knockoff nige

Hey, just wondering if any of you have made the move over to Australia without having been there before (for whatever reason, I'm not here to judge ) Also, if you have, how have things went for you and would you recommend it?

tazkenny

Tell you in 6 weeks time. I'm heading there having never been before !

eddie007

tell you next week when I do ditto

knockoff nige

Good to know I'm not totally mad. Are you guyd heading over on your own? Anything lined up for yourselves pre arrival?

gobbyjock

Hubby had been before but me & daughter hadn`t, we`ve been here since beginning of June and have settled really well so far. I suppose in an ideal world it would be better to visit before going through the rollercoaster of visa application but nothing in life is guaranteed and we could well have visited first and loved it but then hated living it day to day.

Wendy

We all came without visiting before. All in all things have gone really well, all kids and adults settled easily.

I can't say I'd recommend it for everyone, depends on what type of person you are - but it worked for us

johnnyyt

Hi,
we are hoping to go to Adelaide next year (just sent tra) and we, the wife,some would say my better half, my little boy and myself, have never been to Auz before.

We thought about going for a reccie first but thought we would only see through holiday eyes so we are saving the money for when we get there. Alot of replies from posters on BE who have taken the gamble without visiting first; so if it can work for them why shouldn't it work for us?

Johnnyyt

Bobcat

Came here in 1976 to have a quick look-see from J'oburg............ never went back to Africa.

Fell in love with Perth. Worked in other States, lived in other cities and up the territory............ but returned to Perth to settle down.

sel

ABSOLUTELY !!!


We had never been to oz before. We decided that the money a reccie would cost could be used as return money if we didn't like it.

Best move we ever made

Vim Fuego

Yes I did (my wife is Australian) and it's working out great. Would I recommend it? Yes, in my opinion 'reccies' are a waste of time, money and effort ... you can only have an idea if it's for you if you are actually 'in amongst it' in my view.

comet555

We did it. Although in our minds we decided that we would move over for at least 2-3 years and just see what happens. We figured if we like it we'll stay as long as we want, and if we don't we can always move back to Canada. There's a lot less pressure and stress knowing you can always return.

We've only been here for about 4 months but so far so good. We won't be going back any time soon.

Our thought was we would save the money we would have spent on a reccie, and if we didn't like it we could use that money to get ourselves back home.

walaj

from another POV
I had visited before any decision was made to move here - however I was not prepared to make/ask the OH to move, leave the career he had built up, without seeing a bit of the country, talking to other expats who live here, get a glimpse of what it could be to live here for himself. I wanted the move to be a joint decision and not biased by my visit by myself, which I though could be thrown against me if things did not work out - for me/us it was not worth the risk.
That is the key word - risk, and how much you are prepared to take or afford (a reccie that you find you don't like the place is cheaper than moving to Oz then back again, but a reccie is no substitute to living here)

Shakmaty

Came here two and a half years for the first time. Had no preconceptions, but wasn't happy with life in UK and wanted a change so we tried here. We were going to come here on holiday, but then thought, why waste all that cash when we might as well just move. Anyway, have loved every minute of our time here.

Would I recommend it? Some people need to see it for themselves, and some don't. I don't think a reccie of a couple of weeks gives you a real feel for a place, so to me it doesn't seem worth it. But then again, we are all different and I would recommend that you find the right answer that suits yourself

UGLY BETTY

Never visited...been here three years and here for good!!!!

Geelong Gent

The problem for most people is they come on a reccie but actually its just a glorified holiday with more socialising. Therefore I would first recommend people focus on "reccie versus holiday mode".

If you read Buzzies reccie can you see a focus on getting answers to a number of relevant questions (as well as a bit of socialising). Others I have seen its just one long party with no relevant questions getting asked (and therefore a waste of time and money).

We did and would again..... But it was for specific reasons that well we had to be here. For some I would recommend not bothering but risk it all - having said that alot of thinking and analysing can be done while still in the UK. ie learn to abstain from calling family for assistance with kids when they are sick or you want a night out.

Nothing was learned or changed our thoughts in the areas of work/housing/cost of living. If anything it gave us a flavour but on arrival we went for "savoury" rather than "sweet" no right or wrong just different.