arkon

Just wondered if anyone here lived in or near Gosford NSW? If so what do you think of it. I ask as we just went shopping there and I quite liked Erina Fair shopping center. Sad I know but anywhere with decent shops gets my attention now, but Gosford seemed quite nice and only 30 minutes or so from Sydney.

BadgeIsBack

My family are there on the beaches 15mins away. The beaches are nice, the Central Coast is a, on the face of it,a nice place not too far from Sydney - are you sure it is 30mins, it probably is not at the moment - more like an hour - surely? There was talk of fast ships coming in etc.

Gosford town centre is really becoming a problem, I lived there on and off for the best part of a year - went back 3 years ago and it seemed a dump - loads of derros, closing down shops - the new Erina extension in 2003 must be putting on the squeeze. Just like any other place in Australia, the best suburbs near the water are OK, Gosford itself not so nice. Some people talk about the Central Coast seeming a lot faster paced now - I noticed it after 3 years, and some people think there are anti-social elements in the beach towns.

But there is a quality of life there still to be had.

BadgeIsBack

Arkon my mate's wifes parents live in Foster - near you I imagine.

They seem normal people! Have you ever got the train from the MidNorth coast down from Kempsey to Taree/Foster - Sydney - I have many times. I'm trying to remember whether they were all 2-headed!

arkon

Thanks Badge, just shows looks can be deceptive. It was around the water that looked good I must admit.

Mrs Jackaroo

Hubbys cousin lives in North Gosford and loves it. Its probably about an hour from Sydney - close to The Entrance which is apparently really nice (we're camping there Australia Day weekend )

joho

I live in Umina near Gosford and I love it here, you do get drunks, yob culture but I havent witnessed or been affected by it at all. Then again you get it anywhere and compared to the UK its very quiet. It all depends on what you're after. Sydney siders come here for their holidays and many have weekenders here so if its good enough for them. Its nice to know that you like something in my area Arkon I almost feel quite honoured.

Jo

arkon

LOL. Anywhere with a westfield or other shopping mall seems very attractive now. Gosford was just over half hour to Hornsby when I drove it the other day but you can easily add another half hour to get to Sydney CBD. You have put me off slightly by suggesting it's a holiday destination! (just like where I am now!)

BadgeIsBack

Quite simply, Arkon you will probably be able to afford to live in nice beach backwater suburb. You will see *some* of the problems you see further north (and I know you have a practised eye and notice these things in regard to service and infrastructure) but it is a much nicer place -and - you can get to Sydney in 1 hour rather than your current 3-6 (or whatever it is).

Gibbo

There are lots of lovely places on the Central Coast. My pick, close to beaches, would be Wamberal, Forrester's, Copacabana, MacMaster's. Just off the beaches, Matcham, Holgate, Pickett's Valley. They are all close to Erina Fair!

joho

You wouldnt notice the difference, beaches are still quiet not what you would expect from a holiday destiantion and is more like a Sydeny weekender place rather than a 'holiday destination' where backpackers and travellers come, most of them go to Terrigal or The Entrance.

Jo

joho

These ase areas are lovely, I would probably prefer to be at some of those but need the access to the freeway, train service for hubby into Sydney and Umina is a nice compromise, its all in the area you choose within the suburbs and this are is really 3 areas in one woy woy, ettalong and Umina, all have their good bits and not so good bits. In perspective I used to live in a lovely village where everyone knew eveyone else, now its rough with druggies. The Central Coast offers me everything I want with easy access to the city if I choose to do so. Tuggerah nearby also has a big Westfield and a factory outlet mall too.

Gibbo

Umina is nice. One of my sons has a large pole home on the hill at the back of Umina ,Greenhaven. I love it there.

arkon

I will be visiting there again as we don't get long at these places. I was quite keen on Canberra being the next stop but then NBN happened last night and now I'm not so sure.

mumomonty

Hi Arkon, it's not like whereyou are now. I know where you are and I also know the Central Coast. Good friends of mine moved up to your neck of the woods about 3 years ago to get acreage and say it's so different. They went down to the Central Coast a few weeks back and said it was so busy and fast.

Erina Fair isa great shopping place and you have beaches nearby. It's very bushy compared to where you are so you do get fires! It's only an hour / hour and half to Sydney if you need to go on the train. It is much longer driving in rush hour. My hubby used to take the train from Woy Woy (We lived in Umina Beach). He said it was clean and he always got a seat adn it only cost 34 bux a week.

I know things have gone up a lot since then so I check it out. It's gone up to 38 a week.

Sure the Central Coast is growing fast adn getting busier but you have such great bush places, lookouts, trips to civilisation (Sydney). I rate the place and if I hadn't have been so homesick woudl have still been there. We plan to return. We know the things we don't like about it. i.e. bit dodgy in some burbs at night, suburbs quite dense but choose a nice one and there are plenty that are more bush settings (such as Somersby/Ourimbah for stock) or near the water. It's an absolutely beautiful coastline.

It has life there compared to where you are now. We did think about coming back up your way and living near our friends but the work's not there, the wages are lower and you have to drive so far to get a coffee / socialise.

SO are you gona stay in Aus now then?

Poppy 2

Hi Arkon

Have you ever thought of Cronulla area? We are next suburb in and there is a train into Sydney. We drive and can do it in 30 minutes to Circular Quay, but that is a good day, probably 40 on a bad day, very easy and to add to it, there is a Westfield at Miranda, 10 minutes drive and it is supposed to be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, so I've read anyway and it is huge, I really like it for shopping. I know Cronulla has had bad press because of the riots, which I didn't find out about until we moved here, but it seems to have been a one off incident, I never see any trouble there and it is a lovely beach and the shopping street is nice too, has a nice feel to it.

If you would like any more info, let me know and I will try and help. That goes for others too.

Cheers