Live in Brisbane and Work in Southport?

Lanotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:17

Need some advice here…

Recently I got an offer to work for a company in Southport but I (and partner) live close to Brisbane city and can't move any time soon.
Had a look at Google maps and it shows around 55 mins off-peak drive from point to point (home to company).

Now the company does offer WFH arrangement and only requires me to be in office two days a week.

So my questions: how long do you drive to work? do you think 55 mins is reasonable? also what's the morning/afternoon traffic like on M3… I know some guys travel from Gold Coast to Brisbane for work and it's pretty bad but not sure what the opposite is like.

cheers

Education & Work

Comments

  • Quantumcat on 26/10/2021 - 11:20
    +1

    Are there public transport options? 1.5hrs on a train or bus is much more pleasant (in my view) than 55min driving. As you can read a book, play a video game, snooze, etc. And sit on a more relaxed way and not get shoulder and back pain from driving.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:28

      Thanks. Never actually thought about that lol. only issue is it's hard to find park n ride as it's always packed (toowong, valley etc.)

      • Quantumcat on 26/10/2021 - 11:33
        +1

        Electric scooter? Can fold it up and take it with you. Charge at work like a true OzBargainer.

        • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:41
          +2

          man your a genius!

    • dizzle on 26/10/2021 - 13:13
      -1

      Not sure if you're familiar with Brisbane public transport. It's pretty poor and from all reports it's the most expensive in Australia.

      The trains are better than the buses, but unless you're already on the correct train line, you generally have to go back into the city to change lines (even if you live on the correct side of town already)

      On the upside, because they are so awful, they are less crowded than Sydney buses/trains even in peak hour

      • Quantumcat on 26/10/2021 - 13:16

        Ah ok maybe public transport isn't an option for OP. For 4 hours a week commute for a decent pay rise and a good job I'd probably still do it

      • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 14:39

        lol yeah pretty familiar with it as spent $$$ on it and yeah probably why i didn't even think about it in the first place!

  • Ryanek on 26/10/2021 - 11:24

    Transit

    Hmm 3 hours commute twice a week…. depending on the work I think I'd be okay with that.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:29

      thanks for the map. yeah the work sounds interesting and pay's pretty good hence the hesitation…

  • brendanm on 26/10/2021 - 11:32
    +2

    On the gold coast side, once you get past Pimpama or so, highway gets very slow. One accident and it's a nightmare. Probably pretty painful down Smith Street these days as well.

    Edit - where in Southport? Some parts are easier to get to than others once you're down that way.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:39

      just had a look. pretty close to smith street motorway…

      • brendanm on 26/10/2021 - 11:41
        +1

        Will be ok if not far from Smith Street, once you get closer to Bundall or gold coast Highway traffic gets pretty full on.

        • MS Paint on 26/10/2021 - 11:47
          +2

          Sounds hideous one day and imperfect the next

  • Donaldhump on 26/10/2021 - 11:32

    at least your driving with the sun on your left, better than the other way.

    just get train and tram, i think be easy commute even 5 days a week as train that direction not crowded.

    enjoy southport, its an interesting place, full of interesting people. they play classical music on loud speakers to curb the anger

    • brendanm on 26/10/2021 - 11:34
      +3

      interesting people

      That's a nice way of saying crackheads 😂

      • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:40

        lol need to get my boxing PT sorted asap!

        • brendanm on 26/10/2021 - 11:41
          +1

          I worked in Southport for 10 years, have never witnessed so much crazy stuff.

          • Donaldhump on 26/10/2021 - 13:05
            +1

            @brendanm: i had a homeless dude with pink hair give me the bird, then later that arvo asked for twenty cents.
            saw a dude hang a bog in the middle of the road.
            the shopping centre is run down as f

            but sh*t is cheaper there like lunches, id rather work elsewhere though

  • MS Paint on 26/10/2021 - 11:35
    +2

    A good opportunity for me time and listen to some great podcasts or find new artists on Spotify.

    I love my commute for this very reason but then again I have open regional roads, not shitty traffic.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 11:43

      true. I finished a couple of books this year on Audible on commute.

  • Mechz on 26/10/2021 - 11:48

    I'd take that commute for 2 days a week, depending on what car you have.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 12:41
      +1

      09 camry so isn't too bad

      • Mechz on 26/10/2021 - 12:47
        +3

        I'd disagree but if you're comfy that's what matters.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/10/2021 - 11:53

    Give it a go on a weekday. You’ll probably want to allow a good 1.5hrs. either that or negotiate late starts so you can miss peak traffic.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 12:31

      jeez yeah might need to talk to them…

  • scrambledeggs on 26/10/2021 - 12:20
    +1

    Bris -> Gold Coast in the morning is absolutely fine. I work construction and start at around 6.30am though so YMMV.

