You Won't Believe How This Kiwi's Move to Australia Transformed Her Health in Just 30 Days!

Sarah Priestley, a competitive bodybuilder and bikini competitor, made a life-changing move from New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia, a year ago, driven by her passion for fitness and the opportunities it presented. Speaking with 1News reporter Polly Wenlock, Priestley opened up about her experiences with the cultural and lifestyle differences she encountered, as well as what might eventually bring her back to her homeland.

One of the most significant adjustments Priestley noticed was in the realm of healthy living. She explained that in Australia, leading a healthy lifestyle feels more accessible than in New Zealand. "It feels like so many people are just living a healthy lifestyle and it's so much more accessible than it is in New Zealand," she remarked. A major factor contributing to this ease is the cost of fresh produce. "You can get mangoes for a dollar, berries are cheap—like all these things that just felt like a luxury in New Zealand," she added, highlighting the affordability of fruits and vegetables in Brisbane.

Priestley also referred to the convenience of healthy food options readily available at gas stations, contrasting this with her experiences back home where snack choices often leaned towards less healthy options. "Even little things like you go to the petrol station and there's all these healthy meal prep options, there's whole aisles of like healthy snacks and things you can grab," she shared. While acknowledging that New Zealand is "getting there" in terms of healthy living, she feels it's still a few years behind Australia.

As a professional in the bodybuilding community, Priestley pointed out that one of the primary motivators for her move was the abundance of resources available in Australia. "It's limited in New Zealand in terms of access to high-level resources like coaching, physios," she explained. Priestley detailed how she often had to travel long distances to find the necessary support, such as getting DEXA scans to measure her body fat percentages and overall health. "I would find myself having to drive hours to get to the one professional who can do that thing," she lamented.

In contrast, she has found a wealth of opportunities in Australia, including sponsorship deals and community support. "Over here I've been able to get so many more brands backing me, like I get all of my meal prep provided to me for free, I get massages and supplements," she noted. The sense of community in Brisbane has also been a big draw for her. "Just around the corner from me there's park runs every weekend, and you might see like 200 people there at 5 am, 6 am going for runs every single weekend," she recounted.

However, Priestley also addressed a more personal aspect of the fitness culture in Australia that she finds concerning. The normalization of cosmetic enhancements, particularly in the fitness industry, has been striking for her. "Getting, you know, even just lip filler and that sort of thing, boob jobs especially is popular in the industry that I'm in," she remarked. While she emphasized that she has not had any work done herself, she feels a responsibility to voice that it is not necessary to alter one’s appearance to be successful in bodybuilding.

Alongside her fitness pursuits, Priestley runs an online coaching service that allows her to work from anywhere. She noted a significant growth in her business since relocating, attributing this to a shift in mindset. "In New Zealand, there’s a bit of a scarcity mindset particularly around money," she explained. In Australia, however, she has noticed a more entrepreneurial spirit. "Here you see a lot more people investing in themselves, investing in their business," she said, recounting her experience attending a large entrepreneurship event that featured around 4,000 entrepreneurs. "I was just mind-blown—having access to things like that in my own back yard," she concluded.

Despite the advantages of living in Australia, Priestley admits to missing certain aspects of New Zealand, particularly its natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle. "I do miss just jumping in the lake and going for a swim and not worrying if there’s gonna be a snake," she said, expressing a longing for the more serene experiences of her home country. "A lot of the secret spots here you go to and it's super busy; in New Zealand, you could go to the beach and have the whole thing to yourself," she lamented.

Looking ahead, Priestley envisions a future where she could potentially return to New Zealand, but only after establishing a solid financial foundation in Australia. "If we were to go back one day, it would be once we've created that freedom through business," she said, adding that her ultimate goal is to enjoy a peaceful lifestyle.

For those considering a move across the Tasman, Priestley notes that the Kiwi community in Australia is thriving. She affirmed reports that the cost of living can be lower in Australia, especially regarding food and fuel, although she cautioned about the higher costs of car insurance and rental availability. Her advice for anyone contemplating a similar journey? "If you can't stop thinking about it, and you don't have a good reason not to, then just go for it," she concluded.