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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The site, http://www.bcl.com.au/, is a “guide to Australia with sub sites for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and Brisbane” while the particular page that stood out to me was http://www.bcl.com.au/movetoaustralia/default.htm, which is a page the site editors have created that “groups links to information of particular interest to people planning to move to Australia.”

The links listed on both the above mentioned page and throughout the site itself are all extremely relevant, topical and reliable with useful sections across the board such as “What’s On around Australia,” “Business in Australia,” “Making New Friends in Australia” and more.

The business of shipping, moving and immigrating to Australia continues to be a popular, yet overwhelming, venture for people across the world. Finding the best moving to Australia resources will often make the difference in a successful relocation and the all too common “it should’ve been a lot easier” result. Let us lead you in the process, find you the best shipping quotes and be in contact with you throughout over at www.Shipping2Australia.com to make your move to Australia as smooth as can be.

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Australia has a fantastic higher education system with some of the best universities in the world. Want to know how well they rate against other universities? Check out the list below!

THES World University Rankings 2009

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Fraser Island:

Fraser Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 1992 tourists have been enthralled to see the green rain forests, clear fresh water lakes, and remarkable sand cliffs. The Dingo population is a popular attraction amongst tourists. The vast stretches of sand beaches increase the beauty of the area and justify it as a major tourist attraction in Australia.

Sydney Harbor Bridge:

Sydney Harbor Bridgehas been a major tourist attraction in Australia throughout the ages. Almost all tourist visit the famous bridge since at the foot of the bridge one can see “The Rocks.” These rocks are believed to be the first building blocks of what is today the city of Sydney. Tourists can take an escorted tour to the top of the bridge.

Great Barrier Reef:

One of the most famous diving spots on the world, the Great Barrier Reef, is also a considerably well protected marine park. As you can see from this satellite picture of The Great Barrier Reef, it stretches along 86 million acres along the North East Australian Coast. The great natural beauty to be seen on this reaf has given it a mark of recognition.

Sydney Opera House:

Constructed in the twentieth century by the famous Danish architect John Utzon, the Sydney Opera House is a world famous tourist attraction. It draws thousands of tourists yearly from across the globe. Various escorted tours are available at the Opera House.

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Sydney – Is the main entry point in Australia for most people. Botany Bay, Sydney is a popular port used when shipping to Australia. The city offers many interesting sites to visit such as the Opera House and Darling Harbour. There are lots of Shopping malls, museums, and it is worth it to visit the other side of the bay to see the Zoo and the beach of Mainly. The Downtown Tower (Sydney Tower)  will have a complete view of the city from the top. The Blue Mountains provide a beautiful panorama of the valley. Nightlife in Sydney is one of the most active in all Australia.

Cairns - Although a small city without any big attractions, the things you can do are fantastic, such as diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Try to get to the outside reefs, because the inside reefs are not as spectacular. Although the cost will be well more expensive, it may be more worth it. There is a cable car that runs until Kuranda over the rainforest. It offers unique views and you can go for a stroll, watch the waterfalls, and take a closer look at the forest. There are day tours worth attending such as Port Douglas and, a little further down, Daintree National Park (It is considered the forest with the biggest variety of plants per square meter on the planet). 

 Gold Coast – Pretty beaches, great for surfers and beach lovers. Other attractions are the Theme Parks and the busy night life in Surfers Paradise. The surrounding mountains and National Parks should not be missed. There are many waterfalls, flora and fauna to be appreciated. 

Fraser island – A very nice area with lots of sand for 4WD vehicles and pretty crystal clear Lagoons suroundid by lots of nature. Close by, in the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is the most interesting city to stop at. Give it at least a day. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is an interesting city to stay at or to be the departure point for all other cities in the area. 

Magnetic island - In front of Townsville, boasts fantastic beaches.  Two thirds of the Island is considered a National Park with many colonies of Koalas and Kangaroos to be seen in their natural habitat.

 Whitsundays – paradise for nautical sports with excellent nightlife and restaurants. One of the best gateways to the Great Barrier Reef and island resorts. Perfect place to do a tour in a sailboat.

Ayers Rocks – In the heart of Australia, close to the city of Alice Springs. It is the biggest rock monolith in the world and  a sacred place to the Aborigines. All the surroundins are deserts full of special places. Alice Springs is the departure point.

Great Ocean Road – about 3 hours driving from Melbourne, following the coast and mountains. The erosion caused by the sea and winds created giant monoliths of rock, called The 12 Apostles. (Now only 8 remains standing). Melbourne is an excellent urban city to visit. The international atmosphere and multiculturalism, nightlife, and the variety of excellent restaurants, makes Melbourne a must visited city in Australia. 

 Kakadu National Park – Close to Darwin. One of the most beautiful National Parks in Australia with plenty of  wild life and variety of native plants. The only negative point, is that it is so popular, that it is difficult to walk alone in the park without finding other tourists.

Tasmania – One of the prettiest places in Australia, and in certain way it reminds of some New Zealand landscapes. Nice cities with excellent infra structure for visitors. Nature is the highlight with spectacular beaches. The mountains and lagoons are well known for their beauty and wild life, and there are many historical sites from the time when Tasmania was a biggest prison for British convicts.

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Brisbane LGA had the largest population growth during 2005-06, increasing by 14,000 people (1.4%), followed by the Gold Coast, which increased by 13,600 people (2.8%).

Melbourne Statistical Division (SD) recorded the largest growth of capital city SDs in 2005-06, increasing by 49,000 people in the 12 month period (or 940 people per week). Sydney SD increased by 37,200 people. Perth (SD) grew by 29,900, and now exceeds 1.5 million people.

In outer suburban areas, the largest population increase was recorded in Western Australia, with Wanneroo increasing by 7,900 people. Many other outer suburban areas recorded large increases, such as the Melbourne LGAs of Melton (up 6,800 people), Wyndham (6,700 people) and Casey (6,400 people). In Sydney, Blacktown increased by 5,000 people and Bankstown by 2,900.

Growth outside capital cities

Many regional coastal areas continued to experience strong population growth with immigrants shipping to Australia their items in record amounts. The largest growth occurring in Gold Coast-Tweed (up 14,500 people), Sunshine Coast (5,100 people), Townsville (4,400 people) and Cairns (4,100 people).

The Western Australian coastal areas of Bunbury (up 5.1%) and Mandurah (up 4.9%), along with Queensland’s Hervey Bay (also up 4.9%), were the fastest growing regions outside capital cities.

A number of inland regional areas throughout Australia also experienced continued growth, with the Victorian LGAs of Greater Bendigo and Ballarat increasing by 1,900 and 1,700 people respectively, and the New South Wales LGA of Maitland increasing by 1,400 people.

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Australia’s image as a top destination for foreign suffered a setback recently after four bankrupt colleges closed. The move left more than 2000 foreign students without a place to learn. Thousands of students who turned up for class in Australia found themselves locked out. The four bankrupt private colleges were located in Sydney and Melbourne.

Most of the students were from India and South-East Asia, and had paid up to 20,000 Australian dollars (18,300 US dollars) to the China-owned Global Campus Management/Meridean Group which suddenly went into voluntary bankruptcy administration. State governments stepped in to offer places in government schools for students to sit their exams, but students feared they had been cheated and abandoned.

Around 150,000 overseas students are enrolled in colleges, universities and schools in Australia making it an industry worth 16 billion Australian dollars anually.

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