In short
The Oasis Singles guides are for singles in regional, country and coastal Australia. They cover dating in a small town and keeping it private, life on the land, FIFO and shift work, long-distance dating, single parents, moving town for someone, starting over after a tree change, romance scams and choosing a new site after yours closed. Start with dating in a small town.
| Written for | Singles outside Australia's capital cities |
|---|---|
| Sources | Australian government agencies, regulators and official services |
| Report a scam | Scamwatch; ReportCyber if you've lost money or details |
Most people outside the capitals run into the same two problems: a small pool and a long drive. Start with dating in a small town, then keeping your dating life private before you set up a profile. If someone you've met online asks for money, or wants to move the chat elsewhere fast, read the romance scams guide first.
Where to start
| If you're... | Start with |
|---|---|
| In a town where you know half the singles | Dating in a small town |
| Worried about being seen on a dating site | Keeping your dating life private |
| Farming or grazing | Dating on the land |
| Working FIFO or shifts | FIFO and shift work dating |
| Hours away from the person you like | Long-distance dating |
| Asked for money by someone online | Romance scams in Australia |
| Here because your old dating site closed | Choosing somewhere new |
Small towns and life on the land
- Dating in a small town when you already know half the singles: how to date in a country town without becoming the talk of the main street, and what to do when awkward turns into unsafe.
- Keeping your dating life private in a small town: what to leave off your profile and photos, and how card statements and chat fit in.
- Dating when you live and work on the land: seasons, distance, family operations and the money conversation, for farmers, graziers and the people who date them.
- Dating as a single parent in a regional town: custody weeks, babysitters and small-town talk, and how to take introductions slowly.
- Dating after a tree change or sea change: building a social life in a new town and dating openly as the newcomer.
Rosters, distance and moving
- Dating when you work FIFO or rotating shifts: how to date around a roster, and how to date someone who works one.
- Long-distance dating when you're three hours apart: sharing the driving, safe first meetings and keeping things going between visits.
- Moving town for a relationship: what to weigh up: the work, money and housing questions to answer first, and why a plan B matters.
Scams, and choosing where to date
- Romance scams in Australia: warning signs and where to report: how the scams work, quick checks you can run, and who to contact if you've been caught.
- Your dating site closed: how to choose somewhere new: tidying up old accounts and charges, Australia's online dating code, and the questions to ask before you join anywhere else.
Getting outside
If you'd rather meet someone on a track than in a bar, the active dating section has first date ideas, bushwalk and beach safety, and ways to meet people through clubs. For how the guides are researched, see our editorial policy.
Questions people ask
Who are these guides for?
Singles in regional, country and coastal Australia, and anyone dating someone who lives there. They're written for the things city guides skip: a small pool where you know half the singles, long drives between towns, rosters and seasons that run your diary, and keeping your private life private when everyone knows your ute.
Do I need to join Oasis Singles to use the guides?
No. The guides are free to read and written to be useful whether or not you join. Oasis Singles is a paid dating service and the guides mention it, but the safety, privacy and reporting advice is the same either way. The editorial policy explains how we check facts.
Where do I start if I've met someone who wants money?
Stop and read the romance scams guide before you send anything. Anyone you've only met online who asks for money, gifts, crypto or help moving funds is following a known script. If you've already paid or shared bank details, call your bank and report to ReportCyber; otherwise report to Scamwatch.
Sources
Checked 18 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.