Across the ditch

Have you ever had one of those it’s now or never moments? Mine hit May 2012. If we don’t make a move now we might never!

We decided to move from our safe haven Whangarei, New Zealand to sunny Queensland, Australia. But where in Queensland? Our then 14 year old daughter Courtney started a Google Earth search. "What about Tweed Heads?" "What about Noosa?" "What about Townsville?" My ears pricked up when I heard Townsville, “my cousin Melissa lives in Townsville. I have no idea where that is but let’s give her a call!” I said excitedly.

As it turned out Townsville was located in Far North Tropical Queensland.  “It’s very hot and humid there,” my husband Warwick said.  He also mentioned that in his travels around Australia in the mid nineties he kept a travel diary and the one comment he wrote for Townsville was "why would anybody want to live here?"

But that was then and this is now.  Townsville looked like a tropical paradise on Google Earth, a lot had changed in the last 22 years.  The Strand esplanade was now a water front feature with water park, rock pool, cafes, blue skies, palm tree lined beaches, what more could we want?  Melissa then messaged through some photos of fish to entice Warwick.  Salt water, fresh water and reef fish her husband Nigel had caught, Warwick was sold. Townsville it is!

Now we only had five months to plan and prepare for our move over the ditch. Getting up at 4.30am with our boot loaded for the Tiki Tav (Tikipunga Tavern) Market every Sunday became part of our weekend routine.  It was coming into winter and it was very hard to get out of bed on frosty cold mornings.  

If there was ever a bargain to be had, a visit to the Tiki Tav car boot markets is always a success.  But we weren’t there to find a bargain!  

Selling off our possessions was our aim.  The kids then 14, 12 and seven would wander around the markets and want to add to our belongings, not take away! They ended up with a pogo stick and angry bird beanies which were all the craze at the time! We tried to tell the kids, we are going to tropical Townsville, what on earth do you need a beanie for!  
 
We also had a great relationship with TradeMe.  Anything we couldn’t sell at the markets we were able to flick it on New Zealand’s number one trading website Trade Me.  You will be surprised how much money you can make just by selling your needless possessions! Next to go were our homewares that would make the trip across the ditch with us, packed into a container our beds, washing machine, couch and half of the man cave!  

"Collect moments, not things." - April Peerless

The count-down was on.  We managed to pack the rest of our belongings and our camping equipment needed for our two week adventure from Brisbane to Townsville into five 30kg suitcases and five 7kg carryon luggage, I have no ideahow much my handbag weighed!  185 kilos and we were ready to go!  

Saying goodbye to family and friends was the worst!  Of course there wear lots of hugs, tears, excitement and then it was time to board the big bird to Brisbane. 

Have you ever taken a chance and moved countries?  I would love to hear your story!