Emigrating to Tasmania in a couple of years.... Id love some insight

Question

Hi there, from seeing previous questions, please have offered all sorts of URLs but I really want to speak to people who have either emigrated there from the UK or from people who live there. Its a big move to change life so dramatically to the other side of the world, it would be good to have the eyes fully opened.

Answer 1

I second everything that Jillot has said about Tassie.  I moved here from the UK over 7 years ago and love it.  I think the place has changed a lot in that time, not in a bad way, but it seems to have caught up a bit to the rest of Australia in terms of shop opening hours, great accommodation options, restaurants etc.  It is not the backwater that everyone thinks it is!  

The people here are friendlier than the UK and mainland Australia and have time to chat, open doors for you, smile and are genuinely passionate about Tasmania.  It was really refreshing for me coming from the UK to experience this!

It is a long way to come from the UK and I don't always see my family as often as I like but with technology nowadays I can chat to people via webcam or share photos on facebook.  It actually makes you appreciate the time you do get to spend with family a lot more.

It is a big decision and move to make but I think you'll find the welcome you'll get  from the people down here will make settling in a lot easier.  Good luck!

Answer 2

I moved to Tasmania from northern NSW after 3 years there (came from UK) Absolutely love it. Came on holiday first then decided to move. It is a long way from the UK but I am lucky may sisters and brother can afford to come and visit and have been a couple of times each in 6 years. The climate is way better than the UK. It can get cold (-2 this morning!) but not anywhere near as cold as most of the UK and it is warmer in the summer but the main thing we don't get is that horrible British greyness that can last for weeks - weather changes pretty quikly here. Hobart is a lovely small city, doesn;t have the big city lights/theatre etc but Melbourne is only an hour by plane.

Only thing I would say is that it is not as cheap as people might think House prices are cheaper than most of Aus but wages are also less and people tend to spend the same proportion of their wage on accommodation (be it a mortgage or rent) wherever they live so it is just the standard of accommodtaion that changes (what you can afford is different in different parts of Australia) So the rest of the stuff is often more expensive (white goods/renovations etc) because the things have to come from the mainland.

Technology is something else that you will find different.Yes we have broadband/mobiles but the coverage of both is not as good/fast as UK and certainlynot as cheap.The population is too small to encourage competition like there is inthe UK so prices tend to be higher. BUT having siad all that - I love it here!