From Harbour Bridge to Golden Gate Bridge: 2–3 Years Living in the US

[CaptainCurtis]

After years of enjoying everyone else’s trip reports on here, I thought I’d try something a bit different. Whether this turns into a long-running thread or fizzles out quickly — honestly, who knows. Consider this a bit of an experiment, and we’ll see how it goes!

Follow along as I swap Sydney for San Francisco, and see whether this trip report survives the next 2–3 years…

I’ve lived in Sydney my whole life, but I’m relocating tomorrow to San Francisco for work. The plan (at least on paper) is to be there for 2–3 years. I work for an Aussie tech company, having started with them 3 years ago when our footprint was largely concentrated in Australia with only a handful of clients in the US and Europe. Fast forward to today, and we’ve expanded significantly overseas, with the majority of our leadership and go-to-market organisation now based in the US. Around 9 months ago I received a promotion and the opportunity to relocate in order to be closer to the action and work more closely with our Sales and GTM leadership teams. With my visa in hand, my suitcases (almost) packed, and tomorrow’s departure day looming, the time has finally arrived.

The last 9 months have been a blur of US trips — back and forth, living out of hotels, and always a little anxious about CBP’s response to my multiple entries, particularly in the current political environment. With offices in both Austin and San Francisco, my company generously gave me the chance to trial each for 6 weeks. While I enjoyed Austin, San Francisco won out for me: better weather, proximity to stunning national parks, a beautiful city, and my immediate team is based there.

As for the relocation flight itself: tomorrow it’s QF73 SYD–SFO. Originally booked in Premium Economy, but I managed to score a points upgrade to Business a few days ago thanks to the Platinum status racked up earlier this year. Couldn’t have asked for a better send-off.

So what can you expect here?

• The relocation flight itself (I’ll do a write-up on QF73).
• Some of the realities of settling into San Francisco as an Aussie.
• Future travel from a US base: I’m a sucker for both nature and big cities, so expect a mix of national parks, hiking, beaches, and major urban adventures.

Whether this thread thrives or flops is anyone’s guess — but I'd love your feedback and recommendations along the way. If nothing else, it’s a way to document the move and hopefully share a few stories that others find interesting (and of course, a steady stream of pictures!).

 

[tassie6]

Love the concept. Keep it rolling!

 

[VPS]

Always love a TR and travelling vicariously

 

[RooFlyer]

Follow along as I swap Sydney for San Francisco, and see whether this trip report survives the next 2–3 years…

So you’re not going for a trip report of the month then? Love anything to do with San Francisco so will be reading along.

 

[cjd600]

Sounds like a great idea for a rolling report- hope you keep it up!
Best of luck with your relocation

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Love the concept. Keep it rolling!

Without wanting to give too much personal information away, 'keep it rolling' is a play on words associated with the company I work for, and one that we use internally quite often.

So you’re not going for a trip report of the month then? Love anything to do with San Francisco so will be reading along.

I thought the competition for trip report of the year would be lighter Lassen National Park is on my list for a trip early October - one of California's lesser known National Parks of the 9 it is home to. I have a feeling you'll appreciate the landscapes.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I haven’t forgotten about you all just yet!

With the later departure time on QF73 compared to QF11, I played it safe and grabbed an UberXL just before 5pm. Traffic wasn’t too bad, and we pulled up at the international terminal a few minutes before 6. This trip I had three suitcases to check in (two large and one smaller carry-on) plus my Country Road duffel bag. Manoeuvring all of this to the priority check-in desks was a challenge, but I got there. Boy was I glad I’d booked the direct flight to SFO instead of connecting via LAX on QF11, where I would have had to collect my bags and drag them up the ramps to the transfer desks.

As mentioned in my opening post, I’ve spent a lot of time in the US over the past year and used recent trips to move things over bit by bit. It would have been awkward if my visa had been declined - but thankfully it all worked out in the end.

Over the last 12 months, I’ve done 8 return trips across the Pacific. The silver lining: I hit Qantas Platinum, which came in handy with the extra baggage allowance and access to the First Class check-in desk. That had me on my way to security quickly, though the later QF73 departure meant security was far busier than I was used to. Most bags were being sent for secondary screening, so it took about 20 minutes to reach the SmartGates, which then couldn’t match my photo to my passport. Another 10 minutes wasted waiting for a customs agent.

Finally, after a short walk and a few escalators, I was in the Qantas First Lounge - one of the major perks of Platinum. It’s arguably Qantas’ flagship lounge, especially compared to the tired Business Lounge next door. Surprisingly, it was relatively quiet despite the chaos outside.

While I’m not a huge fan of the furniture, the space itself is beautiful: floor-to-ceiling windows with views over runway 16R and the domestic terminals, plus timber panelling that gives warmth while also dividing the space into zones - mainly dining and lounging.



Knowing there’d be a meal on board, I opted for an early dinner. Perfect timing, as the new Spring menu had rolled out just a few days earlier (shared here).

