The hype about moving to Australia seems to be at an all-time high in New Zealand right now. But to be fair, Australia has always kind of been thrown around as the ‘Magical Oz’ where everything is better. The wages, the weather, the cost of living, all yellow brick roads lead across the ditch. So, as someone who has now lived here for four months, surely I can provide expert testimony on the truth about life in Australia? Well, I’m no expert, but I’ll tell you what I know (and don’t call me Shirley).

Australia being touted as some sort of utopia for hard-done-by Kiwis isn’t new. The outcry of the ‘brain drain’ and what to do about it has been in and out of New Zealand media since I was old enough to pay attention to the news. But is the grass really greener? I can’t really say because we didn’t come here looking for greener pastures. I’m not saying people don’t jump the pond hoping for a better life, but for us, it was just the natural next step for my husband’s career. He worked in the mine in Dunedin until he was ready to explore more opportunities, and when it comes to mining, Australia is a major international player.

So yes, we came for the bigger opportunities the Australian mining industry offers, but not specifically for lower living costs or higher wages. In fact, I haven’t noticed much difference in food prices or petrol, and I’ve personally struggled to find part-time work. If those had been our main reasons for moving, we probably would have been disappointed.

I’m not trying to discourage you from coming; I only felt that someone should say that you may not see a big shift in your finances straight away. And if your only reason for uprooting your life is that you heard that butter was cheaper here, you might want to have a few more.

Come because you want to explore new cities, have different experiences, meet new people and enjoy the beauty of another country. The grass isn’t necessarily greener. In truth, if you’re considering where I am in Perth, you may find it a bit brown and dry, but there is some amazing desert flora and fauna here. Is it better? It’s different. Change can be good if you don’t have unrealistic expectations and come ready to immerse yourself in the world you find yourself in.

So, are you ready to get started? Here are some of the top questions I get asked:

1. Why the hell did you choose Perth?
Honestly? I think that Perth might be Australia’s best-kept secret. It’s a thriving metropolis doing its own thing out on the West Coast of Australia. It has everything you need, including amazing beaches, fantastic public transport, and there’s always something happening, from sporting events to arts festivals and markets. We’ve been spoilt for choice when it comes to fun things to do with the kids.

I know that when Kiwis talk about moving to Australia or even just holidaying, the usual suspects are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. They’re closer to home and incredible cities in their own right. They’re the go-to Australian destinations.

Perth tends to fall off the Kiwi radar. It’s a long flight from New Zealand, and I think a lot of people imagine it the way I used to: as a city in the middle of the desert, sand everywhere, and everyone just melting under the sun.

Look, I haven’t endured a Perth summer yet, so my sun-scorched days are ahead of me, and I’m under no illusion that it won’t be hot. But so far? I find Perth to be a vibrant, fun-filled city and way more exciting than I expected. There are a lot of stunning beaches, neat playgrounds, shopping malls and amazing activities to keep you entertained. I’ve been to some incredible restaurants since getting here, so if you’re a foody, you’re in the right place.

To be fair, if it hadn’t been for Chris’s mining work, we probably wouldn’t have considered Perth either. But I’m glad we did. I haven’t lived in Melbourne or Sydney, so I can’t compare the cost of living, but we feel financially comfortable here, which makes it feel like the right choice.

So why Perth? ….Why not?

2. How did you decide what area of Perth to live in?
We decided to rent out our home in Dunedin and rent in Perth while we found our feet. When it came to choosing where to rent, I quickly learned that Google is not your friend.

If you search “best suburbs in Perth,” you’ll mostly find lists of the most expensive areas, which wasn’t helpful at all. So, I joined a few Facebook groups like ‘Kiwis in Perth’ to see which suburbs fellow New Zealanders recommended as decent places to live.

That’s when I hit my first snag. When we started researching in 2024, there was a massive rental shortage in Perth (which I believe is ongoing). Actually, the whole of Australia was feeling it, but in Perth, it was officially called a rental crisis, and it was no joke. Forget being picky about suburbs; finding any rental was going to be a challenge.

Then came the kicker: trying to secure a rental from overseas made things even trickier. According to the helpful folks in those Facebook groups, your best chance was to engage a relocation specialist.

3. What the hell is a relocation specialist?
No, it’s not a made-up profession, and it’s essential if you’re planning on moving to Australia, especially Perth. Sure, you can try applying for rentals online from New Zealand, but property managers are being flooded with applications. They’re looking for any reason to discard your application to narrow down the options, and the fact that you’re not even in the country yet can be enough to knock you out at the first hurdle.

As the name suggests, relocation specialists have expert knowledge in helping people secure housing, especially those moving from overseas. They don’t come cheap and why would they? Securing you a home requires a sound understanding of the local real estate market, the dos and don’ts and how to present yourself as a reliable, trustworthy tenant. You want a relocation specialist with strong industry contacts and established relationships with property management agencies.

4. How did you choose your relocation specialist?
You know how they say you can’t put a price on word of mouth? I don’t think truer words have ever been spoken.

