youcanlaugh

Does anyone know how good the rail connection is between Perth and Bunbury and how long it takes?

Also, is Bunbury big enough to do all your shopping (from supermarket to DIY) or is a trip to Perth required for some/many things?

Thanks

Simone

Rail connection isn't great, I THINK it only goes twice a day. Would take 2 hours at least I would think(it's a 2 hour drive, longer in rush hour).

Yes, I think you could get all your shopping in Bunbury. They have all the supermarkets, Big W, Bunning and all that stuff. MAYBE you'll have some trouble with specialist things(I doubt it, but it depends what..), but all normal stuff you can get.

youcanlaugh

Thanks Simone,

Sounds like you have been to Bunbury. Do you have a feeling for what it would be like for a family with young kids. For instance, any ideas how the beach/weather/lifestyle compares to Perth? Big questions I know, but just curious to hear other peoples opinions.

Thanks

Simone

No different I would say. A little cooler.

And it's smaller, so a bit less choice with entertainment and jobs for example, but there's still plenty(though depends what you're used too, and what job you'll be looking for), and you're nearer to the rest of the southwest, which in my opinion is a big advantage.

Just see it as country town, that's growing fast.



Edit: We'd be living there probably, but Pascal is a graphic designer, and wouldn't have much of a chance getting a GOOD job down there, and he loves his job now)

delia

Don't know how frequent the trains run but Transperth quotes about 1h30m, you wouldn't commute though it's longer than you think(about 190Ks cbd to cbd). As for its size and ammenities, it's about he size of somewhere like Stockport (if you know it), and has all the shops you will need other than high fashion. Its also a very nice, clean and popular place, if you did settle there you would be halfway to Bussleton, Dunsbourgh and Margaret River where half of Perth heads for on the long weekends. Thats not to mention Bunbury itself which is just as popular. We,ve stayed in this region a few times, and in Bunbury and we like it a lot, If you have young kids you would do a lot worse than settle there, I think teenagers might find it a bit limited though.

Simone

Good description.

What I also wanted to add, try as search on this forum. There's been a few threads recently about Bunbury. It's getting more popular(and more expensive )

Teresa

We were going to do the Australind train to Bunbury with Dad when he was here but run short of time but do know that it takes 2 1/2 hours and runs twice a day and about $45 return.

Teresa

Simone

Yep, just looked it up (have been wanting to know this for ages!)

Above is correct.

From Perth, it goes at 9.30 and 17.45.
http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default...o=buy&from=per

From Bunbury at 6am and 14.45.
http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default...o=per&from=buy

http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=93:

See, this is why my friend who lives in Bunbury, and flew out to a mine every third week(two up, one down), only took the train once, and after that drove his car, left it at our house for two weeks and took a taxi to the airport!!!! (he's quit now, working 12 hours a day for 13 days in a row each time wasn't worth all the money he was earning!!) :scared:

youcanlaugh

Great info. Thanks everyone. Does Bunbury have a CBD as such, or is it really still a market town. Just wondering if there would be any work for a computer programmer there. Bunburyonline.com mentions a CBD, but doesn't give any clue as to what companies/setups are operating from there.

Simone

I certainly wouldn't call it a CBD!! lol! ;D

A computer programmer... doesn't sound good.... usually only big cities, even Perth has less than Sydney etc. But everywhere is growing, and if you're good, you never know.
I don't really know.... but I don't like the sound of it.....

bridiej

I might have dreamt it but I thought there was a new freeway, or upgraded freeway going in between Perth and Bunbury?

This is joint equal with Mandurah at the moment for us to check out, just cant wait to get there and see for ourselves....

youcanlaugh

mmm. These were my suspicions as well. I guess I need to get myself over there to check out any possibilities. I also really need to decide if I am going to continue in my current occupation, or make a complete change, which is what I have been considering for a while now. Unfortunately, my chosen career would be flight instructor which is rather poorly paid compared to programming, so plenty to think about.

Simone

Sort of... there's going to be a bypass past Mandurah I believe. The journey will still be at least 1 hour, 30 mins (it's nearly 200km's, whatever the road is).
And it won't be there for a few years yet.

Most annoying part of the trip is all the traffic lights at the neverending Mandurah(seems to go on and on and on, the suburbs of Mandurah!! )
And there's a bit which is just one lane each way, so annoying if there's a sunday driver in front of you, though every few km's there's an overtake lane.
But yeah, I think these are the parts they're going to fix. But's it's still not commutable to Perth, in rush hour the journey will be a lot longer!!

youcanlaugh

Hi BridieJ,

I hope you realise this is your fault! I started asking around amongst friends about Bunbury, and they all said "do it, great place". Just trying to piece it all together and see if I can make it work from a career standpoint.

Don't know much about Mandurah. Considered it a while back, but was concerned that maybe you got the people that couldn't quite afford Perth moving there. That sounds awful doesn't it. Let me rephrase it. I was concerned that there might be some rougher areas there. This is only going on what I have learned about Southern Perth, like the outskirts of Rockingham. I'm sure this could start a little debate. I'd heard that because of all the industry and the naval base down the south, the housing tends to be cheaper, with more built up/higher crime areas.

youcanlaugh

Out of curiousity, any ideas what the rush hour travelling times would be between Jandakot airport and Perth CBD?