To be sick of living in the UK and to want to move to Australia?!

[MsKLo]

Australia has been in our thoughts for many years - the outdoor lifestyle, the good weather, seems like a much better lifestyle for kids...

But we have never even been there - yet we dream about just saying 'fuck it' (!) and move there! Don't get me wrong, I do love my country but I just feel the lifestyle would be better there and better for our kids. I know every country has problems, but am quite fed up of living here.

Would love to hear from pons in Oz too! Are you glad you moved?

Should we pursue this dream and leave family and friends behind and just go for it or stay?

Bleurgh! I just don't know!

My parents moved back and forth to Australia (mainly NSW) all of my childhood.

I've visited often, I've done the tourist thing and I've done the living thing, but only as a visitor.

My entire family moved there for good many years ago now.

I wouldn't go. I couldn't live there, I find it too 'small town; and oppressive.

Yes, the countryside is wonderful, the beaches are lovely, but that's it and at the end of the day I prefers the UK.

Have a holiday there if you want, living in a country is entirely different.

It is all about exchange rate - 4 years ago £1=Aus$3 nor it is £1=Aus$1.50 (ish)

Also, just to apply for the visa is about Aus$6000, depending on type of visa. Plus extra costs of medicals and verifing qualifications.

see I found it the opposite missmartha. I came from a thriving, modern, cosmopolitan city with cafe society to a backwater rural part of UK where you cant even find a vietnamese restaurant and no-one knows what a flat white is lol.

I know what a flat white is hoovercraft. I'll make you one if you can't get it.

Now the middle of Sydney, I could do that, but lets be fair, most of it is just suburban sprawl.

Ugly and miles from anywhere, even in a city.

My brother lives in the burbs. It takes him 10 mins in the car to go to the corner shop for milk.

yay I'll be right over

and a decaf skinnycino

I dont know sydney very well...only been there once. Takes us 10 mins to the shop here as well.

Nothing prepares you for the feelings of missing your loved ones back in the UK, unless you have no ties of course. Also the heat can be exhausting night & day. Have to agree with another poster about the music, not to my liking either. I do like the friendliness of the Aussies, good sense of humour and down to earth. If I was considering emigrating now I would talk to as many people as possible on the forums, watch the current programmes on re-locating. From experience I would say that some employers are not always keen to take on immigrants in case they don't stay, just because we speak the same language it is no certainty that you will be given a secure job unless you have a skill that is in demand.I found job hunting difficult when I was there.
Good luck with your decision.

Came from there and going back there next year.

I dont even think a holiday is enough to see if you will like it. So plan a 2 year semi-move. So don't sell up here. Go over there and rent, work and see if you like it.

Basically dont expect the weather to be fantastic. I much prefer summers here (and throughout Europe): long days, enough warm ones. Over there summers can be brtually hot and you can only really enjoy the warm summer evenings. The kids will stay inside all day playing dvds/games as it is too hot for outdoor activities during the day. Also the sun is different and burns faster too.

It is expensive, especially housing. Food is also substantially more expensive, comparing out food bills for 2 years ago there to here we save £60 ($100AU a week).

The reasons we are going back? It seems to have more aspirations and we want our kids exposed to that sort of culture where people aspire to achieve. Unfortunately I dont personally see much of that around here. Also the government policies are a lot more family friendly IMO and dont favour big-business so much. Also the gap between rich/poor doesn't seem so large and there is much more of a middle class than there is here, although middle class has a very different definition than 'middle class' here (am getting off track here).

I used to be, ZZ.

I lived in oz and nz. Lovely places considered moving out there. But remember all the same hassles and drudge as in the UK. Plus you working with an unfamiliar system re tax, healthcare, buying property etc which makes it 1000 times harder. Won't say dont do it but think carefully.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to offer your thoughts - much appreciated

We have Aussie friends who lived here for a few years and have moved back to Melbourne and they are very positive about the place. I think the idea of renting our house out here is a good one and then we can rent over there and see how it goes - but I am also all for 'if I move, I move to stay' - if house prices were booming here I would sell but it is probably a good idea hold onto our house for now

My husband's job is in demand over there and quite niche so we will be looking for him to start with as I am ar home with kids and a freelance designer

Thanks again everyone - it has been really interesting hearing from you all x