steveandlesley

Wow where do we start. 3 week reccie in Queensland and it was totally amazing.

We decided that as we were doing so much travelling, and we didn't know where or what we were doing, to leave our 2 girls behind. The hardest thing that we have ever done, but looking back it was definatley the best choice for us.

It was lovely meeting up with so many of you especially at the BE expats football match, putting faces to names etc, everyone made us feel so welcome, thank you to you all

Well, we started our travels in the Sunshine Coast and spent 3 weeks working our way down to the Gold coast, as after doing loads of research on the internet I thought the sunshine coast is where we would end up. It ended up though that Steve got offered a job in Currumbin in the Gold Coast, so that changed everything, and made our decision where to live a lot easier.

All the areas we travelled through were absolutely stunning and each area offered something different, there wasn't really anything negative to be said about anywhere we visited. Everywhere seemed to be so clean with plenty of parks and outdoor activities available. The free BBQ's in the park just fab, they even supply hot water to make drinks with. Something that we found totally alien to us was being able to walk around the parks and the promenade without the fear of getting mugged and the absence of the parks etc smelling of urine!! That was a reality check on coming back to the UK.

The petrol was a shock at first, we filled up our little Daewoo hire car with petrol on the first day, and the pump kept stopping at $26 we thought at first the pump had broke until it finally dawned on us the tank was full!! (We also blame jet lag)

Driving was much more chilled out in Aus once you get your head around the undertaking as well as the over taking, and someones sense of humour in removing the left hand lane when you weren't expecting it. Such a change from the traffic jam on the A50 and A500.

Coming down into the Gold Coast we were expecting the Blackpool/Las Vegas scene, this was totally not the case, yes there are theme parks, casinos etc but nothing over the top and certainly nothing tacky. The beeches in the Gold Coast were amazing with miles upon miles of golden sand, and very well patrolled by the life guards. The beeches/sea and surrounding areas play such a role in everyday life there, either by fishing, surfing, swimming or just a gently stroll. Its seems so perfect.

The state schools that we came across throughout the entire journey seemed generally of equal standard with plenty of positive teaching methods and having fun. The high school children we got talking to seem to be so positive and happy about their future and all seemed to have a wicked social life (jealous). A few of them even tried giving Steve (who has a broad Potteries accent) speaking lessons in Ausi slang. He's still working on it.

Everyone we met seemed so friendly, and we came across the Australians dry sense of humour on a number of occassions, the one that stands out the most is when Steve ordered 2 coffees and the guy working behind the cafe insisted that he wanted tea for 2!!! All meant in good humour though.

As far as the cost of living goes taking into consideration the Australian wage. Its probably cheaper to live in Aus. Although it depends on how you live. Live or expect to live like kings and it will be expensive, same as the UK. Australia does offer the weather though and a day at the beech doesn't cost as much as a day entertaining the children in the wet Uk does, even if it rains in Aus at least its still warm.

The big bonus for Australia is the food, the fruit and veg is fantastic. Its so full of flavour, the bananas actually taste of bananas instead of the bland overpriced rubbish here.

All we can say really is- can't wait to come back on a one way ticket and this time bing our girls with us to start our new life.

the4ofus

Thanks for the update, sounds like you had a wonderful time. e hope to head to the Gold coast when our visa are eventually granted

Lynn xx

mad city fan

Thanks for sharing glad you had a fab time

soontobeexpat

What a great story, thanks for that.

We are heading to Brisbane in May this year, and I have been looking forward to it for such a long time, but recent reports of house prices, cost of living, negative 'community issues', poor wages, 'better off in uk' have all put a bit of a dampener on it for me.

After reading your story it has made me really excited again, and I can't wait to get out there!!!

Thanks again

Angib

Thanks so much for this post - I have been feeling really flat today - My son's girlfriend is giving him a really hard time and everytime she is over she has him really down saying that he does not want to go - he is only 15 (16 soon) so I do not want this relationship to impact the decision for the whole family. On the up our post has reminded me of all the reasons we want a fresh start for the family - thanks

grahampaula

Reading your post made me feel as if we had just been again. We also spent three weeks on the GC, but did not get to as many places as we would have liked to. Never mind, we will just have to take a few extra weeks holiday when we get there.
Good luck with your plans

chrisgav

After reading your post, i cant wait to go, we are heading to brisbane/gold coast for 3 weeks in august, me and my family cant wait to get there, its been a dream of ours for a long time.

While there i am also doing a reccie with plans to possibly move there next year,

Thanks for the post really inspiring

mark 'n' joe

Hey steve and lesley


great report from GC thanks Keep in touch


All the best

Joexxx

gazclaire

Hi, i know what you mean this site does sometimes put you off going but just look out of the window and feel stiff with boredom just makes it worth trying eh! I've been on a real rollercoaster with this move, but we now have our visa and i didnt realise how much i wanted this until we got it!!
After speaking to lesley and steve i know even without a reccie we are doing the right things for our kids.
So a big thanks to lesley and steve for the phone call from oz it was much appreciated.
Claire and Gary.xx

Nerine

Wonderful post, thank you for posting it and reminding me of how much we have here and how easy it is to take it all for granted. It's a stunning day here and we're off out to have some fun soon.

Good luck with the move, Currumbin is great and you've made the right choice.

lisaroo

i agree, good choice currumbin we lived there for 15 months and really loved it, hopefully back there soon!!!!!! school good as well....

steveandlesley

Hi lisaroo,
Can I ask what age your child/children are & what school did they go, my are 8 & 11 both girls.
Do you hope to move back to Currumbin ?

The surf club does a wicked thai chicken salad

tictac

The issues you mention are *real* issues which you are not likely to be faced with during a 3 week reccie.

You will encounter some of them when you start living here, that's for sure.

Having said that, the UK has it's own issues (as does everywhere) and only *you* can decide whether they'll have a detrimental affect on *your* quality of life.

Cheers

confusedpom

Hi stokies

Glad you enjoyed, Queensland. We like it here (dare I say, sometimes I love it), bit better than Stoke on Trent! We have the Stokie accents and we find that people seem to understand us better in Brisbane than they did in Sydney, not sure why that is, perhaps we talk slower now and not as slangy..LOL.

Next time you come over, we will have to meet up. My OH still supports Stoke City!

Sounds like you had a great reccie.... Good on yer.....

from stokies in Brisbane

moneypenny20

Glad you liked our neck of the woods. All the primaries around here are excellent. Currumbin Primary and Elanora Primary both lovely schools if you're planning on living in or around Currumbin. High School wise for the future there are two; Palm Beach Currumbin High School and Elanora State High. Both excellent in different ways. PBC is more sports orientated and is much bigger (2200 kids), Elanora good all round with 1200 kids. I work at Elanora and both my girls are there and enjoy it as much as most kids like school My youngest was at Elanora Primary and really enjoyed her time there, very family friendly.