Why do so many people move to, or want to move to, Australia?
Sunshine Coast Hinterland: Run darling before a leech gets you
The Advantages of Living in Australia
I think most people move to Australia for the weather, especially Brits and Kiwis. Well, I did anyway!
I enjoy the healthy outdoorsy lifestyle. I think what’s great is the diversity here – you can choose to live in a big cosmopolitan city or out in the hippy hills depending on what suits you. Ditto the climate – there’s tropical north Queensland for hot weather fans, and plenty of places with a more temperate climate similar to the south of France. The food is great here too, both raw ingredients and restaurant meals, and the level of schooling for the kids seems to be good too.
The Disadvantages of Living in Australia
So what’s not to like? There isn’t much ethnic diversity here (at least where I live) which is a shame. One of my British friends even calls Australia ‘the new land of apartheid’ which is a shocking and rather grim thought. Also, the sprawling suburbs could get you down along with the flies, snakes and leeches! But I just like to tell it like it is because nowhere is ideal. Australia’s not a perfect Utopian society and it’s sad to hear about people moving here unprepared and not liking it.
What it’s like to be sucked by a leech
I didn’t know about the leeches at all. I naively imagined they hung out in deserted swamps but no, you can find them in any bit of wet grass over here. We went for a walk in the hinterland at the weekend. Suddenly our oldest child started screaming and hopping around trying to brush a black wiggling thing off his foot. The entire valley was echoing with his shrieks which didn’t end even when the hubby finally pulled it off. I’ve been to some wet, slimy places in my time but never encountered a leech before. Large may never fully recover from his first leech encounter and sobbed for half an hour after wards.
“Hey, someone else might have one.” I mentioned, scanning my legs before I too started shrieking and begging the brave hubby to pull the leech off. Yuch!
Youngest child was quite traumatised too that she may have one or get one, but Middle child was highly disappointed and wants to go back so he can experience what it’s like to have a blood sucking leech attached to his leg. He’s an unusual child.
Anyway, if this hasn’t put you off totally, I’d love to hear why you’d like to move to Australia or why you already have!
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Good luck with all your travel plans!
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Annabel, thank you for your blog. You’re so funny, and I am having such a good time reading them.
Although I defiantly sympathize for the trauma your oldest and youngest had and hope that they do not carry around those leeches for the rest of their lives. But for some strange reason I seem to relate to your middle child.
As a kid going out hiking and getting into anything and everything I could was my nature, always wanting to explore and have new experiences.
Maybe the next time the family goes for a walk you should all be wearing wetsuits ha ha.
Ever since I was a child there has been a pull to Australia. That cannot be explained. I have been to seven different countries do to the military, but never made it to the one I most desired to visit. Am in the process of planning out the rest of my life and will visit many different countries to decide where to settle down at and your country is high on my hopes list.
Again Annabel, thank you for the blog, I look forward to it continuing.
Jeff
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I was just looking at the new members page and my eye caught your Australian title. Anything about Australia brings about wonderful memories, so here I am!
I immigrated to Australia, by myself, at the age of 22. 39 years ago! My family must have thought I was crazy, but I was determined to go. I LOVED Australia and still wish to this day that I could return. Having lived all over the East coast and travelled a lot in Aus and NZ it’s still heartbreaking to me that I probably can’t go back. I lived there 18 years and never wanted to return to the U.S.
I haven’t read all your blogs, but as you’re up in QLD I hope you can venture out to the many Barrier islands off the coast, and snorkle or dive on the Barrier Reef. I particularly loved the little town of Port Douglas, north of Cairns. It’s really beautiful up there. It’s probably changed a bunch since I saw it last, as I returned to the States in 1987, much to my disgust. My Aussie husband had a job offer he couldn’t refuse.
The Blue Mountains, to the West of Sydney are really interesting too, as is Sydney itself. It’s the most beautiful city in the world, in my humble opinion. I lived there for almost 10 years. I also lived a bit south of Brisbane for a year, and in Melbourne for quite a while.
