We're Selling Up And Moving On! | Life In Australia 

I live on the South Coast of NSW and it’s just lovely. The community is amazing and it’s so friendly. That’s why Rick Stein started his Aussie restaurant and has a house here. If you are driving south, make sure you stop in Milton NSW as it’s gorgeous. It reminds me of Devon and Cornwall (without the beautiful ancient cottages).

I love your honesty WITH EACH OTHER! You're such a good example of how two adults who have chosen to make a life together need to be. It's ok to feel crap, be honest and accepting about that, and do something about it. Excited for you both about the movement forward.

I've said it before in comments to your channel ,the saddest phrase in any language is " I should have ", I see so many people my age (senior citizens) who now that they have retired and have the means and urge to accomplish their dreams ,are simply too ill ,incapacitated or have lost their partners ,so have lost their chance to make a change .. I'm so glad that my late wife and I decided to travel and do as many things on our bucket list before she passed and before I became an invalid . You do whatever makes sense for you when you can do it, there's always a way to achieve realistic goals and if you try and fail try something else that's achievable, then you'll not be saying "I should have "you'll be saying " I did " . Good luck I'll be looking forward to some of your new adventures .

Mate, you’re here for a good time, not for a long time. Got to have a nice serene life, doing things you love

My family and I moved to perth WA in Feb and absolutely love it but it's been all go and still is, you've got to do what you've got to do for your fam, the school run on it's own sounds like a mission! All the best 👍

I admire your honesty, and I wondered how you would cope with such a large property to maintain. The difference to living in the UK and living in Auss is made harder by having such a huge change in lifestyle. I know that you will be a loving family wherever you decide to settle in this wonderful land. Make small steps, and it will work. Best wishes for your change.

You're lucky you have each other and you both want the same thing. Admire the bravery to assess and go "not happy, time for a change". To the next chapter!

painting --- Mix the paint in the big bucket and then pour 4 litres off... that way all the solvents dont evaporate away. We are happy here in the suburbs of the Gold Coast and we are Aussies, large blocks aren't for everyone. Much easier when you can work from home and not di huge school runs.... love your channel... cheers Mark

I'm so happy the video was about a house move in Australia.For a minute I thought you was going to move back to England. I've been following you guys for years and booked a month to visit in August - based on your inspiration to check out if it's right for us to move over. We're visiting: brisbane, goldcoast and the sunshine Coast - We can't wait 🎉 Thanks for your great content 👍 and good luck with the refurb 🤪 The Matthews family

Thanks for the honest post. Good luck for the future and I look forward to more videos whenever you feel like doing them.

Great video, but please put old sheets down on the floor to protect the carpet while you paint. :)

Hopefully the property market will cooperate and you find a buyer when you're ready. Interest rates are higher in the US right now - compared to a couple of years ago when they were ridiculously low. People start thinking that that's normal when it's not. Once buyers start to adjust their thinking on having to pay more, they will. Good Luck!

This is really exciting news for you all! To be fair I completely understand about the impact all the driving has in day to day life. Years ago house sat for a month on our friends property in Landsborough and although we loved it, the travel to get the kids to their respective schools and our jobs was hellish. I love that you see this chapter not as a negative but that your time living out there has just added to your life experience bank - life is less about the destination than it is about the journey along the way.

I live the honesty and I love the Bam famalam. Wishing you the best.

Take all the time you need to find where you're family is a happy functioning family ❤. Leave a manual for the new residents ( owners- if you sell up) to help them to maintain the property

Good on you. Moving back to the Coast is the right move. A Lifestyle Block is great to try for a while, but like they always say It isn't Lifestyle, it's a Life Sentence Block. There is no time to relax and enjoy life and that is what life in Australia is all about. All the very best with your move back to the coast and be happy again. We all want that for the BAMFAMALAM.

I think it's amazing that you are moving on and I know you will smash whatever is next x

For a moment there, I thought you were moving on OUT of Australia...Glad you're sticking around 😉

Hey the whole relocation thing is a bit of an experiment for many people and sometimes despite initial enthusiasm, you come to the realisation that the move isn’t working out long-term and you need a change. Happens to many born and bred Aussies too. A “tree-change” move out of suburban life doesn’t end up suiting everyone. You’ll work it out! 👍

Great to see you back Ben & Maz! I've really missed waking up to my Sunday morning Bam fix back here in the UK, but totally understand your reasons ❤ just want to say that I admire your honesty & I wish you all the best in wherever your new ventures take you. Looking forward to travelling along this journey with you every week, great to see you back 😘

yes I glad to see you back

Aww well done guys. Location is everything! The time you'll regain not travelling will bring u so much joy. Good luck to u! XX

