Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Visit the Gold Coast Hinterland, it is really fab and not too far from Brisbane. We are treating ourselves to a few days at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat in April.
http://www.ccrr.com.au/
Good luck with your visit.
Make sure you have some time to relax and enjoy yourselves.
Sula
http://www.ccrr.com.au/
Good luck with your visit.
Make sure you have some time to relax and enjoy yourselves.
Sula
#17
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
Still struggling to get my head around why you don't convert AUD to pounds? It has been explained to me before but still confused Is it because you should not expect to pay the same for an item/ good in Australia to what you would pay in the UK? How am I meant to know if something in Australia is worth its $ pricetag?
Lynn
Lynn
I think I understand. When you move to Aus it is academic whether something is more expensive or cheaper than it would be in the UK. You will be paid in AUD and therefore spend in AUD - the price you pay is relative to your income as to whether you regard it as value for money. After all you do not compare UK prices to those in, say, China to see if you are being ripped off.
You just need to get a feel for the cost of living relative to the income you will be earning. From what I can gather from others, some things you pay more for compared to the Uk, and some you pay less. Overall it's about the same but incomes are perhaps lower than UK. I am working on the principle that overall there is not much difference.
Richard
#18
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by RAG62
Hi Lynn
I think I understand. When you move to Aus it is academic whether something is more expensive or cheaper than it would be in the UK. You will be paid in AUD and therefore spend in AUD - the price you pay is relative to your income as to whether you regard it as value for money. After all you do not compare UK prices to those in, say, China to see if you are being ripped off.
You just need to get a feel for the cost of living relative to the income you will be earning. From what I can gather from others, some things you pay more for compared to the Uk, and some you pay less. Overall it's about the same but incomes are perhaps lower than UK. I am working on the principle that overall there is not much difference.
Richard
I think I understand. When you move to Aus it is academic whether something is more expensive or cheaper than it would be in the UK. You will be paid in AUD and therefore spend in AUD - the price you pay is relative to your income as to whether you regard it as value for money. After all you do not compare UK prices to those in, say, China to see if you are being ripped off.
You just need to get a feel for the cost of living relative to the income you will be earning. From what I can gather from others, some things you pay more for compared to the Uk, and some you pay less. Overall it's about the same but incomes are perhaps lower than UK. I am working on the principle that overall there is not much difference.
Richard
Lynn
#19
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
Thanks, I get what you mean. I still think it will be hard to stop converting - I did it the whole time I was on holiday! i.e petrol is so cheap in Brisbane, but now you have got me thinking is it!!!?
Lynn
Lynn
#20
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
Thanks, I get what you mean. I still think it will be hard to stop converting - I did it the whole time I was on holiday! i.e petrol is so cheap in Brisbane, but now you have got me thinking is it!!!?
Lynn
Lynn
Hi Lynn
I'm off to Brisbane soon too. A couple of my friends have just come back from there whilst their visas are in the final stages, so they're working in the UK for a couple of months before moving back over to Brisbane (hope that makes sense!) They've both said that while they're earning reasonable money here for temps (about £40k between them) they have much less disposable income than they did while working part time doing tele marketing in Brisbane.
While they were there they earned a lot less money, and worked fewer hours (about 4 hours a day each), but they could still afford to rent a flat in Brisbane city, eat out every night (they didn't cook once) and travel around Oz in between jobs. In the UK they are staying with one set of parents (so not much in the way of cost there ) and not living particularly lavishly or eating out, but have somehow managed to end up in debt. And they're both working full time weeks.
My boyfriend (from Brisbane and now living in UK - temporarily...) has also noticed the difference in disposable income from living here and earning quite a good wage, but yet watching it disappear, and living in Oz, earning less, but seeing it go further. I know this is different for everyone depending on job/ lifestyle etc., and it's hard to calculate, but it's looking attractive to me!
We're doing our own reccy trip in March/ April too - guess there'll be a few of us scouting the place out.....
