North to South

Hi, I’ve always had Sky and then SkyQ in the UK more for the convenience of recording and watching TV online, but never thought it was value for money, but just paid for the convenience. Now here in Adelaide I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth having FOXTEL or if there are better alternatives to use. I’ve not missed much from Sky and been happy just with 7, 9 & 10 here and catching up on some UK programmers via a VPN, so just not sure if any TV pack is worth having so appreciate any views on whether paid TV is worth it here. Thanks

Hi, did your TVs work without a set top box as I was led to believe they’d only work in the UK and I’d need separate boxes here ?

Hi, thanks for the advice here, much appreciated. I’m hoping that I’ll take ownership of the property a few weeks before we move in so it’ll give me time to get things sorted and buy all the things I didn’t bring from the UK.

I don’t think there’s ever a right time as you’ll always see a better rate or worse rate after transfer. My view is anything above 1.8 is a reasonable rate, but if you don’t need the money, then I’d hang on. I’m only transferring what I need for the next six months and if the rate exceeds 1.8 then I’ll transfer more. The average over the past 3 years has been 1.82 which is why I’ve stuck to 1.8 and all my planning on my move was based on 1.8. Hope this helps.

Hello, Things have happened quite quickly since leaving quarantine and we now find ourselves as soon to be house owners, but would appreciate some guidance on a few things, mainly the things that’s kind of essential.... Broadband - With a teenage daughter this will be number one priority so just wondered who are the most reliable providers in Adelaide and how far in advance do you need to contact to install or takeover a n existing service, if one exists. Utilities, I assume this is the same as in the UK where you contact the provider, read meters etc and then take over the supply ? TV - I have UK tv’s in the container so assume they’ll need a set top box ,to work, so any who to use would be appreciated unless of course they can be adjusted to connect to Aus services. Any advice over and above these points would be more than welcomed. Thanks :)

Hi, I've just converted mine from UK to Aus and they allowed me to retain my UK licence. Whilst I still have it, I believe it is illegal to use a UK licence in the UK with an address you no longer reside at, or are an overseas resident.

Perfect. Thanks!

Hi, Having been through quarantine the fun part of buying a house has began, but with that has led to some confusion which I hope some fellow PIOers can help with. I'm from the UK and assuming the offer is accepted, you will then arrange a survey in the following weeks, complete legals, agree exchange dates and finally completion dates. In Australia I'm unsure about when you get a survey on a property as most agents I've spoke to have said that you put the offer in, then have a 48 hour cooling off period and after that are committed to buy and once you're committed, I'm assuming if anything negative comes from the survey you're stuck. I'm sure it can't be like this, so any advice would be appreciated as I've found a couple of properties that I like and want to put an offer forward, but jreally not clear on the process. Thanks

Hi, I’d opt for Qatar as they’ve been the most reliable during the pandemic and this way you can have a break and get off the plane in Doha vs having to sit in the same plane in Singapore before flying onto Oz.

I’ve changed my address to my in-laws until we have a perm address here, but no one has said it’s an issue. The only think I found out is that you can’t take life insurance out if you’re planning to move abroad in the future.

Hi, thanks for this. I thought I’d have to wait for a license the same as the UK.

Hi, thanks for this. That's handy as we have to go tp open our bank account at Marion shopping centre. We have two airbnb's as I didn't want to book for more than a month before leaving as there is no refund on bookings over 31 days and knowing how things were in the UK didn't want to risk it and now we're here, frustratingly the owners didn't let me know they had another booking enquiry following on from us after telling us we'd have the option to extend so now have to move. How long did the licence take to come through ? Did you do medicare immediately ? My wife has done her Tax Ref Number as she starts work on 1st March so hopefully that shouldn't take too long.

Hi, I need to look at this as my wife was asked whether she wanted to lease a car through her employer, but we've always purchased them outright in the UK and taken the cash allowance for the company car as it was more tax efficient. We need two cars so I'm assuming you can only lease one car per person ? There's so much to learn

I was told by a dealer that I needed an SA drivers licence of an SA client ID if I didn't have the SA licence yet. All very confusing.

Just two full days left to go in quarantine and its certainly nicer looking forward to the end than being closer to the beginning. I know some people have complained about the quarantine, but I've had no complaints and whilst I wouldn't volunteer to do two weeks in a hotel room, this has been a good quarantine period. I've not managed to do some of the things I wanted too, but in the past few days have organised some houses to inspect at the weekend which will see the start of doing normal things when settling in. I have a couple of test drives organised and will hopefully buy a car next week to avoid to long in a hire car, although I'm not sure how I can get a SA Client ID for registration yet as I'm not sure if they will take a temporary Airbnb address as proof of address. Any advice from SA new arrivals would be most appreciated. I am relieved that I have a VPN so that I've been able to watch some TV series from the UK. I watched series 1 and 2 of The Bay in two days and that was a worthwhile watch and also caught a bit of football in the early hours when I couldn't sleep. I'm sure these last two days will drag a bit more, but the end is in sight and just looking forward to stepping from the hotel into Adelaide and begin to feel like I'm in Australia rather than being in Australia and not really being there if that makes sense. If anyone is about to enter quarantine, just be prepared for the first few days to be a bit odd, then just embrace the time and do those things you feel guilty about doing at home. There's nothing wrong with binge watching box sets, sleeping in the day, ordering treats in from outside, spending excess time in your PJs or not making the bed every morning. Just make the most of the time as those seconds do become minutes, then hours, then days, then weeks and then exit from quarantine!