I simply had to scroll through posts from people asking about rental searches and saw the same name tagged over and over – ‘Perth Relocation Specialists’. This was just a Facebook community page, covering everything from how to get an Australian driver’s licence to how big the spiders are. It’s not a group for business advertising, so nobody had to mention names, but they did, again and again.

Every person who mentioned Perth Relocation Specialists called them a godsend, saying there was zero chance they would’ve found a home without their help. It was clear; the people had spoken. So I sent an email enquiry, and before I knew it, I was on a Zoom call with Esmari and Rachelle, finding out how they were going to help us secure a home in Perth.

5. So……how did you actually decide where to live?
We decided to base our home search on the schools we wanted our girls to attend. So was Google my friend this time? Absolutely NOT, and it won’t be for you either, but for a couple of different reasons. As of April this year (2025), Google removed the ability to post school reviews globally. And honestly? I know exactly why. When I was researching schools in 2024, the reviews were still live, and most of them were written by bored teenagers saying things like:

“Mr Jones’ head is too shiny, I’m blind”, and
“They won’t let me vape in the bathroom, what the sigma?”

This was not the sort of intel I needed to choose a school for my girls. A basic search of “best schools in Perth” just brings up the schools with the highest test scores. That told me nothing about school culture, teacher support, or how my kids might fit in. I mentioned this frustration to Esmari, and that’s when she told me about Perth Relocation Specialists’ education service, which could provide a clear picture of my girls’ educational needs and recommend schools that might be a good fit. That was our starting point; I booked in with Rachelle to dive in.

I told her about the schools I’d seen online that were apparently “the good ones.” She asked me, straight out:

“Are your girls very, very smart?”

I’m not a delusional parent. My girls are bright, but they’re not top-level scholars, and that mattered. Because those high-performing schools cater to kids who consistently get top marks, and if mine struggled to keep up, there was every chance they’d end up feeling miserable.

So we threw out the “top schools” list and instead discussed what my girls needed. My eldest thrives in the arts, my middle daughter needs strong learning support, and my youngest needs a good feeder primary nearby. From that, we narrowed things down to ten schools that felt like a strong match and with those school zones mapped out, we finally had a list of suburbs to look for rentals in.

But…when we filtered the listings by location, bedroom count and budget, we found only 30 rentals across all ten school zones. Not all of them were suitable. It was going to be a tough search but with Esmari and Rachelle guiding us, we knew we were in good hands.

6. What’s the application process like?
Like I said earlier, property managers are often looking for reasons not to consider your application, so you need to have every single duck lined up before you even click “apply.”

When Esmari and Rachelle first launched Perth Relocation Specialists, they initially supported clients to submit their own rental applications. But they quickly realised it was too easy for people to make small mistakes, such as missing documents, uploading the wrong file, or just misreading a question; it could all instantly derail the whole process. These days, they take charge of the process from start to finish.

For us, that began with compiling all the necessary paperwork to create a strong application pack: multiple forms of ID, bank statements, references, and more. We were often up late on video calls, navigating clunky application portals together, dealing with error messages, broken links, and the occasional mini meltdown. I truly can’t imagine how much harder it would have been without Esmari and Rachelle guiding us (and, to be honest, holding our hands) through it all.

They sent team members to attend property viewings on our behalf and film walkthroughs so we could get a proper sense of each place. They were incredibly thorough, checking every corner, every tap, and every bit of wear and tear. They gave us honest thoughts on whether the homes would really suit our family. Even with stellar support, our applications were hit and miss, but eventually we landed a property.

7. So now you’re relocated…that’s the end?
You’d think so, right? But actually, Esmari came by to welcome us in person once we arrived and settled into our new home. She shared some fantastic tips on places to explore with the kids, and even more valuable, she offered personal advice on the emotional rollercoaster of moving countries, having been through it herself years earlier.

From the very beginning, it was clear that both Esmari and Rachelle genuinely care about helping people through this massive life transition. They built Perth Relocation Specialists around the kind of support they wished they’d had when they moved to Australia, and it shows. Their wraparound services go beyond just finding a house; they can set up the home ahead of your arrival or arrange temporary accommodation if you arrive before your keys are ready.

On a personal note, I really connected with Esmari. We’ve stayed in touch for coffees and the occasional wine, which honestly just reinforces how sincere and invested she is. I feel incredibly lucky our paths crossed.

In closing, the rental market in Perth is tough, and I don’t want anyone to land here and feel blindsided. Moving countries is expensive, and it gets even more expensive if you can’t secure a rental and end up stuck in temporary accommodation for weeks or months on end. A relocation specialist can make all the difference, and naturally, I’m going to recommend the team that helped us find our way, so definitely consider their service if you want to keep your sanity intact.

All in all, if you’re thinking of heading across the ditch to the land of Oz, I say do it. Come to Perth. Leave your expectations in New Zealand and bring your curiosity instead.

One last thing: despite what we hear in NZ, there are not deadly spiders and snakes lurking around every corner. I haven’t seen a single one in the four months we’ve been here. Honestly, I saw more wolf spiders in Dunedin. Go figure. I’ll let you know when I meet my first huntsman but so far, so good.

That’s it from Bron. I’m off to see the wizard.