Krums

I have been offered a job in Tasmania, Australia.
Where as I am doing my research into the island, has anyone been to Tas??
I have asked some Australians and they told me its great but I need to know.
Whats it like to live there? Schools? Cost of Living? Anything useful I guess

seanpears99

Beautiful place but friggin cold in the winter. My better half is tasmanian and we went back for a week in about 2 months ago. Beautiful scenery, more laid back than brisbane, awesome weather until we had a 6 degree rainy cold day and reminded me of england.

Apart from that I would live there as the property is cheap, just wages are an issue for me over there.

Triumph3

It's the only part of Oz I'd consider moving to. Had a few weeks there 2years ago mainly near Geeveston in the south. The weather is more like UK but good enough still to grow olives/grapes etc.
The beaches on Bruny island were unbelievable. Bay of Fires up in the north east again was astounding. And if there was somebody on the beach, you drive to another a couple of miles away and then you'd have it all to yourself.
As for cities, Hobart was nice enough with a great market at the weekend (and a short plane ride to Sydney if you want a bit more life), Launceston I thought reminded me of the 'townships' in NZ so didn't really care for it. And that's about it, lots of nothing (trees) in between. My Melbourne/Perth based relatives would take the mickey about it because of the amount of 'bogans' there. But my rellies fell in to the chav bracket and I'd rather live with bogans than chavs any day.
Housing seems to be much cheaper than the rest of Oz and houses right on the coast are easily affordable. Most houses I looked at 2 years ago are still for sale, even at much reduced prices.
I thought food was expensive but there are reams of threads on the whole food price issue.
Can't say about wages.

If you don't like all of it, there are far, far worse places to spend a few years of your life.

Kim67

It's lovely, small townish feel throughout and old country friendliness. If you have a job (which a lot of people in Tasmania don't seem to be able to get) it would be a great place to live. I have friends in Launceston with kids in private grammar school which they're happy with, a couple of good ballet schools in town too apparently. If it wasn't for our kids getting to the critical age in their schooling, we'd move there tomorrow. It's cold but the houses are built for the cold and the air is so crisp and clean you can forgive a bit of the chill. The rugged coastline is gorgeous and there is heaps of wildlife. We pulled up at a little bait shop and corner store on the way back from Port Arthur a couple of months ago and my son befriended a dog - the dog took him down to a little bridge and showed him his best mate (a seal that comes into feed at the bait shop every afternoon). The dog then jumped in and started swimming with the seal, so cute.

Genesis

Hi, been in Palmerston North NZ for the last 7 years after 45 years in the UK. My wife is a senior nurse in palliative care and we have 3 children average age about 10.

NZ has lost much of its sparkle for many a reason and we now see Tazzy as an alternative.

We would like to live in Hobart as I have relatives there. Have not asked their views yet as this is all hush hush!!

It looks awesome have done the east coast of Oz back in 1990 but found the mainland too big and too hot. Taz seems like a great alternative.

Can I have some opinions of the place please? I assume nursey will be okay to get a job in nursing? Any ideas of the pay scales for senior nurses?

Thank you in advance.

Zen10

I can give you second-hand info that a good friend of mine told me after visiting. He told me it was the most beautiful place he has ever travelled to (second time I've posted this this week - Tasmania is obviously a popular place!). He has travelled a lot around Aus and NZ by the way. I would love to go there but no time/money/ etc. Hobart always appeals to me as well. It will be interesting to read posts by those living there to get the "inside" info!

bcworld

Tas can still be hot...I was in Hobart in January & it was a scorcher.

I haven't seen all of it...but I'd struggle to believe its more spectacular than NZ South Island.

martin1978

The wife's from Hobart. I love the place and the only thing that's stopping me going to live there is the cold winters which I escaped from back home and the lack of job opportunities.

Amazulu

Jobs are scarce and the pay will be shit.

A great place to retire though.

Kim67

We'd live there as my husband's self employed, but schooling and ballet are the issue for us. Hobart's lovely, but I prefer Launceston. Most of the Tasmanian's we spoke to when we were there last year wanted to get out because of the lack of employment.

Pollyana

Spent a lot of time there as I had a partner down there for a while and I still love the place. Main problem is indeed employment, but if you can get over that hurdle its a stunning place to be. Very friendly and laid back, gorgeous scenery and places to explore. Great variations too - the beaches and tranquility on the east coast compared with the wild west coast. Mountains, lakes and forests - more than you could dream of.....
Very easy to explore as its geared up for backpackers so coach services can get you from town to town easily.
Food and drink is amazing - great seafood restaurants, some wonderful places that specialise in fruit, cheese, etc, and plenty of local beers as well as some excellent wineries.

It is quiet, could possibly be a bit insular, but its only a short flight from Melbourne. Weatherwise you'll get the lot. I've been there in snow, rain, sleet, gales - but also in some lovely sunny weather, weeks of 23-36 degrees. It can get very hot though, winds from Adelaide are the usual catalyst and I remember 2 days of 38 degrees a few years back.

And there's a definite north-south divide. I'm a Hobart girl, Launceston just has a different feel to it

ozzieeagle

IMO Hobart at least to me feels far less insular compared to Country towns over 3 hours drive away from Melbourne.... Especially places like Mildura and the other Mallee towns. When you compare it to other well known Aus Country towns throughout NSW and Queensland you realise how accessible Hobart and Launceston really are. The proxmity and ease of travelling time to Melbourne and Sydney albeit by plane is what happily sold me on Tasmania.

I reckon it's going to fulfill its obvious potential as a very desireable location once the boom times bounce back.

martin1978

I agree

Johnntracy

Hi
We are looking to relocate to Tasmania from Adelaide in January 2013. Really don't know where to start! Where is the best place to live? I'm a registered nurse and John is a support worker for the disabled. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Tracy

Krums

When I first posted this thread I was a bit weary about going. With a week to go before we leave I feel very positive about the change. Every one I spoke to told me its out in the sticks. My main worry is weather as Perth and Brisbane are up in the 25's and hobart is just getting to 20. However from what I'm told it's very fresh and warm without the discomfort of being to hot.
We have been looking at housing and for a comfortable 3 bed house with garden and large rooms we are looking at 300 pounds per week (1200 per month). This is better than here.
Area wise i have been offered launcheston which is north tasmania. This will allow us to move to Melbourne when ever we wish to go for the weekend.
Most of the information I got was on line but talking to Australians does help.