Australia for 6 months with 2 dc

[whizster]

After much indecision dh and I have arranged to have a small amount of stuff shipped to Australia for our 6 month stay - he's working, I'm at home with dds 2.5 & 10 weeks. Was wondering if anyone had any advise on what would be good to bring. Was planning on children's clothes, winter coats, toys, books and toiletries plus calpol after looking at other threads. We're not emigrating just going to be in Melbourne for 6 months from December.

Any suggestions greatfully received as I can't think straight - babybrained & sleep deprived!

That sounds like a good list. You won't need thick coats. I have a cupboard full of proper winter coats and we have never needed them. You are not supposed to ship medicine. I fed-exed calpol and it got in. Just bring it with you it will be easier.

We arrived in January and my girls had no sandals that fitted them and we found it hard to get any as it was the middle of the summer holidays by then. So make sure you have summer clothes already.

For 6m from Dec you won't need winter coats - we have survived winters here with just jumpers and jackets/raincoats. It never gets bitterly cold. You'll need long sleeved Ts and jumpers though for when it gets cooler, esp if you have a cold house (like us!)
It depends if you are fussy about toiletries or not but you can get a lot of the same brands out here, just not own brands of course like Boots. But all the major cosmetics and brands like Dove and Herbal Essences etc are here. If you use Body Shop though, bring it from the UK! Shampoo costs 3x as much here. Look at www.bigw.com.au skin/haircare to see if you can get what you need here, or maybe check google australia.
Books - just bring favourites, but join your local library when you get here and use it lots! Also a good place for meeting people - in NSW I met other mums through a books and babies group.
Toys - there are often toy libraries around too, google that and see if there's one near where you'll be going.

Remember UK car seats for kids are not legal in Australia, you will need to use Aussie approved ones. If hiring a car ask for seats to be fitted in for you on arrival. If someone's picking you up, they'll need to organise seats. Failing that, bring your own for the first few journeys (up to you if you continue to use for 6 months, not sure what the consequenses are if you get caught!)
6 months will fly by! Enjoy

You won't need much of what you have listed.

If going in December you will need summer clothes plus a couple of pairs of jeans, t-shirts and jumpers for when Autumn kicks in but it won't get so cold that you need winter coats as you will be back in the UK. Take thongs (flip flops), shorts, t-shirts, cardigans, closed toe shoes but no need for boots.

If you are shipping stuff you will be half way through your 6 months before it arrives so go with an airline with generous baggage, ie Emirates who last time I checked was 30 kilos each in economy.

Don't bother with toiletries as all the same stuff is available in Australia. Just get yourself to Target or Woolies when you arrive to stock up.

Have a look on gumtree for melbourne and see what toys are around to save taking stuff with you.

I do agree on taking books with you though as books are really expensive. If you are a reader then buy a kindle and download everything you might possibly read in 6 months. Children's books I'd take a few but not so many that you are bogged down with.

No need for calpol as there is an equivalent available in the chemist.

UK car seats are illegal in Australia. Insurance can be void if you have an accident.

We're off to Melbourne for a year in Dec... with dd4 and ds 3. I'd heard books were expensive so was planing to stock up at booksforchildren, but if shipping takes so long I'm not so sure!
We've kept all the kids' summer clothes which will last them for a few weeks after we arrive.

I am panicking at the thought of no CBeebies... is there a way to get BBC out there?

Whizster - which suburbs have you been looking at?

If you get foxtel you will get cbeebies.

Shipping will take approximately 3 months - longer over Christmas and New Year. That is just to get to Australia when you have then got get through customs clearance etc.

Thank you very much for replies and suggestions. The cases are being packed this week and sent next week from Manchester, but its all happening quite last minute, and not easy to pack cases + house, feed a 4 week old and entertain a 2 year old and try and remain sane! I've been told that they'll arrive in Melbourne on 16/12.....

We've rented a house in Elwood through a sort of exchange type website with furniture as I've heard some horror stories about people arriving and not being able to find accommodation, then spending ages getting furniture, especially as mentioned 6 months is a very short period of time. We're using the owners' car and they are having a capsule fitted for us, and using their car seat for dd1.

This should (fingers crossed) be the relatively easy trip, going to Malawi in July 2012 for 6 months (must need my head read), and I'm meant to be working there too.

Sounds like Melbourne could well be the easier side of the trip - sounds like a great adventure though!! We arrived back in July and are having a great time. If you get freeview then you can get ABC for kids which is pretty similar to Cbeebies! If anyone fancies a park meet up or something that would be great! I have one ds age 4.

Ok, maybe I've just acclimatised but I would definitely bring warm clothes to Melbourne. I was shivering there yesterday - 12 degrees and raining - it was nice to get back to Sydney where it was sunny and 33!

Whizster Elwood is vair vair nice, close to beach, hip shops, cafes and the CBD. Great childrens' playgrounds and barbecue areas next to the beach Lovely suburb.

melons books are expensive here, but opshops, especially in the wealthier areas are very good, and second-hand bookshops are excellent. You can't shift for garage sales, so don't fret about the books.

I'll definitely be up for a park meetup. Perhaps after the whirlwinds of Xmas and New Year and moving in have blown over! We're looking at Kew, Ivanhoe (great name), as well as Elwood. We love the look of Brighton and Sandringham but you get so much less garden-wise. Williamstown really appealed to me, but DH went out there and said it was near a sewage works or something.

Whizster - I am completely in awe of you travelling such a long way with your dcs. And then to Malawi!!!! I don't think I left our village for a year after my 2 were born (mind you, only 12 months apart so I was a bit shell-shocked I think).

All I can say is its a very developed country and you can buy what you need...but what a fab, fab adventure!

Enjoy!!!!

Its what memories are made of.

Good luck!

You can also buy some DVD with your dc favourite cbbc shows. ABC does have good children's shows.
I would take a light winter jacket but not too heavy.

I'm in the group that wouldn't bother shipping for 6 months especially not if house swapping type thing sorry but since you are
I'd bring some kiddy clothes and favourite things (toys/books etc)
I'd be surprised if you need winter coats rather than jackets/sweaters.
Toiletries you can buy in OZ so unless you are really keen on something just bring what you are using currently.

I wouldn't bother with calpol ours was taken off us at UK customs.

Amazon are doing free shipping to OZ/NZ so you'll be able to get all you need and your kids will be able to watch the Wiggles and Dorothy the dino (is she Australian!?)

Out of curiosity what kind of jobs allow you to et 6/12 months in Oz? (if you don't mind saying)

Thanks again for suggestions, and no don't mind saying holidaysoon, my husband is a surgeon and as the last part of specialist training you're allowed to go and learn extra super duper skills in a specialist centre. He's chosen a special knee place in Melbourne, so to go too, I had to be on maternity leave (that was stressful planning!). It's purely for the extra surgical experience as it's costing us an arm and a leg to go, although he will be paid a cursory amount.

It will be fantastic I'm sure, particularly leaving a Uk winter but feeling a bit stressed about leaving my normal happy life to potentially know nobody for 6 months with 2 little ones and the DH working long hours.

6 months is long enough to need everyday living and occasional special items (smart clothes etc) but too short to buy loads of things we already have in Uk as we'll be coming back relatively soon. Anyway, boxes have gone so hopefully we'll see them before we leave!

Good luck with it all, whizster.

PM if you wish.