I'm a carpenter and I can tell you now that composite stuff wont last like they say . Went to a suppliers yard to pick up some materials and there was a piece of composite decking laying loose exposed to the elements & could not believe the twists and turns in it . Bottom line you can't beat quality well maintained timber but always preferable to have roof over any timber deck for longivity

I am Australian and I married a Brit. His job moved us 39 times. I have lived in every State except the NT. We are going to see it in about 6 weeks. I have seen enough and moved enough. We have travelled overseas enough and I have never been to England. Now we have downsized to a quiet village. Our home faces the beach, we left our kids everywhere and they are happy. We are in the sub tropics in Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef runs past our home. I wish we were home right now. Go and find your place. There is something beautiful in every State. Good luck.

That's so funny. When we first moved to the Sunny Coast we rented inland with a view to buying there once we got a feel for the market. We spent every day driving to the coast and eventually decided that we moved to Queensland to be near the beach. So we bought right on the water and have never looked back.

I just found you guys and I love your vids. Welcome to Australia, I'm looking forward to following you.

Love watching your videos guys! Really open and honest. Waiting to find out if my company are going ahead with setting up in Aus. 🤞🏻 Perth in the next 12 months

Great to hear from you both! You’ve realised you don’t have what many Aussies have - a better work/life balance. Sit down together and draw up a work side and a life side, then sort it so it all looks balanced. Give it a go and see how it feels. We’re all here for you so don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you need to throw your whole self into things, just make sure half of that time is for lifestyle and leisure, and the other half is work. 🥰🥰🥰🙏

I can understand, you don't want to be spending your life in the car. My mother had a fashion store at the end of the day, it didn't work out, not for lack of trying, but as she said, if she had not done it, she would have always wondered "what if". That is what life is about, trying new things, some last a long time and others don't. Look forward to seeing where you buy next at the beach.

I can so relate! The Tree Change sounds very attractive - the "one with nature", peace and quiet, no traffic, getting away from it all - and the wildlife! But those very advantages are also negatives, especially with children. Before my first child was born, we bought acreage north of Brisbane on a gentle hill, a winding, picturesque drive away from Caboolture. We looked forward to building there, but in the meantime we were living in a Brisbane suburb. When my first son was born, reality set in; he had severe croup, which occasionally involved an emergency trip to the doctor in the middle of the night, and I pictured myself driving down that "winding, picturesque" but very dark road at all hours with a child gasping for breath. The advantages and convenience of living close to everything mounted up, and then there was the long commute to Brisbane every day for work for my husband. We eventually sold the property. It was the best decision for the children as well - minutes away from school and friends, and access to literally any extra curricular activities they wished to try. A Tree Change quickly loses its appeal when you're on the road for hours a week and maintenance on your property is never ending; when your children's opportunities are severely limited; and dashing out for milk and bread is a 45 minute round trip. I'm so glad you guys had the experience though - if you hadn't, you would have always wondered. No doubt you'll miss the 'roos waiting for you at the gate. But you might find you have an increased awareness of the wildlife that share our suburbs with us. I have a possum that lives here, and she always comes in to eat whatever the cat left in his bowl, and brings her babies to show me. I have a very well fed lizard that lives under the fridge and pretty much has the run of the house when he feels safe to do so. And there's a family of maggies that have lived here for generations and are quite social. All the best for your next chapter.❤

Having lived on an acreage I get what you are saying. Most people don’t understand just how much work is involved and how every time you do a project just how expensive it is. I had a driveway that was 80 metres long and just to spread toppings was a huge expense, the one thing I do miss most though is the space and peaceful setting.

Good for you guys. If moving will make you happy go for it

Common thing to do on the sunny coast is to move to acreage and then move back to convenience and ease. We've done it too.

At the end of the day it's what you believe is best for you and your family

Lay paper or plastic sheets down for the paint

So glad to see you guys back, and with such exciting news. Ben, Maz, variety is the spice of life. I grew up on a horse property in The Swan Valley WA, then moved up the far north WA to Derby, did my things I wanted to achieve up there, packed up and moved to Esperance on the far south coast of WA. Wanted to give overseas a go, so moved to Illinois USA for a year, and was going to try a different US state, but Sept11th and -18c days were too much for me, so went and lived in Singapore for 18 months, far too humid for me, so went to Greece for 18 months. Family stuff bought me home, and now I'm settled in a coastal town, Mandurah WA. I'm 58 now, so packing up and moving doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to, so I may or may not stay where I am. Point being, enjoy the journey guys, as none of us know what tomorrow will bring - if it brings a move of any kind, embrace it, learn from it, soak it up and live it to the fullest, which, from what I heard and have seen, is exactly what you're doing, so that's great guys. More awesome and wonderful memories for your whole family is what you're creating and building on. Great stuff ❤ 🦘🌊🐨🐢🦎🐍🕷🌊🌊🌞🍻🥂

