Topic: The Aussie Thread

[jooneyisdagod]

Coming out here... stealing our jobs...

That means you have to start voting and take responsibility for all of our shitty collective decisions my friend!

Yeah, I can no longer give others shit for voting Tony Abbott in.

Congrats mate 

Thanks mate!

[Geppvindh's]

Just lodged my citizenship application. It's still sinking in that I've gone and done it after all these years!

Congratulations, Joony! Making the move in May and if it's as good as I am reading in this thread, I'll be queuing up in 5 years' time.

Right, so I will be moving to Sydney in May and have luckily managed to have a job offer in hand already. Any decent suburbs the Sydney experts on here could recommend? My requirements are:
- One-bedroom unit in a quiet & safe neighbourhood within 30 minutes of Macquarie Park
- Good train/bus connections to Macquarie Park (my workplace) and University of Sydney/UNSW (where my wife will be studying starting July)
- Coles/Woolies/Aldi's/Costco in touching distance
- Some decent places to eat out, not too fussed about the nightlife
- Can fork out $450/week, 500 if it's furnished with a fridge and washers and the like.

Thanks in advance!

[jooneyisdagod]

Congratulations, Joony! Making the move in May and if it's as good as I am reading in this thread, I'll be queuing up in 5 years' time.

Right, so I will be moving to Sydney in May and have luckily managed to have a job offer in hand already. Any decent suburbs the Sydney experts on here could recommend? My requirements are:
- One-bedroom unit in a quiet & safe neighbourhood within 30 minutes of Macquarie Park
- Good train/bus connections to Macquarie Park (my workplace) and University of Sydney/UNSW (where my wife will be studying starting July)
- Coles/Woolies/Aldi's/Costco in touching distance
- Some decent places to eat out, not too fussed about the nightlife
- Can fork out $450/week, 500 if it's furnished with a fridge and washers and the like.

Thanks in advance!

Is your wife at U. Syd or UNSW? Because they're in different areas.

[Geppvindh's]

Is your wife at U. Syd or UNSW? Because they're in different areas.

She's still considering mate. Applied at both unis and is waiting. Uni of Sydney is her preferred choice. So we were thinking of finding an apartment based on my work location now.

[jooneyisdagod]

She's still considering mate. Applied at both unis and is waiting. Uni of Sydney is her preferred choice. So we were thinking of finding an apartment based on my work location now.

Fair enough. They're both great Universities, so I don't think you could go wrong either way. The only issue might be that UNSW is in Randwick and the main U.Syd campus is in Camperdown (near Newtown). Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with Sydney train lines to give you advice on where to look. Inner South/Inner West look ideal from what I can tell.

[Geppvindh's]

Fair enough. They're both great Universities, so I don't think you could go wrong either way. The only issue might be that UNSW is in Randwick and the main U.Syd campus is in Camperdown (near Newtown). Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with Sydney train lines to give you advice on where to look. Inner South/Inner West look ideal from what I can tell.

Thanks, I'll take a look at the inner south/west!

[jooneyisdagod]

Thanks, I'll take a look at the inner south/west!

Best of luck! Sydney is great and a true international city.

[Flinstone]

Just lodged my citizenship application. It's still sinking in that I've gone and done it after all these years!

Don't you have to surrender Indian citizenship then? We are now the third fastest growing group apart from the Chinese and English apparently.

Congratulations, Joony! Making the move in May and if it's as good as I am reading in this thread, I'll be queuing up in 5 years' time.

Right, so I will be moving to Sydney in May and have luckily managed to have a job offer in hand already. Any decent suburbs the Sydney experts on here could recommend? My requirements are:
- One-bedroom unit in a quiet & safe neighbourhood within 30 minutes of Macquarie Park
- Good train/bus connections to Macquarie Park (my workplace) and University of Sydney/UNSW (where my wife will be studying starting July)
- Coles/Woolies/Aldi's/Costco in touching distance
- Some decent places to eat out, not too fussed about the nightlife
- Can fork out $450/week, 500 if it's furnished with a fridge and washers and the like.

Thanks in advance!

Congrats bruh, 450-500 is enough for a studio in the city itself so you won't have a problem anywhere. If your wife joins UNSW then Macquarie Park and UNSW are in opposite directions and really far so you will definitely have to stay somewhere which has good public transport and central : Surry Hills or Newtown but they aren't quiet at all and Newtown is full of weirdos.