Sophie
#21
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by Sophie Louise
Hi Lynn
I'm off to Brisbane soon too. A couple of my friends have just come back from there whilst their visas are in the final stages, so they're working in the UK for a couple of months before moving back over to Brisbane (hope that makes sense!) They've both said that while they're earning reasonable money here for temps (about £40k between them) they have much less disposable income than they did while working part time doing tele marketing in Brisbane.
While they were there they earned a lot less money, and worked fewer hours (about 4 hours a day each), but they could still afford to rent a flat in Brisbane city, eat out every night (they didn't cook once) and travel around Oz in between jobs. In the UK they are staying with one set of parents (so not much in the way of cost there ) and not living particularly lavishly or eating out, but have somehow managed to end up in debt. And they're both working full time weeks.
My boyfriend (from Brisbane and now living in UK - temporarily...) has also noticed the difference in disposable income from living here and earning quite a good wage, but yet watching it disappear, and living in Oz, earning less, but seeing it go further. I know this is different for everyone depending on job/ lifestyle etc., and it's hard to calculate, but it's looking attractive to me!
We're doing our own reccy trip in March/ April too - guess there'll be a few of us scouting the place out.....
Sophie
I'm off to Brisbane soon too. A couple of my friends have just come back from there whilst their visas are in the final stages, so they're working in the UK for a couple of months before moving back over to Brisbane (hope that makes sense!) They've both said that while they're earning reasonable money here for temps (about £40k between them) they have much less disposable income than they did while working part time doing tele marketing in Brisbane.
While they were there they earned a lot less money, and worked fewer hours (about 4 hours a day each), but they could still afford to rent a flat in Brisbane city, eat out every night (they didn't cook once) and travel around Oz in between jobs. In the UK they are staying with one set of parents (so not much in the way of cost there ) and not living particularly lavishly or eating out, but have somehow managed to end up in debt. And they're both working full time weeks.
My boyfriend (from Brisbane and now living in UK - temporarily...) has also noticed the difference in disposable income from living here and earning quite a good wage, but yet watching it disappear, and living in Oz, earning less, but seeing it go further. I know this is different for everyone depending on job/ lifestyle etc., and it's hard to calculate, but it's looking attractive to me!
We're doing our own reccy trip in March/ April too - guess there'll be a few of us scouting the place out.....
Sophie
Lynn
#22
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
For now I will keep wearing the rose tinted specs (well we can dream can't we!!?) I just keep saying that it can't be any worse than the UK!!!
Not wishing to be a killjoy but I am trying to look at things objectively. I think some things will be better and not others. I don't know your personal circs, but for me the UK is good and I would recommend it to others. I am hoping the Aus will be better But if I think it is not going to be right for us as a family then I will have to bite the bullet and stay here. It's easy to get carried away with the visa app process and lose sight of reality. Big decisons - give it careful thought. That's why I'm doing a reccy trip.
Richard
#23
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by Sophie Louise
Hi Lynn
I'm off to Brisbane soon too. A couple of my friends have just come back from there whilst their visas are in the final stages, so they're working in the UK for a couple of months before moving back over to Brisbane (hope that makes sense!)
We're doing our own reccy trip in March/ April too - guess there'll be a few of us scouting the place out.....Sophie
I'm off to Brisbane soon too. A couple of my friends have just come back from there whilst their visas are in the final stages, so they're working in the UK for a couple of months before moving back over to Brisbane (hope that makes sense!)
We're doing our own reccy trip in March/ April too - guess there'll be a few of us scouting the place out.....Sophie
Would be interested to hear what your friends think of Brisbane (not having been there before) .....it was not always our first choice for moving to Aus.
I'm flying out 28/3/05.... it may be good to meet up when over there to get tips on things to see/do. When are you hoping to move out to Brissie for good?
Richard
#24
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
Thanks for that info sophie - thats really good to know! I have been getting worried as nurses seem to earn LESS (yes Less!) than in UK. And then there have been other threads from people living in Brisbane talking about how things are expensive - from the holiday I didn't find this, but I guess you won't really get a feel for disposable income until you are living there. For now I will keep wearing the rose tinted specs (well we can dream can't we!!?) I just keep saying that it can't be any worse than the UK!!!
Lynn
Lynn
Rose tinted glasses are good - I'm holding on to those too....!!!
