Harris Wanted Down Under

Hello and welcome to Wanted Down Under,

the show that catapults a British family right across

to the other side of the world to help them make

the biggest decision of their life.

Mat and Cass Harris hope that a move Down Under

will provide their family with an exciting new life.

For me, it's part of an adventure I never had when I was younger. Going to Australia,

we're going to experience a different culture.

It's a nice place to bring up children.

Their desire is to relocate to a part of Australia

that's very different from the rest of the country.

It's SO remote.

It's even extremely remote for most Australians to get to.

And to live there would fulfil a huge ambition for Mat.

I love Australia, I really do. I fell in love with it ten years ago.

If it doesn't happen, I'll be gutted.

After 18 years as a stonemason, can Mat carve out a future for him

and his family, and will they decide to go where they're Wanted Down Under?

The gloomy economic situation in the UK makes the beaches and surf of Australia

look pretty enticing for many. Those under 45 and with a skill that's on the shortage list

could be packing up and heading for a new life Down Under.

Last year, over 60 Brits a day did just that, but how did they come to make such a big decision?

We've given another 20 British families the opportunity to spend

a week Down Under, to see if it's all they ever dreamt it would be.

After that, they'll have to vote one way or the other.

Will they stay in the UK, or will they move to Australia?

Sports-mad Mat and Cassandra Harris live with their baby son, Horatio, in Surrey.

Having travelled to Australia some years ago, Mat thinks it could offer his family a better future

than they're likely to find in the UK.

The way of life out there's going to be so vastly different to here.

You've got less people there, so you're gonna have less people standing on people's toes

and so you can have less violence and it's just a nicer place to bring up children.

Unlike most British wannabe migrants, the Harrises are considering moving to

a part of Australia which isn't all about sun, sand and surf.

In Tasmania, the weather is quite like this country.

It's got like all your four distinct seasons

and I just love the rain and cold weather.

So, going to Australia wasn't about moving somewhere hot for me.

I'm not overly brilliant in the heat, I must admit,

but I'm also not brilliant in the wet.

Already some potential for disagreement there then.

Mat is hoping his job as a stonemason will provide their ticket out of the UK.

Tasmania has the second oldest city in Australia, Hobart,

and with that comes stonework.

There is a lot of old buildings out in Hobart. Whether they all need repairing

straight away, I'm not sure!

But they may be less illustrious than the sort of buildings Mat's used to.

I've worked on Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral,

the Houses of Parliament, all numbers of churches and colleges in Oxford.

I'm gonna be setting my sights a lot lower when I go to Tasmania.

Mat is aware that his thoughts of moving are not welcome news for his parents.

They're not exactly thrilled at the idea of me upping sticks and going to Tasmania and taking the family away.

I've no doubt at all, I'd really, really miss them.

Although I'll miss my family,

it's this one that's the important one now

and he's, like, our family and we've got to do what's best by him,

rather than what's best by the rest of the family.

They may be singing from the same hymn sheet about wanting to give Tasmania a try,

but Cass is aware of some differences of opinion.

We can never decide on anything or agree on anything.

Like property and where we want to live.

Mat would like to live in a nice stone house, maybe somewhere by the sea.

I'd like to live out in the country. A wooden house.

Um, we just can't agree on anything.

I think we'll disagree on about absolutely everything.

Then we'll find a happy compromisebetween the pair of us.

Whether it be on the coast, where I'd love to go,

I'd love to have an ocean view, or whether it be properly in the sticks,

which I think Cass would like.

But we'll come to some sort of compromise, I'm sure.

Which normally means I put my foot down,

we're not doing this, we're not doing that, and then ten minutes later

I agree Cass was right in the first place!

But there's one thing they do agree on.

I'd rather be sat here in 30 years' time and say at least we went,

we gave it a shot, than sit here and think, well, what if we had?

I think if it doesn't work out, it's best to actually see

whether it hasn't worked out, rather than say, "Oh, I wish I'd have gone to Australia.

"I really wish I had tried doing something with my life.".

And that's what I wanna do. I wanna experience things.

To help the Harrises find out if Tasmania is everything they imagine, we gave them an amazing opportunity.

The chance to spend a week investigating all aspects of life there.

We have three different lifestyles for the family to sample.

One in the country, one in the city and one on the coast.

Each with an offer of a job and a brand new way of life for them to enjoy on their budget.

First, let's take a look at the country lifestyle.

Tasmania is known as the Apple Isle, due to the orchards of the stunning Huon Valley.

Here families can live the relaxed country life on the doorstep of some great snow sports.

Unlike mainland Australia, property prices in Tasmania are still relatively low.

A three bedroom home can be as inexpensive as £70,000, but average at around £160,000.

And in the country, the plots can be generous, too.

Set in beautiful countryside, James Turvey owns this stonemason's business.

Occasionally, we get some big jobs in and we need to call stonemasons in to help,

so it would be good to see you. So, here in Tassie a lot of our work consists of

restoration in sandstone and granite. Let's go and look at what we've done!

Here we have, Mat, a set of lions that we've restored.

I think this type of thing would interest you,

so when you come to Hobart, give us a bell.

So, that was the kind of lifestyle they could expect in the country,

but what might be possible in the city on their budget?

The city of Hobart is one of the most picturesque in the world.

