Hello,

I would like to find out how many people do/have visited Australia before emigrating?

We are both set on emigrating and currently researching everything and saving but to visit we would be looking at about £5000!

Many Thanks

We did. I think it's a huge thing to move lock stock and barrel to a country that you've never even visited before! Especially if you're uprooting children too.

I know a lot who didn't though x

I'd never visited before emigrating? During a visit you are in holiday mode - its very different to being here working, kids at schools, paying bills etc

We visited for nearly 3 weeks before applying for a visa. We never spent anywhere near £5k but there are only 2 of us

No, moved to Canada without visiting and then to Australia, again without visiting before.

Thanks for the replies, the figure is only a rough estimate but I have two children so looking around £2500 for flights if we go for 3 weeks then that would be about £1000-£1500 for accommodation and then spending money.

We both know its what we want so part of me would rather save the money

I work with someone who 'knew it was what he and his family wanted'. They hated it when they got there, his wife and kids flew home, and he had to wait for his container to turn up so he could turn it around and send it back again.

I also work with someone who has a visa, but since validating, his kids have decided they don't want to move. He does have another 3 years before the enter by date, so they may change their mind.

It is an expensive holiday, but the visa process is expensive too, and if it's not for you isn't it better to find that out first before you put yourselves through a lot of stress.

We had both been to Australia, but for me over ten years before and I had no thoughts of emigration at that time. I honestly don't think a reccie visit would have helped, because it is a holiday not life. We did a reccie visit to Bermuda which was lovely, but I didn't like living there (to put it mildly).

I think it is something I would only recommend if money is no object and you can splash out without batting an eyelid.

I have been to Australia but like BS it was over 10 years ago.
For me, I know that choosing the right area is very important because I saw areas that I absolutely loved but I also saw areas that gave me the shivers

So having been there has given me a guideline but whether or not it will have any bearing on me settling once I emigrate, I couldn't say.

we came twice; once in winter and then the second time in summer. however, these visits are not the same as living here permanently as you know you're on holiday.

Thanks for your replies will need to think more about weather it's worth visiting first

If you can afford it, you should try to visit first I reckon, thats way you will at least have some sense of what it may be like living here.

That first one must have been a shocker. Although I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with friends in Vancouver, I just couldn't imagine actually having to live there (though I have lived in Washington State in the past). Of course Canada isn't just Vancouver so I might have had completely different feelings had I visited Toronto for instance...

I would visit as making a move is a bold decision and not seeing the place beforehand might not be a good idea, though as someone mentioned if you do visit then you are in holiday mode so things might seem different.

Personally I think you'll miss the social side of the UK, the level of the press, tv, pubs, etc.

Not really a shock. We lived in Calgary and then Halifax. Both lovely places albeit very different.

The hardest move I ever made was leaving Lancashire at 18. Packing my 1 suitcase, 1 box into the back of my boyfriends Peugeot 205 and heading down the M6 was, with hindsight, truly terrifying. Perhaps that is why I haven't had an issue with moving since then.

Not everyone misses the things you mention, it is subjective. Now there is iPlayer and the like I probably watch as much TV as I did in the UK and I check the news online everyday.

I say give it a go. Coming and visiting may give you an idea of what the place looks like but when you are spending your pounds you are in holiday mode and IMO does not prepare you for actually living here.

Just my opinion of course.