Sophie
#25
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by RAG62
Hi Sophie,
Would be interested to hear what your friends think of Brisbane (not having been there before) .....it was not always our first choice for moving to Aus.
I'm flying out 28/3/05.... it may be good to meet up when over there to get tips on things to see/do. When are you hoping to move out to Brissie for good?
Richard
Would be interested to hear what your friends think of Brisbane (not having been there before) .....it was not always our first choice for moving to Aus.
I'm flying out 28/3/05.... it may be good to meet up when over there to get tips on things to see/do. When are you hoping to move out to Brissie for good?
Richard
My boyfriend grew up in Brisbane (he came over here in 2003) so I'd always assumed he was a bit biased - so it was nice to hear that they were keen too and backed up a lot of the things he'd told me. We fly out on Good Friday, so it would definitely be good to meet up! We're out there for 3 weeks, and hopefully my boyfriend will be giving me the completely unbiased insider tour!!! We're looking at moving out pretty much asap after that - probably May/ June...
Sophie
#26
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by RAG62
Hi Lynn,
Not wishing to be a killjoy but I am trying to look at things objectively. I think some things will be better and not others. I don't know your personal circs, but for me the UK is good and I would recommend it to others. I am hoping the Aus will be better But if I think it is not going to be right for us as a family then I will have to bite the bullet and stay here. It's easy to get carried away with the visa app process and lose sight of reality. Big decisons - give it careful thought. That's why I'm doing a reccy trip.
Richard
Not wishing to be a killjoy but I am trying to look at things objectively. I think some things will be better and not others. I don't know your personal circs, but for me the UK is good and I would recommend it to others. I am hoping the Aus will be better But if I think it is not going to be right for us as a family then I will have to bite the bullet and stay here. It's easy to get carried away with the visa app process and lose sight of reality. Big decisons - give it careful thought. That's why I'm doing a reccy trip.
Richard
Sorry to hijack your thread - it has been very interesting to read - make sure you give us plenty of feedback when you get back.
Lynn
ps Remember to keep those dreams in sight but never lose touch with reality
#27
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
Sorry to hijack your thread - it has been very interesting to read - make sure you give us plenty of feedback when you get back.
Lynn
Lynn
Will give my feedback. Really looking forward to the trip, though being tall, not looking forward to the flight and being cramped up on a Jumbo.
Richard
#28
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by jc_hoops
If it's of any help, I'm doing the same thing for ten days at the start of March. So, when I get back, I'll let you know what I managed to get done and what I thought of the Suburbs I got to go to.
Oh, and whether there are any decent Bozzers there as well
Oh, and whether there are any decent Bozzers there as well
Brisbane to Manly for our first night
basically Cleveland up the coast road to Noosa
Noosa inland to Kilcoy
Kilcoy to Harlin??
south to Ipswich
east to Logan
South to Byron to meet my sister for a day or so of rest
what do you think?
We have 9 days, no kids, we are on a mission to find the place we want to settle in August this year
see this thread for replies
Tara
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280624
Last edited by ali south; Jan 29th 2005 at 7:51 am.
#29
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Originally Posted by Sophie Louise
Ah, well boyfriend's mum is a neonatal nurse, and his dad is a police officer. Apparently she earns more than him working part time (he is full time) because of the shift allowances nurses get. They both live very comfortably in a nice big house (I've seen pictures!), and can still afford to eat out, come over to the UK, etc.
Rose tinted glasses are good - I'm holding on to those too....!!!
Sophie
Rose tinted glasses are good - I'm holding on to those too....!!!
Sophie
That is about right. My partner has a well paid IT job, flexible, but long hours. His EX is (nurse) ward manager and works 3 shifts a week, but by doing them at night/weekends, she earns basically what he does p.a.
#30
Re: Reccy Trip to Brisbane - Things You Must Do
Ali South
Thanks for your notes and the thread link. I hadn't got so far as to plan a route map but think I will.
Yes we must compare notes on return.
Richard
Thanks for your notes and the thread link. I hadn't got so far as to plan a route map but think I will.
Yes we must compare notes on return.
Richard