A thriving hangout, it plays host to a vibrant arts scene,

plenty of festivals and a dynamic cafe society.

Property prices are a touch higher here, but still extremely

affordable with three bedroom homes available for a mere £175,000.

A short commute away is a stonemason's job offer, earning £25 per hour.

Managing director Brad Rizzolo tells us more.

Here we cut sandstone for residential and commercial projects,

also for heritage restoration work. This is our factory, where the majority of work is done.

We have state-of-the-art machinery that enables us to do sophisticated work.

In their spare time, the guys enjoy sports - surfing, rock climbing, bushwalking.

So, Tasmania has a lot to offer.

So, Mat, I've had a look at your resume.

You sound like you've got skills we could use.

When you're in Tasmania, come and see us.

It looks that they could shape up pretty well in the city, but what about a new life on the coast?

The coves and bays of the Hobart area make for magnificent coastal

living, where there's a variety of sports to keep you occupied.

A three bedroom home set back from the waterfront goes

for around £200,000, a lot less than what you might expect to pay for similar properties in mainland Oz.

For a stonemason like Mat, there's the potential to work on

construction sites like this, as Aubrey Wood explains.

It's a really exciting project we're working on.

We specialise in construction, rather than restoration.

It's really creative work and what a great place to spend your day!

Mat, you're gonna love Tasmania.

It's a beautiful place. We're five minutes from the coast, we've got the mountain as our backdrop.

A great place to bring your family and raise your children

and it's a brilliant quality of life. Tassie's great!

So, Mat, there's loads of opportunities in Tas for a stonemason.

When you get here, look me up.

In all three options, Mat could expect roughly the same wage.

The country option, which Cass prefers,

offers a relaxed lifestyle and less expensive

properties around £160,000.

The city option comes with pricier homes, but the work is better suited

to the type of stonemasonry that Mat does in the UK.

The coastal option is more expensive, with property fetching

around £200,000, but the location is just what Mat's looking for.

Three very different possibilities for our families to try,

so which one did they decide would suit them best?

The Harrises are trying out the city lifestyle, where Mat will be

doing the restoration work that he loves.

And after a journey of 22 hours which has taken them from London,

via Singapore and Melbourne, the family touched down in Hobart,

the state capital of Tasmania.

The scenery as you fly is just absolutely amazing. It's like so...

So much space and, like, so few buildings.

Did we see snow-capped mountains? There is snow-capped mountains here?

-I saw snow.

-Right!

Cass kept on saying, "There's snow-capped mountains!"

"No, it's cloud, there's no snow!"

-I'm raring to go. I can't wait! I'm so excited!

-Let's do it!

They're staying for the week in the suburb of North Hobart,

in an old-style house with plenty of character.

Are we going to go and see where we'll be living for a few days?

Come on then.

-Wow!

-It's really nice, isn't it?

Look at this, Horatio.

Wow, look at this, a fireplace!

Mummy's always wanted a fireplace in the bedroom!

Best start a fire!

So, Cass is happy, but what else is on offer?

I'm sure you want to see your cot. Ah, here it is.

-They got lovely floorboards, darlin'.

-Yes.

-It is much nicer than our flat, isn't it?

-Yeah, just a smidgen!

Just a little bit, yeah. A bit more character.

I think I like my kitchen at home better.

What's better about this kitchen is there's somewhere to eat. A proper dining area.

-It's really light, as well.

-We don't have that a home.

-This is even more light and airy.

-Boys' toy!

Barbecue! Man's work!

Yes, does that mean Daddy's gonna cook for a change?

Does that mean Daddy's gonna cook for a change?

Wow!

That's it if he doesn't break it first!

It's been a long trip and they take a moment to reflect.

-It's really, really lovely.

-Bags and bags of character.

It's a proper old building anyway. You can tell how old it is.

It's so different from ours. Ours was just, like, purpose-built in the 1950s,

and although it serves a purpose, this is just lovely. Really nice.

-If I could buy a house like this in the UK I would, definitely.

-Yeah.

Back inside, Cass is feeling apprehensive.

I think the worst thing that could happen

is that we fall in love with Tasmania

and then we find out there's not enough work for Mat.

-Yeah.

-That would just be awful.

Come here, come here. Because it's a bit of a niche market

and what the wages are gonna be like?

I mean, if the wages are half decent and there's plenty of work,

the only thing that's stopping us is family and friends.

One of the other concerns I've got

is getting you a sort of network of friends out here.

Because if I'm working, I'm gonna have that virtually straight away,

-especially if I'm playing sport as well.

-Yeah.

-It's getting you into

-a mother and toddler type group.

-Yeah. I'm sure we could find one.

-Yeah.

So, there's plenty for the Harrises to think about this week.

Their plans for a future in Australia depend on

everything falling into place, and that's a lot to ask.

The Harrises live in Leatherhead,

a market town just off the M25 in Surrey.

Home is a first floor maisonette, which means they're pressed for a space,

especially with a growing baby to consider.

It's worth £210,000, but Mat and Cass are hoping to upgrade to something bigger.

Property prices in Tasmania are cheaper than the rest of Australia

and tend to come with larger plots of land.

Cass and Mat believe they could find a suitable family home for around £185,000,

which means a mortgage of about 100,000.

We found three houses for them to view.

The first is in Ranelagh, 30 miles into the countryside from Hobart.

