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Thank you everyone for commenting, I had no idea tax and financial advise would be separate entities, that's actually quite helpful.

Can anyone please recommend a financial advisor in the Sydney/Illawarra region with an overall knowledge of the Australian and UK tax, pension system, and property regulations ? I've been here 10 years, I'm an Australian citizen and I am reaching an age when I have to make decisions in regard to these three items. I have financial interest in both countries and have zero idea of what to do for the best in regard to financial planning. Apologies if I've overlooked the answer to this question in a previous post, it seems like it would be a common enough enquiry - I did have a little look and nothing was obvious. Many thanks.

Thank you ALL so much for the advice - I really had NO idea where to start. I will look in to the UK brokers. I think I'll try to ring initially, I'll let you know how I get on. No, my lender will definitely not extend my permission to let under a residential mortgage. My LTV is less than 75% so I hope I'll be able to arrange something. Get Me Down Under - your problem is complicated by your need to release equity, otherwise you could arrange another fixed rate for say 5 years and then ask permission to let - I believe most will grant this (don't say you're emigrating, just say being seconded for job position) for the term of the mortgage arrangement, this will give you time to decide what to ultimately do with your property. I will also look into BtL via a broker, I'll let you know how I get on, if you have any luck please PM me. Many thanks all.

Has anyone please got some advice for me ?! I have a property in the UK which is currently let through an agent, my 'permission to let' will come to an end in the next few months, and I want to change to a buy-to-let, but my current lender won't allow this as I do not have a second (residential) property in the UK. Is there a broker here in Sydney anyone can recommend, or indeed a lender in the UK that might be useful. I'm feeling desperate as I don't want to sell, and I don't want to return yet. Many thanks

Many thanks to both of you. I need to book the days off :-) also need to find any pubs etc that might be open at those hours, is that likely ? I'm in Sydney. Michelle

Hi there Can anyone tell me how I can view the world cup (England games most important), which channel is showing it ? I'm a little confused about the potential time difference but it looks like we'll be about 14 hours ahead :-( ? More of a early hours of morning event for us ? Michelle

What's he on about ? You can leave whenever you like up to 4 years, after that time you either have already got PR, or you renew the 457. He might be referring to PR (permanent residency), there is a minimum time after which you can apply.

Hi Everyone I'm new to Sydney, been here 6 months and love it. My son is coming over from the UK for the Christmas and New year and I want to take him out for Christmas lunch and to experience an Aussie Xmas, but not in the company of lots of drunk European holiday makers (except us of course :-)). I've heard Bondi has restaurants open for Christmas, but I would love to receive any recommendations anyone might have for the best place to go. I live near Rozelle and don't have a car so has to be busable or taxiable :-) Many thanks

Hi there I shall be arriving in Sydney next week, I need a mobile phone with unlimited everything :-), I think I'll need to use the phone to connect my laptop to the internet, I'm not sure how this is done but I need to go into a phone shop that will be able to advise me (a place that might be patient with my ignorance of the whole subject). Any suggestions please ? Many many thanks

What is the Emirates/ANZ offer please ?

Hi Littlesarah Thank you, I checked out the Manly Pacific (it looks lovely) but it's $289 (£186) a night in early Feb and it's a bit too far away but the site is great and it seems to offer some good deals, so I'll try when I definitely have a date thank you for that. On another topic - do you or does anyone else happen to have advice about parcel postage from the UK to Sydney, I've looked at a few recommendations and I've had a shock at the prices ! I'll be wanting to send my wetsuit, clothes, shoes, stuff ;-) It'll probably be 8-10kgs or so, all the prices are over £100 ! I thought it would be about £30-40 :-/. Thank you Michelle x

I'm flying to Sydney in Feb 2013 - I have hostel-type accommodation arranged for the first few months but before this I'd like to book in to a nice relaxing hotel with room service etc for a few days, to get me over jet-lag, can anyone recommend a friendly place with a nice pool ? I don't want to pay the earth for extra doilies or fluffy stuff but I'm travelling on my own so I'd like to feel comfy and safe :-) Many thanks Michelle

I should have said 'mare' - sorry my equestrian expertise is not what it was :-). M

Hello Everyone Many thanks for all your replies. My original post misses out some of worries which are not connected to Oz or Sydney, and too detailed and boring to enter here but it was/is important to me to have people living in Sydney giving me some positive feedback, and it may have tipped the balance for me. I promise I'm not some daft mere, whinging and finding excuses not to travel :-)! I have postponed my employment start date to the beginning of 2013, and I am looking forward to my life in Sydney. Many thanks again to all of you who sent informative replies I really appreciate it, and special thanks to the two nurses Cath and Marion, I will PM you both if that's ok ? M

Just take it over with you - you don't have to declare anything under £10,000. Are you going to work out there ? If so, you can open an account with a passport within 6 weeks (I think) of arrival, beyond that you need further ID etc. Or as a previous person has said - take some £ and transfer the rest when you have an account (I believe there is a charge in the region of £25 or equivalent). OR ask parents to transfer money from their account (you should obviously pay them back :-) ! ) Good luck M

Hi everyone, Would really appreciate some advice here. I'm a 50year old single female nurse. I'm due to start working at a major hospital in Sydney at the end of October - I'll be going over on my own but I know my son is keen to 'visit' very soon. My question is : is it just too expensive to make it worth it ? I have spent a lot of effort and money on the process of application/visa/letting-out own property etc, but the closer I get to the move, the more anxious I become about it. I'll be earning about $75,000, so it doesn't look like I'll even be able to rent my own place. My initial intention was to speand some time in Sydney and decide if I want to stay more than a year - it now looks more like I'll be spending/enduring a year working like a dog for a lot of worry and discomfort. Most sites I've visited don't have a single good word to say about Sydney :-( Are there any nurses and/or single women not travelling with their partner or family who have any advice for me ? Many thanks M