Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
It has a dynamic economy and attracts a large number of migrants. With its friendly locals and laidback lifestyle, it’s no surprise this city is fast becoming Australia’s top spot to live (watch out, Melbourne).
It has a population of approx two million. It has a relaxed lifestyle in a beautiful, spacious city. The city sprawls over a large area with most people living in detached houses with gardens. The beautiful Brisbane River flows through city with a lot of homes having water-views.
The Sunshine State’s capital is a favourite with outdoorsy types and young families and there is much there for retirees.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, Brisbane’s biggest migrant group are from the UK (6% of the population). The next biggest group is New Zealanders (4%). Asian countries around 6%.
Brisbane is not situated on the cost, so no beaches. However, only an hour away you will find the stunning beaches of The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Population: 2 million people
Climate: subtropical climate with warm or hot weather for most of the year.
First Home Buyer Award: $15,000
Top draw cards: blue skies, friendly people, great restaurants, markets, culture, lovely parks, close by theme parks.
Public Transport: great public transport (buses, trains and ferries).
Brisbane’s rapidly expanding economy is one of the highest-performing in the country. Exports are on the rise with an unemployment rate of 6%. The top five employment industries are health care and social assistance, retail trade, professional services, construction, education and training.
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Different urban villages in Brisbane are popular for different things; in fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that each urbane village has a unique character; for instance, the Fortitude Valley is known for its live music scene where as South Bank is known for its world-class art exhibitions. Given below is a detailed insight into what each district or region has to offer, that will surely help you with your move to Brisbane.
The Brisbane CBD, popularly known as “The City” is Brisbane’s major business hub, with a multitude of entertainment and recreational facilities such as cinema halls, shopping malls, parks, restaurants and an array of the city’s historical sightseeing sites. Queen Street Mall is undoubtedly the most popular attraction of the CBD, as it is an amazing shopping destination and is considered as a must see by many national and international vacationers.
Popular as the location of Queensland’s Cultural Precinct that comprises of Brisbane’s Performing Arts Center, State Library, Museum, Art Gallery as well as the Gallery of Modern Arts. South Bank is also well known for its indigenous restaurants, waterside boardwalks, edgy cafes and inner city beach. South Bank could be your best bet for moving to Brisbane and settling in here if you are more into arts and culture.
It syndicates Brisbane’s Chinatown with mind-blowing shopping venues and electric nightlife. If you are a music lover, with a passion for live music, then you certainly need not look beyond the Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.
West End contributes considerably to the offbeat charm of Brisbane, especially because of its characteristic bohemian and artsy shopping outlets and cafes. If cult videos, unorthodox books, organic food products and eccentric locals appeal to you, then West End is the place to be in!
Just beside the Fortitude Valley, is located New Farm that is especially popular for expensive shopping and classy dining venues. Mostly frequented by the top brass of Brisbane now, it would not be wrong to say that it has lost some of the Bohemian charm that it earlier possessed.
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As the name suggests, this is the place in Hamilton where the ships dock on Brisbane River. Earlier known as Brett’s Wharf, this amazing tourist destination presents visitors with out of the world dining, shopping and cinema venues, thus making it an outstanding place to stroll and dine.
If the idea of shopping for authentic designs and fashion gems appeal to you, then Paddington is the place to be, especially as it has an array of unique boutiques with a local flavor of its own. While Paddington is famous for its local boutiques, Rosalie is celebrated for its antiquated restaurants, bars and markets. Milton is popular among travelers as it is the home to Brisbane’s two renowned icons the SunCorp Stadium and the XXXX Ale House.
This is undoubtedly one of the most appealing tourist spots of Brisbane, as it bestows the visitors with a splendid all round view of Brisbane. Not only has Mount Coot-tha a suburban hill, presenting the travelers with an amazing and picturesque drive through, it also boasts of the beautiful Botanic Gardens, an outstanding Planetarium and an array of walking and cycling tracks.
This is one tourist destination in Brisbane that is known for its Asian inspired food joints and people, and hence if Chinese or Indian food is something that appeals to your palate, then you should head straight to the Market Square in Sunnybank.
Located in the eastern side of CBD, Bulimba enjoys amazing connectivity with the CBD through the cities beautiful ferries. Moreover, it boasts of some amazing restaurants, thus alluring visitors to spend some time there.
Brisbane’s famous Cricket Ground, “The Gabba” is located here; moreover, it is also famous as a beautiful residential area with some amazing restaurants and cafes around.