One thing I really have always liked about your videos is your honesty. Portraying always a rose tinted view of life is not helpful to people looking to move to Australia. I don't mean pour out negativity but just say it how it is. We settled for years in Bundaberg before our return to the UK. Sadly for us Australia didn't live up to our dreams but we have no regrets. Life is for living and experiences. Have you considered Buderim / Moololaba to live? Mum lived there and liked it and Buderim was really nice. Good luck with the renovations and making the changes for your happiness love xxx❤❤❤❤

Yes they are known here as a life sentence block vrs a lifestyle block lol. Great if u have plenty of spare time but I knew with the lifestyle you guys had at the previous property, the 10 acre dream wouldn't be right. But hey, I'm glad you tried it. It is a great lifestyle in the country! To be honest, our place here needs just as much maintenance lol it's only 1200sqm too. My next place mite be a unit 😅. A big improvement to any property like yours is the driveway! If you can box or donsome edging on some of it close to the house, it will transform it! Just google before and after gravel driveway photos and yousee what I mean. All the best with the move whenever that may be. Will look forward to watching. Cheers 😊

Well you gave it a go, you know what it's like to live in the bush now too.

Electrician, you mean sparky. 😜 😂 C'mon you're an Aussie now. 😀

I’m moving to Tasmania from Oxfordshire in September, so nervous seems like there is so much to do. Trying to find a short term let seems to be the hardest thing at the moment as there all holiday let prices. Loving your videos good luck with everything..

Properties are lovely......if you don't mind sacrificing your life 😊. Been there ,!!

Sounds like you're doing the best thing to do. Hope everything works out for you with your change. Doing too much all the time isn't the way to live.

mowing that giant yard - I couldn't do it either. LOL Good luck on your move

good luck with whatever you choose on your next stage, sounds like you found paradise but of course the commute everyday is tough with the time and cost of fuel, i live 100km out bush and i go to town once a fortnight and thats too much of a commute for me, maybe i should do it once a month hehe . well you have your heads screwed on so i am sure you will find another dream to live,

You gave it a good go you have to do what makes you guys happy besides Ben could probably do with the rest 😂 as beautiful as the place is you want to enjoy life not constantly maintaining the place good to see you guys again ❤

I think you need to understand your personalities and what you like and require in life. We live in the city of Melbourne, near the Bay, and love it. We have a 'bush block' in the country and enjoy it but we would never want to live there on a permanent basis. Some 'tree-changers' or 'sea-changers' realise that the the move they made does not meet their needs and wants. My parents emigrated from the UK in the early 1950s. Their descendants are spread out in the four eastern states of Australia, living in the country and the cities including on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Also, I would recommend that you travel to see other parts of OZ, not just the coast of parts of Queensland, as it will give you a greater understanding and appreciation of this country and its people.

Most of us who live rural either use a small local school or we homeschool, driving 21/2 hours would be very taxing on your time and energy. I would have finished homeschooling and had morning tea in that time. Hope your place sells quickly and you find what you want.

I think the property is slowly on the way back up I have a beach house at Dicky but about to downsize to a unit or yown house Best of luck guys

There’s no bad decision. You just decide to change your mind💖

The trouble with living out in the stix is the kilometers you rack up on the car.😢

What you have discovered is, that living on a larger acreage property that is outside of closer facilities, schools, universities hospitals real necessary shopping etc, can really come with big down sides as much as the wonderful positives. And can WEAR one down especially with children needing close educational facilities. Huge best wishes for the next part of your Sunny Coast journey

I went on honeymoon to Australia in June and loved it. As someone in my 30s, it did make me wonder if we (my husband and I) have missed our opportunity to move. Truth is, though, I couldn't bear to be so far aware from my family, particularly my mam. If I could lift up my entire life, I might consider it! Although I do feel England gets a bad rep when really there are so many beautiful things about this country! I have to ask you, though - how do you cope being away from family and would you ever move back?

OK COOL! C u later then. Ciao Sam.!

I thought you were going back to the UK lol .I hope you find a perfect place to live on the coast . You are both beautiful people .

I must say that I was surprised that you moved from a small place in England into a McMansion on a huge block with a swimming pool. That must have been a huge change. I hope you find something a little more practical on the coast.

