LSD - March - Advice?

[Sassyninja]

Hi All

We're finally able to think of the next steps after grant.

Our plan is to activate in March 2016.

We need some advice please?

My husband and I are both in IT. He specialises in Supply Chain and is a Sql ninja and I am a Business Analyst.

We have 2 kids, and my mom will immigrate with us or shortly afterwards.

Our ideal place from what we know thus far would be Gold Coast as Melbourne sounds too cold and Sydney too expensive for a family. We are open to checking Melbourne and Sydney out anyway to get a feel for it.

We will be bringing my mom along on the LSD to help with the kiddycats.

Where would you suggest us looking? How long would you suggest at each place?

So far we thought to fly into Melbourne - then fly to Sydney and drive up to Brisbane from there?

Is this mad?

If you have already done an LSD - how long and how much did yours cost altogether (excluding flights)?

Thanks in advance.

[RedPanda]

I don't know how much time you have available, but we spent two weeks in Brisbane, drove down to Sydney, spent about 3-4 days, drove to Canberra, spent one day, drove to Melbourne, spent a week. This gave us a pretty good look. My aunt lives in Brissie, so we had cheap accommodation and family tour guides even though we did not want to move to Brissie ourselves, this gave us a good idea of 'normal things' like groceries and road use etc. We weren't really interested in Sydney but gave it a look anyway, and came away with the impression that is was a large impersonal city. We already had Melbourne earmarked as our favourite (economic activities, climate, general descriptions) so we spent a week there.

Be aware that if you are flying Qantas they will land you in Sydney and then connect you via domestic flights, so you won't literally land in Melbourne. We really enjoyed the road trip, but we were three adults, no kids, and we had planned for the days spent on the road. I just think it gives one a better feel for the 'land'. If you are going to drive long distances, just be aware that the speed limit is about 80-100, mostly 90km/h for their equivalent of the N1 connecting major cities. And speed fines start at 5km/h over the limit, so don't even think of going 98 in a 90 zone. But it makes the roads very relaxed. Nobody sits on your backside, nobody streaks past, and even large trucks go at the same speed as everyone else, so they don't bother you. (I loved it)

I'm not clued up at all ito the IT work landscape, so another forumite could fill you in.

But seriously, road tripping in Australia is so relaxing, we really loved it. You can just feel the rushing, raging, anxiety seep away into thin air. (But you have to be a "It's the journey, not the destination" type of person. Otherwise you will just get frustrated that it's taking so long.)

[Sassyninja]

Thanks RedPanda. That is helpful. Will look into road tripping from Sydney to Brisbane, will stay a night in one or two places so that its not too tough on the girls.

[Mara]

My mantra is always to go where the jobs are.. if for you that happens to be around the Gold Coast area.. great.. if not..... you cannot eat warm weather!

The move is difficult enough, but to place yourself in an area where jobs in your line are scarce... you have just tripled your difficulties and your stress levels!

So.. if you know where the most jobs are, try and spend the most of your time in that area, so that you will know what to expect when you land. Once you are here and settled, you will have all the time in the world to explore the rest of this beautiful, huge country.

[monsta]

I second what Mara said. I listened to an interview of one of the investors at a company you called Sequoia Capital. They are the experts on building the next YouTube or Dropbox.

He was asked if he would give money to someone to start a business in San Francisco given the high costs of doing business there. His answer was that it was worth every cent. He pointed out that you wouldn't find a lawyer who is experienced with helping the next Facebook in Ohio.

That's why Sydney is the financial capitol. Melbourne does media and broadcast companies, etc.. Industries tend to cluster together.

My CEO has said that just being able to run into our customers at the pub downstairs is worth the insane amount of rent we pay.

That's why going where the jobs are for your field is really good advice.

Edited November 25, 2015 by monsta

[Move2Aus]

Hi Sassyninja,

We went on a holiday trip to Aus in 2009, started in Perth, then Melbourne, then Sydney and finally Brisbane / Gold Coast. We are going to the northern Gold Coast mid May so we have options Brisbane and Gold Coast way. I a BA / Consultant specialising in Supply Chain technologies and Orinoco a systems analyst in trading systems. Reason we picked Brisbane / Gold Coast is the support of family and from what I have heard we should be ok job wise.

We also loved Sydney and enjoyed Melbourne however weather in Melbourne and costs in Sydney were a deterrent. Everyone has their own approach and taste, good luck with the LSD trip.

[Sassyninja]

God to hear, thanks MovetoAus.

