Hello all,

Writing this from my newly emptied flat (all furniture packed up and on a ship) the move to Sydney is now starting to feel very real.

Myself and my partner Amy are moving over in just 2 weeks with work and would love to hear from people here with any advice, any social groups and, for myself, any sports groups (running/football) that people would recommend.

Cheers,

Paul

Sydney is a pretty big place - where are you moving to?

We'll be in Chatswood for the first month. I'll be working in Epping so will most likely live somewhere like Crows Nest/Balmain etc to be close to harbour and work.

P

Oh, sorry but you will be along way from our gang down here in The Shire....but good luck.

Crows Nest/Balmain is a strange choice for someone working in Epping. Crows does make a bit more sense, but Balmain is a strange choice if proximity to Epping is key. It can be done but a bit of a nightmare, as you'd end up driving through some pretty snarled up routes and tolls.

In what you are looking for, I'd say you'd be better off having Chatswood as a hub and looking at Lane Cove, Lindfield, Greenwich kind of areas. Lots of greenery for running, pools, sports and a much easier commute.

Chatswood is a mostly Chinese community and gets very busy everyday of the week. I use to work there and it was always a nightmare driving and finding a parking spot even in Westfield. Even on foot it was chaos. I would suggest Crows Nest as a better place for commuting to Epping and the city. St Leonards station is a 5 min walk from Crows Nest.

+1

Check out the Thursday after-work drinks in the city when you arrive. Always a nice way to meet a few people. Chatswood will be handy as a place to start with because of the train line, and you won't need to go into the city for the likes of opening a bank account, getting a driving license, medicare card etc.., but yes, I agree that I wouldn't want to live there too long, and parking is a pain in the posterior. If you like Asian food though, you're sorted!

I agree with the others. Chatswood is fine for initial settling in, but not as a permanent base. It will also depend on your income as to where you live- the closer to the CBD the pricier things are on the North Shore, unless you live in a not very nice bit. Lindfield is very nice, but again has a favoured side.
I keep laughing, even after 4 years when the radio announcer keeps going on about traffic hold ups in the Epping tunnel- it sounds like "F-ing" tunnel. Avoid a travel route that involves it though.

hi, me and my girlfriend recently moved to Balmain from bristol. we are keen to meet new people and make some friends. how about meeting up some time?

georgieboy, look under the meet ups forum, their is a regular Sydney CBD drinks on every thursday and we have a couple of couples from Balmain/Drummoyne area...even a fellow from Brizzle as well I believe!

I lived in artarmon for a while and that was ok. Chatswood isn't to bad. There's as many Anglo Australian there as there is Chinese, just not many brits. And coincidentally the rent is about $200 less for similar accommodation just 1 train stop away in st Leonard's/crows nest. And check out the great northern on a week night if you get bored.

We live in Carlingford (before Epping, a while ago Marsfield & St Leonards)

No advice really just wanted to say hello, I am planning on organising a few meetups but the first few will be child related.

I am from Sydney originally, him indoors in the expat but we both don't know many people in Sydney so would be good to meet others.

we are coming to Sydney Nov12,we were recommended Canterbury we are mid 40s with girls 12 and 9 any one around Canterbury or any groups etc, OH is working in St Peters,

What was the Canterbury recommendation based on? That's quite a defined suburb to recommend, as opposed to Inner West etc.