Brisbane is bestowed with a splendid climate, all through the year. With moderate temperatures of 20 C to 35 C throughout the year, it presents you with an ideal climate for outdoor activities, of course except in peak summer when the temperature sometimes touches 40 C.
Unless you are used to hot climates, you should try and wear lose clothing, keep yourself hydrated and protect your skin by applying a high SPF sunscreen. Also do not forget to wear sunglasses to protect yourself from high heat during the day times. At nights, an air conditioner should be able to help you get a comfortable good night’s sleep.
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Whether it is climate, location, recreational activities or quality of life, Brisbane presents you with the best!
If you are looking for more on information on Brisbane then visit http://wikitravel.org/en/Brisbane, which includes information on getting into Brisbane, getting around, what to see, do, buy, eat, cafes, drink, sleep, contact and staying safe in Brisbane.
The below posts might interest you:
If you’ve read the above content and the answer to your question isn’t there, please write a comment below and I’ll research the answer for you. Please note, if the answer to your question is in the content above, I will not reply. Sorry, I just get too many questions these days and I can’t keep up.
If you need advice on moving to Australia from New Zealand, I’ve created a helpful little questionnaire to point you in the right direction. It takes less than 30 seconds, so give it a go!
Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 15 years! I know everything there is to know about New Zealanders moving their families and life to Australia. Either from first hand experiences and research or through the questions from visitors to this website… and I’m here to help!
I love helping people via Moving to Australia.
Providing the answers to questions we all ask when deciding whether to make the move from New Zealand to Australia. Even giving individual specific advice where needed.
I have learned a lot over the last 15 years from personal experience and through interacting with visitors. This is my job, making sure the information here is comprehensive and up to date.
If you would like to help me, you can use one of my referral partners.
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Aish
April 8, 2024 at 3:06 pmI love this website! My husband has scored a 6 month contract IT role in Brisbane and is considering the big move within 2 – 3 weeks from Auckland. We’ve lived in Auckland for almost 20 years now and recently got married. We have no kids so just us two but we have our parents here in Auckland.
Is it a good idea to make the move with a 6 month contract role or is a permanent role better? Would my husband need a car straight after moving or is public transport quite good? He would need to travel to different sites sometimes for work. His main office will be in Milton but I’m guessing rental properties will be expensive the closer they are to CBD? What area/type of rental property you think is most suitable for a working couple?
JJ Smith
April 11, 2024 at 1:31 pmHi Aish,
So pleased to hear you love my site!
Unfortunately, I can’t really advise you on ‘if it’s a good idea to move’, as that really has to be your decision, based on your individual circumstances.
I would ask the employer if there is the possibility of the contract getting extended, as that would definitely make me feel better about moving to Australia for the role.
The public transport if quite good, but Brisbane is huge, so it would save a lot of time if he was able to get a car straight away. Have a read of this post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/how-to-secure-a-car-loan-as-a-new-arrival-to-australia/.
Have you had a look at rentals on RealEstate.com.au? That will give you the best idea of what is available, furnished compared to unfurnished and costs: https://www.realestate.com.au/rent/in-brisbane+city,+qld+4000/list-1.
However, I recommend getting a short term rental, e.g. AirBnB, until you have decided exactly where you want to live. Brisbane is a beautiful place, with some very cool suburbs. You will find more advice in my Renting and accommodation in Australia post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/renting-and-accommodation-in-australia/.
You will read in the above post that we lived in Bulimba. Such a special suburb, but the City Cat would take 50 minutes to get to Milton, so that’s too long, but would only take 21 minutes to drive (off peak).
If I was you, I would be looking at a furnished apartment.
Hope the above helps.
Joe
September 8, 2023 at 6:38 amHi JJ, we are looking to move early next year and would like a location with a similar vibe as what we currently have here in Browns Bay, Auckland, where we can walk with the kids to the beach, but still close enough to commute to the city for work. Any particular suburb of Brisbane that you can recommend?
JJ Smith
September 8, 2023 at 11:53 amHi Joe,
Thanks for your comment.
Brisbane doesn’t have any beaches close to the CBD apart from the South Bank man-made beach, which I would consider to be in the CBD: https://visit.brisbane.qld.au/places-to-go/inner-city/south-bank.
Here’s a couple of posts you should read to get to know Brisbane better:
– https://metropole.com.au/the-10-best-family-friendly-suburbs-in-brisbane/
– https://www.familiesmagazine.com.au/best-family-suburbs-in-brisbane/
– https://thepropertytribune.com.au/lifestyle/top-20-best-most-liveable-suburbs-in-brisbane-for-families/
We lived in Bulimba because of the main street, which is very similar to NZ life and lovely to walk around.
