VicBStard

Whilst seven years in NZ almost broke us, we are much better off in Australia (living and working in Sydney as well) than we were in NZ and, as a civil engineer I'm earning twice what I would in the UK plus a car/petrol. Australia is more expensive than the UK, but it's not twice as expensive.

After six and a half years "existing" in NZ before coming to Oz, I can tell you that the difference between Oz and NZ is huge. If you think Oz sucks, you will hate NZ, which is like Oz but with all the fun taken out!

After six and a half years living in both Ausckland and a semi-rural area just north of Wellington we have moved to Sydney. Whilst I thought it would be a good move, it is only now that I'm realising the gulf of difference betweem the two nations, that on paper seem some similar. With a young family, Sydney has so much more to do. Australia also offers a lot of financial help with raising kids. Someone told me once that nobody goes to NZ to get rich. At work my hours have reduced from 40 hours to 35 hours a week and I've a package worth 45% more than what I got in NZ. Australia has comfirmed what I always thought, NZ isn't really a first world country. The only plus point of the six and a half years in Australia is that it took my sharp corners off, give Australia something that NZ never had of me- a grateful migrant. My advice to anyone is if you have the qualifications and ability to get into Oz, then you should go for it. Leave NZ for the old and underqualified/experienced, it is truly the poor man's Australia. Every day I thank my luckly stars that I'm here in Oz!

My understanding is that it does need to be a British citizen.

I'm quite a heavy internet user and I was wondering what the best ISP is in Australia. I'm moving to Sydney at the end of the month and need to start sorting it out now to avoid an internet free house!