I've been looking for the answer as to when it is best to relocate to Australia but could not find anything.

A friend of mine has just told me that coming to Australia between November and January is not a good idea. It is the season for holiday makers so it is diffcult to rent an apartment, find a job, organise insurance, healthcare, schooling, driving licence etc.

I would like to ask the locals who are in Oz already, is there really the 'holiday spirit' Australia-wide or just in Sydney? My friend says it is best to come September latest and February earliest - please confirm anyone and share your experience.

The friend is exaggerating slightly. Certainly businesses don't tend to hire and fire in late December early January but it's no longer than that. Rentals are available all the time, may slow down over christmas but not hugely. Everything else can be done very easily at all times of the year. Schooling obviously stops between mid December and the end of January as it's our Summer Holidays. However it's very easy to get children into school in the week preceding term starting and it's quite normal to start a couple of weeks in if you are having to visit them first.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, come over when it's right for you.

Thank you for your reply.
The more I think about it, it seems that getting the visa, however difficult it is, in fact it is just the half of the whole relocation story. The question remains, the easier or the harder half.

Over here in Perth, the place really seems to shut down from mid-Dec to late-Jan, until people suddenly appear getting ready to get the kids back to school in early Feb. A lot of business and govt services close completely for 2 weeks Xmas-New Year-ish, but real estate agents never seem to close and are always ready to take your money so that you can rent accommodation.

If you're coming over here with kids, I think it's helpful to get them started at school for at least the last 4 weeks of the school year, eg mid-Nov at the latest - this gives them (and you) the opportunity to make a few friends before the very, very long summer holidays.

It has happened to a few people who arrive here leading up to Christmas that they have the worst time of their lives - you might escape winter in the UK, but there can be a price.