Hi guys,

after much umming and aarring we have decided to go where our hearts are and settle in Cairns. ( If and when we ever get our visas granted ).

Is there anyone out there who has lived in Cairns or surrounding area, who could advise us on the nicest schools etc. Have 5 yr old and 3 yr old, so schooling v.important to us.

Thanks, any info muchly appreciated!

Hope you know what you are letting yourself in for Leigh.
Met a mate 2 weeks ago who live in Cairns.
Infested with wildlife - of the creepy crawly type.
He has a special fluorescent tube thing in the garden that attracts mozzies and when they come into the rays they drop into a bath of soapy water and drown.
He left it on one night and the bath had no water left as it was full of thousands and thousands of mozzies a foot deep.
They also have trouble on the beach as a bloody great salt water croc has decided to nest there (protected species) so they have to be careful which surfboard they use!
Also just had an infestation of rhino beetles. Big black things that hiss at you.
Not that I want to put you off; but be aware !!

apart from that it's lovely.

Except you can't go in the water for 6 months of the year cos of box jellyfish

Thanks for that Bix!:scared:

It's ok, we are aware of the bugs/creepy crawlies, the wet season, the humidity, the cyclones and the hotter than an oven temperatures!

It might be the worst thing we've ever done and it may end up being the best, but without going and having a stab at it, we'll never know.

Ste lived there for 6 mths, a while ago now, and loved it, had no real probs with anything, although the rain did get on his nerves after a while, very nice to sit out at night and watch the electrical storms with a beer in hand, but not so nice when you have to go out to work in it.

Anyhow, any other advice welcome!

Very true, also when we visited last summer, they had a $35million development of the esplanade going on, with swiming lagoon, bbq's etc, etc.

So if we were desperate for a swim, we'd go there and leave the stingers well alone!

I dont think it matters where you go in Oz - you'll always come up against the bugs and beasts. (Anyway, the most deadly species is man)

It's a lovely part of Oz, wish you all the best.

Sounds like you are going there with eyes wide open - good.
His whole family love the place by the way

i spent about 2 months in cairns in 97 and i really liked it, don't know if we would live there but t was a nice place to visit.

have you got work in the area?

Thanks Hiddenpaw, we think its beautiful up there and as we aren't really looking for a " big city " lifestyle, we think it'll suit us down to the ground. We want a quite life for the kids and hope that's what we'll find there.

Hi WBB,

when we went last summer, Ste made a few contacts and as soon as we have our visas gripped tightly within our grubby mitts, then we shall send some e-mails to those contacts and see what is available.

We look regularly at the job market in Oz and ste is fairly lucky that what he does seems to be quite in demand. ( is also on the MODL ).

I'm just back from cairns (holiday) and the re-development of the esplanade is amazing, its so much better than when we last took a holiday back in 2000! The lagoon is a hang out place for all... no matter who you are... you have the little kids playing on the man-made beach the keen swimmers in the middle and the older guys & gals just dipping their feet in... but every time i was in the area it was always full!!

A great area to choose - i love it!!

Hi AJH, welcome to the forum!


Glad to hear that you enjoyed cairns too...there doesn't seem to be very many people going there permanently though, makes me wonder why...I suppose the searing heat and humidity could be something to do with it!

we went to Cairns for just two days January last year so no much info to give except to say that I really liked it - seemed a lovely place.

It was quite sticky and hot but I like that sort of tropical weather so didn't find it a problem. (but I suppose two days wasn't very long to put up with it!!)


Please go and live there as I want to come and spend a week or so on holiday so I can get some serious Barrier Reef diving in and I need a place to stay!!!

I don't have a problem with the weather up there, might change my mind after a yr or so up there!


Yep, the doors open for your holidays, you can doss underneath the renovated queenslander we plan to buy!!!!