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How big is Australia??

Here are a couple of images that will give you a sense of just how big an island Australia is

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Ask a question

To ask a question or comment on any post, click on the speech bubble icon in the bottom right of the post.

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Walmart / Target

Yes Big W is a bit like a Target (or Walmart, but just no where near as big as Walmart)

Big W: https://www.bigw.com.au/

Target: https://www.target.com.au/

Kmart: https://www.kmart.com.au/

Electronics (Equivalent to Best Buys)

JB Hi-Fi: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/

Harvey Norman: https://www.harveynorman.com.au/

Hardware (equivalent to Home Depot)

Bunnings: https://www.bunnings.com.au/

Our closest indoor shopping centre is only 15 mins away, and it is Stockland at Green Hills

What other shops do you want to know about??

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Travel Adaptors

Yes you will need travel adaptors.

Now there is a difference between a travel ADAPTOR & a travel CONVERTOR

Adaptor - just changes the plug configuration to fit into the Aussie outlet

Convertor - actually converts the power voltage

Electricity in Australia is 240 volts, which is more than twice the voltage used in the US. An adaptor allows you to connect a US plug into an Australian outlet but may not be sufficient to convert a US device to Australian electricity.

Most phones, tablets, laptops will only need an adaptor

But for things like my Sunbeam Mix Master & electric fry pan which I purchased when I lived in the USA I need to use an actual convertor that steps the voltage down...

The adaptors with the USB ports like the one in Jenna's photo are very handy!

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Mobile Phones

One thing I do recall being prominent in the USA is that most mobile phones are LOCKED to a specific service provider. And then you get charged minutes no matter if you are the one making the call or taking the call.

It is a fair bit different here. Phones are NOT LOCKED to a provider & only the person who makes the call, pays for the call!

So if you have a phone that is NOT LOCKED to any specific provider, then you would be able to bring that phone to Australia & put in a new Australian sim card & get it working. (If your phone is LOCKED, then you would need a UNLOCKED phone)

My recommendation is very simple, get a SIM card for a PREPAID phone plan with Telstra.

This is actually what I use & have done since moving back home to Australia nearly 9 years ago!!

You can buy a sim card for $2 & then add a prepaid plan

Our prepaid plans offer

unlimited calls & text messages inside Australia

loads of data

SMS messages internationally

international phone calls!!

There are smaller recharges that last for 28 days, but then there is an option for a longer 6 month recharge.

For a $160 recharge that has a 6 month expiry. This gives you

70 GB data

unlimited calls & text messages inside Australia

100 SMS to all countries

3000 mins of talk time to the USA

Add your questions by hitting the speech bubble that says "reply"

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Travel Money Card

There are lots of questions around how to best access your cash during your extended stay in Australia...

From my most recent travels abroad in Europe, the best option was a Travel Card that allowed me to load up the card with my cash from my bank account & then convert it to the currency of the country that I was in.

Most banks & financial institutions now offer Travel Money Cards.

You initially load the card with your USA currency, & then choose to convert that money to AUD currency. You can then use the card as a Debit or Visa card. Most cards will also let you withdraw cash in the local currency.

Here is one example from Travelex:

(the link below is for the AU website, I can't access the USA site but a quick search should allow you to find it)

Another example from Wise:

You would need to check some of the finer details in terms of transaction fees & any currency conversion rates. But these are a great way to be able to access your cash as you travel. They all have easy apps that you can put on your phone & move your money around as you need.

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Aussie Slang

Here’s one for a bit of fun, 100 Words Aussie’s Say Differently than Americans

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Aussie supermarkets….

There is a monopoly on Australian grocery stores. The two main stores are

- Woolworths

- Coles

Both companies are owned by bigger retail groups and between them they own A LOT!

Then there is a smaller chain of stores IGA (which stands for Independent Grocers Alliance).

Side note, as a 16 year old I worked at an IGA as a checkout operator!!

Oh, we also have ALDI here now as well.

And there are a few Costco’s starting to pop up as well.

I found a couple of videos on YouTube showing you a walk through of Woolworths & Coles so thought I’d share here.

So if you have questions about certain foods being available or certain brands… ask away!

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Tea Gardens, NSW

About an hours drive from Maitland is Tea Gardens. The Lawler families have spent many holidays here from when we were kids through to just last week :)

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Google Map

Here is a quick google map showing some of the key areas.

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Newcastle, NSW

Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world & we are only a 45min drive from the coast.

There are trains from Maitland into Newcastle.

Check out the video below with lots of aerial shots of our beautiful coastline as well as the link below with a guide to Newcastle.

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The Hunter Valley Wine Region

We are located within a 20 mins drive to some of the most prestigious wineries in the Hunter Valley (there are a few breweries too)

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Morpeth, NSW

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Questions about visiting Australia

Hi All, I can't imagine just how uncertain & strange things must be for you all right now as one massive chapter closes & a new one opens! We here at SLS are all very excited (& daunted) by the possibilities that lie ahead. We are even more excited that you are considering taking a massive step to relocate to Australia for an extended period of time to help us ensure the success of the next chapter of Vortox products! Please use this blog & chat group to ask all of the questions that you have about the area & we ill endeavor to answer them all for you. Here's to new beginnings!

Jo Lawler

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The Levee Central Maitland

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Click on the link above to check out various activities in Maitland