We are heading out to The Gold Coast on 13th May only more northern...Helensvale area as i have a job in Benowa.
Thanks for the post and i cant wait to get there now..just sold our house yesterday too with a prominse to complete before we go so all good!!
Thanks again.
Janice.

sorry for delay!!! my son is nearly 7 only been back here since middle nov, he went to currumbin state school and even though the school is huge the classes are not, and there tends to be 2 teachers per class in the younger ones, i have to be honest we wouldnt live anywhere else now when we get back, didnt really want to come home, hubby started running family buss today, but only for 2/3 years and then we are to return, same school and suburb, but next time my two younger boys will be starting there as well.... we also made lots of friends due to the school, so be afraid to mix most people are very friendly,another great thing that goes on in currumbin, especialy for your kids is nippers on a sunday mornig,FAB!!!!!! really miss it, lots of fun for the kids and instills a bit of aussie competiveness in the kids.... better still your down the beach by 07.45 sun morning best time of the day to be out and about, nippers is on for about 2 hours and then they all head back to the club for hotdogs for brekkie, and yes currumbin surf club was our local, fab venue also like their seafood basket, dont hesitate to ask any more love to help, you can pm if you like, who knows we could all meet up if we stay in touch? when are you thinking of going?

oh and nearly forgot, currumbin wildlife sanctuary, if you live in currumbin you can obtain a free annual pass, worth it as this is a wonderful place to visit and a lovely family day out!!!!!! *hit just realised im making currumbin sound so great everyone will be flocking there, and there wont be any houses for us when we get home!!!!!

Your post reminds me so much of our first visit to Queensland 5 years ago. The thing our kids found amazing was that wherever we stopped there was a park AND, the toilet in the park had toilet paper!!

The other thing we found strange (in a good way, as it does reflect the society here) was the ability to just walk into any school and go to reception. No locked gates etc.

Mike.

yeah thats nice,i think its definatly safer, my 6 year old was allowed to ride his bike to schol with our neighbours girl who was 10, i would never allow that here, and we did pick him up, but all the kids in our suburb were doing the same and there was no roads to cross they used the cycle track. i was a bit nevous at this at first until you see all the others, just lovely.. loads of people slag off oz for being a bit behind the times, but this part of it i love, we used to leave the house open all the time to go down the beach, even though it was only a 5 min walk it just doesnt matter, i know maybe not all areas are the same, i can only go on where we lived on the goldie!!!

So impressed that there are others with positive things to say about Australia, especially the Gold Coast.
Thank you all for your comments, looking hopefully to be out there in September (fingers and everything else crossed) and it would be lovely to meet up with you who are there and any who are on their way there.

Really looking forward to our new future in Aus. Keep in touch and see you all soon hopefully on Currumbin beech / surf club XXX

I have been carefully advising the North end of the coast for the past three years and in one thread you have undone all my good work. Zip it

hi moneypen, hows the weather on the goldie today? better than here prob, sorry i think the excitment got to me!!!!i will zip it now, got a hangover today anyway

The weather has been excellent today. We've had a rubbish summer (sun wise anyway) but the last couple of days have been perfect. Looking likely for a brilliant winter too. Sitting in VMR today, overlooking Currumbin Creek and Rock - beeuuuutiful

Sorry moneypen! but you can't argue it is gorgous.....not a well kept secret anymore

thanks for that!!! i did hear the summer has been crap, our house in currumbin had a flood the day before completion,we had to fork out $1500 to get it sorted, difficult from over here! but we have a very helpful and lovely neighbour who helped us and the real estate agent was good as well. anyway its drizzling her today as usual, and once again stuck in with 3 kids again.....very jelous, i love aussie winter especially goldie ones, lovely and cold in the night and hazy warm sunshine in the day, ah the memories of sitting in the elephant rock cafe having a very berry smoothie, hubbys fav is the deck..