Lemmin-Woolfrey - Moon Living Abroad Australia

Qantas airplane

The heady mix of imposing eucalyptus trees, tall palms, and majestic evergreens, such as the Moreton Bay fig. Australia is opulently green.

Koalas, platypuses, kangaroos, and wild cockatoosfor an animal lover this is like a trip to the zoo, only without the fences.

Even a single ray of sunshine is excuse enough for Aussies to sit outside at cafs and linger over breakfast and the daily newspaper.

The atmosphere in the Melbourne Cricket Groundwhere up to 70,000 people cheer on their Australian Rules football teamsis simply electric.

Even if you live in the center of a large, bustling city, a decent beach is never far away.

The continent is so varied that weekend trips will never get boring.

Whether you are a scuba diver or a snorkeler, the worlds greatest marinelife is on your doorstep.

When someone starts shouting Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, the reflexive response is to shout oi, oi, oi.

There are nearly 2,000 vineyardsand they deliver.

School uniforms eliminate at least some of the peer pressure on kids and ensure a quicker turnaround time in the morning.

Arriving at the Sydney Opera House for a performance makes you feel like you are treading a red carpet, simply because the setting is so stunning.

Cherry blossoms in September.

In even the prettiest of parks, you wont find a sign telling you to keep off the grass.

Did I mention the koalas?

When you ask expats about their reasons for coming to Australia, the answers are as individual as the people who make up this varied country. To some it is the big cities: Sydney for its iconic buildings and nightlife, Melbourne for its art and literature vibe, Perth for its beaches, Brisbane for the outdoor sunshine life, Hobart for its seclusion and closeness to the wilderness, and Canberra for its community and great education system. And then there are excellent restaurants and the coffeehouse culture, constant festivals and events, and fun and unique spectator sports.

For others, the only way to really appreciate Australia is to get out of the cities. Beyond their borders lies a country that is so diverse, so different, so vast that it really needs to be seen to be believed.

Even just driving from Melbourne to Adelaide, taking in the scenic Great Ocean Road along the way, gives newcomers a whole different perspective on what Australia is all about. I say just because even this seemingly short distance on the map takes some 10 hours of solid driving along the main roads without detoursand this is a short hop in Australian distances.

Leaving the city behind, the scenery starts to change immediately: pretty farmland with fenced partitions full of healthy cattle, flocks of sheep both fluffy and shorn naked; the corn belt, through which the main roads are punctuated by giant silos filled with the recent harvest; and picturesque settings all lush and green. Explore a little farther and youll find massive rocky outcrops and sheer mountains. Cliffs hem an ocean that is wild and known for its excellent surfing. The forests are full of wonderfully amazing animals: koalas sitting in nooks high up in eucalyptus trees and kangaroos nibbling on the bushes in any clearing.