfect way to make sure you are saving money and getting a good deal. However, before jumping on the first sale that pops up, shop around. Just because they say it’s a great offer and you are saving money, make sure you do your own research just to confirm.

That’s exactly where we started. The prices sounded great. What was the catch? Reading the fine print, it was a base fair, it did not include luggage allowance or a meal, and it was to Narita Airport, which meant for us leaving from Sydney, there was a stopover at the Gold Coast. The flight from Gold Coast to Narita is just over 9 hours. However, luggage could be added on to the flight and it would still be a good price, we could eat at the airport, take snacks onto the plane and it looked simple enough to get from the airport to Tokyo. It was decided, Shane and I had purchased our tickets to Japan!

Shane and Claire at the airport heading to Narita Japan

Sales come with downsides –  

Spur of the moment sales and flights, come with downsides. Typically they are only for certain dates. For us, this meant we were going to Japan in the middle of their Summer, and also over a Japanese public holiday. Being from Australia, both Shane and I are used to the heat so assumed it wouldn’t be too bad. One thing we did not expect was the humidity; definitely something to keep in mind if you are going to Japan in Summer – be prepared to sweat!

We researched and found that during the Obon festival, (the public holiday occurring while we were going to be there), a lot of places closed during this time, and a lot of people returned to their home towns to be with their families. For us, we decided on this day, travel would not be advisable, and maybe just exploring the local area of the town we were in would be a good idea. We ended up taking a trip to Shibuya to check out one of the busiest crossings in the world. As it was a holiday, there was a festival on and the streets were blocked off to traffic. This was an amazing experience and ended up working out in our favour as at any other time we would not have been able to experience this traditional festival.

Shibuya Japan at sunset

The different seasons – 

Japan’s seasons are opposite to Australia’s, so while it is Summer here, it is Winter in Japan. Each season has it’s own unique characteristics, which makes it a well-rounded place to travel anytime during the year. Spring has the cherry blossoms; a pale pink flower which covers the trees and provides magical sights. Summer is very hot and humid which we learnt! However, it is a great season to go if you are interested in festivals and fireworks as there are a lot during this time. Autumn is the time where the weather cools down and becomes more mild. The landscape changes colour and shows just how beautiful it really can be. Finally Winter; Japan is renowned for it’s Winter and fantastic places to snowboard, ski, and experience snow festivals. It really is such a diverse place and every season has something to offer.

So now that the sale was done and booked, it was time to decide where we wanted to go in Japan and what we wanted to see so we could plan our itinerary.

Why we chose what we chose, and other ideas we considered –  

There are so many things to see and do in Japan, you should research. Think about what you want to do, what you want to see and where you want to explore. For us, Japan was an extremely different atmosphere to anything we have ever experienced and was very overwhelming. It really was a sensory overload! If we had gone with no plan or idea with what we wanted to do, we would of missed out on so much, and had no idea how to do a lot of the things we did.

So we researched. We wrote lists, word documents, got a map and studied it. We worked out where we could go, what we could do when we were there, and because we had a basic plan, we could work out how many nights we would stay in each place and where we would travel from that ‘base’ hotel.

Tokyo was decided on first, (being that we flew into Narita Airport late at night, it made sense we would stay here first), then travelling to Osaka, and then returning to Tokyo before flying out of Narita.

There is a downside to planning; missed opportunities.

As much as you can research, there are so many hidden gems that aren’t advertised and you can’t plan for them all.  One thing we would recommend is to allow a day or two spare, wherever you are for these things you may not have planned for. When we decided to stay in Osaka, we had planned for a day just to explore around the city. It wasn’t worth it for us. We found it to be a very commercial and business like area with not many attractions or sites.

Kyoto was initially planned to explore in one day. When we arrived there via train, we realized just how amazing it was and how much there was to see and do. There was so much culture and beauty that we decided to return the following day to go back. In doing this, it pushed back our plan to go to Hiroshima to the next day where the Shinkansen tickets were all booked out every way we tried. This meant we missed being able to go to Hiroshima which was a huge disappointment.

So while it is great idea to plan and organise your trip, it is also advisable to allow spare time for things that you may not have considered or realized.

Getting around –  

It was time to work out how we would get around while we were there. Every article, travel website, and blog recommended the Japan Rail Pass.

The Japan Rail Pass is a widely used pass that allows a visitor access to local and express trains. The pass also gives you the option of using the Shinkansen (the bullet train – a must!), local buses and more. It is available to anyone who is classed as a ‘visitor’ to Japan and obtains a visitor stamp in their passport on arrival.