    Way home in the afternoon can be pretty slow going.

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 12:34

      cheers mate. need my redbull if i'm going to start work at 6.30am…

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/10/2021 - 13:31

      I leave home around 715 and alwayyyysss get get stuffed around after the themeparks.
      I usually go all the way down to Burleigh and work back up to Brisbane though.
      Southport could be a bit more forgiving.

  • Traveller107 on 26/10/2021 - 13:01

    I know half a dozen people who have been doing that commute every day for years and are cool with it.
    I think it should be ok to do it 2 days a week but any more than that would become annoying… especially if you have a young family you wanna spend more time with.

  • Jugganautx on 26/10/2021 - 13:35

    I drive 45km to work 50min in morning 1hr 5min peak.

  • Suzique on 26/10/2021 - 14:07
    +2

    I did the other direction…. Robina to Brissy airport about 3 X days week for 20 years! You will have the odd nightmare of a drive, but a great opportunity to listen to some podcasts or learn a language. Check out the Coffee Break French/Spanish/Italian…. podcasts….all free. Bonus is you can practise your accent in the car without bothering anyone!
    If you have hands free….also a good time to catch up with those family phone calls. My kids both ring me when driving home from work

    • anotherbot on 26/10/2021 - 14:45

      good idea calling family

  • TheBird on 26/10/2021 - 15:23
    +3

    I did the Stones Corner to Southport trek for 18 months pre covid, so the traffic might have changed somewhat, so take this with a grain of salt.

    I hated, I repeat, hated the traffic to/from Southport. It was my least enjoyable commute I've ever done.

    I adjusted my hours to avoid the clusterf**k of crappy drivers in peak times. I found if you left Brisbane much after 7am (or 4pm from Southport) expect the unexpected. The amount of entitied sh*ts on the road who seem to commit to killing themselves and everyone else around them never ceased to amaze me. The best way to put it. It's a full moon, each and every peak hour.

    Examples, there's car parked on the side of the road, lets brake hard from 110 to 20. Lets onramp at 30 and cross 3 lanes of 110k traffic without looking. Speed Camera, lets brake hard 110 to 70. The amount of people who drive in the overtaking lanes at 80 is unsettling. It goes on and on.

    The truth of it, most drivers are fine. It's the mindless minority (and it seemed it was increasing in numbers every day) that made it dangerous and exhausting.

    My suggestion, if you can, drive outside peak hours.

  • morse on 26/10/2021 - 19:29
    +1

    I’ve done similar but the other way round GC to Bris, also usually only 2days/ week. It’s generally better the direction you’re headed but the south bound trip is definitely very stop start. Like the bird said try to do different hours if you can. Queenslanders are early risers, especially in summer. I used to start work at home then drive up at about 9am and that was okay. If the role is good enough it’s probably okay, but you’ll probably hate those drives, they are tedious and there’s some awful driving.

  • MontyMacaw on 27/10/2021 - 08:17

    Train it! Less stress and less bills on your car. The highway is a bitch.

  • Hampton Wick on 27/10/2021 - 09:10
    +3

    Did that journey (Sunnybank to Southport) for 18 months. Train, and then bus sent me crazy - at least 1.5 hours each way, often more as the bus frequently missed the train connection. Bought a small car and loved the extra hour or so I was getting back each day. You’re driving against the traffic, so the journey is not too bad. It was about an hour door to door. Leave before 7.00 in the morning and 4.00 in the afternoon if you can. Watch out for aggressive drivers who will happily tailgate you at 110kmh, and bad storms which can make the drive back a bit of a nightmare.

  • LFO on 27/10/2021 - 19:24

    also what's the morning/afternoon traffic like on M3… I know some guys travel from Gold Coast to Brisbane

    I guess you are referring to the M1 motorway from Brisbane to Gold Coast.

    It has been also known as the Parking Lot in many locations although the Southport-Brisbane bit is not that bad … but certainly is not that good either.

    "Road accidents", minor ones and big ones do happen often and traffic slow down to a crawl.

    But as anything, yes it is feasible to drive to Brisbane, even daily.

    You need to decide if, money wise, it is worth it.
    Ain't going to be smooth and easy. Unless you have a private chauffeur and sit at the back of your limo.

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