Redfern is quiet but a little rough even if it is becoming better now. I think North Sydney would be a good option for you, well connected on the railway line and 40 min in either direction on public transport .

Hit us up when you're here, where are you from? Chennai?

[jooneyisdagod]

Don't you have to surrender Indian citizenship then? We are now the third fastest growing group apart from the Chinese and English apparently.

No. I will become an OCI instead, which is like permanent residency as far as I know.

[Grobbelrevell]

No. I will become an OCI instead, which is like permanent residency as far as I know.

Yeah I think that's the case (my wife has OCI status, which pretty much offers a lifetime visa to enter and exit the country without the need to report to the authorities on length of stay (etc)).

[jooneyisdagod]

Yeah I think that's the case (my wife has OCI status, which pretty much offers a lifetime visa to enter and exit the country without the need to report to the authorities on length of stay (etc)).

And there is plenty of talk about bringing back full dual citizenship, which would be great as well.

[Geppvindh's]

Congrats bruh, 450-500 is enough for a studio in the city itself so you won't have a problem anywhere. If your wife joins UNSW then Macquarie Park and UNSW are in opposite directions and really far so you will definitely have to stay somewhere which has good public transport and central : Surry Hills or Newtown but they aren't quiet at all and Newtown is full of weirdos.

Redfern is quiet but a little rough even if it is becoming better now. I think North Sydney would be a good option for you, well connected on the railway line and 40 min in either direction on public transport .

Hit us up when you're here, where are you from? Chennai?

Thanks, will look up these neighbourhoods. I live stateside, in Chicago precisely. Originally from Bangalore.

[capt k]

  within 30 minutes of Macquarie Park

Thanks in advance!

if thats yolur needs, best get a place AT maquarie park, Lane Cove rd is a bastard.. all the way from the northen beaches down to husrstville...oh and AVOID THE M2 the tolls on that are ludicrous, cost me $22 EACH way

[Geppvindh's]

if thats yolur needs, best get a place AT maquarie park, Lane Cove rd is a bastard.. all the way from the northen beaches down to husrstville...oh and AVOID THE M2 the tolls on that are ludicrous, cost me $22 EACH way

I don't think I'll be driving mate but that's useful information anyway. Thanks! Relying on public transport largely and trains especially.

[leroy]

Congratulations, Joony! Making the move in May and if it's as good as I am reading in this thread, I'll be queuing up in 5 years' time.

Right, so I will be moving to Sydney in May and have luckily managed to have a job offer in hand already. Any decent suburbs the Sydney experts on here could recommend? My requirements are:
- One-bedroom unit in a quiet & safe neighbourhood within 30 minutes of Macquarie Park
- Good train/bus connections to Macquarie Park (my workplace) and University of Sydney/UNSW (where my wife will be studying starting July)
- Coles/Woolies/Aldi's/Costco in touching distance
- Some decent places to eat out, not too fussed about the nightlife
- Can fork out $450/week, 500 if it's furnished with a fridge and washers and the like.

Thanks in advance!

Transport wise Chatswood & Epping are good.  Chatswood is a good area for all the bits and pieces.  Trains/Buses/Shops/Restaurants etc.  Epping is a little more suburban.

I used to live around Maq Park and that's good too.  Would obviously be good for you but adds time for your other half for sure.

Also keep in mind that they're about to rip up the train line between Epping and Chatswood - which Maq Park is on.  They're changing the guage to run smaller trains on it and it will be out of commission for a fair while.  They say 7 months but if they meet that timeline I'll eat my hat.

https://www.sydneymetro.info/station/epping-chatswood

Chatswood/St Leonards/North Sydney/City/Epping/Rhodes are probably your best bets if you want to be on a train line and stay accessible for both you and your misses.  If she's going to UNSW I'd recommend not going further out than Chatswood as she will have to get to town and then out to Kensington by bus - unless she's driving!

[Geppvindh's]

Transport wise Chatswood & Epping are good.  Chatswood is a good area for all the bits and pieces.  Trains/Buses/Shops/Restaurants etc.  Epping is a little more suburban.