Bulimba is a beautiful water-side community, practically self-contained with everything you could possibly want – cinema, bookstores, restaurants, and ferry transport to the CBD.
However, it’s not cheap. It’s a high-income area and has a reputation for being a bit of a private paradise for those families who can afford the $1.4 million price tag that comes with a four-bed property in the suburb.
So where you can afford will also affect your decision.
The above posts give you the median house prices, amenities, distance from the city, safety and flood history for all the main suburbs in Brisbane.
Hope the above helps.
Nicky
August 17, 2023 at 7:38 pmHey thank you so much for such a cool and comprehensive site. To clarify would you suggest bringing key furniture over?
JJ Smith
August 18, 2023 at 2:26 pmHi Nicky,
Thanks for your comment.
It completely depends on your individual circumstances. I didn’t have expensive furniture when I moved, so only took what I loved and needed for my family.
It would be best to talk to the moving company directly from your preferred quote, as it would also depend on the size container you need.
Hope that helps.
Jin
May 29, 2023 at 9:47 amHello JJ,
I have been living in Auckland for 20 years and have decided to move to Brisbane. I am mid-30 Korean (NZ citizen) single. I have been to Brisbane for last 4 days and I love it.
I am a data analyst and people has been telling me that finding a job in Brisbane should be easy. I have been to CBD, Kangaroo Point, West End, New Farm and Hamilton. Love the place and thinking about moving there. And I recently found your website and been reading the article about Brisbane but it looks like it was written in 2018. Is the information still valid as things must have changed.
JJ Smith
June 19, 2023 at 2:39 pmHi Jin,
Thanks for your message.
Brisbane is a beautiful place to live. Check out Bulimba also, we loved living there: https://www.google.com/search?q=Bulimba+brisbane&client=firefox-b-d&ei=-c9zZI6mMffWseMP0emOyAY&ved=0ahUKEwjOhtbBgpn_AhV3a2wGHdG0A2kQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=Bulimba+brisbane&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQAzIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxAeMgYIABAHEB4yBggAEAcQHjIGCAAQBxAeOgoIABBHENYEELADOg0ILhCKBRDUAhCwAxBDOgoIABCKBRCwAxBDOg0IABDkAhDWBBCwAxgBOg8ILhCKBRDIAxCwAxBDGAI6EgguEIoFENQCEMgDELADEEMYAjoVCC4QigUQxwEQrwEQyAMQsAMQQxgCSgQIQRgAUJQNWJgPYPYQaAJwAXgAgAHAAYgBwAGSAQMwLjGYAQCgAQKgAQHAAQHIARPaAQYIARABGAnaAQYIAhABGAg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp.
It depends on what you want to know about Brisbane. The information in this post is still relevant, but if you want to know something in particular, let me know and I’ll look into it for you.
Good luck with your move.
Nicole
April 17, 2022 at 10:48 amHi JJ,
I love your site – it has so many great resources. How do I go about enrolling children in a public school? Do we rent then enrol? Can we enrol and then rent? What if we sign up to a rental and then we can’t get in to the local public school? Can we rent from NZ? Sorry, it seems a bit confusing.
Also would you recommend a relocation specialist?
Nicole
JJ Smith
May 5, 2022 at 2:50 amHi Nicole,
Thanks for your message and sorry for the delay in replying, I was on a family holiday and are slowly catching up.
It is a bit like what came first the chicken or the egg…
Do you know where you will be working and like to live?
This was one of the hardest things for my husband and I as there are so many great suburbs in Brisbane. We ended up in Bulimba and loved it because we were in walking distance of the main street, which had everything you needed day to day (including entertainment and great restruants) and a short ferry ride into the CBD.
Check out this post covering the 10 best family-friendly suburbs in Brisbane: https://metropole.com.au/the-10-best-family-friendly-suburbs-in-brisbane/.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to 3-4 favourite suburbs then you can contact the government schools and see what availability is like. They will be able to give you the info you need to make your decisions off.
Make sure you do your research and compare the schools you’re considering: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/schools-in-australia/#FindTopRankedSchools.
I am trying to find out more about renting from NZ. This article gives some great tips: https://www.sydneymovingguide.com/finding-an-apartment-in-sydney/.
