Speaking of Australia...

[AROB44]

But what I want to know, MaroonNation, is did you enjoy your trip? I couldn't tell from your post....

 

[MaroonNation]

Overall, yes. Again I would never want to go back. It was of those places that if you see it once that's enough. Even though it was egregiously expensive Australia does have some of the most dramatic changes in geology in the world. In your drives between cities this stretch of road can look like central Mississippi, then the next 10 miles can look like the Grand Canyon and the next 10 after that looks like the Pacific Northwest coast line. On our drive between Sydney and Brisbane I think we crossed the same river 20 or so times as the road systems, and small towns, tend to follow the route of rivers. The flight is grueling to say the least. We broke it up going down by making stops in Hawaii for 3 days and New Zealand for 1 day. The trip back was nonstop Sydney to LA and that flight was 16 hours. You would be best served to fly Air New Zealand, which we did on the trip down, or Quantis. They are State-owned airlines so customer satisfaction is a source of pride. Their service is second to none. The flights were also partially booked so you had plenty of room to move around. Many seats were unoccupied so you could lift the arm rests and sleep laying lengthwise. Planes were all long hauls with plenty of leg room. The trip back was on United, in a max capacity 747, and it was God-aweful. No beatings though.

 

[Wizard of bulldogery]

I have a friend that moved there... He had some serious issues being taxed by both the american government and the australian government so once he got married he renounced citizenship because that was his only way around it. He loves it there doesn't plan on moving back. I'd recommend spending a long vacation in the city where you would be moving and talking to the locals. I'd imagine there are some cool people and some tools just like every major city in the world.