Now, it is expensive, a 14 day pass, which is what we purchased, will set you back AUD $565 per person, and you have to order, and wait for it to arrive before leaving to go to Japan as they do not sell them locally. They do also have a 7 day pass, and a 21 day pass, with options to change the class, and smaller passes which just cover certain areas of Japan.

However, we recommend it 100%. It was fantastic! At every train station, there is a manned gate and you walk up, a quick flash of the pass and through you go. We decided to check the price of the trains and the Shinkansen on their own and found with the amount we used it (multiple times a day!), it was definitely money well spent. The Shinkansen on their own are quite expensive, approximately AUD $165 one way from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto, so if you are going to be travelling large distances, even just for this you should consider it. We traveled on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka and back again.

Even though it is a bullet train, it does not feel like you are travelling as fast as you are, and you still get to experience the beauty of the surrounding areas just as you would on any normal train. You get an allocated seat, and there are trolley carts rolled around offering food, free wi-fi, and comfortable chairs that can be extended back. We recommended booking in advance for these, as we said earlier, they can book out quickly. It is quite simple to book, at most major stations there is an information centre/ticket office, where you can book directly and ensure you get a seat.

Wherever you want to go, from a main station, there is generally a express or standard train every few minutes. They are very full and always on time. If they are late for any reason there is notifications advising you. The signs are in Japanese and English. They also typically have a kiosk in English where you can check times and platforms. So if you are like us and barely know any Japanese except ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’, you will be fine!

In Kyoto, we found the best way to get around was by bicycle! Japan are renowned for their use of bicycles and in being so, have made it very user friendly. There are bike stations everywhere, where you can hire bikes, park bikes and more. They are inexpensive, and if you are like me and not so great at cycling, you can even get a electric assisted one. In AUD they only cost around $10-$12 per day. We were given a free bike map of the city and cycled around 30km viewing all different temples and sites.

There is so much culture everywhere in Kyoto that you are constantly riding past something unique and beautiful. Even just the experience of riding the bicycle was one to remember. The feeling of wind running through your hair as you cycle past restaurants and markets, temples and gardens. It was amazing and the highlight of our trip.

Shane riding a bicycle in Kyoto Japan

Look at a map –  

When it came to booking where we were staying, we were a little bit fussy. We like great quality, but at an affordable price. I don’t want to brag, but I have become a little bit of a master at shopping around.

There are a lot of districts in Tokyo, so we decided to start there and work out which district we wanted to stay in.

The districts all known for different things; culture, fashion, food, nightlife and more.

We got out a map. Marked out the train lines and the major stations, marked out where we wanted to go and where would be a perfect base place. That’s when we decided on Shinjuku. Shinjuku is a major hub in Tokyo, a place of lights, colour, sound, food and everything else in between. Shinjuku for us, would be the definition of ‘sensory overload’. It is extremely overwhelming but such an experience. There are constantly lights, and sounds and tempting smells around every turn, no matter the time of day. It is also home to a major red light district. So when you arrive at 10pm at night, make sure you know how to get to your hotel from the train station because…. trust us, it’s very easy to get lost. When you are sleep deprived and have jet lag, it is not a fun experience!

Once we had decided on our first location, we then continued looking at the map and decided on our next base place for a few days – Osaka. This would allow us to be able to do day trips to Kyoto, Hiroshima and more.

As we were flying out of Narita airport, we decided to stay in Tokyo again prior to flying out so as to break up the travel a bit. We stayed in the Shinjuku district again. Looking back now I am not quite sure what prompted us to stay here again, there were so many other districts and places and yet we chose another hotel a few hundred metres from the first one. I actually think it may have been that Shane wanted to stay in the hotel with the fire breathing Godzilla. This is one thing I would change if we were to go back, not stay in the same district twice.

Godzilla Hotel Gracery Shinjuku Japan

There were so many other interesting places. We explored most of the districts and found that we loved Harajuku. The streets were full of markets and stalls, food and culture. There were owl, cat and hedgehog cafes, and so many different options for food. We should have decided to shake it up a little!

Shane holding an eagle - owl cafe Harajuku Japan

Shopping around for deals –  

Now that a base plan was decided on, it was time to pick our hotels. This is my domain. I am a bargain hunter, a sale monger, anything you want to call it!

I researched, read books, studied travel magazines and everything in between. Tokyo is quite expensive to stay and for us, budget was something we were needing to consider. We wanted quality and yet affordability.

