Spiders and Insects
Never did like these things back home and new we were going to encounter lots of them. Its not to bad in the winter, but the summer brings out all manner of giant beasties, especially the huntsman spider, pretty harmless but very large. Only seen one Snake and that was dead!

Roads
Unless you travel in the large city's, we have not encountered any traffic problems at all. We can travel a distance of 700ks from NSW to QLD and not get caught in one queue!

Houses
Lots of new housing estates with very small gardens withen the Towns which suprised us. Out of Town the plots get very large and much cheaper. Every house is diferent, no two the same, many with polls and rumpus rooms.

Food Stores
Getting better but not in the same league as Sainsburys! Lots of different brands and best of all, tons of Asian products.

Electrical Stores
Again, not as advaced products as European stores, you can get hold of decent Hi Fi product...but at a price. Many big name brands here you would not touch in the UK!

Clothing Stores
Loads of Surfing shops which everybody wears, not many designer stores and many different lables.

Music
Modern music is steered to mainly Rock and Grunge, not much Dance music is found on the radio. You can generally get the latest releases perhaps a week to two after the UK. There are specialized Dance music shops, but mainly in the Citys.

Restuarants
Restaurants are of a good standard, even the Cafes offer excellent food. Eating out is a way of life in Oz. There are many Asian styles to choose from.

Weather
The weather has turned out just as we expected, it is now winter and still we have not worn a pair of jeans as yet. The Summer does get a little hot, I can remember opening the front door at Christmas time and the heat hit me like a furnes! It can rain, yet clear up as quickly as it started and shine for the rest of the day.

Transport
Many cars are Japanese made, still cheaper than the UK, also popular are Holden and Fords. Petrol is cheaper as well, perhaps a little under a third of the UK price.

Television
Not to good, the advertisments come on every 15 minutes, a 2 hour film can last 3 hours!!!! Lots of American and British stuff is shown. However we do get Premiership Football. We also have satalight TV but not in the same league as Sky

 

The weather, each morning when you wake up the skys are blue.

Casual clothing, we can go out in any time of the day in just shorts and T-shirt.

People seem happy to be alive and always say hello.

BBQs on the deck, beach and parks.

Warm sea and surfing.

Plastic notes which are waterproof in the sea.

Petrol prices!!

No more scraping off the ice on the car in the mornings.

Free car parking, the only place you have to pay is in the heart of thr cities, everywhere else is free

Food shops, we do miss Sainsburys.

Chocolate, it taste different here.

Certain brands you take for granted in the UK.

Trusting everyone you meet as well as them trusting you.

Family and Friends.

The dance music scene not to popular here.

Knowing where to get exacly what you want.

Being so laid back, it takes a while to get things done.

Sainsburys curry bags and decent sausages.

No wallpaper, not a problem but why?

Gets dark at around 6.00 each night