It has four bedrooms, spacious living areas

and comes with a substantial area of land,

but its unique selling point is the amazing vistas.

All this would set the Harrises back around £185,000,

which is within their budget, and as Cass wants to live in the country, it should be right up her street.

-The views are amazing!

-Oh, wow! Look at that!

Are you gonna have a look?

Wow!

Look at that! Gorgeous.

It really is nice.

This is what I had in mind when I thought about moving to Tasmania.

It's very picturesque, I must admit.

Oh, wow! They've got goats as well!

-Can you see the cricket oval, Cass?

-Oh yeah. That'd be fantastic.

-Yeah.

-You can sit and watch cricket from the balcony.

Mat doesn't seem convinced.

It just could be a very quiet existence.

I like a little bit of hustle and bustle, but...

it just seems it might be a little bit quiet.

I don't know.

I'll have to do a bit more investigation.

Cass is determined to persuade him.

I really like the idea of the country lifestyle.

I've already done the city lifestyle in London and had enough of that.

And I just think living out here, it's so lovely, the air is so fresh,

I think it would be lovely for Horatio as well.

-Cassie, you've never lived in the country.

-No, that's true.

-I grew up there.

-I fancy a change. Yeah, but you grew up on a street!

There's a little more here.

But I think Mat would really like to live by the sea.

This is not too far from the sea, so, a 15 minute drive, so...

What do you think, Rache?

You holding your opinions to yourself, are you?

He doesn't want to cause a family rift!

Yep, I'd keep schtum, Horatio!

Back inside, they go to see what upstairs has to offer.

-You'll be all right down here, won't you, Rache?

-Hee-hee.

The scenery is certainly working its magic - even on Mat.

Oh, wow! That's beautiful.

-The views!

-Look at the curtains!

They're well funny!

-Imagine waking up to this every morning.

-Yeah.

-This is a lovely little sunny room, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's a little nursery room, isn't it?

-Yeah.

What's good about this house, you've got three bedrooms and then you've got office space

which we could always turn into a bedroom.

I could see myself living here really easily.

I don't know about you. Has it grown on you?

I'd like to do a little bit more research, personally.

It is stunning, without a shadow of a doubt. Those views are very special,

but I'll reserve judgement.

Outside, they take the chance to survey the land.

Can the three Billy Goats Gruff persuade Mat?

Hello, hello, hello! Say hello, goat!

Hello, goaty!

Haven't they got funny eyes, Rache?

Do you like them, Horatio?

It's beautiful out here, isn't it?

I love this property. It ticks all the boxes for me.

It's got the land, it's two storey, got the verandas, got the views.

There's no doubt about it, it is a very special place.

-But still not for you.

-It's whether the work's there or not.

You'd probably have to...

-commute into Hobart.

-Yeah.

-This is my dream home.

I think Mat might take a bit of persuading,

but, yeah, this is perfect for me.

Well, that seems to be Cass decided before she's even seen the next house.

Property two is in Oakdowns, a coastal suburb 20 minutes from Hobart.

It has three bedrooms, one en suite, and a large kitchen.

The sea views mean it comes with a price tag of £200,000, a little over their initial budget.

WIND BLOWS, BELL CLANGS

Stunned silence! In a good way?

-This is nice.

-It's not quite as nice as the other place, I must admit.

But, it has its advantages.

-It's a nicer sized kitchen.

-It's a much bigger kitchen, isn't it?

-This is an absolutely massive kitchen.

-Yeah. A bit clinical.

-Would you prefer the farmhouse look?

-Yeah!

-A sort of a country farmhouse, is it?

-Yeah!

Cass has already decided where she wants to live, but what about the bedrooms?

A little room for you again, Horatio. It's all blue!

-It's a nice little room for you, isn't it?

-Next door is close, isn't it?

Next door is very close, yeah.

Are we going to have a look at the other rooms, then?

Let's have a look at the one down here.

-It's an OK size again, isn't it?

-Very green!

Mat says he doesn't want to be isolated and wants a sense of community,

-but I think next door is maybe too close for him.

-Yeah.

-I think we've been spoilt by that first house.

-Yeah.

They can't seem to get over the crowded feel of the area.

You've got that nice view of the sea, but everywhere looks like it's being built on,

so maybe in five years you'd have no view at all,

where in the other place even if you wanted

to sell the land and someone built on that land

because you're up high, you'll never, ever lose the view.

Cass isn't much taken with the decor.

Everything's a nice size, but if I were to move

into something like this, this particular house,

I'd probably have to redecorate the whole...

-Yeah, it's not...

-It's not...

-It's not my cup of tea.

-No.

But it does feel a bit warmer, down on the coast.

-It's got its plus points!

-Yeah, I like the cold!

Well, you're in the minority there, Cass.

-The other thing I'm not keen on - it's on the one level again.

-Yeah.

-I want two storeys cos we're so used to everything being on the one level.

-Yeah.

-It's an OK sized room.

-It's en suite.

-I'm not really that fussed about en suite.

I'd rather have a bigger room with more space in it than an en suite.

Although keen to live by the sea, Mats not impressed by the location.

You can see the sea there, but we had a little scoot round and there's no beach there at all to speak of.

You've got an estuary further up and that's probably... about as far as it goes.

It's not my idea of a coastal little town.