Now, I knew my local travel agent provided a ‘price match’ policy so I used that. I found the hotels I wanted for each of the 3 stops, found the best price online on all the hotel sale sites and I took those details to our travel agent. With this, you need proof. I had the websites with up to date prices ready to go, so it was simple. I showed the travel agent my choices, the prices I found, and they lowered theirs to match and we were in.

Be prepared, if you are going to do this, you need to generally be able to pay straight away. As they were price matching, they did not allow us to pay it off. We had also gotten cash out of the bank as opposed to using a debit or credit card as they charge a surcharge. I believe in just doing that we saved around AU $18!

With each of the hotels, we walked out getting the rates at around 50% off the standard. They were all 4 or 5 stars and we got them at a great rate. I was happy. Don’t be afraid to shop around and be savvy if you want to, it definitely helps those on a budget.

The hotels we decided on were Granbell Shinjuku for our first stay. Then the Crowne Plaza Osaka, and finally the Gracery in Shinjuku on our last stop in Tokyo. So many people warned us that the rooms in hotels were very small in Japan; so we were not surprised when we arrived and they were tiny! Nice, but tiny. In all of the hotels we stayed, the staff were extremely accommodating and very friendly. Of these hotels, 2 included breakfast. Please be aware, breakfast is very limited in Japan! We found we had trouble finding anywhere for breakfast as a lot of places don’t open until at least 10am. So it was extremely handy to have a continental breakfast available in the hotel.

If we were to do it again, not only would we not stay in the same district twice, but we would also stay in a Ryokan; this is a traditional Japanese Inn and would have been such a cultural, one of a kind experience.  We would not have stayed in Osaka for so long, and stayed in Kyoto instead. There was so much more to see and do. We also would head further out of the main cities to places like Nara.

Pre holiday preparation – 

This might sound obvious, however it is definitely not something to skip!

Pre-holiday preparation isn’t just about booking flights and hotels, it’s getting everything prepped to go; airport transfers to and from the hotel to avoid the issues like we had.

Travel plugs; Japan uses the same adapter as the USA so it can easily be found at most electronic stores, or luggage places. We found by just purchasing one and taking a power board, it covered all our needs.

Money is a big one.

There are a lot of ATM’s available in Japan and quite often you can be charged extra to use them. Some fees can be quite steep. Shane and I found taking some cash which had already been changed into the local currency, Yen, was best. Then, when we withdrew from local ATM’s, we took out enough cash to last for a few days so as to lessen the ATM charges.

Travel insurance is a must. Overseas medical costs can be very expensive. The small price to pay for insurance it is worth it if anything were to happen. Our credit cards cover travel insurance, this could also be an option for you to check if you have one.

It’s also about checking the weather, making sure you have the right foot ware, umbrella, jackets and more.

Medication is a big one; make sure you have them all in their correct boxes and packaging and check what is and isn’t allowed into the country (some medications that are allowed here in Australia, and in other countries are prohibited in Japan). The list is too long to check so jump onto this site and read just in case.

And then it is just the little things; making sure you have someone to take care of the house and animals, copying your passports and travel documents and leaving them with someone at home, just in case. Also registering your travel plans with Smart Traveller (An Australian government service that allows you to register where and when you will be going) and keeping updated on local news and issues occurring prior to leaving.

We also decided on a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card while we were there, to save money on currency conversion and ATM fees. A travel card could be worth the investment as most standard debit and credit cards carry hefty fees for overseas transactions.

If you are staying in Japan as a tourist for less than 90 days, you are not required to obtain a VISA. However if you are going for longer or are going to work, you will need to look into the requirements that is needed.

Depending on where you are travelling in Japan, you may also require vaccinations. It is a good idea to have a chat to your GP regarding this to get the most correct and up to date information.

There are so many things to consider, and this is just the beginning!

I find writing a list helps. Start writing down things a couple of weeks prior to leaving, that way when you think of something on the spot, it’s not too late. I have never forgotten a charger yet!

So that’s our beginners guide to Japan. It is a place where the senses go absolutely wild. It is beautiful, bright, colourful and loud. There is flashing, music and sound constantly. It is such a busy and fun place full of culture and life. When you step outside the city, it is quiet and peaceful. We would change a few things if we were to go back again, however, we would definitely go back in a heartbeat!

Shane and Claire at the robot restaurant Shinjuku Japan

 

Toyota Coaster Motorhome Conversion – Window Tint Removal and Application

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Our Toyota Coaster windows are already tinted, so why would we want to change it? Well, we are a little bit special that way and like things to be new and clean. So Shane and I decided it would be a great idea to replace the old, tired window tint in the bus with new ‘do it yourself’ window tint. As with everything we have done so far, we thought, ‘how hard could it be?’. Well I can tell you, the window tint removal was fun. Turns out when you follow instructions, it can be hard to the point of stamping your feet and crumpling the tint up into a ball. Yep, as you can see towards the end of the video, that is what happened.