I used to live around Maq Park and that's good too.  Would obviously be good for you but adds time for your other half for sure.

Also keep in mind that they're about to rip up the train line between Epping and Chatswood - which Maq Park is on.  They're changing the guage to run smaller trains on it and it will be out of commission for a fair while.  They say 7 months but if they meet that timeline I'll eat my hat.

https://www.sydneymetro.info/station/epping-chatswood

Chatswood/St Leonards/North Sydney/City/Epping/Rhodes are probably your best bets if you want to be on a train line and stay accessible for both you and your misses.  If she's going to UNSW I'd recommend not going further out than Chatswood as she will have to get to town and then out to Kensington by bus - unless she's driving!

Thanks mate, that's a ton of information! I did read about the Epping-Chatswood connection being down for a while, Epping was one of my initial choices, but it's dropped out now for that reason. I've been considering Mac Park & Chatswood but as you say, she's going to have a mare doing the travel to UNSW. For all I know she might just look at the travel times and decide to go to Uni of Syd.

Wouldn't mind the burbs closer to the city like St Leonards, they all seem lovely. Will have to check if I can afford the rent in those areas.

[jooneyisdagod]

Don't know where to put this but just met an Asian gentleman at a conference whose English name is Liverpool, which he chose because he's massive Red! What a guy!

[leroy]

In Australia? That would get you some strange looks in Sydney I think

[jooneyisdagod]

In Australia? That would get you some strange looks in Sydney I think

He was visiting from New Zealand, so might not have known the Liverpool in Sydney. But yeah, the conference was in Australia.

[Anthony]

Hi,

After a month in Melbourne and Gold Coast with family last year I'm flying to Brisbane with my Sister for another 10 days in Gold Coast in June (Midwinter! Brrr!)

Have the opportunity for 3-4 days at the beginning of the trip and we're thinking about jumping in a Jucy El Cheapo to take a look at the Barrier Reef. I've seen 3 options so far

1) Drive to Bundaberg and get a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island ($205/£115 pp + travel)
2) Drive 200 miles further and get a fast catamaran to Great Keppel Island ($78/£45pp or $138/£80 with snorkling + travel)
3) Forget the Camper and fly straight out to Cairns for 3 days (Flights found for £90pp but cant remember how much the trips were)

I fancy trying snorkeling for the first time so would need a beginners environment (my Sister prefers the glass bottom boat)

Any suggestions? Gravitating towards 1) or 2) at the moment unless the Reef is so close to Cairns as to be effectively free

[jooneyisdagod]

Hi,

After a month in Melbourne and Gold Coast with family last year I'm flying to Brisbane with my Sister for another 10 days in Gold Coast in June (Midwinter! Brrr!)

Have the opportunity for 3-4 days at the beginning of the trip and we're thinking about jumping in a Jucy El Cheapo to take a look at the Barrier Reef. I've seen 3 options so far

1) Drive to Bundaberg and get a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island ($205/£115 pp + travel)
2) Drive 200 miles further and get a fast catamaran to Great Keppel Island ($78/£45pp or $138/£80 with snorkling + travel)
3) Forget the Camper and fly straight out to Cairns for 3 days (Flights found for £90pp but cant remember how much the trips were)

I fancy trying snorkeling for the first time so would need a beginners environment (my Sister prefers the glass bottom boat)

Any suggestions? Gravitating towards 1) or 2) at the moment unless the Reef is so close to Cairns as to be effectively free


 

I went to Cairns over Christmas though I didn't do the reef trip there as I had already been to the reef a couple of times before. From memory, day trips to the reef from Cairns were around $150 and depending on the season you may have to book early. As my mates and I were around during Christmas, we  struggled to find a decent reef trip and my mates that did go weren't hugely impressed by it.

I have also been to Lady Musgrave Island and while I'm not sure what the price is, Musgrave is definitely stunning. The Musgrave ferry leaves from Agnes Water/1770, which is a further hour and a half away from Bundaberg or about a 5-hour drive from Brisbane. And most day trip ferries leave reasonably early in the morning, which can make it quite hectic if you plan to drive in the morning and then jump on the ferry after. Also, while it is not exactly freezing up in Queensland, there is a significant difference in temperature between Cairns and the southern GBR during winter.

