Digital2013

Heading to Australia in January, and will flying in to Sydney, but without wanting to make too many firm plans...i'd like to have a rough idea of what part of Sydney is best to stay and work in. I'd like to spend the first week or two in the centre and seeing the sights, but after that I would prefer to move to a quieter suburb or beach area to work. anyone got any suggestions?

Good luck!

this is one of my fears. To give a bit more background: I live near Hull, one of the cities hardest hit by the recession, and a city that is geographically out on a limb. Jobs are scarce but I get paid well compared to average pay in this city. The main reason I haven't considered just changing jobs in the UK is that I would struggle to find something in and around Hull, and the next nearest places would be cities like Leeds or York that would be a considerable commute each day, and of course I would need a decent payrise to make that commuting worthwhile. so ultimately if I did stay in the UK I'd end up selling or letting my flat, which is what I am planning to do to move to Oz anyway...so I'm thinking that even if I did go to Oz and it didn't work out, at least I'd return home with a small rental income coming in, and the 'freedom' to get a job anywhere in the UK.

you've read it correct, i'm not running away from anything, aside from work I am happy with where I live, have good friends and a close family etc it really is that Monday 9-5 period at work that is the depressing part! and most nights i'm so tired or fed-up that my evenings are ruined too. The weekend is the only time I properly chill-out and enjoy myself.

thanks, and good luck with your move...that post alone shows how differently life can change just from one big decision!

Thanks to all of the above for the advice, definitely convincing me towards going now :biggrin: To add: my employer is very old-school and wouldn't allow me to have a career break...and I'd probs want to go straight to Australia even though I have travelled a lot, its mainly been to Westernised countries and safe hotel complexes, I'd want to see how I got on in Australia first before exploring Asia.

Good point! I do have a tendency to think older than I am!

Been thinking of quitting my job and backpacking Australia for sometime, but doubts keep preventing me from taking the plunge and I need some advice! To give you a bit of background, I'm 26 and in a stable office job, with a stable company and all in all I earn a decent living. I have been able to buy my own flat (which I enjoy living in) from the proceeds, and I live a comfortable life, have a couple of holidays a year, go to concerts and sports events, drive a decent car etc but now to the bad: my job is not my passion, I kind of fell in to it after leaving Uni and took whatever job was going as the recession hit. For the first couple of years I enjoyed it, and actually got promoted 3 years ago. Over the last year however my progress has stalled, our department manager has changed, the company is going through a massive re-structure so all training & development is on-hold, the workload has increased massively and I just feel I'm going through the motions doing a job I no longer enjoy. I am literally clock watching for home time on Friday from the first moment of Monday morning! So for a few months I have been dreaming of renting my flat out and doing a working holiday in Australia, but I am so nervous at giving up things I have worked for over the last 5 years! On the flip side I feel if I don't do it now while I have few commitments I won't ever do it, and 30 is the WHV deadline so the countdown clock is starting to tick. My main worry is not finding a job quickly enough and having to return home with my tail between my legs and my confidence wrecked! any advice would be appreciated!