So back to the decision of window tint. We purchased Altrex extra dark smoke 5% from our local Supercheap Auto store. This is a super dark tint, with only 5% of light being allowed in.

We decided to go with the darkest tint we could find, for the windows that were going to be directly behind the bathroom cubicle and the fridge. We did not want to be able to look in from the outside of the bus and see the back of these.

The Removal Process –

Removing the old window tint was the first step.

I had purchased a scraper blade from our local hardware shop, Bunnings, and had planned to just scrape it off. I began by removing the window lock using a phillips head screwdriver and taking out two screws. I set this aside to put back on after the new window tint was in place. You can leave the window lock on and cut the tint around it, but I found that the ease in removing it was much more convenient than trying to work around it.

I then began to scrape the window tint off piece by piece. Two hours, and half the window tint later, I decided no more. There must be an easier way; that’s when I turned to Google.

Heat.

I found a hair dryer, heated the edges of the window tint and used my scraper to start a peel. It worked. What had taken me so long on my own, took only 15 minutes to complete the rest of the window with the hair dryer. Time for the next window.

Once the old tint was removed from all of the windows we decided on, they were cleaned with ammonia free glass cleaner to get them ready for the new tint. We are not sure why it was necessary to have ammonia free glass cleaner; the instructions said so and we decided it would be best to follow them, just in case. We wiped the windows with paper towel so as not to leave any dust or marks.

New Tint Application, First Try –

The process was supposed to be simple. We purchased all the items required –

  • Tint
  • Bucket
  • Mild dish washing liquid (Mix approximately a cap full with 4 litres of water and fill spray bottle)
  • Spray Bottle
  • Squeegee
  • Utility knife
  • Large 60cm ruler
  • Clear tape
  • Ammonia free window cleaner
  • Paper Towel
  • Cleaning Cloth
  • Butchers paper for the outline
  • Marker

All the tools for do it yourself window tint installation in our toyota coaster school bus conversion

The instructions said, measure twice, cut once.

So that’s what we did. We measured the window, drew it up on the butcher’s paper, and cut out the paper only to reveal it was too small. Time to measure again. This piece looked better. We then placed our piece of butcher’s paper up against the new tint, cut around it, and left approximately 1 centimeter around the entire outside. This was just in case there were any issues, and it could be trimmed later.

The next step was a bit fiddly. The new tint has a thin protective layer which once removed, meant that we could adhere it to the window. Using 2 pieces of sticky tape on either side of the tint, and pulling gently, it allowed us to separate it. Once we had done that just a little, we wet the window and tint with a mixture of dish washing liquid and water in a spray bottle. While ever the window and tint were wet, you could move it easily. We learnt this probably a bit too late; our first attempt started to dry and no matter what we did, we could not get it to line up.

It was so difficult! This is where I ended up stamping and crinkling it into a ball.

Our piece of tint was too small. It didn’t work. Measure twice, cut once they said. It didn’t work!

Back to the drawing board.

New Tint Application, Second Try –

We decided not to measure the window up this time. It was time to ‘wing it’.

We held the tint up against the window and cut a piece big enough to fit with plenty of excess around the edges. We decided it would be easier to just trim around the edges once in place. We separated it, and kept it completely wet throughout so it did not crinkle as we got it in place, and stuck it on. And… it worked! Our way worked! Once it was in place, we used the squeegee on the new tint. Shane gently pressed it, and pushed all the water to the outside edges to get it flat, remove the air bubbles and all excess water from underneath.

The utility knife was then used to cut around the edges of the excess tint and make it a nice clean edge.

It was done. And with our way, the second and third windows were complete without issues.

And for a ‘do it yourself’ job, it looked fantastic! We were super happy and decided that possibly one day, definitely not too soon, we would do the rest of the windows, just not as dark.

So that was the window tint. The final step before we could mark out our layout in the bus and start framing!

The Layout –

We have talked about our design before and what we want in our bus. It was finally time to tape it up on the bus floor and get an idea of where we stand. Both Shane and I had been wanting to get to this step for so long. We wanted to see if everything we had discussed and hoped would actually work.

The day was beginning to fade so this would be our last job before leaving. We got out our plan, measured and taped it out. It started to look real.

Thankfully, just about everything we had talked about and measured worked. We will go through this in more details once we start framing, but it was just exciting to get it up and running!

Keep an eye out for next time, the exciting stuff begins!