Can't give you much advice on Great Keppel Island as I haven't been there. Ultimately, it's a matter of how much you're willing to spend in terms of time and money. You could get away with getting a cheap hostel in Bundaberg or even Agnes Water (though it's a tiny town) if you are going to have a car for all of the time you're in Brisbane. Moreover, if you're going to stay in a hostel while in Brisbane, you may as well spend the two or three nights at Cairns and get yourself a rental once you're back at Brisbane. I guess it comes down to what the deal is with your transport and accommodation in Brisbane because if you're going to have to spend on it while in Brisbane, you could easily spend the same in Cairns.


Edit: Just had a look and it looks like they also have ferries from Bundaberg now, which would make it a bit easier. Also, you can camp on Musgrave island during the right season and if you get the chance to do that, I would highly recommend it.

[leroy]

Keppel is lovely, but if you want proper reef stuff you have to go far out past it to places like North West Island which is about 70km out I think.  Also the drive from Brisbane to Rocky is mind-numbing and you're talking 9-10 hours with breaks to get to Yeppoon.

The further north you go the easier it is to get to the reefs.  Not sure about relative costs and what not though

[jooneyisdagod]

Keppel is lovely, but if you want proper reef stuff you have to go far out past it to places like North West Island which is about 70km out I think.  Also the drive from Brisbane to Rocky is mind-numbing and you're talking 9-10 hours with breaks to get to Yeppoon.

The further north you go the easier it is to get to the reefs.  Not sure about relative costs and what not though

On the plus side, Southern reefs are less spoilt as they have fewer cyclones and therefore formations tend to grow larger. But you're right. The reefs near Cairns are so close that you can see their outlines from up on the hills near Cairns.

[Anthony]

Thanks all - I have found an interesting offer for a night on Keppel Island but now have to convince my Sister - all depends on when my Brother's days off are...

[sminp]

Can anyone help we with living costs for Melbourne? It looks like I may be offered a transfer with work that would result in a large pay rise for me. I’ve done some basic research and reckon I need $450 per week for a 1 bed apartment near to the CBD but it’s the other costs I’m struggling with. Here’s what I think we need at the moment:

Water: Probably included in rent?
Gas/Electric: $150 per month?
TV and Internet package including a channel to watch Liverpool: $150 per month?
Medical insurance: Do I need this? Looks like $200 per month for a couple after rebate? Would I qualify for a rebate? I have psoriasis also so I’d need some sort of medical access to get my creams.
Food: $450 per month
Weekly travel pass: $43 each per week for zones 1 and 2. This I’m clear on.
Gym and pool: $150 per month each I think it was for virgin active. Perhaps I can get cheaper but it’s at least a reliable figure I have for this.

I’m sure I’ve missed something but that’s getting up towards $4000 per month if my figures are close to realistic?

[OzBomber]

Can anyone help we with living costs for Melbourne? It looks like I may be offered a transfer with work that would result in a large pay rise for me. I’ve done some basic research and reckon I need $450 per week for a 1 bed apartment near to the CBD but it’s the other costs I’m struggling with. Here’s what I think we need at the moment:

Water: Probably included in rent?
Gas/Electric: $150 per month?
TV and Internet package including a channel to watch Liverpool: $150 per month?
Medical insurance: Do I need this? Looks like $200 per month for a couple after rebate? Would I qualify for a rebate? I have psoriasis also so I’d need some sort of medical access to get my creams.
Food: $450 per month
Weekly travel pass: $43 each per week for zones 1 and 2. This I’m clear on.
Gym and pool: $150 per month each I think it was for virgin active. Perhaps I can get cheaper but it’s at least a reliable figure I have for this.

I’m sure I’ve missed something but that’s getting up towards $4000 per month if my figures are close to realistic?

I live at home so can't really help with much but for Liverpool, get a phone plan with Optus and you get free Premier League which streams every game live and you can watch on demand. For Champions League/other leagues you can get Foxtel for $39 a month which comes with the sport package, but SBS may be showing both semi finals on free to air tv. Your last option is to go to the Imperial hotel in the City for games, they show every game live regardless of time and the place is brilliant for big games.

I've never had private health, never needed it though so maybe someone else can advise on that.

You should be able to get gym/pool memberships for around $60-70 a month. Goodlife health clubs are good, not all have pools though.

