movingback

I'll tell you one way Perth should market itself. Guaranteed hot, sunny weather during the summer (and the northern hemisphere winter of course). I had relatives out visiting Sydney a few February's ago. We were stuck under a series of monsoonal east coast lows the entire time they were here. Every day it bucketed down - i don't think they saw an hour of sunshine the entire week they were here. Several times they made the comment that maybe they should chase the sun to Perth for the rest of their trip...it was hard to argue.

I found Noosa too pretentious. It felt like a snobby Port Douglas to me. The one town I did enjoy on the coast was Peregian Beach. Not as touristy with a nice central square and some great cafes.

Thats interesting Paul. I have actually spent a bit of time on the Sunshine Coast. The rural area and up in the hinterland - Nambour up to Montville is beautiful. However, I found the urban area of the coast very bland. It seemed to be all sprawl an big box stores with a small coastal strip with high rises for tourists. No real soul to the place. The beaches, I agree, are fantastic.

I'm up in Brisbane (from Sydney) for a week for work. I've only driven through once before. Loving it! Had a good mooch around the city and south bank today. Its amazing. Wonderful buildings, great shopping street, lots of people and restaurants and bars around. Feels so much more liveable then Sydney. And the price of apartments/houses are half Sydney prices. Wish I'd discovered it sooner. I always thought the weather would be too much for me up here but it isn't that much different/hotter/humid than Sydney is it?

I think the salary question would give me pause. He makes a massive amount of money by any measure - the equivalent of 133,000 pounds. If you spent all of that on living, and your house is almost paid off, how will you go if your income is only 30,000 pounds?? Thats less than 1/4 of your current income. I know you have talked about rental properties but they are often fraught with expenses. I worry about my own standard of living dropping when I (eventually) get home - and I will go form making $85,000 to about 35,000 pounds. I think you need to thoroughly look in to your expected take home pay in the UK and what your expenses will be, particularly with a family.

40,000 people live there. And it's on the coast with great beaches. I'm sure there are much worse places to live in Australia..

Apples to apples. The same distance from Sydney CBD as this house is to the Perth CBD gets you this. I think Sydney is actually not bad for renting - certainly makes much more sense than buying.. http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-blacktown-419461858

NSW is the worst for car registration/insurance. I swear its all a massive rort, especially the green slip. I have colleagues that moved from the Gold Coast to western Sydney and they went for paying less than $1000/yr for rego and comp insurance to almost $2500. Theres no reason there should be that much of a discrepancy between states.

So is Melbourne it for you Marisa? Have you made the decision to stay? I must admit if I was arriving again I would definitely pick Melbourne over Sydney. It doesn't have the wow factor but in many other ways it seems to be a much more liveable place.

I think you mean reciprocal...isn't a receptacle a toilet?! :smile:

I'd stick with your current employer. Better the devil you know and all that..

Mosman is very wealthy. Live there if you have loads of money and can afford it. Very upper class and very white. San Souci is more multicultural, has some nicer and some rougher areas. Close to the airport and has a bit of an industrial feel in places. I think I'd prefer to live further south with a family - look at Jannali, Como, Oyster Bay etc. Even Oatley or Peakhurst. Much greener and quieter than Sans Souci.

Look at Berry NSW. Ticks the village box. If you can handle the Sydney influx on weekends. Not sure about real estate costs..

Me three!

Think of it like this. Townsville is about the size (population) of Huddersfield. Rockhampton is the same size as Wakefield. Both cities are at least 3-4 hours from the closest big city - but even then you're not even close to a major centre. They are both regional centres so will have all services you need. And if you enjoy a quiet family life, going to the beach, bbqing, exploring nature they are great. If however you crave fancy restaurants, art galleries, concerts etc you're better off looking at a major city instead. Also, keep in mind both places are very hot for at least 6 months of the year. I could never live up there for that reason alone.

Its a nice town. Lots of lovely older buildings. Not too far from Sydney and close to the Blue Mountains. Extremes of climate but for rural inland Australia it is one of the better large towns/areas.

Tamworth has a fantastic downtown main/shopping street (Peel street?). One of the best I've seen. However, watch out for flies! I was there in April and they were relentless.

I've been to Cairns once and thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful place and safe from what I could see. However, there are 2 negatives. One is all the roundabouts on the road north from Cairns (there must be about 20 within a few miles!). The other is the reason I could never live there - the heat and humidity. It was bad in October, I can't imagine what January is like. Having said that, I also find Sydney sweltering in the summer so I guess this is just down to personal preference.

I lived on the south coast and it gets down to low single digits on winter nights. Managed with portable heaters but wouldn't be keen to do it again!

I personally wouldn't go for it. Sydney you can get away with no heating but in Canberra you need a good heating source (especially if you were used to central heating in the UK). And I think messing around with a wood burning stove would be a PITA. In my experience, if you're using them to heat most of a house the room the heater is in gets roasting hot, and the bedrooms remain frigid!

Well this is all very negative. I've camped in the summer and think it can be wonderful in the right place. My recommendation - south coast of NSW (Sydney south); through the Gippsland coast in Victoria and then hop on a ferry to explore Tasmania. Come back and camp the great ocean road up towards Adelaide. If you stick right along the coast the days shouldn't get too hot and it will cool down (most nights). I wouldn't go much further up/north than this in the middle of summer.

How did you manage to take the test before even applying?? ! :wink:

I've just filled out my online tax return (not lodged yet) and have come out owing $7000 I think its because I've been working at 3 different jobs and tax already deducted is less than it would have been if my total income was only from 1 job. I've deducted some self education expenses and clothing allowance. Anyway know of any other deductions that I may have? I might go see a tax accountant and see if there's something else I'm missing. I expected to pay some but this is a lot more than I was expecting. Its all a bit depressing!

If it's going to be a permanent move and you can get one, this is a no brainer. Get the 189. It gives you permanence. A 457 does not.

I think as you haven't lived there in 47 years you would have next to no change of getting a residents return visa. Anyone ever heard of anyone getting one in this situation?