familyof6

I know, I know, almost an imposible question to answer but ive gotta start somewhere

We are a family with 4 children, 3 are at school and 1 is still a toddler and we live in rural dorset close to the seaside. Its not very cosmoplitan down here, Bournemouth and Poole are the nearest towns and we quite like the fact that we live out far enough for it to be quiet but a 15 minute drive and you're in a town centre with all the usual facilities. We have the best of both worlds in truth.

We're very outdoorsy, we love the beach and have a beach hut which we use l-o-a-d-s. H plays golf, Im on the PTA, the oldest 3 children are in girl- guides and cubs and enjoy lots of different sports.

we'd love to live somewhere by the sea, but with land which we could keep a few animals on and maybe grow veggies, the kids want quads to ride about on too so open spaces are a must.

But we are a large'ish family and as such need to be within driving distance of amenities, sport centre, school, shops, supermarket, train station, airport.

Also weather is an issue, I love the changing seasons the UK offers (except the biting cold) so we're thinking victoria would be a good choice for us, or even tasmania.

what do you think?

Innyjim

Hi FO6 !

Welcome to hell !! Only kidding, welcome to Xpats.

I live in Fremantle, which is in WA. The weather is pretty good here all year round, although can pretty extreme in summer, 40+ degrees. It's spring now, was 25 today, and your average winter's day gets up to 15-20 degrees, although it can slip down 2 degrees at night.

Beach culture not bad here, very surfy. Pretty windy most of the time and the sea is quite cold. I mean not like the Med. Pretty similar to what you are used to in B'mouth. But when it's 42 you're glad of that...... I'm a Hampshire boy, so know where you're coming from re Dorset.....

Can't give you too much info re Victoria, only that I spent a winter there in 1985 and it's safe to say that that's the coldest August I've ever encountered.......But I've never been to Antartica....... Sure some of the Victorian Poms on here can put me right......

Good luck

IJ

pako

We're off to Victoria, great scenery, mountains, rain forests, the Great Ocean Road, Wilsons Prom, a large city, roos, wombats you name it's there (apart from constant heat). I absolutely love it there. We have family over there and their kids seem to have such an idillic lifestyle. They have great seasons but the winters get quite cold. I can't help with the other states...I don't want to get tempted

Clippy

How cold does it get in Victoria? I think I like the sound of Victoria

Bordy

In Winter it can get down to 2 or 3 degrees at night & 12 to 15 during the day.
Its no big hassle, its worth putting up with a couple of months of cooler weather to live in the best state in Aus.

Innyjim

I don't agree. I found the best state in Aus is after a carton of beer and a bottle of JD.......

Bordy

Ok I'll have to give you that one.

Clippy

LMAO! 2 to 3 degrees - that's not cold!

I could definately put up with that I need to do some more research into Victoria I think - I read somewhere they're short of Carpenters in that area too which is a real bonus

Innyjim

Cheers ! Not that I'm particularly bothered, but another WA pretender, two years running (?), to that very VFL of AFl crowns........? What are your thoughts ?

Bordy

I'm not saying it is cold, I'm from the Scottish Borders where we used to get minus 10 often during the Winter.
I much prefer a few cooler nights than the heat & humidity further north.

The other bonus is because it gets cooler in Winter it means our insect population isn't as large as some other states.

flapsterhp

I'm with Bordy on this. We have just come back from the suburbs of Melbourne, later stages of winter, quite nippy at night but fantastic sunny days. I can't think of anywhere else in the world I would rather live. Andy

Clippy

Ooh yes, I can imagine you saw some fantastic winters in Scotland.

Less insects is a double bonus, you're doing a good job of promoting Victoria

Innyjim

Eh.....??!!! Shane Warne''s from Victoria !!! They don't come much bigger than that.........

Bordy

Yeah so was Steve Irwin believe it or not.

familyof6

Thank you for your reply. It really does sound like our kind of place. Im off now to do a bit more research on the web.