If we're ever going to move here, it's got to be right, hasn't it?

Or it's just another thing that will make you feel homesick.

I don't think this one is the one for us, is it?

-No! No,

-No.

-Horatio wants to go now.

It's a thumbs down from Horatio, then!

Mat gives the garden the once over

and finds something close to every man's heart - a shed!

TV, sound system, tools, something to keep yourself warm.

Could work some stone here as well!

Is the shed enough to persuade him of the merits of this house?

Not on this property, no.

And not probably this area,

but I still like the coast!

That's not changed one bit!

Hmm, some disagreement between Cass and Mat, so there's a lot riding on the final house.

Property three is in Moonah, 10 minutes from central Hobart.

It's got three bedrooms, offers spacious open-plan living

and is on the market for 360,000, or around £175,000.

-The area looks OK, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I quite like it, actually.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, it's quite sort of...

-It's got an OK feel about it.

-Yeah, it's established itself

and bedded itself in, so it's got a bit of character to it.

Agreement at last! A promising start.

-This is nice.

-It is, isn't it?

-That's really nice.

-It's lovely.

A really nice hallway, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's spacious.

-Is this the kitchen?

-Yeah.

-So kitchen, dining room and lounge all in one.

-Yes, yeah.

But I still quite like it.

I like my kitchen to be at least a little bit separate from the rest of the living area.

-Yeah, but it's really nicely done.

-It's lovely done, it's just...

Imagine when Horatio is walking or when we have a couple of toddlers running in and out of the kitchen

-when I'm trying to cook.

-Yeah, but there's a big hall they can run around in. Lots of slidey floors.

It's got a lot of character to it. It's still an old house

and, yeah, I kind of like it.

-I don't reckon you do though, do you?

-I don't like it.

No, it's too open-plan for me. Way too open-plan.

But it's nice! It's quite roomy.

Yeah, but it's still open-plan. I hate open-plan living.

It's still really nice. It's finished really well, but...

-It's in a nice area.

-I'd have to change the kitchen.

-You'd have to change the kitchen?

-Yeah.

What would you change?

-The cupboards, the benches.

-What would you change about the cupboards?

-They're horrible.

They're too white.

-Well, just paint them!

-Paint them!

So, it seems they don't agree on this house either.

This looks like the master bedroom.

-It's a decent size, isn't it?

-A bit dark.

The wardrobes aren't up to much.

We've got our own wardrobes, I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Well, Mat likes the room.

This must be the second bedroom.

Very dark, aren't they?

It doesn't help with a big grey fence outside the window.

-They're big, though.

-Yeah.

-Big, old rooms.

Mat's fighting a losing battle. How will the bathroom stack up?

-Glass bricks.

-Yeah.

-Tasteful(!)

OK, not so well.

-Yeah, shall we have a look outside?

-Yeah?

I'm not sure you want to go outside, do you, mate? Not when it's so cold.

-Yeah. A bit of a garden.

-Yeah.

-Bigger than what we've got now.

-It is. But you really can hear the road.

-Yeah.

-A lot.

People changing gear all the time, aren't they? Lovely view of the mountain.

-Really nice.

-It is. It's lovely.

Nice little shed as well.

-Yeah, a proper shed this!

-Really?

-Or as they used to be known - outhouses!

-Outhouses, yeah.

And the toilet, yeah!

-Potential.

-Potential.

-Yeah.

It's got potential.

-Is that the house or the shed?

-The shed!

It's nice, I like it. It's a really nice area.

The area is OK. I don't think I'd move to it.

I'm actually quite taken with this property. It's just a nice house.

Exactly, it's nice. If we're going to, like, make the move,

then we move somewhere that's just more than nice.

OK, so Cass doesn't like nice.

She loved the first house with its traditional charm and spectacular views,

but Mat was worried about such splendid isolation.

The second house did nothing for either of them,

with the neighbours too close and the lack of beach.

And property three was right up Mat's street, but Cass found fault with pretty much everything.

They don't agree on much about these properties, so how will they vote?

We've had a look around three properties and I think, overall...

you do get more for your money than you do in the UK.

Without a shadow of a doubt. Without a shadow of a doubt.

I think we're kind of split though, aren't we?

What you get for your money over here, to what you get for over in the UK, I'd choose...

Australia.

Back in the UK, Mat works as a stonemason.

He knows any move depends on finding work in Tasmania. But he's got high hopes.

Before I came out, I didn't quite realise how many stone buildings there actually were.

Walking round Hobart, the little I've actually seen of it,

there actually is quite a bit of stonework about,

which is quite heartening really.

He's come to meet Brad Rizzolo, managing director of the biggest stonemasonry company in Hobart.

-Nice to meet you.

-Yeah, likewise. Welcome to Tasmania.

-Yeah, cheers.

I've seen a couple of your carvings.

Yeah, is that the sort of thing you're interested in?

Yeah, right up my street, rather than some of the granite and marble. Definitely more architectural.

That's a fair part of our business - restoration and conservation,

-so, yeah, we can go and have a look around...

-Yeah, let's do it!

-OK.

That's a good start. Mat's passion is for restoring old buildings.

Brad introduces him to some of the team and Mat wastes no time in getting straight down to business.

Whereabouts is the work mainly based? Is it in Hobart itself?

-A lot of this is in Hobart.

-Yeah.

