Why do you want to move to Australia?

[thehawk]

XB70 said:

I lived in Sydney for 18 years and been here for 4.5 years.

For those who don't know, those suburbs are (almost completely) tips that any sane person would want to leave immediately. I am not going to go into the specifics but anyone from Sydney will know what I am talking about.

Try somewhere average and decent, as in where you would actually like to live and not aspirational Lotto wins, and you are looking at Parramatta, North Rocks, Carlingford...ie, heading northwest - definitely not South West unless you want to live in fear. "Fully sik bruv" and "my cuzzes are gonna come round" - insider reference to Sydney living!

I love living here in the UK - the people are great, I don't feel anywhere near as 'cautious' as I did back in Sydney, there is so much to do, the ability to live a decent life (comparing salaries on what the actual same job provides in both countries, not doing a £ = $ conversion) here is far above back 'home'. Most things are far more affordable than back in Oz.

When I am back visiting family, I look around and think "WTF" when I look at the prices of thing, what you can do and so forth - aside from the (few) major attractions, there is actually not a lot to do. Yes, you can have a 'weekend bbq' out the backyard with your mates over and talk about footy, cricket.....here, I can drive to Bruges for lunch (which I have done).

In Oz, you may want to drive up the coast for the weekend...you have two highways up there, on being a two lane backroad, the other being a 4 lane (2 each way) motorway designed for 150kph travel and which is policed to 110kph by the most draconian police force you will ever find, to get to Nelson's Bay, sit around at the bbq and then back home again. Do that a few times and you ask "is this it?". UK - where would I even begin. There is just so much and, if that is not enough, all of Europe on the doorstep and the United States 7 hours and £299 quid away!

Just on the police, I will say that there is no way the abuse that is handed out to police here would be tolerated back home. It would be a very very stupid individual who thought he could sqaure up to a cop, spit and abuse them and think that he would be getting off easy. I digress.

Overall, having lived in both countries, I don't want to ever go back - my wife gets homesick but I dread the thought of ever going back.

It is great for a holiday but that is about it.

• wanders off to look at £10,000 ($AU23,0000) Maserati 3200GT's for a blast to Germany* yep, it sux here ;-)

I was a bit like you but then I grew up and realised what the important things in life are - i.e friends and family. I've pissed money away with the flash cars and driving all over Europe, and it was very enjoyable but if you really prefer that to being with genuine, decent friends or family, in whatever country, then it's perhaps you that has the problem. And to say that there is nothing to do in Australia is ridiculous, again that's saying more about you than the country. You can do pretty much any hobby or activity here that you can do in the UK.

Edited by thehawk on Saturday 27th September 05:31

[GilbertGrape]

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

[Fiddlemesticks]

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

I dont really disagree with you, but please feel free to name say 5 things to do within 1 hours drive of any of the major cities.

[thehawk]

Fiddlemesticks said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

I dont really disagree with you, but please feel free to name say 5 things to do within 1 hours drive of any of the major cities.

What do you mean? That is a rather vague question really, what do you like?

Sailing
Swimming
Flying private planes
Mountain biking
Going to a cinema

[siscar]

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

Obviously there are things to do, but it does depend on what you like. If you want to do/watch sports then you are OK, it's the world outside sport that's a little lacking. Obviously there is a lack of anything historic and everything is a long way apart. This is the country of 'Big Things' where a building in the shape of a banana is a tourist attraction.
Perth is the most extreme example of the problem, being 1,700 miles from the nearest other city (which, being Adelaide, is perhaps not far enough), you are reliant entirely on what Perth itself has to offer. Which isn't that great unless, of course, you like the beach, the bbq and sport.
I spent a lot of time in Australia and I like the place, but a couple of months a year is enough for me, others love it though - each to their own.

[thehawk]

siscar said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

Obviously there are things to do, but it does depend on what you like. If you want to do/watch sports then you are OK, it's the world outside sport that's a little lacking. Obviously there is a lack of anything historic and everything is a long way apart. This is the country of 'Big Things' where a building in the shape of a banana is a tourist attraction.
Perth is the most extreme example of the problem, being 1,700 miles from the nearest other city (which, being Adelaide, is perhaps not far enough), you are reliant entirely on what Perth itself has to offer. Which isn't that great unless, of course, you like the beach, the bbq and sport.
I spent a lot of time in Australia and I like the place, but a couple of months a year is enough for me, others love it though - each to their own.

