LondonCouple

Hi all,

I wondered how many people visited Australia for a holiday before they actually moved there?

We are very new to all of this and cant decide whether we should go for a holiday first or not. Mainly because we really really cant decide which area we would want to live in.

Thanks

Kapri

Hi - We spent a month in Oz travelling up the East coast from Sydney to Cairns.
We are not going to any of the places we visited. We're headed for Melbourne although we've never been there. It just appeals to us as a place to live. There were places in Queensland that I thought were great to visit but I couldn't see myself living there.

karmagirls

Hi there,
No we didn't go first before moving. We just researched constantly for months and months and then went with the place we thought we'd like best. Thankfully for us it's been the right decision so far, but we've only been here a month! We just didn't see the point in spending lots of money to come over for a holiday when we could use it for furniture or whatever when we moved. Yes it's scary and a little insane, but sometimes you just have to go with it.

price28

I only ever visited Perth on Holiday because my dad and brothers live here so that is how i decided to move to this area.
Now i am here though i am not sure i will always be in Perth holidays give you a different perspective and its very different to living it i think.
If you have never been to Australia before what is it that attracts you as different areas have different qualities and different temperatures too.

I would go to the travel agent and get brochures on Oz, go to the library and watch programmes just try to research every part and use the internet, also what work you do because you can sometimes get a job before you get here too. Then if you can make a decision on where you think is ideal for you you could visit it first i would say though if you go to 1 part of Oz and its not for you it doesnt mean another part wouldnt be for you and it could mount up to a lot of holidays,

jenodp

Great to hear your reply about this. We are just at the very early stages on deciding to go to australia in 3 yrs time but are not sure at all where about to go. We did originally think of going on holiday first but we are worried that will see it in a different light than having to actually work there. We have to children who will be 10 and 7 when we move so any ideas guys.....

tony s

No we didnt go on holiday were emigrating in 6 months think were heading to adelaidexxxxxxxxxx

jenodp

Hope that all goes well for you. Have you got jobs lined up then over there for you already?

chels

Yes, had been on holiday to QLD and also spent about 10 months in Australia on a WHV when I was younger. Although even with that knowledge of what Australia is like (eg that it isn't always sunny in Sydney so it's a good idea to pack some cardies) it didn't really prepare me for living full time over here on a permanent basis. But it didn't do any harm either!

tony s

Were just sorting that out im a youth worker and hubby works in the pop industry why are you waiting three yearsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

jenodp

Husband in the raf so need to finish his 22yrs service. But looking to go there with me working full time as I am a theatre nurse/technician. I am gathereing that it will take about 12 months to process visas etc anyway..just researching all the areas to live at the mo.

sel

We came out without ever visiting, our boys were 7 & 9 My mom died whilst we were starting the visa process and this put a whole different slant on things for me so didn't care what others thought and we were all happy to just go for it, researched everything like mad and timed everything to perfection. We are now in our 10th month here and so far everything has/is working out great.

Good luck

themerlin

No we had never been, bit of a brave thing to do looking back on it now.
But at the time we no kids so there was not much risk and it would have been easy to move back if thats what we wanted.

Willij

We're in the no brigade - mainly because of cost and time off work issues.

It's worked for us but we probably would have come out first if we had had the money.

Paul and Chloe

I had come out on a working holiday visa and lived in Melbourne and Sydney, then visited again in 2000 and spent 6 months travelling around Australia (ever State except Tassie!)....then made the move in Jan 2005!

gedge

we travelled all round Aus back in 97 and spent some time working in Sydney
the working holiday is a common route for many and gives a good opportunity to try before you buy so to speak
not sure if a holiday will give you the same exposure but if you can afford the time and money then it's certainly not going to be a wasted trip either
good luck