Right now, it feels like half of Aotearoa is quietly packing up their lives, selling the couch on Facebook Marketplace, and boarding a flight to Australia with two suitcases and a dream.
And honestly… who can blame them? The path to recovery back home is going to be a long one, and Australia is sitting across the ditch looking like that rich cousin who always has a job, always has options, and somehow never complains about petrol prices.
Australia offers opportunity — real opportunity. Bigger markets, stronger wages, and industries that move fast. If your focus is to get ahead and build your career, it’s hard not to be tempted. But here’s the thing: Australia doesn’t hand out success like free sausage sizzles at Bunnings. It gives you the arena, and then it watches to see if you’re built for it.
I spent nearly 15 years in Australia, and I was lucky enough to meet some seriously high-level operators. Not just people who were good at business, but people who were disciplined spiritually, mentally, physically, and everything in between. Being around that kind of energy forces you to lift your game. It’s like being the slowest guy in a running club, painful at first, but eventually you either level up or you stop showing up.
Alex Hormozi says it best: “You don’t become confident by shouting affirmations. You become confident by stacking undeniable proof.”
Australia is the perfect place to stack proof. You learn quickly. You work harder. You build resilience. You stop waiting for motivation and start showing up like a professional, because rent doesn’t care about your feelings.
But as much as Australia has the goods, it also teaches you what matters. The part I missed most wasn’t the weather (because let’s be honest, Melbourne gives you four seasons in one day just to keep you humble).
It was family. It was culture. It was being around people who understand you without needing a long explanation.
Naval Ravikant once said, “Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” And that hit home for me.
When you’re younger, material things feel like the finish line. But as you get older, you realise they’re just tools. Nice tools, sure, but still tools. The real treasure is your people.
Here’s the truth: the entry into Australia is harder now. Competition is higher, the hustle is louder, and everyone seems to have a side business, a gym membership, and a podcast. But that’s exactly why it’s worth it. If it was easy, everyone would be winning. And they’re not.
So if you’re thinking about making the move, good luck. But more importantly, remember why you’re going. Go all in. Stay focused. Build your circle. Protect your health. And make sure the Australian adventure isn’t just a change of scenery, make it a transformation.
Because one day, you’ll look back and realise: the biggest thing you gained wasn’t money.
It was you.