My husband has been offered a job in Mackay Queensland, i dont know anything about this area of OZ, does anyone have any tips, advice, cost of living, good for kids etc, any bits of advice would be great.

I'm in Mackay. We've been here a week - we moved down from Cairns as the job market is pretty good (fingers crossed). It's dusty, parched and there isn't a great deal here - however, there are nice beaches, the marina complex is quite stylish and you can get everything you need. We live on a boat but I've heard that it's quite difficult to find accommodation and that the prices are somewhat inflated. It's certainly at the higher end of living costs in regional Qld - pub meals etc are a fruity $25! If the job pays enough then it's no problem. There are certainly loads of job ads around too.

Thanks for the speedy info, i have tried googling the area and looked at the tourism sites but they only advertise the great points of the area. So any advice has got to be better than none.

I'll update you when I explore more!!

It is renowned for being an expensive place to live. Whenever we have to spend staff up there its a nightmare trying to find accommodation, either hotel or longer term, and its the most expensive place in regional Queensland.

Ooohh I hope I dont end up there.

If I get the job im after its either DIDO from Mackay or FIFO from Brisbane..

Brisbane is cheaper than Mackay!! Accomodation that iv looked at in Mackay is seriously expensive.

Our man on the ground in Mackay upped sticks and moved to Perth a few months back never to be heard of again.

If you look at some of his posts you will get some first hand opinions of the place. Search for username Framac67.

He lived and worked there for a few years but putting it politely he was not impressed with the place. Mind he was a Geordie so you have to make some allowances.

Oh, and Mackay may be expensive but it is of course relative. If you will be earning a good wage it doesn't matter in the scheme of things.

There aren't many houses around that I'd actually consider living in either. It looks quite bogan so far - but we've not explored everywhere. The shopping centre yesterday when we went to Coles was dash in dash out.

I lived in Mackay for 4 years if you want any info drop me a message

It is a secret society?

I do not like to write to much on here about Mackay as there is always someone that comes along and says its a shit hole so i prefer to send information in private now

Don't worry about that.
Different strokes and all that.

Yes that is true :sunglasses: but jesus there are more worse shit pits in this country than Mackay to live in

Would you like to name some?
Actually before you answer that

Its ok i will keep them a secret