Brits are ditching the UK and moving to a hidden state in Australia which boasts stunning views like the “Yorkshire Dales” – but with a “Mediterranean-style climate”.
South Australia, nicknamed the “festival state”, is home to a popular 20-minute city, Adelaide, which offers an array of beaches, events, and the ultimate work-life balance. The state is also famous for its world beating wine region, the Borossa Valley, and huge soap, chocolate, cheese and gin factories.
The beautiful state is home to almost 10,000 Brits, who have left their former lives behind to find solitude in the sun.
The Mirror visited the beautiful state to find out for ourselves if it is lives up to the hype and if re-locating to the other side of the globe is worth the hassle. We caught up with British expats whilst they were working in the sunshine, and they revealed their main reasons for ditching Britain.
Rachel, who used to live in Mitcham, South London, moved there with her now-husband Skip in the 1980s. She said she would never go back to the UK, joking that the three days of summer Brits put up with is one of the reasons why.
The Cellar Door Supervisor, who works at Two Hands Wines in the Borossa, took me on a special tour in a Land Rover Defender, where we both bonded over both living in south London. She told The Mirror: “The reason why people from Europe came out here is because it is so much like Europe in the winter. We have four distinct seasons. It is a gentle landscape and it reminds you of the Cotsworlds.”
Rachel was on a Holy Grail tour, which starts from $150 (£72.57). The experience includes feeding cows, learning about local wines, along with a spectaculour tasting.
As she overlooked the tranquil scenery, which included beautiful vines and golden and green crops, Rachel said: “It is a familiar landscape, it is just a lot hotter in summer here. It is like England but with a definite summer here, whereas in England you get three days.”
Rachel, who moved to Australia in 1984, explained why so many older Brits can be found in this part of Australia. “I think the £10 poms that came in the 70s, this was a drop-off point, where they encouraged the English to settle,” Rachel said as she stood at a high viewing point, looking at the majestic hills ahead.
She added: “There’s no way I’m going back to England, why would you swap this for England? Permanent summer for three to four months.”
The ten-pound poms were introduced by the Australian government in the 1940s to boost its population and workforce. As part of the scheme, Brits were offered a discounted fee of £10 for their journey. In the 1970s, British citizens particularly moved to regions such as the Barossa Valley.
Rachel’s husband, Skip, who runs their business Barossa Red Vintage Tours, can be found escorting holidaymakers around fantastic vineyards and distilleries in London Cabs. The personalised tour, which starts at $620.00 ( £320) for a half-day option, offers a “very British experience” including a fully decked-out cab, with England-themed decor.
“A lot of people are coming out and want to do something that reminds them of their time in London,” he said. “We’ve got a big British population of expats in Adelaide. There was a big promotion of the £10 pom.”
The Barossa Valley is only a 50-minute car journey from Adelaide. The two destinations offer alternative lifestyles, a busier life by the sea, or relaxing in a “big country-like town” away from the noise.
Over in Adelaide sits Glenelg beach, where the sunrise can be watched on the pier, with bustling venues including beach clubs. On the promenade is a beautiful market which operates from November to April. Many of the businesses continue to sell all year round with physical stores.
Brit Anji was selling clothes at her daughter Chelsea’s Third Lane stall. She also operates from her boutique. Anji, 49, said: “I initially moved for my husband but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The place is absolutely fantastic. We’ve got wineries, we’ve got beaches, we’ve got hills and open places. Absolutely love it. It is a great place for kids to grow up in.”
Locals love welcoming holidaymakers and expats like Anji. Molly Boyle, 26, who runs Midnight Moon at the market, understands why people want to move to her hometown. She boasted about the “lovely” city and said: “It is very quiet and there are heaps of stuff to do. Glenelg is lovely. It is one of our most popular beaches and you’ve got the strip and the Ferris wheel.”
Emma, from clothes store Naked by the Sea situated minutes from the beach, explained why Adelaide is so “fabulous”.
She said: “You’ve come to a beautiful place in this part of the Earth. I love it here. People think it is a sleepy town. But we know how to throw a party. We’ve got some fabulous stuff coming out of this state. I live here and every morning I do a walk along the esplanade, and pretty much guarantee every week that I will see dolphins and seals. But the most amazing thing is watching dogs run on the beach. The air is good here.”
She continued: “I holiday down at Mount Gambier and Kangaroo Island.” Mount Gambier is the second largest city in South Australia. It is renowed for its “unique” natural attractions including sinkholes, volcanoes and a massive colour-changing lake.
Local Eva, who moved from China to the Borossa in 2013, said people also move to South Australia because of its attractive lifestyle.
“With the work-life balance, people can just enjoy the nature that is at their door step,” she said. “We have amazing weather and lots of good wine. The Borossa is one of the most premium wine growing regions. We have some of the oldest vinyards in the whole world.”
Grant and Cathy, who run The Villas holiday homes in the Barossa, says South Australia is a “welcoming place” with “beautiful” architecture.
“South Australia has more of a relaxed feel, which is one of the things I really appreciate about it,” said Grant.
Cathy added: “Adelaide has a cute name, the city of churches. It has beautiful architecture, it was founded in the early days of people with faith and it set something into the culture. It is a really, really, beautiful city. It is like a big country town. It is an incredibly warm and welcoming place.”
Grant and Cathy’s cabins are nestled among the trees and native wildlife, offering visitors a unique chance to sleep under the stars. The secluded oasis is situated just a few minutes walk from Two Hands wines and a short drive away, from restaurant Jacob’s Creek which offers a ‘light and fresh’ wine tasting for as little as $10 ( £4.78 ).
Chateau Tanunda is also nearby and offers the chance to view the grounds and behind the scenes of the wine-making process. Their cheapest experience, Barossa Discovery Tasting, is priced at $20 ( £9.57 ).
“I love so much about the Borossa,” Cathy added. “Community is the aspect I love the most. I love its small rural feel. There is just a sense of friendship and comradery. So much of what happens in the Borossa is championing each other, and wanting each other’s success.”
If you are unsure about making a full-time move, why not take a visit? We reccomend staying at the Indigo Hotel Adelaide Markets. Rooms start at $189 ( £90.96 ) per night. If you are looking to fly in style, Qatar Airways are offering return economy flights from London Gatwick to Adelaide starting from £1,532.87, in April.
For more information on visiting South Australia click here.
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