Moving to Keilor Downs, Smart Shopping Tactics, and Setting Up the Perfect Base for BELL
On our tenth day in Australia, it was time to change our base. We packed our things, checked out of our first accommodation, and moved to our second Airbnb in Keilor Downs. This move was particularly important because it was all about preparing a safe, comfortable environment to finally welcome our cat, BELL, the following day.
- Checking Out, the NAB Mystery, and Local Grocery Inspections
We started the morning by making sandwiches, packing up the Pajero, and heading out. Since we didn’t see our British housemates around, we left without saying goodbye. Later on, several people asked us, “Why Deer Park? That area isn’t great,” but since our stay was short, we personally found it completely fine and had no issues.
Our checkout was at 10:00 AM, but our check-in for the next place wasn’t until 1:00 PM. Since the two locations were only about a 15-minute drive apart, we had a significant amount of spare time. We decided to try picking up our NAB bank cards again, as we had received a few automated SMS notifications from the bank stating they were ready.
We drove to the designated branch inside the shopping mall, but the counter staff told us once again that the cards had not arrived yet and repeated that they would call us when they did. It was frustrating getting repeated text messages only to be turned away, and in the end, that branch never called us a single time.
With more time to kill, we decided to visit Coles, Woolworths, and a local Fresh Market to run a detailed price comparison. We discovered that vegetables were consistently cheapest at the Fresh Market, which also offered much larger bulk-pack options.
The price difference between Coles and Woolworths usually depends on the timing of their specific half-price specials or weekly discounts, so which one is cheaper varies from day to day. That said, I regularly use Coles for their 500g pasta packs, which are always 90 cents (compared to $1.00 at Woolworths). Our shopping strategy is now set: vegetables from the Fresh Market, pantry staples and meat from Coles, and checking Woolworths specifically for items on special discount.
Even after analyzing the supermarkets, we still had an hour left before check-in. We drove over to the new Airbnb and parked outside. The inside of the car was incredibly hot, so we moved into the shade, cracked the windows, and took a quick nap.
- The Comfort of Our First Entire Rental and the Regret of Split Stays
At 1:00 PM, I messaged the host and received immediate permission to enter. After a brief moment of confusion finding the correct entrance, we made our way inside.
Unlike our first stay, which was a shared house, this accommodation was a completely private 1-bedroom apartment (1LDK). Since our experience with Airbnb was limited, I had assumed shared spaces were the standard, but having the entire place to ourselves felt incredibly comfortable. It was clean, spacious, and immediately felt like a place we could easily live in long-term.
Originally, our plan was to spend our entire first month strictly at this second Airbnb. However, when we found the cheaper shared option in Deer Park, we decided to split the stay to save money during the period BELL was still in quarantine. Knowing we would move quickly once we secured a caravan, we limited our stay at this comfortable second spot to just over a week.
Looking at the private space, it was so comfortable that I felt a bit of regret for not staying here from the very beginning. Although the listing stated there was no air conditioning, we found a fully functioning unit that worked perfectly. The shower and toilet were pristine, and the overall cleanliness was excellent. If we ever return to Melbourne, I would absolutely book this place again based on this first impression.
- Setting Up the Safety Net and Preparing for BELL’s Arrival
We dedicated the rest of the afternoon to transforming the space into a secure environment for BELL’s arrival tomorrow.
First, we set up the portable Wi-Fi router we acquired via Marketplace the day before. We inserted the mobile SIM card and successfully established a dedicated network specifically for BELL’s monitoring devices. Next, we booted up and connected our smart hardware:
SwitchBot Hub 2: Connected to the network without any issues. We mapped the infrared codes for the apartment’s air conditioner, allowing us to control the climate remotely. We configured automated scenes to turn on the cooling if the room temperature climbs too high, and the heating if it drops too low.
Tapo Pet Camera: Set up perfectly, giving us a live video stream of the room and two-way audio capabilities at any time.
Smart Automatic Feeder: This unit features its own built-in camera and two-way audio. It allows us to dispense meals remotely or set precise automated timer schedules.
Using these three interconnected devices, we created a reliable digital safety net to monitor and protect BELL.
Next, we set up her physical amenities. We plugged in her water fountain, which utilizes a built-in filter to keep her drinking water constantly clean and circulating. For the litter setup, we deployed two separate options: a compact, folding travel litter box we brought with us from Japan, and a larger standard litter box we purchased locally at Kmart. We thought the familiar Japanese box might offer comfort initially, but we set up the larger Kmart option alongside it to see which one she prefers. Finally, we assembled and placed a cardboard cat scratcher, also purchased from Kmart.
Everything was successfully installed and tested without a single issue. To wrap up the day, we enjoyed an early dinner. Having a private kitchen to ourselves made cooking incredibly seamless and relaxed. Hoping we will find similar private setups when we eventually relocate to Perth, I made a simple meal of aglio e olio with minced beef.
What’s Next?
Tomorrow is finally the day we pick up BELL. She has endured a long, lonely period in quarantine, and we booked the very earliest morning appointment slot available to bring her home as quickly as possible. The long wait is finally over—in the next post, we are finally reunited with BELL!
Get the same gear I used for this setup here(SwitchBotHub2):
Get the same gear I used for this setup here(Tapo Pet Camera):
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