We've been in Australia for 7 years, living both in WA and in regional NSW. We've loved it, it was hard initially to get settled in but we have made a nice life for ourselves. But, I've never stopped missing my family for a single day since we left the UK. I thought it would ease, but as my parents age, I feel horrid being so far away and miss them terribly.
I've found making friends in Australia much harder than anticipated. We're a sociable couple and have met nice people, but there's a big leap from acquaintance to friend. The friends we have made have been English. I never wanted to be once of those Brits who surrounded myself with English only friends, so this was not by design. I think when amongst folk from home, we just get each other better. But with no family and limited friend network, life here can be very lonely, although it affects me more than my other half.
We've been able to afford ourselves a lovely home on a few acres here, so moving back to our busy & crowded old home town would not be an option. We have been spoilt I know, but we do like the space of the country so would want to keep fields & rivers around us if we chose to move back. Unfortunately those areas don't offer the best work prospects.
Much as I feel it would make my heart happier to be closer to my loved ones, we have to practical and look at the price of houses and lower earning potential in the UK. If we go back and can't get reasonable jobs, it'll be so tough resettling and it costs such a lot to move across the globe and we can't afford to pingpong.