Australia isn't for everybody. It is a place where norms are flipped outside down and logic is thrown outside the window. A country where work and fun are two reconcilable priorities (yes, it is imperative that you have fun here). It is weird, quirky, and mind-blowing at the same time.
Here are ten points to find out if the Land Down Under is the perfect migration destination for you.
Australia might change its season on a daily basis, but it is overly warm. And sometimes, warm is a gross understatement. Temperatures here can reach up to 30 degrees Celsius. Sunscreen will be your best friend (check here how warm it can be in each city).
With a huge land area, there is so much ground to cover in the continent, and a lot of wonderful tourist spots, too. Aussies themselves love to roam around, whether inside or outside the country. And being able to travel also makes it easier to connect with them (check here for some of the best activities to do and places to visit in Australia).
In Australia, equality and fairness is king. Everybody is given an equal opportunity regardless of background, race, or gender. Nobody is too fortunate or bottom-scrapping. They split bills and don't go to barbecues empty-handed.
Alright. Australia is, by statistics, still full of white people (and there's a reason for that, check it here). But it’s slowly changing. With more workforce from around the globe landing ashore, it’s not a rare occurrence that you will be working with at least three Asians, two Europeans, and Middle-Eastern. If you’re a xenophobe, this place isn’t for you.
The Land Down Under isn’t just racially diverse, but sexually, too. At work, don’t be surprised if your boss is gay or lesbian or even a transgender. Everybody is being treated with respect here, no matter what their sexual orientation is. Case in point, one of the biggest street festivals in Sydney is the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, in which they totally celebrate open-mindedness.
Aussies love sports, actually, any sports. Cricket, football, tennis, soccer, golf, rugby, basketball, you name it. They like to play them, and like watching them even more either in huge stadiums or in bars and homes, cheering and jeering. If you enjoy these things, this is your home, mate.
Australians are very friendly people, in fact, they celebrate this trait as an integral part of their national identity. If a random bloke starts a gleeful conversation with you, you need to welcome it with open arms. Same goes with riding a taxi. The spirit of mateship dictates that you sit beside the driver and have a good chat.
Laziness is being looked down by Australians, as they take pride being hard workers with so much to contribute to society. Being sluggish is a big taboo, they actually have a derogative word for it: bludger. Being called a bludger is one of the worst labels here. It means you are incompetent, inefficient, and can’t pull your own weight.
Don’t be a bogan. Bogans (yes, that’s another derogative slang) are those guys who who haphazardly dress complete with mullet and creepy mustache. Australians make sure they dress smart, as this exhibits confidence, professionalism, and civility.
Living in Australia is all about driving. The country is big and one of the most sparsely populated on Earth. So not everything is within reach. Sometimes you have to drive three to five miles just to get to your favorite burger joint, or to take a walk at the beach.
Guess what? Forty years of Mad Max movies lied. Australia isn’t just a hunk of sand and dune that seem to stretch to forever (also, there are no steam punk motorcycle-riders). As far as climates go, you might say Australia has the entire world packed in this heap of land.
Since it is huge, the climate vastly vary throughout. The greater part of the continent has a dessert or semi-arid temperature. The north has a tropical savanna and grasslands climate, while the near east coast is covered in snow, especially Mt. Buller in the winter season.
Yes, there’s a climate for everybody’s preference, whether you just want to surf the seas, or explore the rain forests, or trek the Outback. The largest island country in the world has something for you.
OK, here’s what Mad Max got right, well sort of. The Australian Outback is a large area of land in the middle of the continent with an arid to semi-arid temperature. Because of its size, this climate in never consistent throughout. It has wet, lush areas as well as dry, barren ones.
Though it is habitable, very few live here (the cast of the Survivors had to be paid to stay here and endure for a few months). But it is famous among trekkers, adventurers, and off-road explorers who want to stay away from civilization for a while.
Now, let’s get to the places you actually want to live in.
SydneyAustralia’s capital isn’t just vastly uptown, it has a very friendly weather as well. It has an abundant sunshine with temperate, humid climate spread throughout the year.
And since it is a coastal city, cool, afternoon sea breezes counters the rather quite steamy temperature during summer days. Creating a balanced and refreshing feel. This is evident in the people flocking the ocean playground for water sports, yachting, or just swimming.
All in all, Sydney has a very cordial and agreeable weather all year round.
Sydney might have a friendly climate, but it isn’t the friendliest. That honor belongs to Adelaide.
Once voted as the eighth best in the world, Adelaide enjoys a Mediterranean climate with a mildly warm, bright weather throughout the year. During winter where the sky is cloudier than the usual, rain fall comes in, making the season not too unbearably cold.
Adelaide has the lowest humidity among the Australian cities, therefore avoiding the sweltering heat that is the pitfall of summer season in the country.
BrisbaneBearing a tropical climate, Brisbane is generally sunny throughout the year, with balmy to flush temperature, partly because of the high humidity.
This heat can be quite dank and steamy during December, January, and February, the three hottest months of the year, with an overarching gray, cloudy sky above.
During summer is when swarming rain and bewildering thunderstorms go abound, with blue skies as norm. Yeah, quite ironic.
MelbourneAt 2,200 hours per year, Melbourne enjoys an abundant amount of sunshine, with many people finding the climate very pleasant all year round. Partly because it has lower sea temperature around the city compared to others.
The only downside is the fickle fluctuations of the weather in every season, and the fact that during winter, Melbourne receives lower amount of sun.
PerthAmong the Australian cities, Perth receives the most amount of sunshine – at 3,200 hours annually. In fact, it can get intensely sunny here. During summer, it can reach up to 40 degrees here, so locking yourself up with the AC on full blast might be the best decision here.
What balances everything is the “Fremantle Doctor,” a cooling afternoon sea breeze that brings forth comfort in the sweltering heat. Though at times this can be hazardous and blow sand around. This doctor is quite moody, so to say.
During winter season, there is little rain, but with still plenty of sun.
Canberra isn’t really far from Sydney, but the difference in temperature is vast, partly because of its locations and elevation.
Situated inland and with an elevation of 9,000 feet above sea level, it enjoys a rather continental climate, with large seasonal temperature differences.
During summer, it relishes a cooler climate because of the lower humidity. When winter comes in, frosts and winter fog, occurrences that are rare in the neighbor city, are quite common here. All year round, nigh time brings about rapid fall in the temperature. Yep, blankets are your best friends here.