Aussie On 👍🏻

Hope you move to a big city, then you'll never have to mention the long distances or how far things are, things being shut, and the price of things (More choices for cheaper shopping prices in a big city...though it's expensive everywhere in the world at the moment) Queensland is a stretch for most Aussies (It is small time, though people do love the beach lifestyle)....but living on acreage there may as well be on the moon for most Aussies! I look forward to a continuation of your journey and understand you just have to be happy. Good Luck.

How sensible.

Well done you guys. No shame in giving things a try. Better to try than die wondering. I love watching you-tubers doing the acreage small farm life thing with chickens, goats and lots of fruit and veg. But they are usually semi-retired and full time on the acreage. You can try it again in 25 years time or not. But yes I perceive you two are social animals so freeing up time to be with people not chickens is probably your thing. One with the adventure.

I recall you said you moved to Australia to give you a better life and I also recall you saying that did happen, people overlook that when things are good you have anxiety because they are too good, th organistion of you life is probably what needs fixing, i dont think you can see the forrest for the trees to be honest.

You don't move to Perth to spend endless time travelling, so your decision is a rational one.

We are deciding to move to FNQ, why did you move from Cairns area to the sunshine coast

"the market " . thats your problem, right there. .

Thank you for triggering my OCD - painting the wall without a "drop sheet" aaaarrrrrhhhhh! (about $2 at Bunnings, if you're interested) Always enjoy your video's, and gad you've recognized there is a problem, and are taking steps to fix it - well done you. Cheers!

Your making me have a think 2

Sounds like the novelty is wearing off, you can now move on, better to move about an hour off the coast, than the coast itself, live in the country only a short drive to the coast. Price of houses are cheaper. I live in WA about 10 minutes from the coast. Houses are twice as expensive than an hour inland. Being single I was lucky for pick up a housey unit, otherwise I would be living amongst the snakes and kangaroos. Over east is slightly more expensive

Move to Melbourne's South East coast

You could wait for the coast to arrive at your property. LOL. Most people, including the majority of Australians, don't think in terms of logistics support for your home and family needs. Rural and regional people do have an appreciation for what is required to live and work away from major population centres. Something to be aware of, the clique mentality of small and regional communities can make it difficult to "break in" to local society. Moving to the coast, beware of settling in those flat sandy loam areas where tea-trees and casuarinas grow. It is an indication of a higher water table where flooding or possible inundation occurs. Check out the insurance prospects of a property, don't take an agent's word for it. You could wait until the Olympics are over! Cheers!

You have accomplished alot since you have been in Australia. A change would be good, but houses will be overpriced on the coast. I am over in the west, apparently there is plenty of work over here.

Totally thought it was a divorce as Maz was leading up to the announcement - #prayforben&maz 🤣🤣

Spending so much & refurbing may not be recovered in the sale

As a delusional musician once said: ''Life is what happens to you when you are planning other things''. Just like when you were painting without drop sheets.

rent it out you would make akilling legends

I thought you were going to say that you are going back to England

You need drop sheets before you paint. 😜👍👍

I know it's a pain to have to go 10 miles because you forgot the milk

yes even though we've got a british flag, british head of state even british national and memorial days and nearly 2m poms here to boot (yes all those factors and stats are simply mindboggling) its still Australia an island continent in the asia pacific on the other side of the planet, let alone inhabited by the oldest race of people with the longest unbroken links to any landmass going back over 60,000 years, and even given the best attempts by the occupiers to create little England with sunshine....it is not...and the place is also not suited to everyone.

So what is going on are you both moving back to the UK or are you moving somewhere that is closer to your jobs etc

The tyranny of distance.

Renovating the house to sell? You will probably spend more money doing that than selling but probably now is not a good time to sell. the closer to the coast the more expensive, that is going to be the dilemma.

Half way through the video and you haven't got to the point, New plans??

Nah! Something wrong here. You keep moving, kind of running away or searching for something missing. There’s nothing wrong with saying you regret moving to Australia, we all wish you and your family the very best

Crikey, your neighbors probably think you were at least 1000mtr away. ❤❤❤

I heard you both dont work at all?

I went through that, having 200 acre farm property, running cattle with a younng family and both working full-time off farm jobs, both driving an hour each way everyday to work. Thinking that it was all too much. We thought it would be better to move back to the burbs, so sold up. But unfortunately we have regretted it and missed the acreage property and lifestye ever since.

Yeah working really hard has obviously changed over the years.

Do what you want to for the future❤❤ to you and Ben…Cheers🦘🦘🇦🇺