BritInBrissyAndBeyond

Hi Reem D, To be honest I didn't make too many friends in Melbourne, but the people I did meet were really awesome. These were mostly through Air b&b and housesits I was doing. I've moved to Wagga now and made it a priority to make new friends and now that I'm putting the effort in it's proving quite rewarding. I've been using the meet up website which has been helpful and just trying to be a little bit more social in general. I don't have kids or a job as I'm just on a tourist visa, I also don't tend to stay in hostels as many back packers do so I've probably limited my options! Good luck in Melbourne, if our paths ever cross, I'll happily meet up for a coffee

Hi Everyone, So my boyfriend and I are planning on heading into Newcastle over the next few days to see what it has to offer and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas or tips on what we should definitely see, do or experience. I've done a few internet searches and all the usual tourist attractions have come up, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has any insider knowledge or 'off the beaten track' suggestions. Restaurants (especially veggie friendly ones) Happy Hours Historical Buildings with interesting histories Great Views Cool Shops Celeb Haunts Intimate Music Venues or live music nights Any advice would be great! Thanks guys ❤✌

Hey! Brisbane's amazing, I spent about 3 months there when I first arrived in Oz. There are so many hostels to choose from you'll be spolit for choice, I would recommend having a look online at the West End area. Its close to the CDB, full of cool and trendy bars and restaurants, it has a young vibe and a lot of reasonably priced accommodation. Also Base in the CDB is a good place to make friends and have a crazy time. Talking from experience you should probably try and have somewhere to stay arranged prior to your arrival. You'll need to fill out a form on the plane stating where you plan on staying and it just makes for a less stressful time once you arrive. You can jump in a cab, head straight to your destination and try to combat the jet lag! NAB is the biggest bank, you can open an account online and veify it in person once you arrive. They'll give you a debit card too which is handy. Do you plan on heading to Cairns too? Its beautuful the reef, kuranda, the lively CBD, you'll have a great time! Come summer the heat and humidity and be pretty unbearable though. I was there in January and boy was it hot! Just one thing that I want to point out, I love that you're from North Carolina! Its on my to do list! Have a great time in Australia and good luck Maxine ✌❤

Melbourne's fantastic actually! I'd heard such great things about this city but thought 'nah, it can't beat Sydney' but I'm finding it really cool and trendy and reminds me a lot of London (with trams!) I'd highly recommend a visit!

Hi guys, Did you have any luck finding people to hang out with on here? I've been considering posting a similar ad as my partner and I are down in Melbourne, and haven't really hit the social scene yet, I'd love to know if your ad has generated much intetest Maxine

Hey, where are you based, the UK or Australia? Btw there's nothing wrong with lurking lol

Hey Rach, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling a bit crappy at the moment, I totally understand your predicament. Let me tell you a bit about me.... I came to Australia last August, 6 weeks prior to this, moving to Australia hadn't even crossed my mind. Leaving England hadn't even crossed my mind. I met a guy, we'd been friends for a few months, I knew he was planning on coming over here and as his leave date got closer and closer I began to realize I liked him. He liked me too and a week before he flew out, he told me this. During his last wek in the UK he (somehow) managed to talk me in to moving to Australia with him. I quit my job, sold my house, said goodbye to all my friends and family and 6 weeks later got on a plane to Sydney. Was this a good idea? I still don't know... I love being here in Australia with him and we've just celebrated a year together which is lovely, but I have made zero friends here, I don't have a job as we move around quite frequently, he doesn't have a penny to his name right now as he is developing a new online business and I am living off the sale of my house. Everyday I think about going home. But would that really be better? Am I (are we) idolising the UK? Australia is a great country, you have a family and a life here, does the UK offer you real happiness or would heading home without your husband leave you feeling just as crappy? For me being with the man I love and working towards a great future together beats the urge to leave. Yes I get lonely, sad sometimes and feel out of my depth but its an experience and every experience is worth embracing and finding the positives in. Are your children happy here? How would they feel going back to the UK? They'd be in the same boat as you're in now, leaving friends and everything they know behind. Its a tricky situation you find yourself in, hopefully these responses will help you see things in a clearer light and lead you in the right direction All the best, Maxine

Hey, you sound exactly like me before I came to Oz! The thought of seeing huge venomous spiders scared the hell out of me, but I've been here for almost a year now and not had a problem. I've seen a Huntsman in Port Macquarie that ran away pretty quickly and a huge thing (literally the size of my palm!) up in Cairns that was easy to get rid of, not only was he big, he was lazy! I imagine if you plan on spending time in rural areas you might see more but in large built up regions I would say cockroaches are more of an issue Maxine

Hey guys, my partner and I have been house-sitting in Geelong West for about a month, tomorrow we are celebrating our one year anniversary together and I would love to spend the evening in Geelongs CBD or the Packington Street area in a cool, trendy bar and possibly finish up in a nice Indian restaurant. We've been out in the city a few times but I haven't really found anywhere with a vibrant, young feel and was hoping you lovely lot could throw some suggestions our way! Thanks in advance, Maxine ❤