My family and I made the move from Auckland to Brisbane over 15 years ago, and wow, did we learn a lot along the way. As a website designer, it felt natural to create Moving to Australia to share everything I discovered. I figured if my slightly obsessive research could help us, it could definitely help other Kiwis making the move to Australia too.
There’s a lot to consider when moving to Australia. Yes, as NZ citizens, it’s easy for us to pack up and move to Australia to live and work as long as we want. But you are still moving country, and it takes a lot of planning and organising. So do yourself a favour and prioritise research time because the more you plan before you move, the less stressed out you will be on the plane to your new home.
From setting up an Australian bank account, understanding foreign exchange, and moving your belongings, to understanding schooling, real estate (renting or buying), and everyday life in Australia—it’s all here. Whether you’re headed to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or somewhere in between, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve also been answering readers’ questions for over 15 years, so if you can’t find what you’re after, just ask. I’m always happy to help! It’s actually my favourite part of the job, which is why I have been doing it for so long.
Scroll through the posts below or use the below search bar to quickly find what you need. Your new Aussie life starts here!
Good luck with your move to Australia.
JJ Smith x
Thousands of New Zealanders cross the Tasman every year in search of a better life. Why are they going? Is the Land of OZ all it’s cracked up to be? And would anything entice them home? Consumer reporter Chris Schulz asked those who are going and those who have gone, then dived into the statistics to find out.
Here’s the full article, which I couldn’t publish when it came out.
We’d like to introduce you to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which is known to Aussies as CommBank.
Meet the bank more new arrivals choose.
Money transfer/foreign exchange is a big deal, and it’s important to use a trusted foreign exchange company to ensure you get a great exchange rate without a huge margin and little to no fees.
From my research, online money transfer companies offer the best rates, with a lower margin compared to banks and no fees.
I’ve learnt a thing or two from my mistakes, so do the research now, register with XE and save yourself some cash!
Moving is one of the most stressful things we do. Moving to Australia wants to make your move easier. Here, you will find tips and advice on moving your personal effects to Australia from New Zealand that will help remove a lot of the stress from this process.
I’ve researched your options for safely taking your beloved pet from New Zealand to Australia. Below is a step-by-step guide outlining the eligibility and requirements for your cat or dog to move to Australia with you.
To move your pet to Australia from New Zealand, you must follow the guidelines set by the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Cats and dogs coming to Australia from New Zealand do not require an import permit, and there is no post-entry quarantine period in Australia.
I am happy to be a contributor to Stuff’s latest news article about moving to Australia. It’s a good read and backs up my standpoint of how important it is to research before you move.
Get to know your employment industry in Australia, the demand for your skills, how quickly job listings turn around, your approximate salary, what paperwork you are going to need, etc. The same goes for the rental market: where do you want to live, what are the current rents, and once again, what paperwork you are going to need. Information is king.
The article talks to a number of New Zealanders living in Australia and compares the cost of food, healthcare, student loans, rentals, buying and selling a house, retirement, and dining out.
Definitely have a read of the comments. There are some insightful comments and I had a few chuckles.
Check it out – ‘Stop romanticising Oz’: Kiwis across the ditch reveal hidden costs.
On the 22nd of April 2023, Australia announced a new direct pathway to citizenship for eligible NZ citizens who have been living in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before the day they apply. They must not have been absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the 12 months immediately before applying.
The new law will apply to Kiwis on temporary, special category visas (SCV) who have arrived since 2001, lived in Australia for four years, and meet the standard criteria for citizenship—such as an English test, demonstrating “adequate knowledge” of Australia, and character checks and intention to reside in Australia.
There is no income threshold or health check required.
I was interviewed this morning by the lovely Ruth Evans, from Ruth Evans Productions, a BBC content producer. She is visiting NZ all the way from her home in London. She had just spent a month in Australia!
She’s working on a documentary about why so many New Zealanders are moving to Australia right now, what some call a “brain drain,” as many of those leaving are highly skilled workers. She’s also exploring the cultural impact of inbound immigration on New Zealand.
Answering visitor’s questions, updating the content, adding more content and constantly improving.
Moving to Australia has grown organically over the years, and I honestly love my job.
By nature, I love to get the best deal available for any product or service. I always research any product or company thoroughly and evaluate all my options. So trust me, I’ve done the research for you.
New Zealanders have been moving to Australia forever, but the exodus has been considerably higher since mid-2022 and into early 2023. With the New Zealand housing market being the slowest it’s been in 40 years, New Zealanders aren’t waiting to sell their homes before they make the move.
With higher wages, lower rents, and only four years until Australian citizenship, Australia’s grass is definitely looking greener!
The new direct pathway to Australian citizenship has been motivation for a lot of these Kiwis moving to OZ. You can read more about the new direct pathway to Australian citizenship in my post.
Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 17+ 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 17+ 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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