Hello

I am a single 50 year old female thinking of moving to Hervey Bay. Just wondering would there be any social life for me, or is it all young families and retirees?

thank you

Only spent a few days there last year so can't really give an informed comment but I suppose it depends what you class as a social life?

It is a favourite retirement spot and a friend told me there are more motorised scooters there than anywhere else in Australia.

Thanks Bix, I am not sure I am that stage yet, so good to know

There was a really long thread, about 8-9 years back, about Hervey bay, but I think a lot of the posters have now left the area and in some cases gone home, as it really is slow and more for retirees.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/austr...ey-bay-521831/
and
http://britishexpats.com/forum/updat...1-year-661504/
will give you some info, though they are a few years old.

If you do move there, beware of the location of your house.
I work in disaster management for Queensland and Hervey Bay is a major risk owing to being very low lying and thus very much at risk from any cyclone/storm surge coming down the coast. We have shedloads of plans stored on how/where to evacuate, and have had several scares in recent years.

Thanks Pollyanna, it does sound rather slow

If you fancied HB perhaps check out Bargara.

One of the quieter beach side towns with everyday basic facilities for shopping, eating out etc and a climate claimed to be on a par with Hawaii.

Only 15-20 minutes from Bundaberg which is a sizeable regional city so will have most things anyone needs.

We like Hervery Bay, but it does have a retirement feel to it.

Hawaii?! well volcanoes and tsunamis are rare but there have been a couple of tornadoes over the last few years...!

Thank you everyone, you have all been very helpful!

I love Hervey Bay, it was our favourite destination for fishing trips for many years. Alas now I don't get to fish midweek as I used to so it's taken a bit of a backseat. The boatramp is always busy whenever we get up there though.
The city itself is a mix of several smaller towns that have grown together & while it used to be considered "God's Waiting Room" there are an awful lot of youngsters in the area. It's popular with backpackers all year & can get quite busy & noisy along the seafront at night. Nice sheltered [no surf] beaches, plenty of bars, cafes etc.
The climate is awesome, from Bundaberg to Gympie is supposed to be the ideal climate. Lol NOT in my opinion for about 4-6 weeks it's hot and humid as hades. The proximity of the Bay does keep it more bearable than inland where we live.

Thanks Cresta, that is helpful.

Hawaii has different climate zones. Big Island actually has 8 and Hilo is one of the wettest places?

......not to mention a Cat 2 cyclone on the horizon

I have been 'flipping ' houses for around 13 years and have done 6 everywhere from Katherine in the NT to Sydney and the Gold Coast. I've lived in Hervey Bay for the last two years with what will to be my last 'flip'.

I have had around 20 jobs that require a trade on this house , from the addition of a Juliet balcony to carpet and everything in between , every single job has been required to be redone , one room required recarpeting 3 times.

The house consequently has take around a third more time than it should to complete , the standard of workmanship across the board is appalling.

The winter weather is tolerable, the summer not so much so,- if you already love a sub tropical climate , in summer the aircon can drive the electricity bill to dizzying heights , I wouldn't recommend Hervey to anyone who's retiring just on the weather alone.

Or to anyone else generally , the only reason to live in Hervey Bay as apposed to just about anywhere else is if you're on a very good earner.

The medical services are --well--adequate, however there is a shortage of specialists in several areas , my wife has to go to Brisbane for a rheumatologist for example .

If you drive a special interest vehicle you probably do a lot of your own servicing , yes ?-----you do now if you want it to keep running --

The wife had an 18 month old Swift with dodgy brakes --couldn't be fixed , -yes there is a local dealer , yes it was under warranty,--I sold it on.

Shopping--lots of shops , stock however is another conversation .

The Boat Club is value for money and nice place, so is the RSL if you like standing in a queue for 25 minutes to order a meal.

I can't comment on the social or dating aspect of life in Hervey Bay , it could be excellent , I just don't know.

I'll be putting my current property to market in 4 months when the weather cools down , and it's gone----believe me , even if I take a hit.

And then, so am I.

Any takers--

Afternoon.
havent been on here in ages, and was pleasently suprised to see a coment about Hervey Bay.
We ( me 50 hubby 49) have been here 8 years now and love the place.
We have a son at Uni down on the Sunshine Coast and my daughter and her partner have just moved here to have their first child and lots of support!
We have a fantastic social life up here. Out every weekend with lots of friends, both Brits and Ozzies. Plenty of pubs and lots of nice resturants from both ends of the scale. Out tonight with the girls for a pizza at Santini's and drinkies at Coast. (Google them).
Anything I ca help you with, just shout........<<<snip>>>