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I am moving to Australia for 6 months and my car is going to be parked at home (outside) during that time. I live in Dunedin right by the harbour although up a hill but on windy days nothing escapes the salt spray. I'm leaving the country in a few days and have been trying to save up (to no avail) to get the stone chips fixed and am wondering if there are any temporary solutions to stop the process of 'rust'. The metal is dark in colour but not rust as such has formed. would candle wax be a good idea? Just until I get back and can do something about it as I really don't want any expensive bills and being a windy place a car cover would probably cause more damage to the paint.

Any help or suggestions would be great!

Cheers
Rob

The best inexpensive solution is to touch the chps up with a paint touch-up stick. Many paint suppliers and car painters will mix up the correct colour for you into a small bottle with a brush (like nail polish). This will be a little more expensive than an off-the-shelf colour, so if you're not too bothered about the cosmetics, a small pot of enamel paint and an artist's brush will do the job, but will look spotty.
As I'm sure you're aware, leaving a vehicle unattended for several months in an environment such as this will inevitably result in some deterioration, but it sounds like you have no option.
If at all possible, pump the tyres up harder than usual (say, 40lbs) as the tyres can go out of shape when sitting in one place, also, if the car is parked in a safe place (ie; where it will not roll away) leave the hand brake off and chock the wheels, as handbrakes often jam on when left for a long time.
I agree with your comment about car covers under these circumstances - most types will not allow the car to breathe, and a build-up of condensation that cannot escape can do more harm.
Enjoy your travels!