Have you completed the Australia Health Declaration form ? The same company that operates the drive through at Gatwick has a site at Southampton which might be closer for you. I was nervous taking a PCR test knowing I would be negative as I had been shielding and not leaving home, so I dread to think how you must be feeling. Have you started to look at alternate flights in case you come back as positive ? Please do remember if any of the party you’re traveling with comes back as positive, none are permitted to travel.

Hi, I've just contacted a dealer regarding buying a car and they've said that I need to obtain a South Australian drivers licence before I can register the car. Is this correct and if so, does anyone know how long the process takes to obtain a licence, and can you use an Airbnb address if you're staying there for a couple of months ? All help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the info on here so far. I'm in Adelaide and most dealers I've seen tend to be the same with very limited stock so I guess it's find a car, then buy it and just hope that I can get a good deal if I'm buying two cars from the same dealership.

It's now Day 7 and not sure whether this is hump day or not, but it's beginning to feel like we're now looking towards the end of quarantine and not the start of it. It's certainly being made easier with the weather and being able to sit on the balcony and look at people below and know that all being well in just over a weeks time we'll be able to join them and know that our new life can begin. I can't fault the process and our health and wellbeing seems to be very important. We get a phone call each day from the nursing team to check on us to see how we're doing both physically and mentally and to ask if we need anything. The food is very good and every meal has a healthy option, be that greens or fresh fruit with it. I've learnt now though not to eat everything because without solid exercise I think the pounds could easily go on, or at least they will if I keep nibbling at the McDonalds I order for my daughter. I know it's a very abnormal process to go through, but if you embrace it for what it is, it's not that bad. And if you've come from London, it's the best thing you can be doing knowing that you're in the safest place possible when London and the UK is really sadly suffering each day. I'm by no means an expert, but happy to answer any questions people might have who are soon to enter quarantine.

Hi, In day 7 of quarantine I decided it's time to start looking for a couple of cars to purchase when we leave so we don't have to rely on a hire car for too long and one thing that has struck me compared to the UK is the lack of used vehicles at dealerships. I'm looking to purchase a Mazda SUV and Sedan and most dealerships mainly have demo or new cars, and no what I would call 1-2 year old used cars which I've typically purchased in the UK without any trouble. I've seen a couple of demo cars that I like, but I know I could save a few dollars if I could find some that were maybe 12-18 months old, so just wondered why I can't find them, or is this just the car market in Adelaide ? Any advice would be most welcomed. Thanks

Hello, Sitting here in quarantine on day 6 my focus is on arranging private health insurance, but not sure who I should consider and who I shouldn't. I've always had health cover, but it's always been via my company so now having to search a provider is a new thing, so really would appreciate anyones guidance on who I should use and who I shouldn't. All comments and tips on what I should or shouldn't include would be most welcomed. Thanks

Hello, Just beginning Day 5 in quarantine in Adelaide and so far so good. I'm not going to say it's simple, but when you look outside the hotel window and see people wandering around in the sun and life going on as normal you know that these 14 days will be worth it, especially if like me you've left the UK behind where Covid for the past few months has been running out of control. After a long flight the process of leaving the plane to arriving at the hotel and into the room was seamless and while you know you're going into quarantine, you can only applaud the efficiency of the authorities and the way you are made to feel so welcome when you're stepping into something most people have never experienced before. The hotel is great, food is good, healthy and plenty some and the only thing I'm struggling with is adapting to the time difference which I'm normally over in 24-36 hours, but I think this might be through not being outside and doing normal things. I don't actually feel like I'm in Adelaide yet, I think that's down to not being outside and when you wake in the morning, really you could be anywhere until you look out of the window. My time has been filled with sorting out some of the things I'll need after I leave quarantine, so car hire, tax ref numbers, school for my daughter and then some of the more things most people will do, Netflix, online or just chatting with people at home. I know that there's still more days to go, but I thought it would be harder than it is, so if anyone is on there way to do it, just embrace it for what it is, use the time to do things you've been putting off and then just relax because how often can you spend 14 days in pj's or go to bed whenever you feel like a nap in the day and not feel guilty about it.

I've just moved from the UK to Adelaide and for me it has everything you want and possibly more. I love the Sunshine Coast, but just found Brisbane very busy compared to Adelaide which seems to have a quieter pace of life. I just found with Adelaide you have miles and miles of gorgeous beaches and in the times I've been here before, they've never been busy. The Hills are beautiful and just 20 mins from the CBD and heading down to the Vineyards in McLaren Vale or up in the Barossa are all in easy reach. Houses I found tend to be on larger plots and if you're in The Hills, you can find your self in a very tranquil setting where all you hear is nature calling you. My daughter is 15 and while she loves the Sunshine Coast, especially Sunshine Beach, I think for her age, Adelaide is a great place to go to school as you've got everything on offer here. I think it's a bit harsh saying that South Australia feels poor, and maybe there're isn't the glamour of Melbourne, Sydney or the Sunshine Coast, but once you get over that and you have to live somewhere, for me, living somewhere where you can get to work in 20-25 mins, to the Hills of a weekend, or the beach anytime you want, is what most people want.

Hi, I am moving from the UK in two weeks and would like some guidance on travel insurance and how I can ensure I’m covered medically until I can sign up for Medicare once out of quarantine. I can buy a one way travel insurance, but that only seems to cover me until I arrive, and as I’m no longer a UK resident, any other holiday/travel insurance won’t cover me as I’m not returning to the UK. Any help or guidance on this would be most welcomed as I’m concerned that I’m not covered as it stands. Thanks

Hi, have you tried looking at flights to Brisbane and then quarantine there and then fly down. Just had a quick look and there certainly seems to be flights to there and availability.