I am your relocation specialist It completely depends if you have more money or time. I like to think I’ve covered everything you need to know and am more than happy to research anything I haven’t.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Marise
September 7, 2020 at 12:28 amHi there. I moved back to NZ 2 years ago to help look after my dad who was sick. He’s passed now. My family and I would like to move back now. Can you advise me please how we can do this. I have my bank details and Medicare details all updated in Australia. My boss in Australia has advised me I need a date so he can send me my contract and roster. Aiming to be back over there by the end of June. We are a family of 2 adults and 4 children under 10. I will be moving to family. My sister aunty and uncle. Thank u.
JJ Smith
October 14, 2020 at 12:30 amHi Marise,
Thank you for your comment and sorry for the delay in replying.
The borders are still closed to Queensland so you still aren’t able to move or even travel there yet.
Please register for my newsletter if you want me to let you know when the borders are open to New Zealanders. On my website, right panel: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/.
Here is a link to my moving to Australia Process: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-to-australia-process/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Michael
November 16, 2019 at 2:42 amMy family and I are looking at making the move from Auckland NZ to Qld. I am a self employed painter here in NZ but find we are not getting ahead hence why we are moving accross the ditch.
What’s it like in terms of renting as I’ve seen it’s a fair bit cheaper than here in NZ.
JJ Smith
November 17, 2019 at 11:22 pmHi Michael,
Thanks for your comment.
I recommend checking out this website that compares NZ cities and Australia cities. Here is Auckland vs the Gold Coast: https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/interactives/costofliving/compare/auckland-vs-gold-coast/.
Here are some key comparisons:
– Average net salary (After tax) is 7% more in the Gold Coast
– Rent prices in Gold Coast are 14.29% lower than in Auckland
– Grocery prices in Gold Coast are 1.73% lower than in Auckland
– Consumer prices in Gold Coast are 10.92% lower than in Auckland
Most kiwi’s who move to Australia find themselves earning more and able to get their own home easier. More sunshine and a better lifestyle. In my option the biggest downside is missing your family and friends.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Micheal
November 18, 2019 at 8:38 pmGreat I’ll give that link a read. How does healthcare work over there for NZ citizens?
Thanks
JJ Smith
November 18, 2019 at 8:41 pmHi Micheal,
Australia’s healthcare system works pretty similar to NZ and NZ citizens are considered Australia PR in regards to healthcare.
Medicare is Australia’s Government healthcare system. You need to apply for this once you have a home address, e.g. a utility bill or bank statement to reflect that. Here is more info: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/medicare-australia/.
Do you have health insurance in NZ? For the same reasons you would get health insurance in Australia. Australian residents are proactively encouraged to take out Private Health Cover (Health Insurance) to compliment Medicare services, including the 30% Health Insurance Rebate from the Australia Government. More info: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/private-health-insurance/.
Here is the moving to Australia process post. If you haven’t read it do, as it explains what you need to do before you leave and what you need to do once you arrive: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-to-australia-process/.
Have a lovely day.
Thanks
Stephney
October 14, 2018 at 9:10 pmHi, we are in the midst of considering a move to Brisbane from Wellington, we are a family of four along with a 2 year old dog, our son is 9 and daughter is 4, with the rising costs of living food, petrol etc life in NZ is becoming increasingly difficult especially with a one parent working family.
We have done lists and considered lots of options but our gut is telling us it’s a good move and the right decision.
Would you recommend a complete de-clutter and sell then bring personal belongings? Or would you recommend shipping everything?
My husband currently travels to Australia for work and we have some family there which is also another reason for the move as we have no family here, we are originally from the UK but have been in New Zealand for 7 years, we are citizens here so visa wise it would be no problem,
I’d really appreciate any advice/help you can give.
Thanks
Stephney
JJ Smith
October 14, 2018 at 10:13 pmGood morning Stephney,
Thank you for your enquiry.
From the info you’ve given me I definitely recommend making the move. You’re completely right in saying Australia is cheaper. And Brisbane is a lovely city to live in. So much sunshine and heaps to do.
Definitely do a de-clutter and only take what you need. No point in paying someone to pack and move belongings you don’t need. Be ruthless. It’s cheaper to take your sofa’s, beds, kitchen equipment, etc, with you. You can’t take plants, soil, cane products, food, etc (see attached). And you must clean thoroughly all outdoor equipment and gardening products.
Fill in the form at the bottom of our International Pets Transport page (https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/international-pet-transport/). Monique at Aero Pets will then give you a quote on moving your dog to Brisbane and explain the process. Monique is a qualified Veterinary nurse who pays very close attention to your pet’s health and comfort. I would trust her with my dog.
Good luck with your move.