Gold Coast is great for surfers on the dole and those with his and hers pastelled matching tracksuits. It is hot.

The Saphire coast is probably the best match to your requirements. Something to remember with the heat is humidity.

I couldn't tell you anything precise about crime in any area, only that there is always going to be the yobbo element wherever you go. Its just a matter of finding areas to avoid and if you've got children, educating them etc.

House prices on the South Coast seem expensive to me, but as it is still a holiday destination for Canberrans and Victorians the prices will be high. Have you tried Real Estate.com.au? Use the Search By Map option and you'll get a good broad search. The average price seems comparable to the Central Coast at least, and also the Gold Coast (depending on the area) but I'd say you're getting a quieter, cleaner lifestyle on the South Coast as well as a lot more space.

As for the Gold Coast, well that's another one we've been considering (look out we'll end up next door to each other!!). The hinterland of the Gold Coast is just gorgeous (search for real estate in the Mt Tamborine area) and can get quite cool in the winter - a lot of folks have pot belly stoves for heat. I've been there twice and both times its rained! but its bearable.

Plenty to do, lots of nice places to eat, lovely houses. My only worry about the Gold Coast is that because its such a tourist destination, the crowds may become annoying. I couldn't think of anything worse than not being able to find somewhere to park if I wanted to go for a swim at the beach - do you get what I mean?

Its pretty hard to draw any comparisons between the two. The Gold Coast is a thriving part of Queensland, lots of people and quite suburban. South Coast is a lot quieter, less people, its somewhere that everyone used to go on holiday to which suddenly became a nice place to live all year round. I have friends who grew up down there on dairy farms and they had a great life but wanted to go to the big smoke once they've left school.

Lastly, schools. Well I don't know anything about schools in Qld, except that they start at age 6. There have been quite a few new schools built on the South Coast over the last 10 years or so but that's about all I know.

HTH,

Sally

Gold Coast info

Have you read Pete McCarthy's book "The road to McCarthy'? His experiences whilst travelling around Tasmania are priceless!

Thanks Sally

I have another thread going and got a few comments.

The OZ idea is about 6 hours old! eek:

We had set our hearts on NZ. But we have hit a bit (big) hurdle, which we are trying to overcome.

All (well most) of the things on our list when had pretty much found. We were just wondering if we could find similar places on OZ.

Gold and Sunshine coasts sound great, but your right they are for tourists. Would you want to live there?

Sapphire coast looks and sounds fantastic. Just wondered if winter was too cool. I realise you have to have hot summers to get warm winters ect.

I just wondered what the balance might be, Schools/crime/climate ect. Like I said the idea is 6 hours old

Jack

Weather is irrelevant compared to the real issues of jobs and fulfilling lifes interests. What do you do and what hobbies do you like? Why do you believe life down under will improve your lot?

Hi bondipom.

Work wise my wifes work is in nursing, so I dont think that is too much of a problem. As for me well I will do anything really, so long as its stress free My wage would only be for luxuries really so its not that important. Of course I would like to work but..

I have business (3rd share) in Nottingham, but what I do wouldnt work in OZ. I am going to give up (handover) this business to hopefully lead a better and stress free life

QUOTE]Why do you believe life down under will improve your lot?[/QUOTE]

The idea for migrating is really for the kids. We want them to have a more outdoor lifestyle. Not finnish school and then watch tv 'till bedtime. We want them to be able to enjoy the out doors more, cycling, walking, swimming ect. that you cannot really do over here, except for a couple of months. We do enjoy going out now in country park and stuff, but the weather does hold you back quite a lot here.


Hopefully I dont sound too niave?

Jack

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jack Daws
Thanks Sally

I have another thread going and got a few comments.

The OZ idea is about 6 hours old! eek:

We had set our hearts on NZ. But we have hit a bit (big) hurdle, which we are trying to overcome.

All (well most) of the things on our list when had pretty much found. We were just wondering if we could find similar places on OZ.

Gold and Sunshine coasts sound great, but your right they are for tourists. Would you want to live there?

Sapphire coast looks and sounds fantastic. Just wondered if winter was too cool. I realise you have to have hot summers to get warm winters ect.

I just wondered what the balance might be, Schools/crime/climate ect. Like I said the idea is 6 hours old

Crikey that's not long! Funnily enough, we considered NZ first as although i'm Australian, we thought it might be easier to get my husband a visa in NZ than OZ, turns out though that he gets permanent residency straight away which makes life easier.

BondiPom is right in what he said, what are your interests? What sort of work do you both do? I don't know what the job market is like on the South Coast. We are considering buying some sort of farm business so are looking at different issues?

From what I've heard from friends and read on this forum, the Sunshine Coast is a very popular place to live these days and they can't build schools fast enough. They are probably too touristy for me but the biggest factor is humidity. Does humidity bother you? If not, go for Qld/Northern NSW. Neither of us are big fans, so it has ruled out those areas (we were also considering Bundaberg for a while!)

If your dream is NZ, then go for it and do all you can to get there. My best buddy just moved home to Auckland after 12 years in Sydney and is absolutely loving it.

Sally

If your kids are inclined to outdoors activities then Australia is excellent. If they are indoors computer types (not sure why people worry about that as computers are known to improve intellectual capability) or cultural intellectual types then they will be as well off in the UK.

All you can do is provide the opportunity and hope they take it. BTW childhood obesity is as big an issue here as in the UK which a lot of people will find strange with all the exercise opportunities available.

Bega Valley LETS the TaxMan Croak

that's a fantastic link - how do you find them Megalania???

QUOTE]If your kids are inclined to outdoors activities then Australia is excellent. If they are indoors computer types (not sure why people worry about that as computers are known to improve intellectual capability) or cultural intellectual types then they will be as well off in the UK.[/QUOTE]

Well one is almost 4 and he loves the outdoors, even when its p#ssing down. Its us that wont go out in it[

The other gets born in May. So hopefully the tv/playstaion bug hasnt taken hold yet

QUOTE]All you can do is provide the opportunity and hope they take it. BTW childhood obesity is as big an issue here as in the UK which a lot of people will find strange with all the exercise opportunities available.[/QUOTE]

We just want to give them the best lifestyle posssible whilst they are young (or not yet born). Let them have a better oppotunity
to have a outdoor life.

Jack

PS Gets a bit heavy in here dunit

Omniscience.

JD,

have sent you PM re Sapphire Coast,

Bella

PM'd you back.

Cheers

Bella