Shipping to Australia Blog

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably made the decision to relocate to Australia. Congratulations! This is a big and exciting decision, but the planning stage has only just begun. The decision to move towards the sun, sea and sand of Aussie shores isn’t a difficult one. Sadly, actually planning the move can be a little more taxing!

And that’s not even to mention the costs involved. Factor in the cost of visas, shipping, travel and money transfer – and you’re looking at a significant sum. If you’re starting a new life, we’re confident that you’ll be looking to keep these costs as low as possible. Of course, the less you spend on the process of moving itself, the more you’ll have to spend once you get there. Think your new home, furnishings, sun hats and sun cream!

One significant way that you can save money on your moving costs is to think carefully about the method you use for transferring your money. An international money transfer can still be a tricky and expensive thing to do – and so it’s important to give it a fair bit of thought. It may not be the most glamorous aspect of your relocation, but it’s certainly a crucial one.

There are a few factors at play when you transfer money overseas. Once you’ve opened a bank account in Australia, it’s sadly not possible to do a simple online transfer between your current account and the new one. Instead, you’ll have to use a specialist service to do it for you.

Do a little bit of research, and you’ll likely find that your current banking provider does offer such a service. Do a little bit more research, and you’ll likely find that it’s more expensive than other specialist service providers. High street banks often charge high commission rates on overseas transfers of this kind, coupled with poor exchange rates. A bad exchange rate can make the difference between you being flush after your move and being strapped for cash; so it’s hugely important to make sure that you get the best rate possible.

Our advice is to browse the offerings of online service providers. Providers of this kind often offer much better exchange rates and great bonuses. They tend to charge much less expensive rates of commission than their high street counterparts – along with benefits for those who transfer money often. Of course, do ensure that a provider is reputable before submitting funds to them.

Pay attention to the important if boring issue of international money transfer and we guarantee that you’ll be much better placed to enjoy your new life down under. Good luck in Oz!

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As people continue moving to Australia at record setting paces the country received an additional public relations boost in the form of a poignant, emotional love letter written by Bono, the Irish lead singer of the band U2 and one of the most well known artists in the world.

The letter was written as an article for the Australian Herald Sun newspaper as U2 performed their 360 degrees World Tour in the Land Down Under and, given the singer’s vast amount of fans and influence, has the potential to send millions more people packing up and moving to Australia.

The piece opened in typical Bono-speak and set the tone for the whole letter: “Surely it’s alchemy that has turned this often-parched continent into the most fertile country on the planet. Fertile lands, fertile minds. People full of fun and mischief, up-front, no-nonsense except the nonsense we enjoy and with a point of view like no one else’s, not even us who speak, like you, some bastard version of the King’s English.”

He continued on in dramatic praise of the land and never looked back: “For me a love affair began in 1984, when U2 arrived in Sydney with some new songs: Pride (In the Name of Love), and The Unforgettable Fire. Our band – like countless Irish before us – landed here, fell over in awe. But unlike countless Irish before us, we had no calluses on our hands, unless you count the kinds that come from guitar strings and drumsticks…We got to skip the hard work and head straight for falling in love with the place.”

The singer also noted that, as in any emotional relationship, there were hard times too: “Romances have ups and downs and we have not always been our best selves here. In Sydney in 1993, the Zoo TV show was a low point in our long career: the only time one of us didn’t turn up for a concert. Adam Clayton probably hasn’t forgiven himself until this tour. Australia forgave us that and other indulgences. Among them my sanctimony.”

However, he goes on to talk about the profound effect the country had on him and his band mates and how they shared some of the most emotional times of their lives together in Australia: “Our shows in Australia in 2006 were, likewise, emotional outpourings. My father had died; Edge’s daughter, Sian, was extremely ill. The contradiction of broadcasting such intimacies on giant screens still amazes me – talk about bleeding on your audience…But the blood and guts, the rawness of emotion, the joy of release – Australians never fear these things. You relish them.”

Of course, Bono being the well know political activist that he is, also had praise in this regard for the magnificent country: “The political landscape of this vast country I cannot claim to understand, but I’m glad that in a place that loves to argue every point, there’s total agreement on the commitment to fight extreme poverty wherever it resides.”

The conclusion was equally heart felt: “This is who you are. The decency of a nation in an indecent world. It would appear a campaigning Irish rock star is the last thing you need around here.”     

While Bono is just one man and praise of Australia has been in no short supply in recent years, the impact of his adulation cannot be overstated. U2 is one of the most well known and respected bands in the world and when they applaud a country, its people and all that it stands for, we should not be surprised if the moving to Australia phenomenon is about to get yet another large boost.

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Eating out is one of the most popular activities for Australians and, with some of the finest cooks, restaurants and eateries in the world, it is no wonder that those relocating to Australia have traditionally followed suit. Immigrants have typically jumped right in and frequented many of the country’s food “hot spots.” But where to go? With thousands of locations and menus available it can turn into a real challenge for new arrivals to get to test all of the delicacies that Australia has to offer. Following is a list and short description of some of Australia’s most noted and highly acclaimed restaurants. If feasible, you will absolutely want to give these a try.     

