frances62

To clarify I fly down on a Wednesday and return on a Thursday and stay overnight

It's not fun especially depending where you have to get to. The Brisbane end is OK but my office is is the Hills district. I drive at the Sydney end as it is heaps cheaper than catching a cab but it is a 45 - 60 minute drive at the other end. I stay in an apartment so I can cook rather than eating hotel food as that will just kill you!

I have done it for 2 years and look for every excuse not to do it :-)

It sounds fine, its only 1 1/2 hours on the plane and only 1.10 in the air, but honestly it isnt OK. Remember I am 10 minutes from the Airport in Brisbane but I am still up at 3.30 to get a 5am flight, I also have Qantas club membership, so have somewhere to sit quietly. I would say this is essential for this much travel.

If you are moving to Australia for quality of life then I wouldnt recommend it.

I never thought I would say this but I would rather be in m car for that hour and a half. At least I could sing!

Thanks, informative post :-)

From what was said I just assumed the OP logged on using their partners account...

Jigat is my husband :wink:

It's hard to tell without doing a detailed analysis, but I'd say probably not. Australian air fares can be pretty good value when you consider the distances involved, but the fares for early morning/late afternoon flights can be three or four times the cost of off-peak - because they know business people want to travel at those times. There was a piece on the news just last week saying it can sometimes cost more to fly from Sydney to Melbourne at 8am than to fly to Bali.

 

I could absolutely understand your desire to go to Brisbane if you have family there, but I think the question we're all worried about is WHY you're so fixated on Brisbane. If Sydney is where the jobs are, there are so many better options closer to Sydney without condemning your husband to a **** commute.

We haven't discounted Sydney at all, just the option of commuting. As I said, just exploring all avenues before making a decision one way or the other.

The Brisbane to Sydney commute is neither international nor that much longer than the Glasgow to London commute which many already do (not daily of course). My husband quite frequently flies to London, stays a night or two to work in his London office, then flies back all at the expense of his company.

As Roberta2 pointed out, some companies would cover the cost if your skills are in demand.

However, as we're exploring all options and not just pouring over 'pretty pictures of Brisbane on the Internet' we've taken into consideration, points made by some about the Brisbane/Sydney commute and that long term it wouldn't be a feasible option.

Thanks

Why on earth do you think it would be any different to;

1) Living in London and commuting to Berlin

2) Living in Chicago and commuting to New York

3) Living in SF and commuting to LA

 

Australia is a first world (very expensive) country, just like all the other first world (very expensive) countries. That sounds like a completely daft idea.....

 

Do the job properly and do the analysis on your projected cash flow in specific situations. For example;

 

Newcastle, NSW - $90k salary. ~ $350 - 400wk rent

Sydney, NSW - $130k salary. ~ $600 - 800wk rent

Brisbane, QLD - $100k salary. ~ $500wk rent

 

That's your starting point.... Commuting half way down the east coast is a stupid idea..

For future reference, don't want/need your personal opinion on whether you think it's a good or 'stupid idea'. Quite obviously it isn't since there are those on this thread who do the commute!!

Thanks to everyone else for their informative responses!

Thanks everyone, a couple of days a week commute would perhaps be doable long term and working from home the rest of the week. Will have a look at the Central Coast & other suburbs mentioned.

Have spent a short time in both Brisbane & Sydney & whereas Sydney is amazing, Brisbane suits us better to raise our family. The cost of housing is a major factor for us aswell.

Just wondering if anyone does this? If so, how do you find it? Is it doable longterm & is it expensive?

My OH works for a company that has an office in Sydney where a transfer may be possible or if not, there is an host of other companies/opportunities in Sydney (he's a software developer) unlike Brisbane, where we actually want to live!

.

Exploring all options at the moment. Sydney is a lot more expensive for property, we're looking at outer suburbs which are less expensive & but have a daily commute of approx 3hours +, which in the longterm would be exhausting.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks Ozmaniac, the 18month/2years visa seems like a good option as neither parent has travelled to Australia before so hopefully that's still an option when the time comes.

Thanks for the responses.

To clarify....my hubby & I are going to apply for a 189, in relation to my questions on a visitors visa, I'm thinking WAY AHEAD, really for my parents. Just want to know what the options may be, however as the regulations are ever changing on some of the visas it's perhaps better to address situation nearer the time.

I did think NZ counted as offshore myself however came across some old threads on here, where some seemed to suggest otherwise.

Thanks lebourvellec, that clears that up!

Have heard that the 12 month duration of this visa can, more often than not, result in a 8503 (no further stay) and wondering whether most people have found this to be the case?

Wondering if it's possible to apply for a 6month visa on the back of a 12month, leaving Australia when 12months expires to apply for 6month offshore?

Would New Zealand count as offshore (there's conflicting info on here) or is its recommended to be UK and is there a recommended time period to have between visa?

Have had a look at immigration website but the above is unclear and just wondered what other people's experiences have been.

Is it 12months unbroken stay in Australia?

Thanks in advance!

Do all applicants on a 189 have to enter Australia within 12months of issue or is it possible for the main applicant to activate the visa on behalf of everyone and make a solo activation trip to Australia?

Hi Guys

Just a quick update....an agent from Go Matilda emailed this morning, apologising and explaining there has been a technical fault when phoning some uk landlines which is why they've not been in contact. The issue has apparently now been resolved so hopefully they can offer us some welcome advice on visas.

Thanks everyone for the replys and advice and 'Good Luck' if your also in the process of emigrating!

Thanks for the replys Beddy and MaggieMay24

I contacted Go Matilda after 2nd failed contact/phone call and then two weeks later (Tuesday) one of their agents in Mebourne arranged last nights appointment by email. Frustrating really as its seems they're not overly interested in receiving new business.

Wondering if anyone's had the same experience.....we're in very early stages of migration (hopefully to Brisbane from Glasgow) and decided to phone around some migration agents for quotes. After our initial contact with Go Matilda, we were told an agent would contact us....last night was the 3rd time (in as many weeks) we were told Go Matilda would phone at a specified time and yet again, no phone call!! Less than impressed to be honest :nah: Wondering whether to bother with them now even though they were given good reviews on here.