- Serhat Ahmed
Without experience of having lived abroad, I thought it would be hard to get to know other expats. But not with InterNations.
Living on the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast in Australia stretches from the bottom of Lake Cootharaba in the north, to the city of Caloundra in the south. It is less of a city and more of a sprawling urban area, broken up by long sandy beaches. In fact, more than 60 miles of beaches run from the family friendly Caloundra to the pristine Cooloola Coast. It is no surprise then, that the Sunshine Coast has been nicknamed "The Center of Fun in the Sun". Watersports such as surfing, snorkeling, fishing, scuba diving and swimming are practically a way of life here, while the nearby Glass House Mountains offer some great hiking routes, and some friendly country towns. Expats living on the Sunshine Coast will be just close enough to the state capital Brisbane to avail of city life when the mood suits, but near enough to the clear waters and white sandy beaches of Queensland to really make the most of the famous Aussie lifestyle.
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Moving to the Sunshine Coast
Australia is one of the most popular countries for expatriates, particularly with twenty-something expats from Britain and Ireland. As a former British penal colony, most Australians can trace their lineage back to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and expats moving to the Sunshine Coast will find that many British and Irish traditions have been adopted by modern day Australia. The major difference, of course, is the weather. The Sunshine Coast is named for its temperate climate. Temperatures regularly rise above 80F during the summer months (November –March), and rarely dip below 50F during the winter (May to September). Australians are very savvy about sun-care, and rarely go out without a good SPF face cream and a sun hat. Any newly arrived expatriate on the Sunshine Coast should take a leaf out of their book and protect themselves from the sun, even on cloudy days. For tips on living in warmer climates or simply opportunities to socialize and network, speak to other expats on the InterNations platform.
Working in the Sunshine Coast Area
Tourism is the main industry in the Sunshine Coast area, and many expats flock there to work as scuba instructors, resort workers, surfing instructors, or tour guides. Brisbane is just 60 miles away, and accessible via a good motorway, so some expatriates and residents choose to work in Brisbane’s city center, but live in the Sunshine Coast. Expats working in the Sunshine Coast area should make sure all their visa information is in order. It is very common for young expatriates to arrive in Queensland on a two year visa, and stay on illegally. The Australian government is cracking down on illegal workers, so make sure you have the right to live and work on the Sunshine Coast. If you have any concerns about your visa or any other aspect of life Down Under, have a look at InterNations guide section, including the Expat Magazine, or speak to other expatriate members of the InterNations community.
- Serhat Ahmed
Without experience of having lived abroad, I thought it would be hard to get to know other expats. But not with InterNations.
- Lotta Koskinen
When I first attended the Sydney Bar night I was really nervous. But everyone welcomed me and I quickly felt as part of the community.