What a ridiculously ignorant post. There is plenty of history, you just have to have the intelligence to be interested in it.

[GilbertGrape]

Fiddlemesticks said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

I dont really disagree with you, but please feel free to name say 5 things to do within 1 hours drive of any of the major cities.

Fishing
Swimming
Road Cycling
Mountain biking
Tramping
Boating
Canoeing
Surfing
Sailing
Windsurfing
Kitesurfing
Picnicing
Trail riding
Shopping
Site seeing
Golfing
Shooting/Hunting
Rollerblading/unicycling/skateboarding
Skiing
Zoos
Wildlife parks
Theme parks
Casinos
Pubs
Clubs
Tennis

I don't know why I even bothered with your ridiculous question/challenge but, should I go on?


The UK has alot of historical sites...and rain..


And....NZ is just a short flight away for some

bungy jumping
Skiing
Skydiving
Nature walks
Hunting
Mountain climbing
Vineyards
Lake Taupo
Queenstown etc..etc..etc..

Edited by GilbertGrape on Saturday 27th September 11:29

[GilbertGrape]

siscar said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

Obviously there are things to do, but it does depend on what you like. If you want to do/watch sports then you are OK, it's the world outside sport that's a little lacking. Obviously there is a lack of anything historic and everything is a long way apart. This is the country of 'Big Things' where a building in the shape of a banana is a tourist attraction.
Perth is the most extreme example of the problem, being 1,700 miles from the nearest other city (which, being Adelaide, is perhaps not far enough), you are reliant entirely on what Perth itself has to offer. Which isn't that great unless, of course, you like the beach, the bbq and sport.
I spent a lot of time in Australia and I like the place, but a couple of months a year is enough for me, others love it though - each to their own.

It's all about the ruins then? The past?



Right, gotcha.

Edited by GilbertGrape on Saturday 27th September 11:31

[MentalSarcasm]

In my third year there were two Australians in my corridor in my Halls of Residence. Every holiday they were off to a different part of Europe and every other weekend were off to different parts of the UK. They loved the fact that everything was so close, the idea of hopping on a train and arriving in a different city in under two hours was fascinating to them, they constantly complained about how they couldn't get to a different city in Australia in 5 hours unless they took a plane. Over here you can have a weekend jaunt to Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Vienna some of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Also, Australia has big scary spiders.

[Fiddlemesticks]

GilbertGrape said:

Fiddlemesticks said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

I dont really disagree with you, but please feel free to name say 5 things to do within 1 hours drive of any of the major cities.

Fishing
Swimming
Road Cycling
Mountain biking
Tramping
Boating
Canoeing
Surfing
Sailing
Windsurfing
Kitesurfing
Picnicing
Trail riding
Shopping
Site seeing
Golfing
Shooting/Hunting
Rollerblading/unicycling/skateboarding
Skiing
Zoos
Wildlife parks
Theme parks
Casinos
Pubs
Clubs
Tennis

I don't know why I even bothered with your ridiculous question/challenge but, should I go on?


The UK has alot of historical sites...and rain..

Edited by GilbertGrape on Saturday 27th September 11:29

Theres not one thing on that list you couldnt do in the UK I suppose.

For all the rain you mention the UK has, which it really doesnt, Australia is also too damn hot to do some of those sometimes. Sounds about even's to me.

I mention it because if you remove the outdoor activities you are left with:

Swimming
Shopping
Site seeing
Casinos
Pubs
Clubs
Tennis


And Australia only does Casino better than the UK for any of these. So if the weather is either st or too hot in Oz you are pretty much stuffed.

[cardigankid]

Don said:

Tim - you are being harsh on your wonderful country. Sure - it isn't perfect. Nowhere is. But it really DOES have a LOT going for it.

Weather. Fabulous.
Sydney - architecture, history, the CBD (and the GIRLS!), vibrant culture, Coopers beer, Toohey's Dry, the Opera house and the parks, the public transport, the food. What's not to like?
Superb winemaking culture - Hunter, Barossa and more.
Fantastic coastline - everything from "nine-mile-beach" to bays and inlets. Sure - you've got jellyfish and sharks that ain't so good but the fishing's marvellous.
Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas.

