hefbat

Hey all, We've got two twin toddlers that will be about 20months by the time we move to Australia. We'll be flying London to Oz (probably Sydney), final destination is Canberra. We'll be booking them separate seats. We've done 6 hours flights with them when they were about 1 but this is quite a different beast. Does anyone have any tips on who to/not to fly with when you have small children, whether to fly straight through on same plane (so only stop for fuel without leaving plane) or book in a layover, etc etc. Cheers! mIKE

Thanks DHL2511, appreciate the tips. Got four coming by this week. May have more questions to come, but good advice.

Yep, same for us. Letting agents coming by tomorrow (we're renting the house for the time we're away) and removal companies next week. And so on and so on!

Thanks everyone for responding, all very very useful. Will get back you via PM if i have any followups!

Hey all, getting four quotes from removal companies next week. For those of you who've gone through the move, what didn't you ask that you wish you had, and what questions did you ask that helped you narrow down your choices. Cheers Mike

Thanks for posting saraandlinz, congrats on the visa. We arrive early May, and with two children almost the same age in tow, so should plan to meet up either way. Had a look at meetup.com, there's this: http://www.meetup.com/New-to-Canberra-Migrants-and-Expats-Meetup-Group/events/making/#upcoming-tab

I can imagine. Did you find something quick and rent/buy. Wondering whether it's worth looking on our own or finding an agent to help (we're going to rent long-term). In the interval we're going to rent a furnished holiday home (wife's employer is covering costs) so we'll be ok, but we'll all be much happier once our own stuff arrives!

Thanks for this Slean, useful to know about AP being able to take it right to the door...mentioned your post to my wife and she asked if you could provide more detail about your last paragraph. What should we be looking for with research (assuming cost, shipping times, reputation) and what we should be testing the salesperson on that they won't be as forthcoming with after it's been paid for.

One more for you....How long did it take to ship your household stuff, UK door to Canberra door, and did you ship it shared container or a full one? I hear 6-9 weeks for sole container and 8-12 for shared, but don't know if that is door to door in Canberra, or just time on the ship excluding customs/admin in Sydney. Cheers!

Thanks, appreciate the advice, ended up applying with Westpac (less ethical issues than the others)- assume the big four all have plenty of ATMs in town. Will have a look at Doree Bonner as well Cheers! Mike

Thanks for getting back with the advice Slean, very useful every one.

Thanks NeelD. Did you do this or just know that you can do it?

Sounds like a good plan. Is it right that UK-bought TVs don't work in Oz due to different format, so aren't worth bringing and getting a converter? Why Morton? (for me Hibs was the first Scottish game I was brought to). Random other questions (for you or anyone), is it possible/wise to open an oz bank acct before arriving. And how does it take between signing a lease on a rental property and moving in. We'll want to look/find places on arrival, but can't move in until container full of stuff arrives. (Any recommendations/advice on removals and companies to use/avoid appreciated as well)

I bet it is, though an improvement in terms of all other usa sports in terms of 7pm kickoffs, tipoffs, first pitches. Thanks for heads up on sports package. Hard to decide if it's worth it due to a) middle of night games b) rubbish team I support (hibs)

Thanks Quoll and Jurls as well. Appreciate the children-related ideas especially and thoughts on ainsle!

Thanks pntaylor for for the tips. 40+ days sounds good right about now.

Thanks Freckleface, appreciate the response. Of course, footie would be Aussie rules wouldn't it. Wife will have a look at Scottish fiddlers club as well.

Hi there, the ACT board is pretty inactive at the moment, so I thought I would see if I could get a few posts on the go for people like us who are moving to Canberra in 2015 who have ACT-specific questions about their upcoming move, and for those already in Canberra interested in providing guidance, advice and support. INTRO: We're a family of four, with two twin 18-month-olds, who are moving sometime in May 2015 from Edinburgh. My wife (who is English) has got a job with a uni in town, and I (American/Brit) am going to be watching the kids full time at first before hopefully finding some political/third sector work in policy/comms 2 days a week, which is the arrangement I've got now. MOVING WHERE?: Right now looking at Inner North/South - Belconnen, Ainsle, Dickson, Red Hill. Primarily interested in places close to wife's work, with decent restaurants, coffee shops, places for little ones to play - both a house with a yard and public playgrounds/indoor softplays. From research, inner north seems a bit more colourful, inner south a bit older. Have no idea if that's a fair assessment. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: Best record stores? Places to see local bands? Where to watch Scottish footie? Where to watch American football? Anyone know of a fiddle society? Any 'new to town/expats social groups? Good softplays? First 'wow, we're not in the UK anymore' experience? Anyway, hopefully this will generate a few responses and a few new people posting! Cheers Mike