Good luck with everything mate!

[MattyBoy21]

Just had my visa granted this week so I'm moving to Australia at the start of July. Can't wait.

Travelled there a few years back and loved the place and now I've been offered a role in Sydney with sponsorship which I can't turn down. Really looking forward to getting back over there.

[Grobbelrevell]

Just had my visa granted this week so I'm moving to Australia at the start of July. Can't wait.

Travelled there a few years back and loved the place and now I've been offered a role in Sydney with sponsorship which I can't turn down. Really looking forward to getting back over there.

Congratulations mate, made up for you! Are you moving on your own? And job already sorted, presumably?

Similar to me in that I travelled there for 6 months, then went back and lived there for another 9 months, and that all led me to applying for a PR visa (granted in October last year). Downside is we're not moving before the end of next year, possibly longer given certain family issues. Wish I was moving in July...

[MattyBoy21]

Congratulations mate, made up for you! Are you moving on your own? And job already sorted, presumably?

Similar to me in that I travelled there for 6 months, then went back and lived there for another 9 months, and that all led me to applying for a PR visa (granted in October last year). Downside is we're not moving before the end of next year, possibly longer given certain family issues. Wish I was moving in July...

Thank you mate, appreciate it!

I am moving alone yeah and have a job all sorted ready to start as soon as I get there. I know a fair few people there who I met when travelling before who have happened to just settle in Sydney and have a friend who works for the company I'm moving to which will be a help settling in.

Can be a bit daunting the prospect of just packing my life up here and maybe never returning but I don't have much keeping me here and the opportunity has come at a good time for me and where I am in my life at the moment so I'd be a fool not go for it!

Fingers crossed everything works out for you too, I'm sure it'll be worth the wait in the long run!

[jooneyisdagod]

Can anyone help we with living costs for Melbourne? It looks like I may be offered a transfer with work that would result in a large pay rise for me. I’ve done some basic research and reckon I need $450 per week for a 1 bed apartment near to the CBD but it’s the other costs I’m struggling with. Here’s what I think we need at the moment:

Water: Probably included in rent?
Gas/Electric: $150 per month?
TV and Internet package including a channel to watch Liverpool: $150 per month?
Medical insurance: Do I need this? Looks like $200 per month for a couple after rebate? Would I qualify for a rebate? I have psoriasis also so I’d need some sort of medical access to get my creams.
Food: $450 per month
Weekly travel pass: $43 each per week for zones 1 and 2. This I’m clear on.
Gym and pool: $150 per month each I think it was for virgin active. Perhaps I can get cheaper but it’s at least a reliable figure I have for this.

I’m sure I’ve missed something but that’s getting up towards $4000 per month if my figures are close to realistic?

Water is a weird one and can go both ways in that some places include it in rent and others don't. Not a huge expense either way, so not worth worrying about unless you or your missus like taking hour-long baths daily.

Internet with LFC games - $80 if you get an Optus connection. You can get BeIN sports for CL games for 15 bucks a month on top of that. Mobile phones can range between 60 and 80 as well based on what you need in terms of usage.

Medical insurance is a weird one and the rebate question is a complex one. It depends on your age, income etc. But $200 a month for a couple sounds like a reasonable plan as that should get you basic hospital cover plus some extras.

With food, I think $450 sounds a bit low. I would say closer to $600 is more doable but even that would be quite frugal. I would say $100pp a week is reasonable.

Gym and pool - I'm not sure about the pool but I pay $60 a month for gym with a large chain (Anytime Fitness). I think a decent plan for gym plus pool and extras is usually around $40 for a fortnight, so double that for a month. I think prices can vary and some of the chains do lower prices compared to the smaller gyms, which might charge more. Same as anywhere.

[jooneyisdagod]

State of Origin tonight. Usually good fun. Come on you Maroons!

[Geppvindh's]

Alright then landing in Sydney on the 24th, joining work on the 2nd of July. Exciting times, although wrapping things up back home now is a nightmare. Workplace is in CBD (Martin Place) so looking at suburbs that are less than 45 minutes by train - Chatswood, St Leonards, Rhodes are on my shortlist. Fingers crossed, treat me well Straya!

