I have spent an equal amount of time in my life in Australia and in Canada...
here are some answers to your inquiries...
1. Drive on the other side of the road
2. Sydney is the New york of Australia, Melbourne is called the Paris of the south, Brisbane (and south Queensland in general) is the florida of Oz - you can go for a surf before work.
3. Lots of slang words and different words for items: a 'jumper' is a 'sweater' for example. They shorten every word you can imagine: University is Uni for example. Nice accent
4. The women are pretty open and independent. They often go topless on beaches etc without the prudishness of NA. You find gorgeous women in lots of countries so don't know if there are more than here or not in general.
5. Eat healthier - more Asian, mediterranean and indain food. Melbourne had the widest diversity of restaurants you can encouneter - more so than Toronto. Everything from Mongolian, Swedish, Greek (Melbourne has the 2nd highest greek population, behind Athens), all types of Asian and everhything else in between.
6. Racism is part of the culture: Asian influence form WWII is still remembered (especially up north in Queensland, where a lot of retirees go and the Japanese have bought up lots of hotels and golf courses). It is cheaper for Japanese to fly to Australia to play a round of golf than to do so in Japan!
7. Unspoilt beaches and wilderness - in general you can camp where you feel like (not restricted to 15 x 40 ft 'lots' in provincial parks, although these are available. Last time I went, I camped behind the dunes near a beach alongside a creek (you can drink the running water) and surfed for a week. Only saw 3 other people and my GF and I could do whatever we wanted (LOL).
8. Kanagaroos are encroaching cloer to the city (and the cities are moving out)...you only need go an hour or so outside to a state park etc to see them. If you go out bush at all you'll seee hundreds.
9. Yes, they eat Kanagaroo and other wildlife including Emu - both taste great. I've also had corocdile, buffalo (they are wild up north) and snake. Wichety grubs are native and taste pretty good as well.
10. Snakes and spiders - take some precautions. Always shake your boots or shoes out before putting them on. If you see a snake, stomp on the ground - they don't like the vibrations, check your tent before going in an roll up your sleepeing bag etc - prefereably hang it up so a snake cannot hide under it. Out back of Sydney you also have to watch for wild pigs - they'll chase cars (bump into them unitl they die) and rip your legs off if they get you. I haven't seen a croc, but I also haven't camped up north - don't cmap near the water up there.
11. I have found cost of living pretty similar to Ontario. Not as many extra taxes, but I was also working so that accounted for it. Housing has gone up a lot in the last few years (especially in cities) and they introduced 10 % GST. Pricing is usually GST included. Restaurants seem more expensive until you remember you don't need to tip (I sometimes did, if I received better than average service).
=> Great place to spend an extended amount of time if possible!!
PS The woman in my sig pic is an Aussie!
