I am 31, and considering moving to Australia…

[WhereamIgoing25]

So, as the title says: I am 31 years old, currently living in London, single (actually just been dumped by someone I was dating for a few months!), no dependents and a bit fed up with life here / in the UK… and thinking of moving to Aus for a year or so.

Don’t get me wrong - I have a pretty active social life, and I am close to my family and friends - but apart from that I don’t feel like anything is keeping me here. Especially not my job / career! It wouldn’t be a permanent move (I don’t think) but I am ready for a change.

Thought I would turn to MN for some advice! I’ve never been to Aus / NZ but I’ve always had it in the back of my mind to visit / move there.

Pros? Cons? Did you do it? Would you do it if you could? Best cities to move to? Are there really spiders and snakes everywhere?

This person is under 35.

We’ve even had 40C in the UK, so she got all her ‘facts’ wrong.

https://news.sky.com/story/uks-2022-weather-which-saw-40c-temperature-record-to-become-typical-12927481

It’s quite a marmite place (well Vegemite!) I know people who moved there, loved it and stayed and others who came back within 3 years because it didn’t suit them. They were on permanent visa track rather than the simpler 1 year working holiday ones.

im going in a year or two myself but as dh is Australian and ill be retired no working issues

The only thing that would stop me at your age is that if I met someone and fell in love with him over there and wanted to have a family with him then I wouldn't be able to move back to the UK with my child unless he agreed, which I doubt he would. The idea of being trapped in another country is horrifying to me.

Lack of history, except for some indigenous, high level of mysoginy. Backward

I did it

Working holiday visa for a year

Had a lot of fun. Applied for a permanent job over there (which would have led to permanent residence) but my old boss gave me a terrible reference (did she confuse me with someone else??) so it didn't happen

My DS1 (now 31)moved to Adelaide (3 weeks before lockdown here!) and has been there ever since. He met an Aussie in the UK, went out for a year, then she came here for 2 years and then he applied for a couple's visa, and now they are married and he has a resident's visa, and plans to take citizenship.
Getting a job that first year was tricky but he found work (and has a permanent job now)
Living costs are high, finding places to rent, difficult. Some things are worse... Definitely a lack of culture in respect of theatre etc and more racism. But in general he loves the lifestyle and the people. And the weather (not too hot in Adelaide but a damn sight better than the UK... Summer is fab) We go out there every other February and love it. It's definitely worth a year of your time!

I had the opportunity to move to Perth years ago. One of my biggest regrets is not giving it a go. Don’t think of it as a forever decision but as a potentially great experience. Enjoy a change, meet new people, see new places, soak up the chance to embrace something new and different. And if you hate it, just come home!

My son is in Melbourne and loves his life,as a Mum I am struggling but I want what is best for him .

I went to Oz in the eighties and had a fabulous time. After 2 years of fun I literally woke up one day and thought I needed to come home to the real world. Am so glad I made that decision ☺️

Think of it as a deferred gap year when you're old enough to appreciate the luxury of just taking some time to explore and work somewhere else.

Would you care to explain how Australians are backwards? I'm quite curious.

I did a working holiday in Oz and the same in NZ and absolutely loved it. Do it. I would have stayed longer had I been able to.

Definitely go for it! Ignore the naysayers - as others have said, life’s short, do the things 😄❤️

Would depend if I wanted kids or not
if I wanted kids I’d prioritise that at 31 as if you meet someone there you risk being stuck there

if you don’t want kids then book the flight today

I bet they can’t .

You might want to dial down your stereotypes as not everyone in Aus is as you describe. Those people unfortunately exist the world over but thankfully non prejudice types outnumber them.

I took it that the view was backwards, not Australians.

If you don't like snakes and poisonous things that bite, look at NZ as we have neither.

The job market is tough here ATM, unless you are in healthcare.

Sorry to derail slightly, but why can’t you travel with your DD?! I know plenty of people who travel with children. Or do you mean a certain style of travel, like backpacking or camper van trips?

Word of warning about moving in your early 30s (from someone who lives abroad)....the problem is you will meet a man 😅 have a baby and spend the rest of your life juggling coming back to the UK with your kids vs holidays, always missing home etc. It's really really hard.

OP is 31, not 41. She could easily do a year or two in Australia and still have plenty of time to have a baby. Besides, she might like it there and want to stay longterm.

I'm in NZ and have been hearing this since I was in my teens - I'm now in my 60s.

Hmmm - the Adelaide Fringe festival is the worlds second largest annual arts festival. How many Fringe shows has your Son been to Sonolanona? Adelaide is home to more restaurants per capita than any other Australian city and awash with theaters, museums and has the benefit of being a long city on a beautiful coast. I dont live there but I am really amused when people say "limited culture"! I think there is the stereotype that Australia is without "culture". Those claiming that Australia is without culture generally also claim Australians are racist while being racist themselves and ignoring indigenous culture. Australia is a long way away and can get quite hot. Let those things guide you and not these antiquated ideas of what people think Australia is!

A link to what is on in Adelaide this weekend. https://southaustralia.com/destinations/adelaide/what-s-on?ef_id=CjwKCAjw6NrBBhB6EiwAvnT_roeyvV85NARfrFmgQs9Fj3tN2FuBt1DescgHl8VWCfhh_0GkWOVZAxoCkvIQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!11357!3!641485977735!p!!g!!whats%20on%20adelaide!19265354091!147496928794&szc=1&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19265354091

I think this depends on how close you are to your family. I emigrated at 35 (albeit not as far away as Australia) and I have indeed ‘met’ a local. If we end up working out as a couple, I’ll stay here longterm. I plan to visit family no more than once a year for no more than a week. That leaves me with 5 weeks of annual leave to spend on holidays. There’s another poster who lives where I live who goes back to the UK every 3 years. Emigrating and building a life elsewhere need not mean crippling homesickness. 😊