Understand your points monsta and Mara - will most certainly look at jobs - just figure if we like Gold Coast we can focus job applications to that area? We have time, we're only planning the actual move for 2017. Just want to get a feel for it and activate the visa.

[Sassyninja]

OK - so flights are booked! 

Where would you recommend staying in Melbourne and Sydney with 2 littlies, aged 1 and 3?? 

 

Thanks in advance!

[RedPanda]

I always recommend people look on Airbnb, but that's just because I've gotten the odd great deal from them. The website just makes it so easy to see where your accommodation is along with the price. And the range of prices is rather good, because it's actually private rental arrangements.

[Guest]

I would also suggest airbnb. Alternatively try looking on booking.com, you can get some really good deals in their site and when we checked last time they were actually cheaper than airbnb. Bear in mind that booking.com's accommodation is predominantly hotel based and not private houses/ apartments. I know with children, the more room the better.

I hope you have a fantastic time exploring Sydney and Melbourne. Just remember Melbourne is the most livable City in the world. ? It has such an eclectic mixture of cultures and the food here is amazing! Have fun.

 

[Sassyninja]

Thanks. We're in Melbourne for about a week, would Ormond be  an OK area to explore the city as well as suburbs? 

Thinking just 2-3 days in Sydney and then driving from Sydney to Brisbane via Gold Coast. Not sure what suburbs are best for families - want to avoid travelling with 2 car seats where possible. 

[Sunnyskies]

Ormond is fine.  Traffic can be horrible but use the train and it's relatively quick into the city.  You will need the car seats if you are hiring a car. At your children's ages I would take along.

The drive from Sydney to Brisbane can be broken up with an overnight in Coffs Harbour or Lennox Head.

[Sassyninja]

@SunnySkies - we have pretty decent Peg Perego car seats but I believe it has to be Aussie seats? Not sure if ours are compliant with Aussie standards?

[AFreshStart]

2 hours ago, Sassyninja said:

@SunnySkies - we have pretty decent Peg Perego car seats but I believe it has to be Aussie seats? Not sure if ours are compliant with Aussie standards?

 

Probably not, if they weren't bought here they probably wouldn't be compliant. Our South African Pegs and Maxi-Cosi weren't, even the same models have different standards, ratings and the tether strap is different here and falls under the AS/NZS 1754 specifications. I highly doubt yours are, but easy to tell because they'll have the AS/NZS 1754 certification on the car seat, legally all car seats here are required to have them. If you are caught the fines run into a couple hundred dollars each. Might be better to hire or borrow some here.

 

Cheers

 

Matt

[Sassyninja]

Thanks - that's what I thought. 

 

Matt - do you think staying in Manly is a good idea for the LSD trip? 

[Sassyninja]

Let me add "with 2 kids 3 and 1yrs"

[AFreshStart]

4 hours ago, Sassyninja said:

Thanks - that's what I thought. 

 

Matt - do you think staying in Manly is a good idea for the LSD trip? 

 

Manly is beautiful, lovely beaches, tree lined streets and easily accessible by Ferry which goes to Circular Quay. It's on the Northern Beaches, I'm not sure if that is where you'd plan to stay, it's a very expensive suburb. I'm not sure where you'd want to be long term, but being closer to the Central (Station) might be a better option if you want to use the trains/buses to get across to see suburbs further afield. Our kids (3 + 5 years) use public transport with us all the time.

 

Not sure if that helps?

 

Cheers

 

Matt

 

 

 

[Sassyninja]

Thanks will have a look. Now looking for something within 10 minutes walk from any public transport.  

My husband is thinking to hire a car in Sydney,  but Ive read that  you dont want  to drive in Sydney?  Also seen that parking is very expensive?

 

Thanks in advance. 

[AFreshStart]

6 hours ago, Sassyninja said:

Thanks will have a look. Now looking for something within 10 minutes walk from any public transport.  

My husband is thinking to hire a car in Sydney,  but Ive read that  you dont want  to drive in Sydney?  Also seen that parking is very expensive?

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

If you want to go that route then look into Go Get, they have cars parked all over the City. You join then book a car on-line and pick it up from the location and park it in one of the reserved Go Get spots around the city (there are hundreds of them). Your fee covers fuel, tolls, insurance and parking and they have a range of cars to suit your needs, from small compacts to white panel vans (people rent those when they need to move).

 

You don't want to be paying the per day rates in the City with a hire car, which at best is $25 on the early bird deal, but you can pay much much more.

 

Cheers

 

Matt