From New Zealand to the Sunshine Coast: What to Consider When Moving

0

According to the Sunshine Coast Council, approximately 8000 people move to the Sunshine Coast every year. Many of them are ex-pats from New Zealand who are attracted to its warm climate, stunning beaches, and laid-back lifestyle.

While the thought of lazy afternoons on Mooloolaba Beach, dining on Ocean Street, or scaling Mount Tibrogargan is particularly exciting, the logistics involved in moving across the ditch are not quite so.

Relocating to another country, even one as familiar as Australia, comes with its challenges. So, if you’re planning to move from New Zealand to the Sunshine Coast, it pays to be organised.

Here are some of the main things you will need to focus on when starting a new life in Queensland.

 

1. Visa and Residency Requirements

One of the biggest advantages for New Zealanders moving to Australia is the ease of obtaining a visa. Thanks to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, Kiwis can live and work in Australia without needing a permanent residency visa.

Upon arrival, you’ll automatically be granted a Special Category Visa (SCV), which allows you to stay indefinitely. However, it’s important to note that while the SCV lets you live and work in Australia, it does not provide the same benefits as permanent residency or citizenship.

Therefore, if you plan to stay long-term, you may want to explore pathways to permanent residency or citizenship to access full government benefits.

 

2. Setting Up Your Finances

If you do intend to move to the Sunshine Coast, you should set yourself up with an Australian bank account because it makes getting paid and paying bills a lot easier.

Most banks make this process fairly straightforward, and you can even do it online before you arrive in the country.

Typically, you will need your passport, proof of address, and tax identification details when opening an Australian bank account with Westpac.

Once you have opened up your bank account, if you have savings in New Zealand that you want to transfer over to it, you can do this through reputable money transfer services like PayPal or Wise.

Just make sure you find the one that offers you the most competitive exchange rates and lowest fees.

 

3. Find a Place to Live

The Sunshine Coast incorporates an area that stretches from Caloundra in the south to Noosa in the north but also includes the Glass House Mountains, hinterlands, and several small country towns, including Kenilworth, Hunchy, and Obi Obi.

Given this diversity, it is not surprising that each suburb offers a different lifestyle, so you should take the time to determine exactly where you want to live, especially if you intend to buy a property.

In the short term, if you don’t have any friends or family you can stay with, your best bet is to secure a rental property. There are lots of estate agents in the area you can connect with, and if you want to focus your search on areas where other Kiwis might be, then Caloundra, Maroochydore, and Nambour are good starting points.

 

4. Understand the Cost of Living

The Sunshine Coast is more affordable than major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, but that doesn’t mean it is cheaper to live in for those relocating from New Zealand.

Prices for rent, groceries, petrol and dining out may be more expensive than Aotearoa, so it is worth budgeting for this before you make the move. These costs will also vary by suburb, with coastal areas generally being more expensive than rural, especially with regard to rent.

That said, wages might be higher, which leads us nicely on to….

 

5. Find Employment

Unless you are retiring to the area or have substantial cash reserves that can sustain you for many years, you will need to look for employment.

The main industries in the region are healthcare, retail, tourism, and construction, so if you are experienced in these areas, you should find good opportunities. There should also be plenty of work available in the hospitality industry, but if your talents lie in the corporate sector, you’ll have to focus your search on Brisbane.

If you are on LinkedIn, you should leverage your network to see what is available. Otherwise, there are plenty of agencies you can sign up for, and, of course, websites like Seek and Indeed that you can reference.

 

6. Healthcare and Medicare

New Zealanders in Australia can access the country’s Medicare system under the reciprocal healthcare agreement, which allows them to receive essential medical treatments at reduced costs or for free in public hospitals.

To register for Medicare, you must visit a Medicare office with your passport and visa details soon after arriving on the Sunshine Coast. There is one in Maroochydore, but you can use this link to find out where the nearest office to you is.

However, it is important to note that Medicare does not cover everything, so you may want to consider private health insurance for additional coverage, such as dental and specialist services.

 

7. Driving

The Sunshine Coast is a big region which is best navigated by car. Thankfully, New Zealanders can drive in Australia on their NZ licence for up to three months, after which time they will need to transfer to a Queensland driver’s licence.

The process is straightforward and can easily be done at a Transport and Main Roads office – again, there is one in Maroochydore. However, you will need to bring identification and pay a small fee.

If you don’t have a car and need to buy one, you’ll find several car dealerships across the region. You can also pick up a short-term rental at The Sunshine Coast Airport in Marcoola or several field offices around the area.