Vue de Monde out in Melbourne – a common destination city of those moving to Australia – is known for providing some of the best service in the country. It serves French cuisine and features the cooking of world renowned Chef Shannon Bennett who is known for providing lavish feasts for each and every customer while making the presentations with a perfectionists’ touch.

Nu Nu, of  Palm Cove, Queensland serves more traditional Australian foods such as eggs and bacon in the mornings, delicious sandwiches for lunch and a spectacular rack of lamb for dinner. The location is also extremely desirable to those just having moved to Australia as it is located right on the beach, a concept not familiar to many immigrants.     

Pier at Rose Bay in New South Wales is a favorite of the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide awards. It serves a seafood menu with breathtaking views of the Bay and boasts a fully stocked wine list including classic choices as well as new “up and coming” variations.

Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill is also located in Melbourne and was honored by The Age Good Food Guide as the top restaurant for 2007. The setting gives an incredible view of the Yarra River and specialties include beef, live seafood and fish with the staff’s unique touch.

Finally, we would be remiss if we did not mention Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill in Brisbane, known as one the finest steak restaurants in Australia and, in fact, the world. This is a particularly popular choice for those in the process of relocation to Australia as steak is extremely popular among immigrants who often state that it makes them feel like they’re eating their favorite meal back home. Situated to give a remarkable view of the Brisbane River, they are known for their generous portions and top quality beef. While many will find their steaks hard to resist, they also provide a non-steak menu that has drawn equally rave reviews.

Visiting restaurants and eateries continues to be, and likely always will be, a favorite past time for Australians. Those moving to Australia do not want to miss out. While this is just a brief list of some of the top restaurants in the country the Land Down Under is filled with thousands of award winning, internationally renowned establishments just waiting to be enjoyed. It is safe to say that food has joined the ever growing list of reasons people are giving for moving to Australia.

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BRW’s recently released list of “Top Places to Work” in Australia had an interesting list of companies make the cut and provides some great insight for those thinking about moving to Australia and looking for work.

NetApp, an IT company specializing in storage services, took the title of best employer after finishing second to Google last year and, from what can be seen, it is a well deserved honor. Employees have access to Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox game systems that are supplied by the company and staff is annually given extra vacation days to enable community service ventures. They are also offered lucrative referral programs, paid training and discounted gym memberships. Immigrants moving to Australia should definitely have NetApp high on their list of companies to target when sending out their resumes. 

The rest of the top five consists of other world renowned companies that are also no strangers to being hailed for their superb working conditions.

Guinness maker Diageo finished second in the list, jumping two spots from last year. Microsoft partner OBS rose seven spots in the list from 2009 to come in at number three. Google, last years champion, came in at number four while education company Sentis rounded out the top five.

The Great Place to Work Institute Australia compiled the list by surveying over 16,000 employees from more than 150 companies. The results also found that health and training were the most popular benefits among employees and that flexible hours were crucial to the vast majority. 

The list provides more great information for those moving to Australia by giving a roadmap of which career paths immigrants should pursue in order to land at these top companies. As three out of the top five companies listed are technology based, it should serve as a reminder to migrants to sharpen up on those computer skills. While the low level of unemployment still provides an abundance of jobs in Australia, working opportunities in a vast array of employment categories, those who are searching for those top companies that will treat you like a king should strongly consider the technology sector.

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Comedian actor Paul Hogan, who played the part of ”Crocodile Dundee” is not moving to Australia. The famous actor came back to Australia in order to attend the funeral of 101 year old mother, when he was served with a court order forbidding him from leaving Australia. The Australia Tax Office claims that Mr. Hogan owes over $38 million in taxes on undeclared income.

The actor has since gone public in order to present his side to the story claiming to not being able to pay even %10 of the sum the Tax Office is after.

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Some of the most frequently asked questions of new immigrants moving to Australia are regarding the process of buying a car.

There are many reasons for this but the biggest is probably that the price of an automobile in the country is often not what was originally negotiated. This is because there is a tax on the purchase price of the car that you are not informed about until after the purchase.

In addition, people are often just not familiar enough with the process so we will try to clarify some of the confusion.

Just as all over the world, cars can be bought both new and used in Australia. It is highly advisable to price around the various dealers and there are many organizations that can assist. For example, the Australian RAC will inspect any car you are interested in and the Motor Dealers Compensation Fund will protect you in any purchase of a used car as long as it’s from a licensed dealer.

Warranties will vary depending on the age/mileage/etc. of the car but three month / 5,000 km warranties for newer cars without tons of wear and tear on them are standard.

There are also several state government taxes that are to be paid when buying a car in Australia. These include: Registration Transfer Fee, Stamp Duty (total varies depending on price and location of car), Motor Vehicle Tax (annual fee), and Compulsory Third Party Insurance (required insurance in case you injure someone else).

A car that costs more than $57,009 and is purchased from a dealer will also require you to pay a Luxury Car Tax.

