Where Should I Move to?

LCantdecide on 08/02/2015 - 17:50

My family is looking to make a major move at the end of this year but we are not sure where we want to move to.

We have a large family with children aged from 6-16. Partner and I are both professionals so we need to be within commuting distance to good regional centres. We like a country lifestyle with city/town convenience. We would rent at first and look to buy later.

Kids requirements are lots of sports for kids, good health centre access. Parents requirements are access to weekend markets, good cafes/restaurants etc, good affordable housing and great climate. We are all born and bred QLD and we have never seen snow and my kids have never even seen a frost. Despite this we are willing to look just about anywhere … somewhere we can settle and give the kids a great life!

Do you have a favourite place in Australia? Please tell me of some great areas to start investigating.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • PGee on 08/02/2015 - 18:13
    +1

    wagga wagga seems to fit all those bases

  • umamandy on 08/02/2015 - 18:20
    +4

    Despite all the Canberra bashing, it's actually a pretty nice place. It's small, but there are events every weekend to keep the kids entertained. Depending on where you live, housing can be super cheap to super expensive. But yeah.

    I dunno, I do like the place. It's not a place I'd recommend anyone visit (like for a weekend), but it's a nice place to live.

    • Cantdecide on 08/02/2015 - 18:35
      +1

      We both like Canberra and would be good professionally (partner guaranteed a job there) but we are worried about the cold weather … do you get used to it?

      • umamandy on 08/02/2015 - 18:42
        +1

        I find it pretty bearable. The wind is annoying in winter, but it's not that wet cold (I used to live in Shanghai too, where the wet cold just ate at my bones). It's just a matter of a good doona and jacket for when you go out. And/or central heating.

        Most of my friends from Qld do end up acclimatising though. :)

        Edit: Also, almost every high school organises ski trips in the winter.

      • iridiumstem on 09/02/2015 - 02:09
        +1

        Canberran weather is very windy compared to what I had in Queensland.

        It's fairly cold, I found Melbourne weather (in my 7 days trip), much more bearable, but the place is decent. You really need to buy decent blanket and decent pair of jackets. I am used to cold weathers, but I found that I need some sort of long sleeve shirt/jumper in Canberra. I never needed anything like those in Queensland at all; Canberra gets slightly cold (around 5~10 degrees?) at night and in the morning. I'd assume most people from QLD would need some sort of warm clothing, though everyone get used to it in the end.

  • iridiumstem on 08/02/2015 - 18:47
    +1

    I have fond memories about Townsville as a city. Townsville Grammar School was alright in terms of what they taught, there was Sunday market in the city every weekend. You can go to the Magnetic Island for picnic as well. Other than the AJs you hear about, whom I had never encountered since I stayed in Annandale most of the time, I think the city itself was alright. Though, I was fairly sheltered and had bad memories with few people there, so I might not be the best person to describe the city.

  • mooney on 08/02/2015 - 18:54

    Do you have any budgetary constraints?! When recommending Sydney (for example) cost would be a factor and could open up or reduce suburb options for you.

    • Cantdecide on 08/02/2015 - 19:20

      We would prefer to rent under $6-700 per week.

  • altomic on 08/02/2015 - 19:56
    +2

    I lived in albury for a few years. It's nice. Good size. Close to Melbourne. Reasonable housing costs. I'm originally from melb and have now been living in bris for 6 years.

  • matt3 on 08/02/2015 - 21:59
    +1

    Move to a marginal electorate.

  • BobD on 09/02/2015 - 07:43

    Newcastle is a good place to live. Great beaches especially Burwood Beach. Go just up the road to Port Stephens for a bit of variety. Good size city but not too big. Close to Sydney if you have the need. It's been a few years since I lived there so I don't know about the current employment situation.

