Moving to the Country gonna eat a lot of peaches, sang The Presidents Of The United States Of America back in 1995. And while fresh fruit might not be the sole reason you’re getting out of the CBD, Moving interstate or into more rural areas of Australia and your state is becoming more and more popular thanks to the rise of remote working.

While not everyone is willing to live in outback Australia, you don’t have to travel far to find fresh air, open spaces, tight-knit communities, and much less traffic.

If you’re planning on moving to the country, here are a few things to consider before making the journey.

How To Pick The Perfect Town

City life is not the same as living in the countryside. With fewer people than the capital cities, there are a few modern comforts you may want to review before picking the perfect Town.

1. The Pub and Local Amenities: never underestimate the impact and importance of your local. Get to know the town area and its amenities. If you choose to live there, you’ll need to rely on them all year round. Otherwise, you’ll be driving long distances to the nearest supermarket or if you want to dine out.
2. Meet the locals: every town has its unique character and culture. For example, some towns are more sleepy and slow paced that others. Get a feel for the hustle and bustle, and decide whether it’s the place for you.
3. Working or retiring: moving to the countryside doesn’t have to come at the expense of your career. If you’re able to maintain your current job remotely, fantastic. If not, you’ll want to secure work before making your move. As for workers at the end of their career, or the happily retired, now’s your chance to relax.
4. Checking the weather: the further away you move from capital cities, the further you are likely from the ocean and major rivers. Before committing to any town or location, you’ll want to sample the weather throughout all four seasons.
5. Utilities: infrastructure is a critical consideration for country and rural living. Although Australia is a developed nation, some parts of the country are still limited by their infrastructure level. Check utilities like water, electricity and internet access before moving anywhere rural.
6. Transportation: country towns and rural areas have limited transportation options compared to capital cities. Depending on the town, you may need to invest in a car if you’re more used to public transport like trains and buses.
7. Medical Facilities: another vital factor to consider is access to medical facilities in rural parts of Australia, especially if it is something you need on a regular basis.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Moving to the country or moving interstate in Australia can be done by air, road or rail. Each option has pros and cons, but the most crucial difference will be cost and time.

Moving by air is the most expensive form of transportation and the fastest method. Book as early as possible to secure the best cost and flight times. Of course, a plane may be your only option if you’re moving from another country to Australia.

Relocating by road is the most accessible and affordable way to move. Whether moving to the next town or travelling 200km, hiring a professional moving company to relocate your belongings is always easier than doing it yourself. You may even be able to save some cash by ‘backloading’ or sharing a truck or container with other movers.

Rail is one of the most efficient ways to transport goods around Australia and is a great middle ground between the air and road.

Storage Solutions

Moving to the country isn’t always a seamless process, so you might be left with extra stuff that you couldn’t move in time. Storage units for rent are available for short and long-term options and are a great way to keep your items safe and readily accessible.

Moving Interstate Checklist

Moving to the country or interstate means changing more than just where you live. Here are a bunch of things most people overlook when moving home:

1. Connecting utilities: Call your provider and transfer your utilities – water, electricity and gas – over to your new home. Now is also an excellent time to shop around for better deals. Energy Made Easy makes finding the right plan straightforward.
2. Internet: connectivity options in rural and countryside areas of Australia will have more limited options for internet connectivity. Check if the nbn network is available before committing to your interstate move.
3. Postal & Billing Address: this one is relatively obvious – update your postal and billing address across all your services, e.g. credit card, online shopping accounts, memberships, subscriptions etc. You should also consider organising a mail redirection at your local post office.
4. Vehicle Licence & Registration: if you’re moving intrastate, contact the relevant authorities to update your license and car registration address. You’ll need to contact the related state government service provider if you’re moving to a new state.
5. Electoral Roll: visit the Australian Electoral Commission website to update your voter registration.
6. Medicare & Health Insurance: contact your provider and access the Medicare website to update your details.
7. Microchipped Pets: contact the database host to change address details. You’ll also likely need a vaccination certificate and medical history from your vet.

We hope these simple tips and things to consider have assisted with your decision to move to the country. A change can be as good as a holiday, so enjoy the adventure and discovering your new home!

this is a contributed article