skipjack

NZ has noticeably lower salaries than Aus and less tax benefits. We moved from NZ to Aus and found higher wages, more job ops and a lot more tax back and tax benefits, even on a fairly high wage. Which all makes life a bit easier particularly with young kids. Superannuation contribution in govt jobs is a a lot more in aus and it's good to see the super growing well when in NZ it just wasn't going anywhere. On the plus side for NZ, we found it had a better way of life with smaller cities. We found it difficult to live away from the big city sprawling suburbia in Aus. We managed it, but in NZ everywhere is smaller and it's so much easier to get a great place to live in a good suburb. Not so easy in Aus. Melbourne area anyway. There's not a great deal in it but if I won the lotto and my kids were younger I'd definitely be tempted back to NZ.

Both are great suburbs, we live in Torquay and it was the same dilemma for us. We love Torquay as it's so beautiful and relaxed. Highton is closer to the high schools and sporting/swimming facilities. Then again Torquay is building a state of the art high school. Plenty of contemporary houses in both areas. Pop in for a coffee/meal we have kids aged 5 11 13.

You'll really be pushing it to do Melbourne to SA along the GOR with one stop. The GOR is a fairly slow and in places a very winding road - not a straight freeway! And it's to be enjoyed not rushed. Stopping to check out the koalas and kangaroos as well as the scenery and a good few cafes. I would plan your first stop at Lorne for lunch and then head on to Apollo Bay for the night.

Classic rock loud on the ipod ! Saw Iron Maiden in concert supporting Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott . Now that was a while ago. Torquay is great. Good beach, surfing and cafe scene. Good holiday atmosphere in the summer. The afternoon sea breeze keeps it cooler in the summer which is very welcome on the 30c+ days. Lots to do with the kids. It's a long commute to Melbourne although a lot of people do commute. First impressions can be misleading as it's spread out with four shopping areas. Also it takes a while to realise there are several beaches, not just Front Beach (Whites, Fisho's, Front, Cosy Corner, Back and Jan Juc beaches). And further along, if you want to die happy, surf out on Bells or Winkipop on a big swell day.

Triple J is national and no adverts. It's part of ABC which is the aus equivalent of the BBC. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/ Lots of info on festivals, good music and some good aussie bands. Don't expect 80's, nostalgia or Hotel California

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A lot of developers aggresively lobby the local council and State Govt for more land citing it will lower housing costs and create jobs. What then happens is the developers drip-feed the development in stages onto the market; restricting land supply and encouraging land prices to increase. Developers then petition the council for more land to be re-zoned using the same argument and the environment they have created and control.

The best advice I received was never take a child on a plane until they were old enough to carry their own bags. Sadly It was several flights and years later before I realised the wisdom of this. This is of course completely unhelpful and useless advice for you but advice that you will one day be able to pass on to others. Probably around 2019 You'll be fine. They can't fall out. Have someone at the other end to help look after the wee one when you are a bit jet-laged and need sleep.

Hi, I don't know much about the GSM process - can any one help so i can advise someone else? As commissioned police officers are on the second SOL list (State/territory nomination), could a UK police officer apply through as a GSM? How does the state nomination work? Thanks

Matthew Flinders and Belmont are two good government schools. Grovedale is average but good for sport. Torquay is going through a restructure and building a new school so not good for 2012 but should be good for 2013 when the dust settles. Barwon Heads to Torquay is a short run.

Straford upon Avon and Oxford are both an hour or so North West of London if you fancy a bit of Shakespeare or historical Uni buildings. Oxford has a good restaurant, pub and cafe scene being a big student town. Easy for a day trip but well worth a couple fo days to see the sights.

There's a few big festivals each year in and around Melbourne. Falls festival is probably the closest thing to a Glastonbury style festival. Also Port Fairy folk festival and Apollo Bay Folk festival are two events that take over local coastal towns. Lots of stuff actually in Melbourne from pubs to stadiums. A good place to begin to find out about the Australian music scene is to listen to Triple J (radio) and check out their web site. It's part of ABC (like the BBC but Australia) http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/