What is that legendary, Australian Lifestyle?

Question

I live in New Zealand, and I am often intrigued by statements made by colleagues and others who have lived in Australia. They frequently refer to "that fabulous lifestyle in Australia", often with a longing glitter in their eyes, and I am beginning to be really curious just what they mean.

Except for a 2-hour stopover in Sydney's airport, I have never set foot in Australia yet, and what I was able to see looked relatively similar to New Zealand.

Can someone explain the myth to me? Just what is it that makes people long for Australia so much?

Answer 1

I don't think it is really related to climate or working hours or conditions (which are on par with the NZ)

We are quite laid back, we enjoy a unhurried lifestyle with good working conditions, fair pay and reasonable housing. There is no out and out poverty in Australia or really much racial disharmony.

Australians are relaxed, friendly and willing to help others.

Answer 2

i think is mainly because aussies r just laid back sorta people.

also because most of our population lives near the coast and think about it....how can u be angry all the time when just around the corner from your house there is a beautiful ocean?

plus the weather is fantastic especially in summer. like how the sun doesnt go down till 8pm and everyone just lounges  around with friends. its such a sunny place living on the ocast :)

so im guessin if your friends stayed somewhere warm or near the coast, this is why they were so happy.

Answer 3

Nah. This really is a myth. Oz is the most schizophrenic place I've ever lived. On one hand you have the well-to-do people with style, class, and an understanding that the entire world is not Oz, then you have the beer-belching, xenophobic, and utterly isolationistic working class.

Oz is really a country "under construction" with no real national identity. God willing, Oz will turn into a republic, and things will go in the right direction.

Answer 4

I think it's the warm temperatures more than anything else. I live in Brisbane and we can swim for 8 months of the year most years (not this one - it's a bit cool for May this year). You can go outside comfortably virtually all year around and even if it's too cold to swim, it isn't too cold for a BBQ or a picnic or a walk on the beach. In Brisbane, it doesn't rain more than 3 or 4 times between April and October and the sky is pretty well always blue during those months. There's heaps of sport all year around and the weather is great to play or watch it in.

Apart from the weather, I think Oz is pretty much like NZ though there is simply more choice of things to do and places to go as you'd expect with our much larger population.

Come and visit and see for yourself.

Answer 5

Well I don't know where Mundoo lives - but that is not what i know Australia to be like!  Yes - we are a lucky country, but we aren't very different to NZ.  

I have only been to the South of NZ, but from my experience the best differences are the size and weather.  I mean, Christchurch was the size of one of our country towns here in Qld!  It is also so small in comparison to Oz - I mean, we went from the east coast to the west coast in one day!

As far as the weather goes, Australia (in most areas) is much better than NZ.  I've been in Tasmania and had nicer, clearer weather than when I was in NZ!  (And we had beautiful weather - no rain or anything when we went to the south island)

I like NZ and I like Australia (they sure beat America - and yes, I have been there too!)  But they both have their pros and cons - and in the end are quite similar to each other.  I wouldn't move to NZ, but I guess your work mates probably have a bit of the 'grass is greener' attitude going on!!!  But why not come and see for yourself?  We are only a short plane ride away (considering it takes us longer to fly to WA than it does to fly to Christchurch)