ETA: For anyone considering this move, the first few pages of this thread have a lot of information (the first month's worth or more) that would be very worthwhile reading if you are serious. I read every single "moving to Aus" thread there was on EBB when we were first deciding to go - invaluable, and the only person who can put the homework into a move like this is you! Lots of questions are answered both about how things work in Aus in general and also specific to the move - the pros and cons of the different shipping agents some of us used for example, and what they cost us, and tips/tricks of things to do and remember before the big day (all things that fade in one's memory down the track, so here some of them are in writing for you!).

Additionally, you can check out some of these webpages:

http://www.movingtoaussie.com/
http://www.movingtobrisbane.co.nz/
http://movetoaustralia.net/
http://www.workingin-australia.com/

Find a house to buy or rent:

http://www.realestate.com.au
http://www.domain.com.au

Medicare: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/
Medicare enrolment: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/publ...form_011005.pdf
Information on documentation required to enrol for medicare as a NZer moving permanently to Australia: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/publ...n-australia.pdf

Family assistance info:
http://www.familyassist.gov.au/
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/


Residency/citizenship info for NZ citizens:
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/17nz.htm
http://www.australia.org.nz/wltn/VisaFAQ.html
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/visa-options-nz.htm
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/175/eligibility-applicant.htm
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/booklets.htm
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/conferral_app_process/


Banks:
www.cba.com.au
www.westpac.com.au
www.nab.com.au
www.anz.com.au


An option for bringing money over to Aus (beside your own bank's options):
www.currencyonline.com


Buy cars:
www.drive.com.au
www.carsales.com.au


"Trade Me":
www.ebay.com.au
http://www.gumtree.com.au/?CatId=0&lscl=1&lssa=3005721

Ikea:
www.ikea.com.au

Packing tips and checklists:
http://www.ausmove.co.nz/Packing-Tips.html
http://www.ausmove.co.nz/Check-List.html



At the end of last week, DH got offered a role in Brisbane by his boss, and at the time I thought that since we don't have huge family support here we wouldn't be losing that to move, so we should go. The idea is for us to go for maybe a couple of years till the girls are school aged, though in reality it could potentially be longer or shorter, up to us. DH has a great boss (no change there) and we would be taking shares in the Australian company when we move too. A few days went past and I thought, it's a pretty big upheaval with lots of (financial) risks... nah, I don't want to do it. But we made a few changes to the financial package so that it would make greater provision to cover any losses we might incur in moving, and DH's boss has agreed to that, so we're back on again. And really it would be mucking everyone around to say no again now, lol.

Problem is, now that I've examined the negatives, I'm finding it hard to feel positive about it again! So, you Aussie-lovers or Aussie wannabes, what am I missing when I weigh things up in my mind?

Financially - sure, this would be a gain for us but we aren't on a bad wicket here.
Sooooooooo much to organise. We intend to rent our place out so that we do have somewhere to come back to in a few years if we want, we're not out of the Auckland property market, and because frankly we don't have time to sell, given we are looking at being in Brisbane in around six weeks.
I think we live in a nice house, and I like the area. I want a similar area in Bris, and definately a similar house, DH wants close to work, so we are looking at an area which has lots of new homes and is a young family area. Housing there is certainly no cheaper than our area here.
Aus shopping trolleys suck.
I don't hate the NZ weather. Even all this rain, sure it's a pain but I don't feel depressed with it, we just get on with it. And are thankful we're not in drought IYKWIM. We have a lovely warm dry house here.
We are playcentre people. We have a really laid back playcentre here with so many resources for the kids. They love it... I didn't realise what a gift this has been for us till I have had to face giving it up! The girls will really really miss it, and I know I will too. I've been really getting into the C2 training and had hoped to complete it this term, I have been enjoying getting my teeth into it.
I have two playful (still young) burmese cats. Aside from the costs of taking them over etc, what if they do something dumb like lick a toad and die?

Ok, so there's most of the glass-half-empty stuff... please, please, someone help me see the glass half full? I'm capable of it, I just have to get my mindset back to seeing this as a cool adventure for all of us. I even think, "we could get a year long pass to Dreamworld for the girls and take them lots, they'd love that". Then the glass-half-empty fairy says, "Yeah, but as far as childhood experiences go, playcentre waaaaaay outdoes stinky old Dreamworld in the rich and wonderful stakes"...

I wouldn't go!

LOL! Unhelpful ay..... *slinks off*

Too late, I'm going K, lol, just got to start making lemonade out of lemons lol and need some sugar!

And it's not foreeeeeever (so I keep telling myself )

Could you come back if you really hated it?

Just another thought re the house selling. If selling is what you want to do and time is the only thing putting you off, you could get home stagers in. We've done that when we moved from Wellington to Auckland and they did such an awesome job I'm sure we got more for it than we would have with our furniture and stuff in it.

Moving is damn hard, I have never been so stressed in my life. But it was very worth it. Aussie is great, the medical care is fabulous, the people have been welcoming. I can't tell you the wonderful things about Brisbane because I haven't been there. but I'm sure you will love it!

Sorry but that was too funny... I know you have two small girls but Im sure you'd get used to them.

Cats.. are adaptable and you cant think of the what ifs.

