Redwarf

Hi All,

My wife and I are moving to Australia at the end of this month and need to find a property to rent near Chermside Queensland. Does anyone know of a good area that they would recommend. Ideally within walking distance of the Holy Spirit hospital as that it where my wife will be working. If not walking distance then not more than 30 mins commute away?

Can anyone also recommend a cheap place to stay in the area whilst we look at some properties?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you

KJCherokee

Holy Spirit is a private hospital which shares grounds with the Prince Charles public hospital. It is right on the western boundary between Chermside and Chermside West suburbs. Chermside suburb itself is split in two by Gympie Road which is the main arterial north out of Brisbane and a nightmare at peak hours: the shopping centre (huge), library, swimming pool, etc are all in the western half.

Surrounding suburbs are (clockwise from 9 o'clock) Chermside West, Aspley, Geebung, Wavell Heights, Kedron and Stafford Heights. None of these are more than 15 minutes away.

Check out rentals on Real Estate - prices seem to vary from $330 p.w. upwards with the average house around the $400-$450 mark depending on size and location.

roaringmouse

Not within walking distance, but should be a reasonable commute by car is Bracken Ridge. As mentioned by someone else, Gympie Road can be a bit of a nightmare, but with suburbs relatively close to Chermside it may be possible to avoid some of it.

Broad Shoulders

Albany Creek would be an option

asprilla

Not sure what happened to my reply earlier...

anyway I'd choose Nundah. The main advantage it has over other mentioned suburbs, is good transport links to both the city and the holy spirit.
Nundah is only 15mins from the city by train....and for the mrs, it is only 20mins to work via bus on this route.

I know several people who live / have lived in nundah and it's not a bad spot apparently. On the high street there are one or two restaurants and a pub called the "royal english" which I've driven past but never been in.

Probably put aside $400 per week for renting a good sized 2 bed apartment.

KJCherokee

The Nundah pub might be called the "Royal English" but it's a typical Aussie pub with nothing English about it. However if you feel like an old English experience you can go to Queenies for tea with delicate cakes and sandwiches served on a three-tier silver server.

Lots of good eating places on Nundah High St - which used to be the main Sandgate Road until they built the tunnel early this century.

rinkerdink

Sorry nothing constructive to add but sitting on a train home with a crappy can of fosters in sub zero temperatures this is making me sick for Australia, loads of familiar names and places from our recce. Good times

KJCherokee

Sorry, but you are obviously not a suitable candidate for a visa. NO-ONE in Australia drinks Fosters! That's why it's all in England!

rinkerdink

In my defence you can't get Hahn super dry over here.

DeadVim

You have no defence, you will have the choice of many fizzy brews when you get over here, get some proper beer down your neck while you can, and visit a decent pub for me. Have a curry afterwards ... <sigh>.

I can understand how living in Rainham would colour your judgement though

rinkerdink

I drink the shepherd neame ales in the Mackland Arms, very nice, early bird and late red are a couple of seasonal favourites but the Christmas Ale is the best! I'd love a barrell of summer lightning in Australia i don't think you could pour it into the glasses quick enough to meet the demand. Note to self to take the Mrs out for a couple of boozy late night curry's. You don't know what you've got till it's gone...

Brisneyland

Fosters or not, drinking alcohol on a train will get you a fine and a record here. It's all about keeping Queeeeeensland safe for Queeeeensland faaaaaamilies.

Pollyana

DeadVim

Indeed not, you do exactly that.

I don't miss much but pubs and curry top a very short list

You can get decent beer here (contrary to belief) as long as you avoid the mainstream.

Oh, sorry, Chermside ... I know Marchant Park well but I don't recommend living on it

KJCherokee

Ahhhh, Shepherd Neame, Faversham Ales. When I was a kid the local pub was a Shepherd Neame tied house. Who could resist a quick Bishops Finger?

There are lots of good beers in Australia (Fosters isn't one of them!) but no unpressurised cask ales. When we go back to the UK we always try the local ales in every town we visit - just 'arf, as I'm usually driving.

There is a Dan Murphy liquor store in Chermside Shopping Centre which often has a selection of imported beers - I remember getting Old Speckled Hen there once. This is my attempt to get this thread back on track!