Congratulations on the big move! My husband actually moved here from America nearly 10 years ago and he says it was the best decision that he ever made. Hopefully you’ll feel the same way!
You don’t mention where in Australia you’re moving to, but regardless of the location Hipmunk is a great place to search for your hotel and your flights. The tabbed trip searches make it so easy to stay organised and the user reviews give you real insight rather than the usual hotel spin. For example, if you’re moving to Surfers Paradise you could just look here (
https://www.hipmunk.com/Hotels-in-Surfers-Paradise-QLD) and get information about the hotels and the area.
Making sure your visas and passports are in order is the main thing. Having that sorted is awesome.
Many things, like the public health system Medicare, will require you to be in the country to apply. You're eligible for Medicare when you get here (
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/cust...aland-citizens) but your wife's not. Given that, I’d suggest she have a check-up before you leave. That way you won’t come to Australia and face high medical expenses until she's eligible for the cheap coverage. I’d also make sure that I’d closed my bank accounts and given notice to the landlord or at least started proceedings on selling your property (whatever applies). I’d also look into selling a lot of stuff, because it’s really expensive to ship. So a garage sale might be in order.
And then it’s just about research. This is a big move, so you’re bound to be nervous. Researching your local area and perhaps joining some Facebook groups or communities to make new friends is going to ease those nerves and make you feel more comfortable when you arrive.
Good luck!