Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
#1
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Hello, we are newbies to this site. We are hopefully moving to Sydney around Christmas time (subject to visa approval).
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
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#2
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Hello, we are newbies to this site. We are hopefully moving to Sydney around Christmas time (subject to visa approval).
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
Just make sure you have plenty of booze, patience and whatever else you need to get you through and you'll be fine.
Trish
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Hello, we are newbies to this site. We are hopefully moving to Sydney around Christmas time (subject to visa approval).
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
i've moved your thread to the main Australia forum as it's more likely to be seen by those already living here rather than those hoping to
those areas are all good, part of the northern beaches (insular peninsular)
house prices are at a premium due to the proximity to the beach
Dee Why would be the bottom of my list, personal preference would be CC or Manly
DY is struggling for space (i suppose Manly is too but it doesn't look as bad)
can't comment on schools as my boy isn't old enough for it to be a consideration
good luck
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Hello, we are newbies to this site. We are hopefully moving to Sydney around Christmas time (subject to visa approval).
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
Gill
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Hello
When we first came out here we lived at Warriewood and our girls (now aged 9, 8 and 6) went to school at North Narrabeen so not much further north than the suburbs you list. It's a great family friendly area and good proximity to the city without the city feel if you know what I mean! There is a growing crowd of us that meet regularly (check the meet ups section under Sydney Ladies FTC). Let us know when you get here and come and have coffee with us. . .
Good luck with the move.
B
When we first came out here we lived at Warriewood and our girls (now aged 9, 8 and 6) went to school at North Narrabeen so not much further north than the suburbs you list. It's a great family friendly area and good proximity to the city without the city feel if you know what I mean! There is a growing crowd of us that meet regularly (check the meet ups section under Sydney Ladies FTC). Let us know when you get here and come and have coffee with us. . .
Good luck with the move.
B
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Hi
We are also a family of 5 (kids 14, 8 and 4) and we've been here since end of June. We're in St. Ives. We know people who are coming out in January who did a reccie recently staying in Manly. They totally discounted it as a family area after their first weekend - lots of noise and pissed up people around - but that might just be them![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Good luck with the move - I'm sure we'll meet at a get together at some stage.
We are also a family of 5 (kids 14, 8 and 4) and we've been here since end of June. We're in St. Ives. We know people who are coming out in January who did a reccie recently staying in Manly. They totally discounted it as a family area after their first weekend - lots of noise and pissed up people around - but that might just be them
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Good luck with the move - I'm sure we'll meet at a get together at some stage.
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Thanks for all your replies.
Binbird, coffee with new friends sounds great as I will be billynomates.
Does anyone know what the commute to CBD is like from Northern beaches. OH doesn't want it too long. At the mo he sits on a train for 2 hours twice a day and does not want to continue that in Oz. Saying that he wants to live by the sea so may not get both things he wants
.
We are open to other suburbs if anyone can suggest anywhere
Cheers
Binbird, coffee with new friends sounds great as I will be billynomates.
Does anyone know what the commute to CBD is like from Northern beaches. OH doesn't want it too long. At the mo he sits on a train for 2 hours twice a day and does not want to continue that in Oz. Saying that he wants to live by the sea so may not get both things he wants
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We are open to other suburbs if anyone can suggest anywhere
Cheers
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Hi,
We're considering the same move (also with kids), to Sydneys northern beaches or suburbs and I have the same issue with the commute to the CBD.
The answer from my research, is that the northern beaches isn't the best area from which to commute into the CBD. Simply, there are no trains in the northern beaches so travel must be by bus, car or via ferry, and the road routes across the Spit or into town are busy. Similiar to your OH I want a commute of max 1 hour, and I now believe the best solution is to live in a location on the rail line heading out of Sydney up to Hornsby. That way you're only half an hour to the beaches but also commutable to CBD.
Check the rail route on the city rail website. The rail map shows you all the stations / suburbs, and from that you can use google earth to view the area.
Possible areas would be Hornsby, Chatswood, Gordon, Epping (basically any rail station town). Property prices in some towns are high though, as pricey as the beach towns. Non-railway linked towns like Killarney Heights or French's Forest are closer to the sea, but the route to work would involve 2 modes of transport.