But the best of all? When you actually go and work in an Aussie office you find out that they're naturally friendly (as with many countries, I admit) and a good bunch of Aussie mates of a weekend is hard to beat. Beer, BBQ, sunshine.

One downside I do remember from my all too brief time as a Sydneysider was that it may be a play hard culture - but it's certainly a work hard culture IIRC. I'm sure it varies widely around Aus - but that was what it was like in the back in the early nineties.

On balance - I loved it. I seriously considered wandering off into the bush when it came time to leave.

I'd be off there like a shot, assuming I could get in, but I worry that its got a left wing PC government which will go the same way as UK. I'd rather not emigrate twice.

[SkinnyBoy]

my day today consisted of me getting up, doing a few local errands, said hello and had a chat with all the shopkeeps I went to as I know them all by name and likewise. I then tootled up to my mates house had a barbie and watched the Grand Final with about 50 larrikin aussies and we ribbed each other senselessly all afternoon, in the beautiful 28 degree sunshine, no clouds in the sky!

who needs dragging round Beeston castle for the nth time in the rain!

[tim the pool man]

thehawk said:

siscar said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

Obviously there are things to do, but it does depend on what you like. If you want to do/watch sports then you are OK, it's the world outside sport that's a little lacking. Obviously there is a lack of anything historic and everything is a long way apart. This is the country of 'Big Things' where a building in the shape of a banana is a tourist attraction.
Perth is the most extreme example of the problem, being 1,700 miles from the nearest other city (which, being Adelaide, is perhaps not far enough), you are reliant entirely on what Perth itself has to offer. Which isn't that great unless, of course, you like the beach, the bbq and sport.
I spent a lot of time in Australia and I like the place, but a couple of months a year is enough for me, others love it though - each to their own.

What a ridiculously ignorant post. There is plenty of history, you just have to have the intelligence to be interested in it.

Nothing ignorant about it at all. Australia isn't so bad, but does lack in many things. I think we (ie those of us who live here and actually know what we're talking about) just like to forewarn people who mistakenly believe it's some kind of paradise before they come here and are rudely shocked. As for history... well if you think a 100 year old house/prison/whatever is interesting then you're easily pleased.

[tim the pool man]

SkinnyBoy said:

my day today consisted of me getting up, doing a few local errands, said hello and had a chat with all the shopkeeps I went to as I know them all by name and likewise. I then tootled up to my mates house had a barbie and watched the Grand Final with about 50 larrikin aussies and we ribbed each other senselessly all afternoon, in the beautiful 28 degree sunshine, no clouds in the sky!

who needs dragging round Beeston castle for the nth time in the rain!

Well I would rather do almost anything than be subjected to a bunch of drunken yobbo Aussie rules fans. Was it on today? I thought it was all over for the year? Glad I managed to avoid it

[siscar]

GilbertGrape said:

It's all about the ruins then? The past?



Right, gotcha.

No it isn't all about ruins or the past, but if you are interested in history, as I am, there isn't a great deal to go at in Australia. I had a bit of spare time in Cambridge earlier this week and had a wander round some of the colleges, there is no equivalent to that in Australia.

[siscar]

thehawk said:

siscar said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

Obviously there are things to do, but it does depend on what you like. If you want to do/watch sports then you are OK, it's the world outside sport that's a little lacking. Obviously there is a lack of anything historic and everything is a long way apart. This is the country of 'Big Things' where a building in the shape of a banana is a tourist attraction.
Perth is the most extreme example of the problem, being 1,700 miles from the nearest other city (which, being Adelaide, is perhaps not far enough), you are reliant entirely on what Perth itself has to offer. Which isn't that great unless, of course, you like the beach, the bbq and sport.
I spent a lot of time in Australia and I like the place, but a couple of months a year is enough for me, others love it though - each to their own.

What a ridiculously ignorant post. There is plenty of history, you just have to have the intelligence to be interested in it.

