Sunshine Coast Hinterland: Run darling before a leech gets you

The Advantages of Living in Australia

I think most people move to Australia for the weather, especially Brits and Kiwis. Well, I did anyway!

I enjoy the healthy outdoorsy lifestyle. I think what’s great is the diversity here – you can choose to live in a big cosmopolitan city or out in the hippy hills depending on what suits you. Ditto the climate – there’s tropical north Queensland for hot weather fans, and plenty of places with a more temperate climate similar to the south of France. The food is great here too, both raw ingredients and restaurant meals, and the level of schooling for the kids seems to be good too.

The Disadvantages of Living in Australia

So what’s not to like? There isn’t much ethnic diversity here (at least where I live) which is a shame. One of my British friends even calls Australia ‘the new land of apartheid’ which is a shocking and rather grim thought.  Also, the sprawling suburbs could get you down along with the flies, snakes and leeches! But I just like to tell it like it is because nowhere is ideal. Australia’s not a perfect Utopian society and it’s sad to hear about people moving here unprepared and not liking it.

What it’s like to be sucked by a leech

I didn’t know about the leeches at all. I naively imagined they hung out in deserted swamps but no, you can find them in any bit of wet grass over here. We went for a walk in the hinterland at the weekend. Suddenly our oldest child started screaming and hopping around trying to brush a black wiggling thing off his foot. The entire valley was echoing with his shrieks which didn’t end even when the hubby finally pulled it off. I’ve been to some wet, slimy places in my time but never encountered a leech before. Large may never fully recover from his first leech encounter and sobbed for half an hour after wards.

“Hey, someone else might have one.” I mentioned, scanning my legs before I too started shrieking and begging the brave hubby to pull the leech off. Yuch!

Youngest child was quite traumatised too that she may have one or get one, but Middle child was highly disappointed and wants to go back so he can experience what it’s like to have a blood sucking leech attached to his leg. He’s an unusual child.

Anyway, if this hasn’t put you off totally, I’d love to hear why you’d like to move to Australia or why you already have!

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Good luck with all your travel plans!