Of the northern beaches, also from my research, Manley isn't idea residential area because of the continual stream of tourists off the ferry from Circular Quay. But go 2 miles further north and the problem is solved. The further north you go the lower the property prices, but the longer the commute obviously. Newport is as far north as you should consider if you want to get into CBD daily I'm told, and even that involves a nightmare-ish commute via bus. I so wish the northern beaches had a railway line, it would make our decision so much easier!!
I'm interested in following other responses to your post. Good luck!
We're considering the same move (also with kids), to Sydneys northern beaches or suburbs and I have the same issue with the commute to the CBD.
The answer from my research, is that the northern beaches isn't the best area from which to commute into the CBD. Simply, there are no trains in the northern beaches so travel must be by bus, car or via ferry, and the road routes across the Spit or into town are busy. Similiar to your OH I want a commute of max 1 hour, and I now believe the best solution is to live in a location on the rail line heading out of Sydney up to Hornsby. That way you're only half an hour to the beaches but also commutable to CBD.
Check the rail route on the city rail website. The rail map shows you all the stations / suburbs, and from that you can use google earth to view the area.
Possible areas would be Hornsby, Chatswood, Gordon, Epping (basically any rail station town). Property prices in some towns are high though, as pricey as the beach towns. Non-railway linked towns like Killarney Heights or French's Forest are closer to the sea, but the route to work would involve 2 modes of transport.
Of the northern beaches, also from my research, Manley isn't idea residential area because of the continual stream of tourists off the ferry from Circular Quay. But go 2 miles further north and the problem is solved. The further north you go the lower the property prices, but the longer the commute obviously. Newport is as far north as you should consider if you want to get into CBD daily I'm told, and even that involves a nightmare-ish commute via bus. I so wish the northern beaches had a railway line, it would make our decision so much easier!!
I'm interested in following other responses to your post. Good luck!
Last edited by Astronaut; Oct 23rd 2007 at 4:23 am.
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Cost of housing is going to play a very important part of where to live if considering this part of Sydney. What you get in some of beach areas for your money compared to possibly having a pool and a 30 min drive to beach instead or a much bigger house and a 60 min drive to beach. It is a very personal decision.
From my perspective transport links and schools drove my decision for St Ives. I love the beach areas but cost was also a big factor as I wanted a big house. Compromise I have my big old crap (from a revenue rasing point of view) house, but I have a pool, decent links to city without the increased cost of housing of being a walk to train. And I go to the beach maybe once in a blue moon! I also have a huge mortgage
to afford it all!
From my perspective transport links and schools drove my decision for St Ives. I love the beach areas but cost was also a big factor as I wanted a big house. Compromise I have my big old crap (from a revenue rasing point of view) house, but I have a pool, decent links to city without the increased cost of housing of being a walk to train. And I go to the beach maybe once in a blue moon! I also have a huge mortgage
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Totally agree.
If they had a railway line, they'd all be like Bondi or Cronulla with sky-high prices, wall-to-wall apartments and zillions of people. They definitely wouldn't be the laid-back beachy places they are at the moment
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If they had a railway line, they'd all be like Bondi or Cronulla with sky-high prices, wall-to-wall apartments and zillions of people. They definitely wouldn't be the laid-back beachy places they are at the moment
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Wow, I feel I've stirred up a hornets nest here
There are so many differring opinions. I must admit OH is quite happy not to have to sit on a train to commute, he rather fancies a ferry or even a bus for a change. Also weekends on a laid-back sandy beach with not too many tourists sounds like it may be worth a slightly more difficult commute.
Any opinions on Mosman or Balmoral from anyone? They look nice and seem to have lots of schools and the commute looks very easy. OH is going out for 2 weeks on Saturday so we are trying to narrow down his search a bit.
Thanks
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Any opinions on Mosman or Balmoral from anyone? They look nice and seem to have lots of schools and the commute looks very easy. OH is going out for 2 weeks on Saturday so we are trying to narrow down his search a bit.
Thanks
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