-Well, the beauty of Hobart is that everything is very close.

So, the furthest guy who lives away is probably 15 minutes, 20 minutes, you know?

I'm travelling probably about an hour and 40, maybe two hours if it's bad.

It makes a long day, there and back.

-It certainly does.

-So, you'd definitely have more free time here.

Good news for Mat - no commute!

Assuming, that is, he can persuade Cass to give up her dream of a house in the country.

She and Mat are both keen for her to fit into the local community

and find suitable facilities for Horatio, so she's come to research a local playgroup.

-Hi, there!

-I'm Lisa. How are you?

-Hiya, Lisa. I'm Cass and this is Horatio.

-Hello, Horatio!

Welcome! This is our playgroup.

-We are the largest playgroup in Tasmania.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

We hold playgroup every day, from 10 o'clock to around 12,

although we tend to hang around and have a little chat with the mums.

We also hold a dads' playgroup, if your partner's interested.

I suppose it's a good place for parents to meet, as well, is it?

It is. I've only just moved back to Tassie a couple of years ago after growing up here, and I knew no-one

and so that's the main reason most of our families come - to meet people from the area.

It can be isolating if you're by yourself, so it's a great way to get out and make friends.

-It sounds like a lot of fun.

-Would you like to meet some mums?

-Yeah, that would be lovely.

'Coming here today and just in general all the people we've met,

'I don't think I'd feel isolated. Everyone is so friendly.'

It's been really nice for me to see that there are places like this that I can come to.

I think it's important for Mat, while he's at work, to know I've got something like this to come to,

so he can concentrate on his work and he's not worrying about me and Horatio all the time.

That'll be a relief for Mat.

Back at the yard, he's quizzing Brad about the amount of employment

available to a stonemason in Tasmania.

Have you got much work on your books?

We've got a fair bit coming up. We're sort of in the...

just waiting on another contract.

The work can vary on and off depending on the money.

The government tend to have a fair bit of control over the funding

because a lot of the buildings are government-owned.

I've seen quite a few churches starting to fall down...

Yeah, there's a problem with the churches because of the funds

and they're trying to lobby government and councils to help

but the government are torn as to where they can best put their money

and a lot of the churches are sitting there needing work but are unable to, which is a real shame.

Although there are plenty of heritage buildings in need of repair in Tasmania,

it seems government funding isn't always forthcoming.

Could this mean work might be unreliable? And, if so, the pay would have to be really good.

So, the big question then, what sort of money would I be looking for, for us to come over to Tasmania?

What should I be pitching myself at?

Depending on the... The sub contractors, normally they're around the 35 an hour.

-Guys on the books somewhere between 23 to 25 an hour.

-Yeah, OK.

Right, let's say Mat gets a job as one of Brad's staff on 25 an hour.

That translates into around £25,500 a year.

Mat's currently on about eight grand more than that in the UK.

That doesn't sound great. And at the playgroup, Cass is also pondering matters financial.

We've looked at the houses and they're definitely cheaper.

We've done a bit of shopping and the shopping is actually more expensive here.

I've just been talking to other ladies and things like electricity is quite expensive,

because there's only one supplier, so no competition.

I think the whole potential move to Tasmania is going to be based around Mat's work,

because for the first few years, we'll probably be a single-income family.

It seems Cass has had a reality check, but can the same be said for Mat?

Brad has brought him into Hobart to see one of the buildings his team is restoring.

It used to be a jam factory.

-A jam factory?

-In its heyday, yeah.

I can see you've had a few indents go in there already.

Mat's keen to find out how much of the work available to him is in restoration.

There is a number of buildings around in Hobart if you have a wander round with your family,

-you know, take time...

-Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

They are in need of repair and they will slowly get there,

but funding, as you know in the UK as well, is always the issue.

Yeah, it's expensive, stone.

Mat seems positive, but is he seeing the bigger picture?

It's settled my mind in seeing how much work is out here for me.

There's definite potential, either actually in Hobart or Port Arthur.

There seems to be quite a few buildings just falling to bits and they need the funding

either by state or some very wealthy Australians chipping in the money,

otherwise all their heritage is just going to fall to bits and disappear into dust.

What little I've seen of it, I can actually make a difference to it.

But, as we've heard, Mat would earn considerably less in Tasmania than he does back home.

The money is not as much as I hoped, but it's still just about liveable, I think.

You just have to economise and try and do other things.

He's determined to look on the bright side about his work prospects, but how will he vote?

After meeting Brad and realising there's a lot of work out here for me

and there's still a lot of buildings that need to be restored, my vote would be going to Australia.

The Australian state of Tasmania is situated 150 miles south-east of the mainland

and is therefore close to the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica.

This, and the dangers of climate change, mean that although it's not as hot as other parts of Oz,

there are still a few very important things to bear in mind about the weather there.

# Slip! Slop! Slap!

# Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen

# And slap on a hat

# Slip! Slop! Slap!

# In the sun this summer say

# Slip! Slop! Slap!

# Slip! Slop! Slap! #

Originally when the campaign started it was just Slip! Slop! Slap!

That was the early '80s and it was very much directed on

slipping on clothing, hats and sunscreen.

We've actually extended the message now to include using UV alert

to show people the times of the day that our UV's high,

as well as seeking shade and sliding on some sunglasses.

