Hi
Having done this course, I had a very bad time with NAT but don't let me put you off
. Make sure you ask the questions that Biggles7374 hints at.
The time scale that they told me was well out of proportion. I AM NOT JOKING OR EXAGERATING WHEN I SAY IT HAS COST ME over $10,000 MORE THAN I BUGETED FOR AFTER GETING SCREWED ABOUT!!
I started in April 09 and have still not got up to darwin for the ICUS part of the course. (6 weeks Yeah right) Ask to speak to one student that did the course in the time promised.
Aircraft are constantly in maintainance and my whole CIR course was conducted in aircraft with out working auto pilots.
In theory this sounds like a great course but be warned!!!! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND!!!!!
I don't want to bag NAT too much in public. So I will give you a couple more options
Check out the ROYAL QUEENSLAND AERO CLUB / Airline Academy of Australia. they have just bought quite a few new aircraft including C172S (garmin 1000 glass cockpit), C210, C206, And a Barron for instrument training. I think they charge $16,000 for the MECIR with the whole flying part of the course done in a Barron. Great Instructors, I did my CPL there and the Instructors are great and living in Brisbane is awesome (they also have some accomodation available at very reasonable costs)
Or in NSW, AIR NSW very nice Duchess and a great instructor at wollongong airport. I know that they can do a course considerably cheaper than NAT with much cheaper landing fees at YWOL, plus you can live on the beach and much cheaper living costs than many places. They also do all the coast watch for Sydneys beaches and have lots of aircraft that you may be able to work out some ICUS time in.
I wish you all the best.