Hi kOko.  I'm from Newtown in Sydney, I'll do an introduction when I get my 02 S4 out from under the covers.

There's a fair few members in Sydney. Introduce yourself in the Ozmonsters section too, as members up your way congregate there a fair bit.
Cheers.

If you don't like the cold, then definitely go to the states of Queensland or northern New South Wales. While the natural beauty and forests are also great down here, we can have cold winters. If you need a dry heat, then maybe South Australia.

You can visit the states of Victoria and Tasmania in Summer. Also visit the Southern states for the Moto GP in late Spring. It is true, Melbourne's summers and winters are harsher than the more stable temps in QLD and Nth NSW. I live on the outskirts of Melbourne near some of the best riding roads in the country, but I have felt -0 deg C and 50 deg C here. They are rare temps, but possible. 10-40C are probable over the year. We have beautiful forests, parks, ranges and the equivalent of the Napa Valley within 10 minutes of where I live. It's a pity about our winter here.

If you like the nightlife then Sydney and Melbourne are your pick of the cities. If you like country towns then you'll like the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia.

Our economy is contracting at present, so it may all come down to where you can get a job.

Good luck.

Quote from: koko64 on May 31, 2014, 05:02:14 AM
If you like country towns then you'll like the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia.

Quote from: boostin86 on May 31, 2014, 01:18:36 AM
I have never seen a gun in my life.

Finally , all the dangerous animals are out in the bush, I have never been close to anything dangerous. The only dangerous thing we have here is Americans driving on the wrong side of the road .

Please do your research .

Guns are everywhere!

I live 30k's from the capital of Queensland and we do have dangerous critters everywhere! And one of the nicest climates in OZ but I'm not going to get into a pissing contest. Depends on what you like doing and what climate you want. Work visas can be difficult and the cost of living can be high as stated earlier but for most of us Aussies we wouldn't live anywhere else!

Oh and we do have wallabies jumping down the street! 

High powered rifle shooting, clay bird shooting and gun handling were school sports at my high school, but then I grew up in Dimboola.

Yep. Pig, fox, rabbit and roo hunting is a past time and while licences and permits are a pita to get they are still gettable and riffle and pistol clubs are everywhere. 

guns are interesting and fun to make (my company does some production and prototype work for Beretta USA), but not really one of my prime concerns. I love animals, but I prefer other people to do the hunting( Don't have the patience or the aim) so I can then do the eating .
Work doesn't worry me too much, I'd be sure to have something lined up before I did anything.
I expected import costs to be high. How much in-country production is there? I would think anything NOT shipped or flown thousands of miles would be significantly cheaper.

I'm not a "mountain man" or "survivalist" I have no intention of living in the "bush." I like undeveloped land nearby, but I want the convenience of modern society where I eat and sleep after 10 hrs of work. Conversely, I've had great times in New York City, but would never want to live there and I avoid even driving thru Baltimore and DC whenever I can.

Climate and society are my main interests.('cause that's what are driving me nuts here) Looking for low humidity and stable temperatures, or at least predictable temperatures. I'm tired of waking up to 45 degrees and driving home in 80 degrees one day, then 65-75 all day the next, but always in 80 percent humidity. And I think living so close to Baltimore and DC has made me WAY too tense and easily aggravated. I'm not interested in politics, drugs, advertising, Natty Boh, or sports, so I don't have much in common with the majority of people in the area(unless all parties have been drinking and I have a stringed instrument...)

By the by, how easily acquired is Rum? I'm not much of a beer drinker(the occasional stout). Mostly dark rums, dry red wines, and potcheen(legal irish moonshine) . Any ridiculous liquor taxes?(aside from import costs) Some eastern US states have tripled the taxes on liquor, but not beer or wine.

At least I know to visit Adelaide if I ever get over there...I've always liked what folk songs have to say about South Australia!

Bundaberg rum is a locally made rum that is poular here.
Alcohol tax is quite high.
Have a look at www.danmurphys.com.au for an idea on prices.
Have a look at www.seek.com.au to get an idea on teh jobs market and some ideas on what wages are like.

Most things are imported to aus. Less and less is being made here. (lots of beer, wine and food is made here however).
Sport is generally popular here also.

Further north you go the higher the humidity, as you get closer to the equator. However the temps are more stable and consistent.

If you are looking to avoid the rat race, then all of the big cities should be avoided (however everything is relative).
I for example would not live in Sydney due to how busy it is (just a population thing mostly).
I like Melbourne and would happlily live there. For me a good mix of sport madness and cultural activity.
Everywhere has plusses and minuses.

But given a choice I would stay in Brisbane...

When you say society, what exactly do you mean? access to art galleries, ballet etc? Or a good local establishment to have a few quiet drinks with like minded people? Add alcohol and usually polotics, religion and sport will be discussed same as most locations.

I for example have never owned or shot a gun, most people here have not. (I do not count being irresponsible with air rifles as shooing per se :-) )

I just checked ticket prices

Pittsburgh to LAx to Sydney

$2300 USD round trip for one person.

23hrs.

I can't imagine being in a plane that long.

From Aus is usually AUD $1399ish to LA.
That 14hr flight is not the most fun...
But Aus to Europe is 24hrs also...

I did Brisbane to Nashville one year.
Bris - LA, LA - Dallas, Dallas - Nashville.....
32hours later checked into the hotel. Not the most joyous trip...

Quote from: Monsterlover on June 01, 2014, 08:09:39 PM
I just checked ticket prices

Pittsburgh to LAx to Sydney

$2300 USD round trip for one person.

23hrs.

I can't imagine being in a plane that long.

You do get that day back though, you get here on the same day you started, so as long as you don't go back you've had a win.

It's a wonder any of you Aussies are left at all:

http://www.answers.com/article/1181946/20-things-that-show-everything-in-australia-will-kill-you?param4=tb-us-de-lifestyle#slide=1

Its a nice little country here but you could find it expensive.
As per tradition being an American and as all you Mericans are rich
you have to buy everyone you meet a beer   
Ill be waiting at the airport for you 

Don't worry about all the deadly wildlife your more likely to be killed by a taxi driver or young girl driving while
checking facebook on her phone.

Quote from: Speeddog on June 02, 2014, 06:34:11 PM
It's a wonder any of you Aussies are left at all:

http://www.answers.com/article/1181946/20-things-that-show-everything-in-australia-will-kill-you?param4=tb-us-de-lifestyle#slide=1

I work with 3 Zimbabweans at the moment  and they make African wildlife sound a lot more scary than ours.