Davelynd

Hi everyone!

We're 2 new members, visas tucked in passports awaiting house sale then all systems goooo to get outahere to lovely Oz!!!!

Did a reckie in Dec (WA & Qld) but just cant decide between Perth or Cairns/Townsville.... both seem to have ok job markets.
Its now just down to climate really. We loved the mountainous scenery of Cairns - just the humidity thats a question-mark (visisted last December - dull, showery but warm - is that the norm?

How would 2 Uk northerners hack the 'wet' and the humidity, do you think?

We'd love to hear from any Britexpats liviing in Cairns or Townsville whose brains we could pick on lifestyle, climate, cost of houses, jobs etc... to help us decide. The clock's ticking as they say!!

Any help will be very gratefully received. Cheers for now (happy easter from 7 degrees Liverpool UK yuk....
Cant wait to stop the ratrace & start living.....!

kiwichild

I'm from NZ(warmer than nth england) and find both WA and QSLD heat and humidity in summer just too much and very energy sapping.
Unless you have jobs on offer I'd be inclined to head to Sydney or Melbourne initially. Tasmania would be excellent but the job situation probably not as good. Another alternative would be Adelaide. Great place!

kiwichild

If you really must choose between cairns and townsville I think it could come down to what sort of work you will be looking for. Cairns is very hospitality industry driven. I don't know much about Townsville.

Perth is ok I spose but most likely the only people you will make "real friends" there with will be ex-pats from UK and other countries. The locals aren't the most open & friendly people in OZ

steandleigh

Hiya,

we've been in Cairns ( Northern Beaches ) for seven months now and the simple fact is that you will be fine if you 'dig in' and make a proper go of it.

Back in september when we arrived, the weather was 'perfect', sunny / warm days ( 25 degrees-ish ), mild evenings etc.

Come around to December and it's hot and sticky ( pushing mid thirties ), humidity has got up to 90% on a few odd days ( but not many ). Yeah, it can be tough but you get through it and the rest of the year is so lovely that it's worth the small 'hard slog' through the 'wet season' ( which, BTW hasn't been all that wet at all!!! ).

We are in a rental at the moment ( while we build our own house ) and it only has one air con unit, in the main bedroom. So we bought one for the other bedroom for the two little un's and we've got through it just fine. The more you sit in the air-con, the less likely you are to acclimatise to the weather. ( Ste is an air-con fella and see's people everyday who live in an air-con bubble - no good for you at all ).

Go with your heart and go to where you think you will be most at home. For us that was Cairns and we made the perfect decision for us, wild horses would not drag us away ( except perhaps to move to the Tablelands, which we are now eyeing up as a possible move in the future - but that's another story!!! ).

PM us if you'd like any more info - glad to help!

youngy73

Hi!

There are plenty of northerners in Cairns. From Manchester all the way to Newcastle. You get use to the heat within a couple of months. The problem is when you go back for a holiday.

Everywhere has A/C these days in Cairns.

Houses are cheaper than other places in Oz.

Plenty of jobs.

Places with similar climates - Fiji, Bali, Vanuatu, Miami. All of which are classed as paradise by the British travel agents.

Say no-more!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richie

PS. See you fishing on Palm Cove Jetty.

Robmichellef

I live in Townsville for ten years and have now been in the UK for 16 years. I am moving back to Australia next year and will be moving to Bribane. Partly because that is where my family live but also because I just couldn't cope with the heat in North Queensland anymore. It really is a very hash climate there, you can't really enjoy the summer because it is too hot and the risk of skin cancer is very high. Townsville is also a long way from anywhere. It has a large army base and smaller airforce base and a large port - great when you are a teenage girl on a night out!! It depends what you are looking for - send me a PM if you want anymore info. Michelle.

rob&lucy

Give us a PM if you want as we live in Townsville. It has changed heaps in the last few years or the better and does not have the feel of a military city at all. There are heaps of shades everywhere for sun protection and also if you are anywhere in Australia you need sunblock these days.As for the heat you have air con and fans and can adjust pretty well if you want to. I love it here and there are also quite a few expats here.
Lucy

owleywoodcat

Glad to hear that Lucy, we should be heading out to live in Townsville at the end of the month - just waiting on our medicals and finalising the house sale. Bit of a delay as my partner was in hospital last year and they have asked for more specialist reports before sending off the medicals. It would be unbearable if we don't get it, as I've handed in my notice, and organised a leaving do!

Anyway, back to the subject, we have heards loads of good things about Townsville from Aussies in the UK who have been there, and friends who have visited. All say it's a great place to live, and agreed as Lucy said, they agreed it has changed (improved) a lot in the last few years. One of my future colleagues said you really get used to the heat, and start feeling cool when it's only 23 degrees. They had visitors from Melbourne who were wearing shorts and vests, while they were in track suit bottoms and fleecies against the 'cold'.

Corinna

Hi!

Great to hear that there are some more people from this board heading for Townsville, apart from Jimtrish and myself. Seems like everyone wants to move to Brissie or Melbourne.
I´m leaving Germany by the end of May to start my "new life" in June.
Have been in Townsville for a few days during my WHV year and loved it, that´s why I´m going back. It´s not as humid as Cairns, as far as I know, but the climate ist very pleasant all year round (if you like it warm and cosy, like I do)
I am sooo looking forward to it!

See you there,
Corinna

rob&lucy

Let us know, if you want to, and we can all meet up for a drink or 5 to celebrate

Corinna

Will give you a call/PM/Mail

Brissiegirl

Agree with this about Townsville. Huge army base does present it's own problems.. lots of young men who are dead bored when on their time out from being at the barracks. I lived on campus at James Cook Uni near the army barracks.. was a very interesting year I spent there.. (I moved back to Brisbane the following year). Having spent most of my life in Brisbane, I was still stunned at just how humid Townsville could get. Was fun though. Maggie (Magnetic) Island is a boat trip away, which is a nice get away. Also, if you have a car, there's lots to explore in that part of Qld, national parks and the like. I recall the town centre of Townsville being some what dead though. Not much happens around there. I would recommend taking the Sunlander train from Brisbane to Townsville/Cairns. A really good trip, did it twice to and from Uni.