Moving to Melbourne
Oct 16th 2005 | 4:58 pm
#31
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 553
From: parkdale, melbourne
Re: Moving to Melbourne
Originally Posted by haggis supper
Charoltte,
Melbourne is simply the most child friendly place we have ever experienced and are constantly remarking on how much there is to do out here. The beaches are clean, there are just countless play parks for the wee ones - there must be about 10 playparks within a 5 min drive of our house. All with what appear to be brand new equipment and very well thought out - not just the standard swing, slide and roundabout we had at home. At many of these parks there are free bbq's - hot plates and picnic tables so you can bring a bbq, cook your own food and let the kids run around. We've been very impressed.
In the 5 weeks that we've been here we've been to the Acquarium, Healsville Animal Sanctuary (native Australian animal park), Werribbee Open Range Zoo, The Botanical gardens, Anakie Fairy park, Albert Park, to the beach, to a free open air Barbie concert at Fed Square, to see Thomas the Tank Engine up in the Dandenong Ranges, went on Puffin Billy train ride, to see Little Robots and Andy Pandy in concert etc etc. There is simply an incredible amount to do.
There is a free magazine that we get at school that has listing section (I think it's about 10 pages) with things to do with kids - places to go, concerts, plays, events etc. We've certainly never worried about what to do or where to go !
We've also found that there the restaurants and cafes are full of kids. We now try to eat out at least twice a week with the kids and make sure we have breakfast once a week out.
Not too sure about the cost of sport. I'm sports daft myself and hoping this rubs off on the kids. My 5 year old has just started school and she is already playing a lot more sport than she did in the UK - it's very important here for the kids to have a more active sports life. The school is also taking the kids off on a 2 week intensive swimming session. They will have very few lessons during this time as the emphasis is being able to swim, and swim well.
What you ill find is that there are plenty of opportunities to play sport. There are tennis courts, football and soccer pitches everywhere.
Send me a PM if you want any more information. Happy to help if I can.
Good luck.
Col
Melbourne is simply the most child friendly place we have ever experienced and are constantly remarking on how much there is to do out here. The beaches are clean, there are just countless play parks for the wee ones - there must be about 10 playparks within a 5 min drive of our house. All with what appear to be brand new equipment and very well thought out - not just the standard swing, slide and roundabout we had at home. At many of these parks there are free bbq's - hot plates and picnic tables so you can bring a bbq, cook your own food and let the kids run around. We've been very impressed.
In the 5 weeks that we've been here we've been to the Acquarium, Healsville Animal Sanctuary (native Australian animal park), Werribbee Open Range Zoo, The Botanical gardens, Anakie Fairy park, Albert Park, to the beach, to a free open air Barbie concert at Fed Square, to see Thomas the Tank Engine up in the Dandenong Ranges, went on Puffin Billy train ride, to see Little Robots and Andy Pandy in concert etc etc. There is simply an incredible amount to do.
There is a free magazine that we get at school that has listing section (I think it's about 10 pages) with things to do with kids - places to go, concerts, plays, events etc. We've certainly never worried about what to do or where to go !
We've also found that there the restaurants and cafes are full of kids. We now try to eat out at least twice a week with the kids and make sure we have breakfast once a week out.
Not too sure about the cost of sport. I'm sports daft myself and hoping this rubs off on the kids. My 5 year old has just started school and she is already playing a lot more sport than she did in the UK - it's very important here for the kids to have a more active sports life. The school is also taking the kids off on a 2 week intensive swimming session. They will have very few lessons during this time as the emphasis is being able to swim, and swim well.
What you ill find is that there are plenty of opportunities to play sport. There are tennis courts, football and soccer pitches everywhere.
Send me a PM if you want any more information. Happy to help if I can.
Good luck.
Col
Hi just thought I'd 'second' your comments.
We too moved to Beaumaris just over 2 years ago. The school the kids go to is wonderful. I think my children are at the 'other' Beaumaris School to you, but I know families from both and the schools are great. You can guarantee we will know people in common because it's such a lovely community.
Price of sport. I'm amazed! My son has done a term of 'Milo cricket' it was something ridiculous like $40 a term... and you get a cricket set, milo drinks, magazine etc thrown in. AFL, same price, CD rom, drink bottle, baseball cap, small footie ball thrown in for free. Again Soccer, (about the same price for under 6's) once they are 7 they have league matches and from memory that cost about $100 for the soccer season.
The reason being, lots of sponsorship for healthy life etc AND everybody gets involved. At Beaumaris Soccer Club we went along, not knowing a soul, my husband said I'm happy to help out as long as I'm not the coach... you've guessed it he was nominated as coach (that guy there has the right accent for soccer!). BUT he loved it. It's all volunteer basis and he's now got them playing through the summer season (indoors as there's aircon) both my son and daughter play now. He's got a great deal from it and it is so much friendlier than sports centre's in the UK.
The 'best Suburbs question' is very personal to different people and lots of factors like if it's commutable, price of property etc have to go into account. I for one love where we are and don't intend to move... just wish the bloody houses weren't so expensive in Beaumaris!!
Haggis Supper, just wait until the Christmas Community Fair on the Concourse, it's lovely, so many free events, Father Christmas has a gift for every child... not a queue up for 15mins and pay 15GBP for a colouring book, pettng zoo, make your own decorations etc. It's not to be missed.
I'm sure I will see you around, maybe without even knowing it's you!
Take care,
Louise
Oct 16th 2005 | 5:03 pm
#32
The Godfather
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,336
From: South East Suburbs of Melbourne
Re: Moving to Melbourne
Just listen for the Scottish accent Louise, you canny miss him. 
Oct 16th 2005 | 5:06 pm
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 553
From: parkdale, melbourne
Re: Moving to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Bordy
Just listen for the Scottish accent Louise, you canny miss him.
I LOVE a scottish accent my hubbie gets his Glasgow one when he's drunk! He's only half scottish but went to Strathclyde Uni for 4 years where he had to develop one to stop himself getting beat-up he reckons!
Och well, pure dead brilliant by the way baby or something I remember him chatting me up with in me local boozer all those years ago...sigh!
Louise x
Oct 16th 2005 | 5:09 pm
#34
The Godfather
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,336
From: South East Suburbs of Melbourne
Re: Moving to Melbourne
Originally Posted by ljj
I LOVE a scottish accent my hubbie gets his Glasgow one when he's drunk! He's only half scottish but went to Strathclyde Uni for 4 years where he had to develop one to stop himself getting beat-up he reckons!
Och well, pure dead brilliant by the way baby or something I remember him chatting me up with in me local boozer all those years ago...sigh!
Louise x
Och well, pure dead brilliant by the way baby or something I remember him chatting me up with in me local boozer all those years ago...sigh!
Louise x
Oct 16th 2005 | 5:10 pm
#35
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 553
From: parkdale, melbourne
Re: Moving to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Bordy
Thats the idea Louise, so if you go around the streets of Beaumaris saying "Oi see you Jimmy, your pure dead brilliant an at" then you will come across Colin eventually.
not offended there were you Bordy?
Louise
Oct 16th 2005 | 5:15 pm
#36
The Godfather
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,336
From: South East Suburbs of Melbourne
Re: Moving to Melbourne
Originally Posted by ljj
I'll try that then.
not offended there were you Bordy?
Louise
not offended there were you Bordy?
Louise
Not in the least. Not easily offended at all.