Of course Australia has a history, but there is nothing even remotely close to the depth of history we are used to in Europe. I live in a house built in 1830, here it's normal, in Australia it would probably be a national monument. Here we are surrounded by history, in Australia you are not. Sure I can wander round Sydney and see the odd building that is more than 100 years old, but it's hardly in the same league as walking through parliament square, maybe up Whitehall into Trafalgar Square, along the Mall to Buckingham Palace and so on. Mainly all I'll see in Sydney (or Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane...) are modern shops and offices.

[thehawk]

Fiddlemesticks said:

Swimming
Shopping
Site seeing
Casinos
Pubs
Clubs
Tennis


And Australia only does Casino better than the UK for any of these. So if the weather is either st or too hot in Oz you are pretty much stuffed.

I can say with confidence that Melbourne and Sydney have better swimming, shopping, casinos and tennis.

As for pubs and clubs it's personal taste and the area you live in, although a traditional English pub is something special in itself, but the vast majority of modern day pubs in the UK are characterless stholes with horrible food, which makes them on a par with the average Aussie pub.

[thehawk]

siscar said:

thehawk said:

siscar said:

GilbertGrape said:

Not much to do in Australia?

Riiiite.

Obviously there are things to do, but it does depend on what you like. If you want to do/watch sports then you are OK, it's the world outside sport that's a little lacking. Obviously there is a lack of anything historic and everything is a long way apart. This is the country of 'Big Things' where a building in the shape of a banana is a tourist attraction.
Perth is the most extreme example of the problem, being 1,700 miles from the nearest other city (which, being Adelaide, is perhaps not far enough), you are reliant entirely on what Perth itself has to offer. Which isn't that great unless, of course, you like the beach, the bbq and sport.
I spent a lot of time in Australia and I like the place, but a couple of months a year is enough for me, others love it though - each to their own.

What a ridiculously ignorant post. There is plenty of history, you just have to have the intelligence to be interested in it.

Of course Australia has a history, but there is nothing even remotely close to the depth of history we are used to in Europe. I live in a house built in 1830, here it's normal, in Australia it would probably be a national monument. Here we are surrounded by history, in Australia you are not. Sure I can wander round Sydney and see the odd building that is more than 100 years old, but it's hardly in the same league as walking through parliament square, maybe up Whitehall into Trafalgar Square, along the Mall to Buckingham Palace and so on. Mainly all I'll see in Sydney (or Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane...) are modern shops and offices.

Of course there isn't the depth, but there is enough depth to keep anyone occupied for their entire lives. History doesn't have to be old to be interesting - WW2 for example.

[siscar]

thehawk said:

Of course there isn't the depth, but there is enough depth to keep anyone occupied for their entire lives. History doesn't have to be old to be interesting - WW2 for example.

We are talking about things to do in Australia. The point I am making is in that context. If you find yourself with a weekend to spare in Sydney you don't have the same options as you would in London (or many other UK or European cities) to wander around looking at the buildings and learning the history. Sure you can wander down to the Rocks and imagine settlers coming ashore where the Hyatt now is, but it's not quite the same as a tour of the Tower of London. Yes history doesn't have to be old to be interesting, in London you can go to the Cabinet War Rooms and see where Churchill worked during the WW2, you can tour HMS Belfast and visit the Imperial War Museum. What is there like that in Sydney aside from that ship and submarine in Darling Harbour?
You've got better beaches, it's sunnier, there is more space but you have to concede that Europe has the upper hand when it comes to history and historical places.

[Fiddlemesticks]

thehawk said:

Fiddlemesticks said:

Swimming
Shopping
Site seeing
Casinos
Pubs
Clubs
Tennis


And Australia only does Casino better than the UK for any of these. So if the weather is either st or too hot in Oz you are pretty much stuffed.

I can say with confidence that Melbourne and Sydney have better swimming, shopping, casinos and tennis.

As for pubs and clubs it's personal taste and the area you live in, although a traditional English pub is something special in itself, but the vast majority of modern day pubs in the UK are characterless stholes with horrible food, which makes them on a par with the average Aussie pub.

Melbourne and Sydney have better Shopping, than what? London, Manchester, Leeds? Are you mental. I've been to all the cities shopping and you're having a laugh. Holy st thats very funny. I suppose if you like shopping at Target and David Jones, then you're right. Paul Smith, Ted Baker, Saville Row, Harrods... hmm. not sure about that.

At least they have tennis and swimming. Get me a plane ticket immediately.....