WHAT better way to make a fresh start than by spreading your wings and making a tree or sea change.
Since COVID-19 restrictions were put into action near the beginning of the year, more and more people are heading away from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the relaxed lifestyle which only the regions can offer.
Smaller towns along the coast and rural areas are filled with such opportunities, particularly for investors and first home buyers who are looking to claim their stake in the market.
Notably, this market has avoided the 'pandemic slump' which many agents in the nation's capitals have been feeling.
Ray White Emms Mooney residential and lifestyle sales agent Adam Gambrill said it has been interesting to witness the real estate market experience a culture shift over recent months as more people take up the opportunity for a tree change.
"From the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen a shift in the nature of conversations with buyers looking to escape city living in favour of the country lifestyle and housing affordability in the Central West.
"Website traffic has also increased with people from outside of the area wanting to know about the area and what the options are," he said.
"We are currently experiencing a real surge in buyer interest and, as a result, find ourselves with a real differential with supply and demand in the regional housing market."
The surge has, by many, been attributed to corporate employees who are now able to work from home on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.
No longer tied down to a commute, workers are spending more time with family in the outdoors - leading buyers toward the regions and countless opportunities to revel in their natural beauty. Some are even looking to own a larger parcel of land to try their hand at small-scale farming.
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have recently released a special guide for anyone moving from the city who may not have a great deal of experience living and working in rural Australia.
Manager of Small Landholder Livestock Response Ted Parish said the newly-available guide was an invaluable resource for the many people making a tree change.
"This is very timely as an increasing number of us are choosing life on acreage over larger towns and cities," he said. "Queensland's peri-urban sector stretches from the tropical north, all the way down the NSW border.
"There are close to 60,000 properties occupied by small landholders with fewer than 50 head of livestock, which represents about 55 percent of all registered land holdings in the state.
"The new lifestyle comes with some unique tasks and challenges. For many, their skill levels will vary greatly, and it may be the first time they've ever lived outside of a city."
Whether you choose to live in the country, or by the sea, it has never been truer to say that a change is as good as a holiday.