    • Euphemistic on 09/02/2015 - 10:07
      +1

      No, Newcastle is a terrible place. Sharks off all the beaches, mining magnate trying to ruin our soccer team, council/govt that can't decide wether the rail line should go or stay and wasted millions fighting about knocking down a few trees, been a safe seat forever so no infrastructure for a hundred years. Stay well away ;)

      Kidding. It's a good spot, however there has been a downturn in the mining sector which has shed a few jobs so that is worth considering.

  • iridiumstem on 09/02/2015 - 07:58
    +3

    I found this place called Woop Woop to be in every single state that I've been to. My geography skills stil cannot handle this fact. I heard a lot of people are from Woop Woop too. Every time I go, "Where is he/she from?", I get the answer, "He/she's from Woop Woop". So it must be a large city that somehow positions itself in every single state.

  • Speckled Jim on 09/02/2015 - 10:31
    +1

    commuting distance to good regional centres. Hobart

    We like a country lifestyle with city/town convenience. Hobart

    We would rent at first and look to buy later. Hobart — you could afford to buy straight away.

    Kids requirements are lots of sports for kids, good health centre access. Hobart

    Parents requirements are access to weekend markets Hobart (Salamanca is just the start!)

    good cafes/restaurants etc Hobart (as above)

    good affordable housing and great climate. Hobart. You likely have A/C in Qld, just get a place with a heat pump. Ensure draughts are minimised with weather seal tape etc.

    We are all born and bred QLD and we have never seen snow and my kids have never even seen a frost. Umm Hobart! You'll get your share of frost and snow (mainly on Mt. Wellington).

    The primary issue with Tassie as a home is employment. If you're in the public service, it could be easier to arrange a transfer. To be honest, a very large proportion of employment in Hobart is state/fed public service.

    Come for a visit, at least.

    • Consumer Sheep on 21/02/2015 - 22:35
      +1

      There are 192 current APS full-time ongoing vacancies with 112 in Canberra and 6 in Tasmania - enough said? Tas is gorgeous though and I'd happily move there myself for a decent job.

  • Herbsman on 09/02/2015 - 10:45
    +2

    Alstonville. Northern NSW. 15 mins to Ballina beaches and airport = Sydney $100 with Virgin/Jetstar. Off the main thoroughfair of the East Coast tourist traffic jam. 40 mins to Byron, 1.5 hrs to Gold Coast. Great high schools in the area plus Sthn Cross Uni. Stable climate with 1 or 2 frosty mornings a year. Markets everywhere - Bangalow, Byron, Channon plus stalls on most rural roads on top of all the things you can grow yourself all year round. Lismore and Ballina have every store you could need. Every activity for the kids also.

    • Cantdecide on 09/02/2015 - 23:18

      Ijust looked the place up - looks great! Will def add to the list of possibles

  • AJW on 09/02/2015 - 11:01
    +1

    Time to go on an all around Australia holiday and check some places out :) Hobart and Wagga are good suggestions, I like Perth but nowadays not so "country lifestyle with city/town convenience" as the suburbs have sprawled a long way.

    Im assuming snow or frost isnt a pre-requisite ;)

  • ramshead on 09/02/2015 - 11:38

    Do you like country music and free hats?

    • Cantdecide on 09/02/2015 - 23:03

      Ummm not so much although Miranda Lambert at the grammys was pretty good!

  • Rel63 on 10/02/2015 - 09:44

    Bribie Island is a good option to consider, we have a lot of Mainlanders buying here for a slowed down lifestyle while still having access to the faster pace of the city.
    I moved to this area in 2007 from Melbourne and while i loved it there, this place is so different from anywhere i have lived. Ocean beaches, quiet passage beaches, 4wd heaven (apparently - I have never been),there are a few sports on offer, it has 1 High School and 2 Primary on Bribie and a private one 15mins from it.
    Housing is pretty good with various levels of quality in different areas on the island or acreage not far away. $600wk would get you a really nice house, $700 would get you a lovely one on a canal. It's nice to live everyday where a lot of people pay to visit for holidays. Just an idea.

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