• S&P squid – a touch undercooked but still decent.
• Buffalo mozzarella with asparagus and beetroot – outstanding, perfectly balanced with the balsamic dressing.
• Navarin of lamb – beautifully cooked and full of flavour, but let down by undercooked vegetables. Also a little oily.

After dinner, I passed the remaining time catching up on some work and even getting ahead on my FY25 tax return (fun!). Before long, QF73 was called for boarding.

 

[ellen10]

Best wishes with the big move.
I will look forward to following along

 

[MARTINE]

Wishing you all the best with your new work venture and thanks for including us

 

[kookaburra75]

Safe travels and look forward to seeing/hearing more about your new home

 

[CaptainCurtis]

QF73 SYD-SFO

Boarding
QF73 was departing from Gate 8, just a short walk from the lounge. Boarding hadn’t yet commenced when I arrived, so there was a 10-minute wait before Group 1 was called.

Our work policy only allows for Economy bookings, so I’d originally been ticketed in Flexible Economy. I was then able to pay $500 for an upgrade into Premium Economy (including a return flight next year), and finally secured a Classic Upgrade Reward into Business. Painful to part with 64,800 points instead of the pre-enhancement cost of 54,000, but well worth it with my points balance sitting at close to one million.

Cabin & Seat
At T-80 I was able to grab seat 1K. Like the A380, row 1 on the B787 has a wider footrest built into the bulkhead. The 42 Business seats are split across two cabins: rows 1–8 in the larger front cabin, and rows 10–12 in a smaller, more private cabin to the right of the main entry door.

There's only one lavatory at the front of the plane (in front of 1A), but I had no noise issues from it or from the galley. The seat felt slightly narrower and more claustrophobic than on the A380. Perhaps that’s due to the 787’s fuselage curvature at row 1, whereas the A380’s first row sits further back behind the lounge. Not a major issue, but noticeable.



Pre-Departure
I’ve got my routine down to a fine art: change straight into the provided pyjamas, set up the mattress pad, and settle in. Soon after, I indulged in a pre-departure champagne and filled out my breakfast card.



Once boarding was complete, the captain announced a 30-minute delay due to air traffic control restrictions. The communication was a little vague, but given other departures were also impacted I suspect it was related to Airservices staff shortages (possibly tied to the issues mentioned in this thread). The crew used the time well by taking dinner orders in advance - something I wish they did on all flights.

From my vantage point in 1K, I had a front-row seat to the cargo being loaded, including two pallets of gloves - surplus COVID stock perhaps?



Takeoff & Dinner Service
We pushed back and departed from 16R at around 10pm, roughly 35 minutes late but still well within the Sydney curfew. The short taxi from Gate 8 was a bonus.

I queued up Crazy Rich Asians on the IFE while dinner was served.

• Pre-dinner: nuts and drinks. I went for the Avro Gin Spritz - not normally a gin drinker, but I find this one refreshing, so imbibed in a couple. The nuts were warm, toasted, and fresh - simple but good. Some would even say, 'premium'.
• Main: barramundi with tamarind sauce (perfectly cooked, though the sauce a touch rich), Neil’s leaf salad, and focaccia.
• Dessert: Skipped.

The service was efficient, with mains cleared within 90 minutes of takeoff, which allowed me to get some sleep. But the lack of an entrée in Business remains disappointing. For a full-service airline, Qantas really should do better. The black tray presentation also leaves a lot to be desired.



The Flight
While others lingered over dessert, I reclined and went to sleep. I managed around 8 hours of broken sleep, which is about standard for me. The bedding was comfortable, and noise from the cabin was minimal. Personally I am not a fan of the electronically dimmable windows and the purple hue that emanates through the cabin - would much prefer darkness.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Breakfast & Descent
Around 2 hours before landing, breakfast was served. I had the egg-white omelette with ricotta, avocado, and tomatoes - a good combination, and nicely presented.



Before long, we began our descent into San Francisco.



Arrival into SFO
Immigration and customs were a breeze - about a 10-minute wait, much faster than LAX. The CBP officer was pleasant and asked fewer questions than I was used to, which may be because this was my first entry on an E3 visa rather than ESTA.

Bags arrived promptly, and soon after I walked out into a beautiful day.



A short wait for an Uber, and I was on my way to my hotel - stay tuned, more on that to come.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

For those that may not know, the Bay Area is broadly broken up into five regions: San Francisco, North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula, and South Bay.



Our Bay Area office is located in Walnut Creek, right in the heart of Broadway Plaza. Walnut Creek is best known for its leafy suburbs, walkable downtown, and the Broadway Plaza shopping district, which feels more like a resort town than a commuter hub. The only thing it's missing is a beach. The area combines big-name retailers and restaurants with easy access to the surrounding hills and open space preserves, making it popular with both families and professionals who want a quieter base outside the city.

I’ll be spending my first month at the Walnut Creek Residence Inn, which is just a 15-minute walk to the office. The hotel offers apartment-style accommodation with a kitchen and lounge, making it an easy transition spot while I get settled.



