Hi…I’m JJ Smith.

I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been helping Kiwis plan their move across the Tasman for over 17 years! I know almost everything there is to know about New Zealanders relocating to Australia; either from my own experience or through the thousands of visitors who’ve shared their stories and questions on this site.

I learnt a lot firsthand when I moved my family from Auckland to the Gold Coast (short-term stays in three different locations!) and eventually to Brisbane (first with family friends, then a long-term rental). Selling my website design business in New Zealand made it easy for me to set up this site and share what I’d learned. My goal? To save you time, money, and stress during your move.

I take researching seriously. I always thoroughly investigate services and products before recommending them because making educated decisions matters, and I hate spending my hard-earned money when a better option is available. That’s why I only recommend service providers I’ve personally researched, used, and loved. Exceptional customer service is non-negotiable.

Creating and working on Moving to Australia meant that the countless hours I spent researching how to move myself (pregnant), my husband, and our lives to Australia wouldn’t just benefit us; they could also help others make the process easier. I believe we’re all making the move to Australia for a better life, no matter our individual circumstances.

Being the editor, website designer, technical support person, marketer, accountant, partnership manager, and (the best part) question answerer is my job! I love my job. It gives me a sense of purpose in my job/life.

How this site works

This website contains everything I’ve discovered about New Zealanders moving to Australia, and I continue to research and learn thanks to all the great questions I receive (comments at the bottom of every post). I rely on feedback from visitors to improve the information I provide. If something isn’t clear, outdated, or could be better explained, your input helps me make it more useful for everyone.

I also welcome success stories, tips, or experiences from people who’ve made the move, sharing what worked (or didn’t) helps the whole community. Your contributions make this site a living, practical resource rather than just static information.

Can you help?

If you find this site helpful, you can support me at no extra cost to you by doing one or some of the following things:

• Recommending our site to friends and family planning their move to Australia.
  Spread the love, as some would say.
• Opening an Australian bank account with Commonwealth Bank.
  You need to do this before you leave NZ, as you will not have the necessary paperwork if you just walk in (3 months of living in Australia paperwork). CommBank are one of Australia’s largest and most trusted banks, and we’re happy banking with them.
• Saving money on foreign exchange by using XE Money Transfer.
  Using an online foreign exchange company saves you $$$$! I learnt this the hard way. XE is one of the largest foreign exchange companies, with over 30 years of experience. And they came out on top when I did my research, and continue to be extremely competitive.
• Getting up to five free moving quotes from trusted moving companies.
  I can’t recommend one moving company. Visitors have varied experiences, as I have myself. By using the aggregator, you can receive multiple quotes and choose which one offers you the best service. Aggregator = referral marketer.
• Talk to UNO Home Loans about getting an Australian mortgage.
  UNO Home Loans has helped me with a lot of content along the way, that’s actually how I found them. Their Director, the super tech-savvy brain behind the whole operation, is incredibly smart and has developed software that analyses your home loan against other banks and recommends the best option for your circumstances. How cool is that — especially for one of life’s biggest expenses!
• Get a quote to move your pets with Move My Pet, our trusted international moving company.
  After surveying readers who had requested pet transport quotes over a 10-year period, Move My Pet consistently came out as the most trusted and reliable company. Based on that feedback, I approached them to become a partner — and I’m so glad I did!
• Connecting your utilities through Compare & Connect, who can set up your electricity, gas, and internet before you arrive.
  I spent hours researching service providers for power, internet, and TV. After finally narrowing down the best deals, I started applying — only to be declined one by one because I didn’t have the right paperwork. F$#K! So, back to the drawing board I went. That’s when I discovered an online connection service offering the same great deals, but with just one simple form. BAM — everything was set up, and they did all the hard work! They’re referral marketers too, getting paid directly by the companies.

Editor’s note: I’ve explained above why I chose each of my partners. Every one of them provides services that New Zealanders genuinely need when moving to Australia. I personally researched and used these providers, found them to be the best fit for my own move, and later partnered with them so I could confidently recommend them to others.

When I first built this site, I never intended for it to become a referral or lead-generation tool. But over time, I realised I wanted to connect my readers with reliable, trustworthy services — and many of those companies were happy to pay for these referrals, since finding quality leads is part of their business.

I stand by every partner I recommend. If their service ever drops below the high standard I expect, I replace them — often based on feedback from you, my readers.

Side note: if you ever read in ‘us’ in postes, I’m referring to my husband, Steve Smith, as were on the crazy journey together.

You can easily find the information you need by scrolling through the posts on the homepage or using this (and all over the site) search function to locate specific topics:

Don’t forget to follow my Facebook page and give it a like: Moving to Australia from New Zealand.

Thanks, and good luck with your move to the lucky country!
JJ Smith