[RussandViv]

Hi, I would just like to introduce us to the forum. We left the UK - London almost 4 years ago and have lived in Adelaide and after that, Melbourne where we are now. We initially applied for NZ in England but at that time I couldn't get enough points to meet the application requirements, so we decided to try Australia (which I could just get the points for), while I gained extra qualifications to be able to apply again to NZ. I don't tell the Ozzies about this! So, as soon as I passed my exams, I applied for us to come to NZ. We should be able to move to Auckland in October.

We don't have kids to worry about so that is a great burden unnoticed, but we have alot of stuff to move!

We literally can't wait to get to NZ.

Kind regards,

Russ and Viv

[Aussie Pom]

It might be easier to get Aussie citizenship while you are here and then just go... that is what we are doing. Aussies are entitled to health, education etc on an equal footing to Kiwis and don't need work visas etc. I have been here 13 years and my husband 15. We have been citizens for quite a while but part of the attraction was to be able to go to NZ if we wanted to. Might be worth considering. Do it before you have to do the citizen test, don't get me started on that! :p
Gina

[RussandViv]

Hi Gina, Apologies - didn't mention that we ahve been here on temporary visas and are over 45. This is the 'brick-wall' that stops us from getting a permanent visa.
Kind regards,
Russell

[holland]

Hello Russ and Viv,

Welcome to the forum

J and G x

[srivett]

Welcome to the forum, Russ and Viv! I'm an Aussie-Canuck moving to NZ in October and have a bit of experience dealing with all the messy residence stuff in both countries; it's never what I'd call fun. We're all here to support you with your move - keep up the excitement!

Btw, I grew up in Adelaide - how'd you like it?

[Silverwing86]

Hi Russ and Viv and welcome to the forum !

What an interesting journey ! You must be really excited to be so close to your goal :nice1!

I've always had strong feelings about Australia (don't ask me why, I wish I could explain it, but I can't, totally irrational ;) !), and Down Under in general. However somehow we think NZ suits us better than Aus would (again, not rational, just a feeling, albeit a strong one), which is why we chose to come here instead.

Not had a chance to go to Aus yet, but will certainly be visiting sometime in the near future. How have you found it ?

Good luck on the final leg of your journey !

Silver

[katandbob]

yes hearing your opinion on Aus would be interesting, funny how in winter the pull of the sun seems tempting.

I said I would consider working there but not to live permenantly, I'd never afford the house and land there!

and I would miss the greenness of NZ.

Kat

[RussandViv]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you all for your kind words. We could say allot about Australia so if you want any detail/specifics just let us know. In the meantime, I'll be brief. When we arrived in Australia to Adelaide, we thought (and still do) that it is a wonderful city. Very impressive are the beautiful gardens all around the city, and the free botanical gardens (Bicentennial dome costs a little but is well worth it). We lived in the city on Pulteney Street and easily managed to walk to all parts of the city. The North end of Adelaide around the university and across to the river are also surrounded by beautifully manicured parks. I suppose we only really left Adelaide because work is not easy to find there and I got a job offer in Melbourne.

Melbourne is way different, being congested (not to London levels but at least like - say Leeds or Manchester) and busy. Being out on the Eastern Suburbs, near Mt Dandenong is nice, but how the house prices are rocketing! Good job we aren't looking anymore. Average round here is 350K to 400K.

Generally, our impressions of Australia - still as relative newcomers - is that many people here are terrified of the very hot summer (40C) because of fire danger. Also in the past year there has been a water shortage and we are still on stage 3a restrictions (water garden Sat 6am-8am and Tues 6am-8am, no hose-pipes without triggers and no watering the lawn or car washing- bucket to wash windows is allowed!). To my mind the shortage is down to infrastructure, because there are huge amounts of water falling in Queensland and it doesn't get collected. Fire danger is no joke bacause this place is covered in fuel-packed (Eucalypt) trees!

One of the hardest things for us to get used to is the truly vast distances between cities. Canberra is nearest at 472Km, then Adelaide at 653Km so moving city or Interstate is a major undertaking. On the lighter side, we have been here long enough to shout at the TV when the politicians are on and laugh at the scams and corruption!

A big fear for many is the creepy crawlies, but I have to say this is generally way, way over-done by the Aussies. True the big spiders are here and boy are they big, but in the suburbs at least, you don't see that many. The main hazard for us has been ants. Ants everywhere in summer!

I believe that all in all, we have really enjoyed living here, but Australia is anti the over 45's (which we are:o) and our preference has always been NZ anyway.

Kind Regards,

RussandViv

[aggelon]

Funny, New Zealand used to be the easy option that people took to then get to Aus.

[srivett]

Thanks for that nice, honest response - that about meshes with my memories and the current opinions of my grandparents, who still live in Adelaide. Water rationing in a 1st world country seems a very faraway concept when I've been living in the midst of the Great Lakes for 15 years! I hope NZ suits you better :)

[movefromus]

Hi Russ and Viv
I hope you enjoy your move to NZ. I just wanted to comment that you may want to check out NZ house prices as they can be quite high on average in the bigger cities....in Auckland often $400,000+ foran average 3 bd house.

Carly

[RussandViv]

Hi everyone,

This forum is great isn't it :clap The way of house prices these days is making it harder for migrants to buy. Yes we had seen that Auckland prices have already gone through the roof and because of that I don't think we will buy there:( . We prefer the country anyway, so I think a rental would be in order for the first 6 months at least. Anyone know of nice areas to rent around Auckland. We don't have kids so won't need schools or anything like that. Just nice and as quiet as possible.

Kind regards, Russ and Viv