When it comes to more permanent housing, I did quite a bit of research on previous trips and landed on Rockridge as my preferred area. Rockridge is one of Oakland’s more desirable neighbourhoods, right on the border with Berkeley. It has a village feel, with boutique shops, cafés, and a vibrant dining scene clustered around College Avenue. The BART station provides direct access into downtown San Francisco, while Berkeley’s campus and cultural attractions are just minutes away. It strikes a balance between the vibrancy of the city and the practicality of suburban living, which made it a standout choice for me.

Rockridge is a short 12-mile (about 20-minute) drive from our office in Walnut Creek, and roughly the same distance to downtown San Francisco - making it the most central option overall.



There's a fantastic site in the US called Furnished Finder, which essentially provides medium term rentals for travelling professionals (commonly used by travelling nurses) The main benefits of this over a regular lease are that it provides an opportunity to trial the area for a good amount of time, the place comes fully furnished and landlords are more willing to consider applicants without a credit history (of which I have none in the US), so long as they can provide proof of employment, assets and working entitlement in the US. Within my first week here, I stumbled across the perfect place, and quickly signed a 3 month lease to see me through to the beginning of next year.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

There’s a lot to do when you move countries - particularly to the US. First up, and the quickest win, was getting set up with a local phone number. A few people had recommended Visible, an MVNO owned by Verizon. Prepaid plans with unlimited 5G data cost just USD $29 per month, far cheaper than equivalent plans with the mainstream providers. Getting set up with an eSIM was painless through their app. Boy were my work colleagues glad for me to finally have a local number - they were not fans of Whatsapp.

My focus then shifted to securing a Social Security Number, which my employer obviously needed in order to transition me from our Australian to US payroll. I’d proactively booked an appointment at the nearest Social Security Administration office before arriving, but ran into issues completing the application form as it required a local address - which I of course didn’t yet have. After a few calls, I discovered they were happy to accept my office address in place of a residential one. The visit went off without a hitch, and now it’s just a waiting game - the SSN can take up to two weeks to arrive by post.

Next up was a local bank account, which I needed in order to get my landlord paid. The first two banks I approached wouldn’t open an account without an SSN. A bit of online research showed that Wells Fargo was one of the few banks willing to accommodate my situation. Their branch in Walnut Creek is massive - far bigger than any I’d visited in Australia (though admittedly, it had been years since I’d set foot in one). The only catch: unlike the SSN, the bank did require a residential address to proceed. That prompted the quick movement on signing the lease I mentioned in my previous post, and once that was done, I was able to return and successfully open the account. Another box ticked!



The next big hurdle will be getting a California driver’s license. Unlike some US states, California doesn’t recognise international licenses for residents, which means I’ll need to pass both a knowledge and practical test - quite the insult after 15 years of driving! Once that’s done, I’ll look to lease a car on a 2–3 year term. Initially I was concerned that my lack of US credit history would be a blocker, but I’ve since found that several brands offer Global Professional Programs designed for exactly this scenario.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sounds all great. Would you have been caught by Trump's new $100K H-1B visa if you were applying now?

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Sounds all great. Would you have been caught by Trump's new $100K H-1B visa if you were applying now?

As an Aussie citizen, I was able to apply under the E3 visa, so wouldn't have been impacted. I was reading up on the changes to the H-1B visa today - it sounds like it's going to impact a lot of people, and gives me some concern about whether we'll see any changes in the future to the E3.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

One of the major appeals of California for me is the beauty and abundance of outdoor recreational activities, so it should be no surprise that on my first weekend I was out in nature. Just east of Walnut Creek sits Mount Diablo, with Shell Ridge at its northern end being the closest access point for me. The trails of Shell Ridge Open Space wind through rolling hills, offering great views back over Walnut Creek. The landscape is looking seriously dry!



At the base of the ridge top trail.



Mid-way up looking down.



Along the top.




All up 13km.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

There's a local farmers market in Walnut Creek every Sunday.



And a beautiful sunset to close out the weekend.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

I’m currently planning an 8-day road trip in early October to Lassen Volcanic National Park and Redwood National and State Parks. The itinerary is still taking shape, but at this stage I’m thinking:

• Days 1–3: Drive north to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Plan is to hike the Lassen Peak Trail and the iconic Cinder Cone Trail, while also taking in a few of the sights along the park’s main highway. Accommodation booked at St. Bernard Lodge.
• Day 4: Long drive across to the Redwoods, with a stop at the beautiful Burney Falls along the way.
• Days 5–6: Hiking within Redwood National and State Parks. There are so many options here, so if anyone has recommendations - trails, must-see groves, or good places to stay - I’d love to hear them.
• Day 7: Spend the morning in the Redwoods, then drive down to Mendocino for an overnight stop to break up the journey home.
• Day 8: Explore Mendocino for the day before driving back home.

 

[markis10]

One for trivia night, the worlds largest Area Control Centre for ATC by airspace covered is located at 5125 Central Ave, Fremont in the East Bay, and looks after 9.5% of the worlds airspace