Think of the nice white sandy beaches the girls will grow up with along with the weather that is much more predictable than ours.

A chance to meet new friends.

An excuse to go through duty free shopping more often

Campervan holidays around the Australian outback?

Faster/Cheaper internet

Subsidised Sunscreen!

Ummm those some of the positives for you, try not to dwell on the negatives too much - what a cool adventure!

Unless I was somehow imprisoned in Australia, then yes lol

Subsidised sunscreen? Really? Is it just cheaper in the stores?

And internet/phone - anyone have company recommendations? We're with vodafone for everything here.

As far as the actual move goes - it's packing etc that does my head in with moving. I just can't cope with it mentally, it seems like too big a job. And that's not doing it with toddlers, lol! However we'd get packers in, so that's the biggest stress (for me) taken care of, YAY.

Sorry cant help you with recommendation I just know from some friends over there that their internet is far better than ours.

And yes the Aussie govt subsidise the sunscreen in Chemists/supermarkets etc... (smart govt for a change!) you can buy 1 ltr bottles for about $12 way cheaper than over here!

OK so it's a fait accompli and you need some reasons to feel happy about it. Well it's a lot easier & cheaper to travel to SE Asia from Aussie - and SE Asia is a GREAT place to take holidays - try Kota Kinabalu or Langkawi in Malaysia, or Vietnam, Thailand ...
It's an adventure
You'll get to bring your Aussie super back to NZ (new law being passed soon)

And BTW? Don't sell the Auckland house!

You wanna rent a house in the gardens Joolee? LOL

Well the fact you can come on here still, everyday all day if you needed must add to the pros.

And even though you don't say the weather, surely that must be a bonus!!! and the lovely beaches on Sunshine Coast.

I'd love to live in Brisbane (although I do love NZ too), but only a short term thing.

Personally, for experience moving to Vancouver for a year, the first month is the hardest, then it gets better and then routine and then you know no difference.

Oh, and the airfares are really quite good so you'll be inundated with visitors perhaps???? God, we would.

well don't do that and you'll be fine! It'll be a great experience for you and the girls!
And look you might even make new friend and then in a few years time you'll come on her and whine at us about coming back to NZ!

Not that i'd do it personally :P was enough headache moveing from dunedin to wellington

F&R - having done the move to Queensland (and back again) I can totally understand your trepidation, and we only had furbabies at that point, not kids.

BUT - these are what I saw as the positives (and I am sure there are a lots I am not thinking about as I am not in a positive frame of mind at the mo LOL).
* really friendly people - helpful, supportive and interested
* climate - I know you don't mind the AKL climate, but geez it's nice on the GC & SC Northern NSW is close and really nice too, and TNQ isn't far away either.
* Heaps and heaps to do and see - you could do something different every weekend. Not just Dreamworld LOL.
* great parent groups - you would find something similar to Playcentre (even tho you would miss yours )
* what an experience - do it now before you need to think about schooling. And book your kids into a school over there just in case you decide to stay
* cats will be fine, especially in suburbia. Can always keep them in at night when the toads are out if you live in a place with heaps of them. Ours cats were fine but were confined due to living near water/bush. Our dog licked a toad and spewed all night, but she's fine too.
* Packers are fantastic. We packed ourselves going there, but got packers for coming back. Even if I was to move within NX again (likely in June ) I would definately pay the extra for packers.
* It's only for a short time - unless you want it to be for more.
* you will learn how to NOT say "fush and chups"
* You will get lots and lots of NZ visitors (we did)
* Cars are really cheap - Fowles auctions are great. I know you like your car, but sell it, get a good one there, and if/when you come home bring it back. A bigger container to fit the car costs stuff all more. (But make sure you've had the car for 2 years or you will get charged GST).
* Heaps of shopping options in Brissy, you will find good supermarket trolleys somewhere
* cheaper petrol
* fresh fish and seafood, Moreton Bay bugs, King/Tiger Prawns mmmmmm
* the Aussies are really positive people in general

There are lots more things, I am sure. Sounds pretty darn good to me right now. Haha maybe in June......

No, you never do. They do really, truely suck. Badly.


Yeah, packers are great. But start clearing out now, have a garage sale, take stuff to the op shop, throw away rubbish. Packers pack anything, they will lovingly wrap an old rag in 3 pieces of newsprint and bubble wrap and pack it.

Get a file together of all your important paper. Aussie is full of red tape you will need them all.

Oh and when you are sorting out phones, ask for numbers without 6 in them. You really don't need that guffaw everytime you say your phone number!

Just avoid the Seniors, LOL.

I had something useful to say but I have forgotten so it must have been not very useful after all or a big fat lie.

But seriously, I will really miss you. even though you are a long way away already I will still really miss you.

Oh, thats it. Can you negotiate packers as part of your package?

Also when packers pack insurance is a LOT easier to organise. IE they wouldnt touch us when we packed oursleves and those that would the premium was HUGE.

and I didnt read the bit about packers.

Also I am sure you can get extra baggage for the plane cause you are emmigrating. (bet someone else has siad this too) When C used to go to sea he used to get double the baggage for some reason. Soething to do with going to sea and needing to take so much.

Anyway DONT GO....... and dont let the girls start talking like Aussies......... and I promise to send you Whittakers dark choc.

The glass ia half full though.