Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
Hello Everyone
I am an Australian who is living in London with wife and seven yr old girl.
Wish to relocate to live near the beach in Surfer's and would like advice for say area to live (close to beach) and to cycle to railway station to Brisbane for the day...would wish to buy a nice house, something we can't afford here in the UK.
Any word up on experience of living there and schools to go for would be brilliant for me (or) websites to check out.
My appreciation: Daryl Lee
(yeah, I know the name...hence why I left Oz along time back)
I am an Australian who is living in London with wife and seven yr old girl.
Wish to relocate to live near the beach in Surfer's and would like advice for say area to live (close to beach) and to cycle to railway station to Brisbane for the day...would wish to buy a nice house, something we can't afford here in the UK.
Any word up on experience of living there and schools to go for would be brilliant for me (or) websites to check out.
My appreciation: Daryl Lee
(yeah, I know the name...hence why I left Oz along time back)
#2
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 666
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
I think the train station is at Robina.
Houses arent that cheap on the gold coast but I suppose it depends where you live in the uk.
Gold Coast to brisbane is very commutable, but takes a bit out of the day.
good luck!
Viv
Houses arent that cheap on the gold coast but I suppose it depends where you live in the uk.
Gold Coast to brisbane is very commutable, but takes a bit out of the day.
good luck!
Viv
#3
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
I can't imagine you want to live in Surfers, especially with a young child. At the moment the end of the rail line is Varsity Lakes. Depending on how long you want to drive before even getting to the nearest station, then the likes of Burleigh Waters, Mermaid or even Robina would get you to the beach inside 15 minutes and ditto to a station. However, if I were having to commute up to Brissie I wouldn't want to be any lower than say, Nerang (not close to the ocean) but then you're moving slightly further inland.
The closeness of the ocean will bump up house prices considerably although all the coast is quite expensive these days. However, as I, or anyone else, don't either know or need to know what you consider reasonable, it's hard to say what's expensive and what isn't. You're idea could be way different to mine
Your best bet would be to check out realestate.com.au whilst having Google Earth open on the GC. You'll still obviously only get a basic idea, but it's as good a place to start as any.
Good luck.
The closeness of the ocean will bump up house prices considerably although all the coast is quite expensive these days. However, as I, or anyone else, don't either know or need to know what you consider reasonable, it's hard to say what's expensive and what isn't. You're idea could be way different to mine
Your best bet would be to check out realestate.com.au whilst having Google Earth open on the GC. You'll still obviously only get a basic idea, but it's as good a place to start as any.
Good luck.
#4
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
The railway runs between 7 to 10 km inland from the coast, with stations at Varsity Lakes, Nerang, Robina and Helensvale. Central to Helensvale is $7.40 each way (Peak) and Central to Varsity Lakes is $9.70 - that's using a Go Card. A paper ticket (which will soon be unobtainable anyway) is $10.80 and $14.10.
I don't know how much parking space is available at the stations, but if you have a job in the CBD that requires you to start at 9am and leave at 5pm, you will probably find the journey a real pain. It's 65minutes to Helensvale and 81 minutes to Varsity Lakes.
I don't know how much parking space is available at the stations, but if you have a job in the CBD that requires you to start at 9am and leave at 5pm, you will probably find the journey a real pain. It's 65minutes to Helensvale and 81 minutes to Varsity Lakes.
#5
Account Open
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 4,298
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
living in surfers and commuting to brisbane isn't feasible, unless perhaps you are only commuting 2 or 3 days a week, then working from home.
The commute is too long, and surfers isn't a good place for a young child, in my opinion.
The commute is too long, and surfers isn't a good place for a young child, in my opinion.
#6
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
I did the commute by car from Surfers (Mermaid Waters among others) to Brisbane (Eagle St and Milton) for 3 years in the 90's (in an old Valiant - happy days). Then I sold the Valiant and bought a ford which promptly broke down, while it was getting fixed for a few weeks I commuted by coach which used to go central GC - Brisbane rail.
Back then it was an hours drive each way and traffic not too bad, but may well have changed in the intervening 15 years!
Back then it was an hours drive each way and traffic not too bad, but may well have changed in the intervening 15 years!
#7
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
I'm working at Robina Hospital (next to the rail station) at the moment & space in the station car park is scarce! Hospital staff park in there at the moment.....I believe the hospital expansion includes a car park, so that may ease.
I have been commuting from Ipswich to Robina....so going against the flow of traffic.....I would say you do not want to commute by road....the traffic heading to town does not move!
I have been commuting from Ipswich to Robina....so going against the flow of traffic.....I would say you do not want to commute by road....the traffic heading to town does not move!
#8
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Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Whinging Aussie
Posts: 523
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
I had a colleague living on the GC and commuting into Brisbane every morning. He was up at 4am and on the road by 5am to beat the traffic. He recently quit and got a job in Southport, and is now sane again.
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,412
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
I would not commute on the Gold Coast highway. I got stuck on it for four hours recently on a public holiday friday. Foolish, but I hear there are regularly long tailbacks.
#10
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
Thats the beauty of going the opposite way to everyone else lol.....
Starting a job in Ipswich soon, so get an extra 1.5hrs in bed!
Starting a job in Ipswich soon, so get an extra 1.5hrs in bed!
#12
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
Second all of the comments above ... I used to commute from Mount Tamborine to Brisbane (considerably less distance than Surfers to Brisbane) and I'm looking to work closer to home.
Life is just too chuffing short to spend 3 to 4 hours a day commuting.
Then again I ain't a beach person ... leafy hinterland is the go for me
Life is just too chuffing short to spend 3 to 4 hours a day commuting.
Then again I ain't a beach person ... leafy hinterland is the go for me
#14
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,412
Re: Living In Surfer's, commuting to Brisbane?
Second all of the comments above ... I used to commute from Mount Tamborine to Brisbane (considerably less distance than Surfers to Brisbane) and I'm looking to work closer to home.
Life is just too chuffing short to spend 3 to 4 hours a day commuting.
Then again I ain't a beach person ... leafy hinterland is the go for me
Life is just too chuffing short to spend 3 to 4 hours a day commuting.
Then again I ain't a beach person ... leafy hinterland is the go for me