Hi there violethaze,
well, its 10.30pm and still roasting. If u have spent some time in Melbourne you will be very used to fluctuations in weather! I only have positive things to say about tas, even tho we have only been here a few weeks. I must say tho, some things are a lot more expensive than the mainland however, real estate is so much cheaper, the food is fresh as is the air. We move into a unit at a very reasonable rate tomorrow, so I will have to give you updates on how everyhing is going. I have never been to NZ, but I would imagine that Tas is not too unlike it with regards to weather and people. Have you been before? I had never been, but my OH had and I always had a feeling that Tas would be right for both of us. When we were in the UK and discussing coming back to oz, we both said out of the blue Tasmania! So far so good.