[jooneyisdagod]

Alright then landing in Sydney on the 24th, joining work on the 2nd of July. Exciting times, although wrapping things up back home now is a nightmare. Workplace is in CBD (Martin Place) so looking at suburbs that are less than 45 minutes by train - Chatswood, St Leonards, Rhodes are on my shortlist. Fingers crossed, treat me well Straya!

Sounds exciting mate. I had a mate that lived in St. Leonards and it was absolutely lovely. Martin Place is bang in the middle of the CBD and is probably the most prestigious part of it. Just be yourself and you'll be fine. Remember to go into work and casually talk about how the mighty Maroons smashed the blue fannies. It'll go down an absolute treat in Sydney.

[Geppvindh's]

Sounds exciting mate. I had a mate that lived in St. Leonards and it was absolutely lovely. Martin Place is bang in the middle of the CBD and is probably the most prestigious part of it. Just be yourself and you'll be fine. Remember to go into work and casually talk about how the mighty Maroons smashed the blue fannies. It'll go down an absolute treat in Sydney.

Sounds like a great way to endear myself to my new colleagues. Thanks for the heads up

[BarryCrocker]

Alright then landing in Sydney on the 24th, joining work on the 2nd of July. Exciting times, although wrapping things up back home now is a nightmare. Workplace is in CBD (Martin Place) so looking at suburbs that are less than 45 minutes by train - Chatswood, St Leonards, Rhodes are on my shortlist. Fingers crossed, treat me well Straya!

Chatswood and St Leonards are much easier to access the city then Rhodes. It depends how much you want to spend on rent, how big a pad you need and what you do socially, ie, beaches, pubs, etc.

Chatswood has a large Korean/Chinese population living in either very expensive free standing Californian style bungalows to new build high-rise apartments. If your into asian food it's hundreds of options as well as having one of Sydney's largest Westfield shopping centres. St Leonards is a business district which is very quickly being transitioned into a high density apartment area with expensive high quality builds. Rhodes is on the banks of the Parramatta River which feeds into Sydney Harbour. Lots of new development.

Martin Place is our financial services central and therefore easily accessible by train, bus and ferry.

[MattyBoy21]

Alright then landing in Sydney on the 24th, joining work on the 2nd of July. Exciting times, although wrapping things up back home now is a nightmare. Workplace is in CBD (Martin Place) so looking at suburbs that are less than 45 minutes by train - Chatswood, St Leonards, Rhodes are on my shortlist. Fingers crossed, treat me well Straya!

Nice mate! I'm in a very similar position - landing in Sydney on 23rd and start work on the 2nd July also. My office is on Clarence Street. I've been looking in areas such as Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Edgecliff, Bondi etc. as long as I can get into the CDB easily though I'm not too fussy.

[Flinstone]

Alright then landing in Sydney on the 24th, joining work on the 2nd of July. Exciting times, although wrapping things up back home now is a nightmare. Workplace is in CBD (Martin Place) so looking at suburbs that are less than 45 minutes by train - Chatswood, St Leonards, Rhodes are on my shortlist. Fingers crossed, treat me well Straya!

I work there mate, hit me up when you're in Sydney. I'll show you the good spots around for lunch 

[gjr1]

Will be 18 years on the 1st July. The day the GST started in Australia.

Recently found a nice cheese shop in essendon / Moonee Ponds that also does pork pies and scotch eggs.

I'm in heaven.

Enjoy the long weekend fellow expats and Aussies. The queen has at least one good use

[Crosby Nick]

Will be 18 years on the 1st July. The day the GST started in Australia.

Recently found a nice cheese shop in essendon / Moonee Ponds that also does pork pies and scotch eggs.

I'm in heaven.

Enjoy the long weekend fellow expats and Aussies. The queen has at least one good use

Mad that you get a bank holiday for it and we don’t! On the flip side I was in Wellington for it one year and there was fuck all to do, although that might be Wellington on any weekend!

[gjr1]

Mad that you get a bank holiday for it and we don’t! On the flip side I was in Wellington for it one year and there was fuck all to do, although that might be Wellington on any weekend!

I've never been to NZ even though I work for an NZ company but I think the latter was more correct.

In Melbourne most shops should be open (although I avoid shopping for the most part). Some restaurants will not because they hate paying the penalty holiday rates.