Adelaide is a great city to visit, as well as the surrounding wineries and coastal areas. The drive from Adelaide to Melbourne by the coast is amazing. The drive from Melbourne up to the coast to Sydney is equally beautiful, but in a different way.
Driving in the outback is fun, but be prepared with a “roo bar” on your car or truck. They grow the ‘roos big out there!
Now that I know you have a blog, I’ll keep in touch and read the rest of your stories. Have a blast!
Trish
I just read this article. Moving to any country can be a daunting task and only a small number realize their Australian dream. If you have decided you would like to live in an Australian city, deciding which city is bound to eat up a big chunk of your time. Australia is a free country. We have a welfare system that helps those in need. Australia is one of my number one destinations to live abroad.. everything about it is beautiful from the weather, people, laws and the nature side of things. I think Australia is possibly one of the greatest countries in the world.
I hated the place when I lived there , from obnoxious rude people to druggies that I met. I have studied and traveled 3 times to Australia … Maybe I need to try it again but I found life very flat.
So what you’re saying is that a lot of people move to Australia because it is the land of freedom, right?
Australia is very similar to Canada in many respect, ranging from tax systems, scenery, and also economy (i.e. the kinds of businesses and jobs available in both places). Australia isn’t as cold as many places in Canada (i.e. Winter wonderland). I think another major benefit that you have overlooked is the time zone difference (or lack of) with many countries in Asia, as this is one of the reasons why businesses are flocking to Australia (to deal with China while still enjoying the benefits of Western culture).
People from all across the globe, are drawn towards Australia. Even I have applied for a student visa this year. Thanks for sharing the advantages and disadvantages of living in Australia. Your caution regarding walks in the countryside is awesome!
;there arent enough black people here ‘is this serious why should there be more black people here – u muppet
Hello, my name is Tracie. I am a married Registered Nurse for over 20+ years. My 13 yr old daughter told me at the age of 10 she wanted to move to Australia. I brushed it off because of the kangaroos and animals. She wants to be a vet. After obtaining my Bachelor’s in Nursing and fixing to finish my Nurse Practitioner I have been to say the least, educated on the US and our political/food system/Somanto ( whom made all of our farmers go out of business, put GMO in foods with antibiotics) our government is behind this. I am disguisted being a part of this for so many years and not knowing. My family would eat at the infamous McDonald’s and I had no idea, I was killing my children. Our president’s are in on this. I hate it here now and considered Air Force, I am 42 and they have great sign on bonus with benefits for nurses now. But the thought of being a representative to this political corrupt government, that many are in denial of disgusts me. Please help. I have read that Australia needs nurses and I could get a temporary or yet a permanent visa to move there. My children living in Texas are uneducated and I feel that I am failing them. Any advice.
Thanks,
Tracie
Australia is a country with deserts too but much of this continent does not have leeches clinging to the foliage. They can be found in creeks (streams) like on my uncle’s farm in the hills above Perth Western Australia. Many years ago we kids got the occasional leach while wading in the creek, but just squished them to make them drop off.
Don Burke offers reliable advice online at burkesbackyard.com.au
It was probably meant to be light hearted, but I found your article rather shallow, notably your comment about leeches, the least offensive of Australian wildlife. I recently returned after living overseas and in many ways I regret this, yet it is essentially not “Australia’s” fault being so distant from the world at large. This said, Australians are great travellers, but once back inside its borders, there remains an apathy among most to engage with foreign affairs. They are more or less aware of events via TV news reports, but what does not impact on them directly they have little interest in. And it is true to say that most of these people are originally from England who migrated to Australia via the £10 fare scheme. I am unclear what you mean by not much “ethnic diversity”. Maybe you mean contact with indigenous peoples within the overwhelming white population, but Australian cities, notably Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin are very multi-cultural. There is no doubt that Australia is a fantastic place to bring up a family and while obviously depending on where you live and your place in society (I am part retired) it offers easy living and the few blips suffered by city dwellers are nothing compared to the stress now confronted by European countries. What I find particularly difficult upon returning home is the Australian government’s lamentable refugee policy in sending people to offshore detention centres in Manus Island and Nauru. And from what I understand, most Australians find it equally shameful.
Thank you.