Is Australia really all that great?

Show all answers

Ozmaniac

The only point you made that has any real validity is the one about Australia's distance from other places. That's true if you're talking about Europe and North America, but what about Asia and the South Pacific and the Indian sub-continent? It's easier and cheaper to get to those places from Australia.

We have spiders here, but your friend was pulling your leg about poisonous, biting spiders that mate and travel in pairs. She obviously wasn't bitten and there have been nfatalitieses from spider bite in the whole country for years. I've lived in several places here and have NEVER seen a poisonous spider. We have big harmless spiders that are scary looking, but they're not nearly as common as scaremongering stories would have you believe. They're no more common than in North America.
We have snakes, but again, most people have never seen one and you won't either. If you leave snakes alone, you won't have any problems. They don't see us as prey and are as scared of us as we are of them and they certainly don't leap out at you from under rocks or behind trees.

Bad animal hazards? The far north has crocodiles and nasty jellyfish and the sea has sharks, but every ocean has sharks and if you don't live in the far north, you'll never see a croc or a nasty jellyfish. Actually, you almost certainly wouldn't even if you did live up there. We don't have any mammal larger or more dangerous than a kangaroo - no bears, wolves, mountain lions like you have in your own country.

Water? Every person in every city and town (a short term exception in one small country town I think) has more than enough water to have a shower every day and more than enough to drink and cook with and it's clean and safe. They can use their dishwasher every day, use their washing machine whenever they want: fill their swimming pool (though there are restrictions on that) etc. What more do you need? There are water restrictions, but they're simply intended to curb waste. The country overall has plenty of water: it's just been falling in the wrong places of late but if we don't waste what we have, there will be plenty for everyone.

Judith of the Never Never

Plenty of bugs, never known anybody that was bitten by one that was dangerous, that includes, snakes, jellyfish, etc. You are more likely to be bitten by a bee or a wasp.

Water shortage due to drought, we all here in Brisbane have a target of 140 liters per person per day, that includes the washing and the bathing. It isn't hard to do as we can't water our gardens at the moment or hose the car etc, fair enough, have to look after our country.

It's isolated in distance but not if you consider we have Indonesia etc and tokyo to the north not too far, New Zealand just next door and the whole beautiful South Pacific, Fiji, Noumea, Cook Islands, Tonga, etc etc a couple of hours flight away. It is the lifestyle that attracts people and makes them stay. My mum is from Scotland, dads parents from Poland. Heaps of different faces & colours & religions here, no great dramas between any of us.

Live_For_Today

My partners whole family is here from the UK and they all said they are never going back, so what are you waiting for?, come on over. Sure you see the odd red back spider like I did the other day, but you just grab your can of spray and spray it and in no time its dead. Oh and no that doesn't happen too often at all and its really just changing your habits when you go gardening and you where rubber gloves. Its not as though they come out seeking a human to bite, so relax and we will see you soon.

1337

Spiders? I rarely see them in the house. Don't worry about it.

Bad animal hazards? Do you mean kangaroo hopping on the streets?? most people would picture australia in that way but that would mainly happen in the country. You wouldn't see much animal hazards in the city, the more populated areas such as the east coast - sydney, melb, brisbane etc.

No, it's not isolated unless your referring to the inner Australia which is nothing but desert. Trust me there's heaps of people around the cities. The only expenses you'll be paying is the petrol price.

Ignore the water problems, australia have enough water for you to have a shower, toilets, cleaning and cooking.

I'm sure you'll find Australia a great country to live in.

Alana Lama -Go Eagles-

I love Australia.

There are spiders yes. But i have lived here my entire life and so far hav not been bitten.

There are dangerous animals such as snakes... but if you live in the city? There will be none.

Were will you live? In the tropics (north) there are crocodiles. But barely anybody ever dies. Be safe and you wont be bitten.

Australia is near Asia and New Zealand. Asia is near Europe.

Its a completely different circumstance from the UK because you are so close to every other country,

but Australia is huge so you can explore the whole of Australia before you go overseas again.

Flights may be expensive but it hasn't stopped us all advenrturing overseas now has it?

EDIT-water.
Where about will you be living?
In the north of western Australia they have so much water they want to pump it down south.

In the desert there is none.

But its not like we don't have any water to drink, it is raining right now where i live.

There are sprinkler bands in some citys... so your lawn wont be as green as it may be in canada or the UK.

I love Australia... the beaches, the people, the sun.

Elizabeth

Did your friend know you were afraid of spiders and tell you her story to scare you?
Was she actually bitten by the poisonous, biting spider that travels in pairs?

In my opinion, having spiders crawling on you is not a very common occurrence, especially inside.

Do you think we don't have people who are afraid of spiders living here?
Many Australians suffer with arachnophobia but they live here happily without hiding away in a hermetically sealed room or moving overseas.

What sort of animal hazards? Do you mean snakes? Most Australians have never seen a snake in the wild.