As is often the case when immigrating to a new country buying a car is commonly one of the biggest challenges for people moving to Australia. Reading through this list of things to keep in mind and doing your homework before making your purchase should ease the process and allow you to keep your thoughts focused on the other issues of your big move.

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People moving to Australia are adjusting some of their strategies for moving to the Land Down Under amid a report that Generation X and Y families are slowly drifting away from buying houses in the suburbs and leaning more towards having apartments in the city.

In a shift from the old “get married and when we have children let’s move to the suburbs” approach, people in Australia are trending towards staying in the city with slightly larger apartments and keeping with this arrangement long term. The younger generation apparently has too much of an affinity for city life and are willing to make the financial sacrifices necessary to adjust to the more expensive lifestyle.

Instead of just assuming that the luxuries of suburban life (i.e. bigger homes, larger properties with backyards, relative calm, etc.) are unattainable inside of the big cities, today people are making minor modifications to the types of apartments they seek to maximize city life without sacrificing the “stable” lives they lived growing up in the suburbs.

This news will affect immigrants moving to Australia in a number of ways. For one, it makes it crucial for potential immigrants to be even more versed in Australia’s real estate market. Knowing the trends and being able to anticipate where the market will head with the advent of these trends can bring great benefits. For example, someone moving to Australia with some money put away may now consider buying an apartment in the city as opposed to a house in the suburbs due to demand going up which should keep the value going up.

In addition, if a potential immigrant who is moving to Australia with their family would like to join the trend and settle into an apartment in the city you can gather the information for what type of unit will be able to fill your needs. Some things that families look for when searching for long term apartment solutions in the city include: ground floor apartments to make for easier entry and exit with children, access to laundry services which are not usually common in some apartment buildings, central/walking distance location to desired areas and, if possible, a property that at least has access to some sort of backyard space.

Deciding where to settle when moving to Australia is sometimes as big a challenge as dealing with the actual decision of immigration. Do ample research early on in the process and determine whether city living or suburban life is for you. Once you’ve made that decision you can be ready to move forward and tackle the rest.

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As hordes of people continue moving to Australia it is becoming less obvious to them what model of government will be presiding over the country. This question came more into focus as Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her opponent for the prime minister’s office, Tony Abbott, expressed their differing views on the subject yesterday.

Ms. Gillard made a bold statement explaining that she is behind Australia becoming a republic. However, she made it clear that she only favors the changeover once Queen Elizabeth is no longer in power. Said Ms. Gillard:

“I am obviously a republican. I believe that this nation should be a republic. I also believe that this nation has got a deep affection for Queen Elizabeth. What I would like to see as the prime minister is that we work our way through to an agreement on a republic. But I think the appropriate time for this nation to be a republic will be when we see the monarch change.”

She qualified her statement by saying that she wishes Queen Elizabeth only health and happiness.

In contrast, Mr. Abbott stated that he does not see Australia moving to a republic anytime soon. Said Mr. Abbott:

“While there may very well be further episodes of republicanism in this country, I am far from certain that, at least in our lifetimes, there’s likely to be any significant change.”

While the focus of the result of this debate has been (rightfully) on the current citizens of Australia it is becoming increasingly clear that those considering moving to Australia need to be factored in. The dictionary defines republic as “a  state  in  which  the  supreme  power  rests  in  the  body  of  citizens  entitled  to  vote  and  is  exercised  by  representatives  chosen  directly  or  indirectly  by  them.” The stakes are obviously high. Potential immigrants coming in from other countries are going to be weighing the impact of Australia’s (possibly) new model of government with especially intense scrutiny. Do they want a republic? Do they want things to stay the same? Those moving to Australia are crucial members of the country’s future and the candidates for Prime Minister would do well to heavily consider their wants and desires of future political regimes.

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It has always been know that the people living in Australia love the great outdoors, love to have fun, and love to eat. Now the latest story will make this abundantly clear. The Australian political debate for the election for election of prime minister will have its time slot changed in order to make room for Master Chef Finale. The debate will most likely be aired at the earlier time slot of 7:30 pm thereby avoiding conflict with the food show.

The two politicians running for the prime ministers’ office, current Prime Minister Julia Gillard and runner up Tony Abbott, both agreed that pastry would beat policy. Therefore, they concluded that rescheduling the debate would be in the best interest of all Australians.

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One more positive reason to encourage moving to Australia, immigrants will not need to worry about the odd piece of space junk falling on their head. A super high tech laser tracking system has been developed in Australia and can keep track of thousands of pieces of space junk. The Electric Optic System has built in lasers that can spot particles as small as 10 centimeters wide.

Although, an object a mere 10 centimeters wide would most probably burn up on reentry and therefore is only a threat to astronauts and satellites. But larger objects that do not burn up once entering the atmosphere will never surprise anyone, thanks to the advanced motion tracking system that can predict where the object will fall.

Currently there are about 200,000 pieces of garbage, all smaller than one centimeter, circling the globe in orbit. Sadly, there are over 500,000 larger pieces of junk also floating around. From left over rocket boosters to shattered pieces of metal from blown up Chinese satellites, the system will track them all.

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