So what's the catchphrase been updated to?

Slip on some clothing, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek some shade and slide on some sunglasses.

Despite the campaign's important message, many sun lovers still ignore it.

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, and two out of three Australians

will develop some form of the condition in their lifetime.

Teenagers, we know, have got a high awareness of the message, but aren't following through with the practices,

so it's a group we'd like to see protecting their skin more.

They are often a group, too, that get sunburnt,

which puts them at a higher risk of skin cancer later on.

What are Joanne's top tips for those people desperate to bask in the Aussie sunshine?

My advice is to protect your skin as much as possible.

Fair skin will be damaged by the sun, particularly unprotected fair skin.

And please don't be fooled - on a cool or cloudy day, our UV levels can still be very high

and skin damage can still happen on those days.

Make sure you check the UV alert every day and protect your skin as much as possible.

Mat and Cass Harris from Surrey are sure that life would improve

immensely if they move to Australia. They're just split on whereabouts.

I really like the idea of the country lifestyle.

I think it would be lovely for Horatio as well.

-You've never lived in the country!

-No, that's true.

-I grew up there!

Mat is positive he'll find a job he loves.

There's definite potential, in Hobart or Port Arthur.

There seems to be quite a few buildings falling to bits.

But, is he being realistic about supporting his family on a single income?

And hearing messages from loved ones could make the decision tougher still.

I'm not sure I've seen enough of Tasmania to make my mind up.

I'm sure, after the time we've spent here, I'll come to a definite decision...yes or no.

Hearing messages from folks back home might make the decision even harder.

It's nice just to be able to spend time with your family and your friends.

Which is something that I might miss. I might miss completely.

I might come out here and it would be too much.

The Harrises feel that life in the UK is too fast and furious for them,

so they'd be looking for something more tranquil down under.

Tasmania is equivalent to the size of Ireland but its entire population

is under half a million, so it'll certainly be quieter.

But will the lifestyle on offer stack up?

They've come to the Bonorong Wildlife Centre, where Park Ranger Greg Irons

introduces them to some of the residents.

This is a common wombat.

This is the largest brained marsupial in the world, the longest lived marsupial in the world

-and the largest burrowing marsupial in the world...

-Largest brained?

Don't be fooled - that doesn't mean they're smart.

One animal which is native to this part of Australia is preceded by his fearsome reputation.

But how scary is the Tasmanian devil, really?

One of the most misunderstood animals in the world.

Obviously, being called a devil you're off to a pretty poor start.

Have you heard...? Imagine two people screaming at the top of their lungs, that's what they sound like.

The first settlers arrive in Tassie, they hear people screaming and are convinced that Tassie is haunted.

So they were deemed a devil before they were ever sighted.

-He's still trying to get milk. He hasn't had a bottle for seven months!

-Give it a good lick!

As long as she doesn't give it a good chomp. Her name's actually Chomp for this reason!

There doesn't seem to be much that's devilish about that cutie,

but Tasmanian devils have recently been ravaged by a gruesome disease

and they're now an endangered species.

The facial tumour disease is devastating them at the moment.

The situation is we might not have them in the wild in ten years.

Yeah, it's a really, really sad tale.

It's obviously something we're all hoping they'll find a cure for,

but it's an infectious tumour and it's unheard of before, so Tassie has a massive, massive fight

over the next little while to sort that one out.

If people can focus on the other things affecting them,

the amount killed by dogs, the amount killed on the road.

There are little things that everyone can do and as far as the disease goes,

we have to sit tight. Mother Nature is a funny thing. She's the one who probably introduced it

and will hopefully sort it out, too. with our record in Australia of extinctions,

it would be a shame to lose the population.

The Harrises are gradually getting to grips with what Tasmania has to offer a young family,

but doubts remain for Cass about whether it would be the right move.

I'm just not sure whether I've seen enough of Tasmania yet to make my mind up completely.

I think Mat would definitely move here straight away, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

-I think I need a bit more convincing.

I think it would all depend on where we were based and where we lived.

But what we've seen so far and the people are lovely.

They're all really, really sound people. So, yeah,

I'm quite sold on it. I'll just see if I can talk Cass round.

I'm sure that after the time we've spent here, I'll come to a definite decision, yes, or no.

So, in a bid to bring Cass around to his way of thinking, Mat suggests an excursion to see

the one thing he knows will make Cass happy.

Most British people when they think of Australia imagine blue skies, crashing surf and fantastic beaches.

Tasmania does offer those things, but its position off the southernmost tip

of mainland Australia means it's normal to see snow in winter.

-Fantastic!

-It's a scorcher! It's a lovely, lovely day!

I can't throw it at you, you've got a baby!

It's gone down my jacket!

You can't hit me...

Ah! I've got the boy, you can't do that!

-This could get dangerous.

-I've just disappeared down a big crevasse.

It's quite icy, not exactly powdery.

It's not so bad. She says, as she falls down.

It's great. It's exactly what we wanted, isn't it, really?

-We didn't want the stereotypical Australia, hot weather.

-Part of it's hot.

-Yeah, but...

-My big toe is certainly not.

I think I might have just got a bit of frostbite!

Tasmania has got so much to offer, it really has.

Feeling snow between your toes is slightly different from feeling sand between your toes,

which most people when they come to Australia would expect. But, yeah, it was invigorating!

