Auckland vs Brisbane/Melbourne

[AngryBeaver]

Hi, we emigrated to NZ around 5 years ago (I'm sure some here will remember the threads!)
Well, while we LOVE it here on Waiheke, we find it very restrictive, cost wise.

We decided to move to a suburb of Auckland (Devonport) which I also love.
But, the problem with NZ is its just sooooo horrifically expensive.
We could get a house in Devonport. But it would be a small 3 bed (we have 4 kids) with a tiny garden, and overlooked from most angles! And it will still cost us over a million.

It's not just the houses that are expensive - it's just EVERYTHING.

So, we started to think about Australia.
We started to look at houses in Brisbane and were shocked to see what we could get for the same money.

We wouldn't want to live West Aus, or Sydney.
But, Queensland/Melbourne look nice. I have never been!

We qualify for a visa, so that's no problem.
But, it's another big move for the kids 2,6,8,10.

Can anyone give me any insight into life over there. Someone who has lived both places would be great.
TIA

I have to say the whole time I was in Australia the friendliest people I met were the Kiwis

I'm not sure we can tar everyone with the same brush, can we? I mean, MAYBE we can! I haven't experience of this country. But, I have found there to be good and bad everywhere.
And, being from the Liverpool area, I have heard so many generalisations that have driven me INSANE.
My husband too, as an Irish Catholic, can you imagine??

So, I'm loathe to agree that allll Aussies are coarse and uncultured. Or, as my friend tells me "put ICE in their WINE!"
But, what do I know?

I have heard some "becareful" stories, lately. About Aussies having no compunction about kicking out a kiwi or a Brit if they can replace them with an Aussie. And, also a story about a kiwi, married for years to an Aussie, a child or two born in Oz, husband suddenly dies and the government refuse to help her, telling her to return to NZ.
Again, I don't know if there is any truth in this.

Ok, so back to places to live!

Somewhere not too far to commute, and not too built up. With great schools. Aaaand not too expensive.
That would be wonderful ;) any suggestions?!

Hey hey AngryBeaver ... ice in the wine in Brisbane is considered to be just a counter-measure against the heat to ensure that it's drinkable (otherwise I'd be trying to down it while it's still chilled and end up legless/falling down drunk)

Run us through your 'must have/nice to have' list - commuting distance for CBD? 4+ bedrooms? pool? good schools?

Sounds sensible to me, oceans ;)

Ok, so ideally yes, at least 4 bed. We have 4 kids, so 3 beds would be a bit of a squeeze.
A pool is a definite must have!
Good schools as above.

Commute, I'm not sure. He's been a bit spoilt here just nipping over on the ferry and then a 2 min walk to work! In the Uk he had to drive 45 mins on motorway to get to work and he detested it.

I think I've said I find row after row of houses a bit soul destroying. That's the thing I always hated about living in UK. All the terraced houses/semi's, even detached but all 3 foot away from one another and all with a great view of your back garden from their upstairs window!
Even better, the silhouetteof your neighbour through the frosted glass, getting dry after a shower!

I'd like a nice welcoming community, but not literally on my doorstep!

If you could find me somewhere like that...that'd be great

What industry does your husband work in ?

He's in media, but looking into moving into communications

He actually works for a Sydney based company, so he could transfer to there, but he doesn't want to.
He is wondering whether they would allow him to work from home in Brisbane and fly back to NZ monthly to check on the office (he's the NZ boss) but it's doubtful.

Good luck with it all, this re-emigrating !

Cheers toasted. I certainly didn't think I'd ever be doing all this shifting about, that's for sure!

We spent a year n Auckland when we arrived back from the UK 5 years ago. I really, really did not like it.

We, also, were in Devonport. Nice ferry-ride commute to work for DH, but Lake Road... My God. Totally untenable, long-term.

We upped and left after a year. It was the weather that sealed it, really. It didn't stop raining all summer. Even my Irish ILs, who came out to visit for a month, were at it! That, and the laughable house prices.

We're now down in the Capital, and I find the weather and lifestyle sooo much more palatable! Contrary to what you've probably heard, I'm sure. There's a great vibe here. And plenty of Comms opportunities, naturally!

I love Welly. I really do. Much. Iced city than Auckland, and you're right, a better vibe.
But, the wind puts me off.
It has been windy every time I've ever been, even when it was boiling hot!

I think we are ready for pastures new. And I'm liking the sound of Brisbane.
We just need to know everything about it! (I will get there soon, but not yet, I have 2 surgeries coming up)

Let me enjoy reading all about life/community/schools/weather/money/wildlife/crime rates. Just anything and everything, really!

Dh has to get a job offer first of course. But then I think things will move fast and I'd like to have a few possible places to live in mind when I visit.

:)

I lived in Melbourne for two years and honestly I don't think I had a night in the whole time I was there, always something to do or see.

NZ returning trom oz are coming from Perth though, mining has dried up do they are going back having made their money which was the plan all along and fair play to them

Which brings me nicely on to my next question! Perth was suggested today. It would shave a good proportion of travel from uk for family.
Can anyone tell me about life there?

Ok, I think Perth is off the table again! Back to Brisbane/Melbourne!

Brisbane is awesome, lovely city, lots to do, near the beach and not too far from gorgeous places like Noosa or Byron. I'm trying to convince my partner to move back up there. Good luck!

Boring as tbh, it's very bogan, I loved it lol

Well then it sounds amazing, aaaand then boring! Why is it boring? There seems to be loads to do.
Certainly more than we are used to here!

I looked at Samford village and it looked gorgeous. But my for end tells me this is the "wops" (I had to ask what that meant!)

Boring in that there isn't much too see/do if say you were comparing it with Sydney or Melbourne or even Birmingham. However at 40 all I want to see is a nice glass of wine with ice and cottesloe beach tbh

Well,I don't think we can live in Melbourne.

I here you. You might as well be in the uk tbh, I enjoyed it but it was nothing like Perth and I hear Brisbane is even more laid back

Sydney also a no go.

You liked Perth, then?

Personally Perth is the only place I would live in Australia and I say that after hating it for the first year. It will not be a career move for you though and the DC's will want to leave as soon as they can to go exploring

I preferred Perth to Brisbane tbh. But you are going to struggle to find plenty of room and non identikit/crammed houses with an easy commute.