Dorothy

Me too. We were only a month behind you guys, landing in mid August. I remember getting out of the airport and thinking "holy crap it's cold!" The kids needed to go to the beach and it was so cold and windy I thought we would freeze to death.

moneypenny20

First time landing in Perth in 1984 and thinking omg what a shithole, I want to go home. Second time 2005 landing in Brisbane to validate and thinking I am home. Third time arriving in Brissie with the family and knowing I'd come home. The sky was blue, it was beautifully warm, First Born was still crying, and a few hours later the skies opened and it rained like there was no tomorrow.

Sherlock Holmes

The first time I landed in Melbourne (June 2002) I stepped outside and thought, "Ah, fresh air."

We went to Melbourne last weekend and went to the airport. All I could smell was diesel and kerosene.

What was I breathing in England that made Melbourne Airport smell so good that first time?

Maybe it's me but everyone was so friendly and helpful. They still are.

Sally Simpson

We arrived from Singapore & it was less humid but very hot! What did I know?
I loved that the hospital is right by the sea & I still think it is great to look out from our unit & see the view of the ocean

ROMFT_WO2RN

stepping off the gangway of HMS Sutherland, in Cairns into, glorious sunshine, then the first bar we walked into had cheap beer, drunk female backpackers and naked women, felt like I'd died and gone to heaven

expatasia

So that's where you met the missus? Fort she were from darn sarf.

Sherlock Holmes

But then you woke up and you were still in Cairns

ROMFT_WO2RN

Pompey originaly then Nottingham, but never Cairns

still like cairns, although left with a massive bruise across my groin last time

Bernieboy

Last time i landed in brisbane,it was raining and my then wife was waiting for me and i though 'how does one get divorced in Australia'

Pollyana

It was tipping down the day you left as well!

do we dare ask???

expatasia

Let Rasen ask on here.

Bernieboy

Serviced by one of the cabin boys

oz bound

1st impressions were in July 2006 when we came over on holiday. Came out of the airport in Perth at 5pm and couldn't believe it was dark! I remember thinking what the heck is going on! lol after that initial shock a few days in, I couldn't believe how multicultural it was! I led a very sheltered life until I moved here so at that point it really stood out. Then there was the cleanliness of the place and the amount of public toilets available! They seemed to be everywhere!

RedT

Off the plane in Sydney in 2007, still high as a kite from the copious valium we took on the flight and welcomed by my brother who I hadn't seen in about 4 years - was just the best feeling! Tootled down the road to the Gong in their VW van taking the scenic route to meet the rest of my family who were already there (we were all over for bro's wedding). I remember feeling right at home immediately and saying to the husband 'we should move here'...

ROMFT_WO2RN

nope quad bike versus tree and the tree won

Tried to get out of the way and clobbered the trunk with my knee/inner thigh

had a nice black bruise from middle of groin all the way down to knee, some VB soon sorted that out