The only downside is it's SO remote.

You tend to find most Australians have never been to Tasmania, let alone most Brits.

If it was on my doorstep it wouldn't be as spectacular as it is, I suppose.

I think Cass's overarching concern about moving to Tas is

the fact that it's such a long way away that it would cause a problem say if her dad became ill,

or something happened, it would be a problem to get back in time.

When we got off the flight in Hobart, I realised just how far Hobart is away from home.

It's just... The journey was so long.

I spoke to my mum the other day. I was feeling a bit down, and I'm sure we would be homesick

for the first few weeks, maybe the first few months, but you've just got to get on with it.

It's just one of those things.

The move for us has to be unanimous. If I can't persuade Cass into being absolutely 100%,

it's not worth coming because it will cause problems within the family,

and that's the last thing I want. I want the whole family to be happy.

We all have to input because it's a joint decision.

But, yeah, I'm starting to fall in love with it.

So, Mat is beginning to feel that he could call Tasmania home, but Cass has some grave concerns.

Will the beauty of the Tasmanian countryside cast its spell over her?

It's time for the Harrises to vote.

Do they prefer their lifestyle back in the UK, or in Australia?

We've had lovely day here in Mt Field National Park.

It's given us a great idea of the kind of lifestyle we'd have in Tasmania.

So, I'd say our family vote would be...

BOTH: Australia!

It's all been so far, so good, for the Harris family

but moving to the other side of the world

throws up more than just practical issues.

Finding a new circle of friends will be crucial if the Harrises are to settle so far from home.

Mat and Cass are passionate about sport.

Cricket in particular plays a big role in their lives.

So they've come to North Hobart Cricket Club

to be put through their paces.

It's important to both of them that they establish a new social scene,

so could this be what they're looking for?

-Hiya, mate. I'm Mat.

-David.

-Nice to meet you.

-Sean.

-Nice to meet you, Sean.

-I'm Cass. This is Horatio.

-Horatio!

You've come rugged up, which is good for Tassie.

-This is my wife, Jackie.

-Nice to meet you.

Introductions out of the way, it's down to business.

-So you love cricket?

-Oh, yeah, definitely. What's the standard of cricket like here?

-It's reasonable.

-It's definitely picking up. Yeah, it's getting there.

I think my standard would have to pick up!

I'm strictly village cricket, I'm nothing to write home about at all.

And it sounds like Mat is already making excuses.

He and the boys head outside to the nets and Cass gets chatting to the WAGs.

It seems like a lovely club and everyone's really friendly.

Somewhere like Hobart and how small it is, you'll be amazed at how many people you know from other clubs.

The cameraderie... The competition is really high standard

and everyone likes to win. But inevitably, you know half of them!

The other team, their girlfriends, their wives...

So it's not... It's still quite family-orientated, as well as being a really high standard.

Are there any other social activities involved?

Yes, we're very good at social here at North Hobart.

We are heading up the social committee,

with two of the guys who are injured. We try and have major functions

through the year that are fundraisers. Last year, we had a Miss North Hobart,

where eight of the guys dressed up in drag.

There was a catwalk and people voted.

There'll be a ladies' lunch in February.

That'll be really good. And probably another cocktail party.

And a lot of activities that they'll do around cricket time are child-friendly,

like they'll try and organise perhaps a jumping castle,

or something family-friendly and they'll have other functions

that you can book the babysitter in!

So it sounds as if Cass could find a ready-made social life if they made the move.

But how's Mat getting on outside?

Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Oh, I can feel the flight!

Nice excuse, Mat!

Sorry!

Rubbish!

Oh, sorry!

Cass seems to have slotted in very nicely with her new Aussie mates.

It looks like she could get back into the sporting habit if they were to emigrate.

It's years since I played sport. I played football when I was at university,

-but that was...

-Soccer?

-Yeah, soccer. Soccer!

But that was a long time ago.

-No cricket then?

-No.

-If you want a game of netball,

I'm still running around puffing on a Wednesday night.

-Really? Is that mixed netball...?

-No, girls.

-All done?

-Yeah.

-How did you go?

Ah... As far as would have caught you.

A joke for the cricket fans, there.

You realise you can't play for another club if you come back to Tassie?

You've done it now!

It looks like Mat has already been signed up for the team.

Cheers, fellas. Really appreciate it.

See you, little one.

'I really enjoyed it. The lads seem really, really nice.

'Same goes for the girls.

'Really good fun, really friendly, we talked about the social activities that go on,

-'it's really, really nice. Really good. So family-orientated.

-Yeah.'

What I love about cricket is that the family plays such a big part.

You've got the wives and girlfriends turning up with all the kids.

The kids have a little knock-about in the outfield.

Yeah, it's a really good vibe about the place.

Joining a club like this, it would be a great help when we first move,

just to get to know a group of people. You're less likely to feel homesick,

-or want to go home.

-It's the initial nucleus of people that you know,

that can lead on to other people you'll meet,

strike up new friendships and you end up with a bigger circle of friends,

through something very small just like a cricket ground.

If we do make the move, we'll definitely be coming up, even if it's just watching the game.

-A couple of Twenty20s, with the kids.

-Yep.

-Yeah.

-Lovely.

Cass's concerns about being isolated from her circle of friends back home

seem to have been allayed and now it's time for the vote.