The distance from Europe and North America doesn't seem to bother the thousands and thousands of Aussie tourists who travel overseas every year.

Some places here are still in deep drought and some have plenty of water. It's something you have to accept when you live on one of the driest places on earth.

I hope you pay us a visit. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful holiday.

The Mouse II

To answer your main question: YES it is! I live here. Been overseas and see life outside Australia. I would not want to live anywhere else.

Spider problem is pretty much like most other countries. Spiders do exist but in the normal day to day living, you will hardly ever see them. And they DO NOT go around attacking people! "(they mate and travel in two or something)"?LOL - where did she get THAT from?

Being isolated? yes - and that is the advantage. That is why Australia is so unique and there is nowhere like it on earth.

NO MATTER where you move to in the world, there WILL be adjustment you need to make, so if you expect Australia to be all nice and wonderful and for life is like where you live now, don't bother coming.

But Australia must be a great place otherwise, why would so many people want to come here?

Come - see it for yourself.
We are all very laid back and friendly people and our culture operates on a "fair go" system.
Treat us the same way you want to be treated and you will be fine. If you come here and whinge about how you wish Australia is not like your home, we will likely tell you that you have the right to leave the county.

Cheers

OzNana

Well, we do have dangerous spiders, dangerous jellyfish, dangerous crocodiles, dangerous snakes, dangerous sharks, giant cockroaches (Sydney), dangerous stinging cone shells, dangerous blue ringed octopuses, dangerous fish (stone fish etc), dangerous rips (ocean currents), tropical cyclones, snow, deserts, dangerous criminals etc etc. Depends whereabouts in Australia you live what you might see. I have lived here over thirty years and have lived in various different parts of Australia, and I am still here. There are water restrictions and shortages in many parts of Australia. Again, depends where you live. It is a long way from anywhere else. However, if you come here with your eyes open, it is a good place to live, good food, good lifestyle. Much better than Northern Hemisphere winters. As I understand it, there is a bit of dangerous wildlife in your country too... bears etc?

capricorn dancerâ™¥

I'm Uk born aussie citizen.Best thing my parents ever did was to migrate to Australia back in '77.
Opportunity to have a life not just an existance.
Had a wonderful life here and can't imagine living anywhere else,but ..you never know.
Yeah we got our issues,but we got PEACE and that my friend is very precious in this day and age of uncertainty.â™¥

Lauren

"Does that happen often?"

No. I've never even seen a poisonous spider, never even seen a snake. Most of the stuff you read about Australia in the media etc, is misleading. Our cities are just as crowded and unless you live out in the bush (middle of Australia out in the dessert) it's nothing like you see portrayed. I can't believe I still hear people saying, 'oh you mean you actually have cities there?' Um yes, huge cities, just like yours!

Krisis

Just so that you know, Guy0307, clearly does not live in Australia. There is a drought yes. And yes there is a water problem. Our dams are very low, but not as low as what they were a few years back. We are slowly coming out of the drought, by the looks of things now. There are water restrictions yes. Like you can only water your gardens on certain days and it is recommended that you should only have four minute showers. We don't have sprinklers running all day. So really, if everyone conserves the water, then you're ok.
The water problem is hitting farmers harder than anyone though. And as for those of us who have water tanks, it can get expensive having to buy water.

The beaches are beautiful. The wildlife is pretty safe, if you keep away from it, it won't harm you. We have the most venomous snakes, but I've lived here my whole life and never seen one in the wild. I think your friend may be exaggerating, because there is no such thing as a spider that goes around in pairs and bites you. I know a lot of things about snakes and spiders and wildlife for that matter. And they are definitely not real. Spiders will not just get on you and bite you for no reason.

Australia really isn't that isolated from anywhere else. It's very close to Asia and New Zealand.

Australia is a beautiful place, and thats not just because I live here.

Warren S

I moved to Australia 36 years ago from the USA and it is great downunder. Yes, I too have heard a lot about spiders but I have seen more in North America than here. C'mon down.

ballooner

I have lived in Australia my whole life (25 years), and have only been bitten by a poisonous spider once! There's really not that many.

There are no big predator animals in Australia - the most dangerous animals here are small. And they are not too much to worry about, just as long as you are aware of them.

As for water - yes, we are running out of water. Especially here in Toowoomba ... if I was moving to Australia, I'd choose somewhere that had plenty of water - like the tropics.

Australia is a great country. I have lived there all my life but the only problem is water. There are alot of water restrictions and the government isn't doing much about it. Sometimes you find a spider in bed or a millipede on the celling but if you spray around your house with poison then there are hardly any, but you have to spray around your house every 6 months I think. Yes it is more expensive to travel from Australia because it is so far away from every other country, but why travel when you have this amazing country to explore?

guy0307

No.. Cold, extremely bad beaches. The only nice place is Northern Australia, which is tropical.

Although the issues you've raised aren't a problem. There aren't a lot of spiders, and the water problem isn't real.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: