Hiya Em, I'm afraid I can't speak from personal experience as we are making the move as a family. However, my sister-in-law went out for just under a year. Her experience was slightly different as she actually went with friends, but ended on her own as they went back to boyfriends or met someone. She says she made friends so easily where she was (Sydney) that it was never a problem for her and she was happy to stay on. She eventually travelled home on her own and has made no comment on it, so I assume that it went smoothly.
Cara