Whether or not we could fit in, I think the answer's got to be...

BOTH: Australia.

Making new friends is all very well,

but after a whirlwind of a week, it's time for the Harrises to confront the reality

of leaving the UK. Here are some messages from their loved ones back home.

Right, then, let's see what this is all about.

-Hi, Cass and Mat.

-Hi, Mum!

-And my little treasure Horatio.

Hope you're having a gorgeous time out there.

I'm going to miss you guys so much,

and I really hope you have an amazing time in Tasmania.

And I want to thank you both for everything you've done for me.

Matthew is a great son-in-law.

He's very supportive of Cassandra and I know she'll always be happy with him.

Our relationship with Mat is very relaxed. We're always texting each other with silly jokes and things.

He's got a great sense of humour.

Mat's someone who's really, really very good at his job,

and what will be missed is guys of his calibre,

guys that can do the range of stonemasonry Mat can do,

and Mat's one of the few blokes

that I do look up to as a mason and good luck to him in Tassie.

Cassandra is always very happy.

She takes life as it comes.

Great, great friend.

When Cass asked me to be her one and only bridesmaid,

I just thought, "oh, wow!" So nice! It was magical.

It was a great day, and I speak for both of us

when we say we're both really proud to be a big part of it.

My relationship with Cass,

I would describe as really close.

Like a best friend. I'm getting quite emotional, now!

And with regards to her moving to Tasmania, I was, like...

-gobsmacked, really.

-They couldn't go much further, could they?

It's right at the other end of the earth, but...

it's up to them, isn't it?

We shall wave them off with a tear in our eye.

When Cass first mentioned Tasmania, I just thought "wow".

The amazing opportunity for them.

I was obviously very, very pleased for them, but I just thought, God,

I'd obviously miss them and be upset if they did move away.

They're part of my routine.

I have to organise a couple of visits to Leatherhead in the month.

It would be very, very sad.

We'll miss them all, but especially Horatio.

We'll not see him growing up.

Not having contact with young Horatio will be a real, real horrible thing.

We'll miss them, very much so.

You can't...

not have one of your best mates near you and not miss them.

It will be a very strange thing to do. He's a real friend, as well as a son.

Cass really is my main contact. And your contact, isn't she?

Yep, definitely.

As his godmother, obviously I hope Horatio is doing well.

I'm missing his cuddles.

I hope you're showing him pictures of me every day so he doesn't forget me!

I'm sure that whatever you decide to do,

whether to stay on in Tasmania or come back here, I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

Just follow your dreams, all three of you, and support each other.

That's all I want for you. All we all want.

I really envy your chance.

Please make the most of it and have a really great time.

We're going to be missing you, but...your opportunity, you take it.

Good luck.

It will be sad to leave people.

It's made me mindful of what other people are going to miss about us as a family.

Yes, I think you just think about what moving, the impact it's going to have on us, don't we?

And seeing that, you kind of realise it's going to have an impact on other people as well.

People will miss not having Horatio running round and seeing him grow up.

My old man, I know he'd be really gutted if I went.

So would my mum, she's already said as much.

Missing Horatio would basically be the hardest thing for all my family.

I think it'll be hard for my dad as well, because he's in a nursing home, so the only time he gets to

see him anyway is if we take up to the north east. There would be NO way he could ever travel.

So, that would be quite hard.

And Horatio's got great grandparents, Olivia and John, who would really, really miss him.

So that would be the hard thing.

It's a big... It's a big jump.

We've still got a few things to iron out,

but...we'll have a good conversation about it and see what we're going to do.

That has all come as a bit of a reality check for Mat and Cass and as they prepare to leave for home,

they reflect on the life-changing decision they're about to make.

We had a deal before we came that we both had to be 100% sure. So, it has to be 100% from both of us.

Doubts about the practicality of moving are starting to creep in for Mat.

I've yet to 100% make my mind up. There's things I need to consider.

My friends, family, the financial situation.

They all need to be looked at independently.

And seeing messages from loved ones has made them

aware of the many thousands of miles they are from home.

It's nice just to be able to spend time with your family and your friends.

Which is something that I might miss. I might miss completely.

I might come out here and it would be too much.

The Harrises have spent a busy week on the island state of Tasmania,

a world away from their home in Leatherhead.

It's like going back to the Jurassic period, isn't it? It's bizarre!

Mat discovered that to live there he'd have to take a drop in wages.

The money is not as much as I hoped, but you just have to economise.

But this would be offset by the amazing lifestyle Tassie has to offer.

It's great. It's exactly what we wanted, isn't it?

I'm starting to fall in love with it.

As they head towards the biggest decision of their lives, Mat and Cass must weigh up their choices.

Could Tasmania provide a better standard of living for the whole family?

Or will the lower than expected salary mean they'll be heading back to their life in the UK?

It's crunch time. They're voting for their future, but on which side of the globe will that be?

We've been to some wonderful places and met some lovely people.

We've been given a really good idea of what kind of lifestyle we could have out here.

And work wise, there seems to be plenty of work for me,

which will keep us all happy and employed. So, for the Harris family, it's going to be...

BOTH: Australia!

Mat felt pretty confident all along that Tasmania held the key

to the family's future happiness, but in the end the place and its people won Cass over.

And now they're all set to move where they're Wanted Down Under.

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