Jon77

We are rapidly approaching the position where by we will be able to put some roots down and buy a place of our own. But the more time I spend in Sydney the more I want to get out but unfortunately for me work is here in the centre of Sydney and that won't be changing anytime soon.

We could afford a duplex / villa type place in a very good area in Sydney but not a full house (not without moving somewhere like Mt Druitt anyway!).

I grew up in the UK in a rural area and I am used to open space and I love the Blue Mountains, especially around Wentworth Falls, Leura and Blackheath (Katoomba is a bit scruffy), my wife loves it up there also. And when we see what kind of period style house we could buy! Plenty of room for my family up there and a healthy environment.

It would be easy for my wife as she could get a job up there that fits around school but I would need to keep on going in to Sydney. Long term I do have plans to hopefully one day not have to travel and that I could do from up in the mountains. But I think for the next 5 years I am stuck in the centre of Sydney.

Does anyone else on here do a long commute in to Sydney and back each day? Worried that it would drive me mad which would take any benefits of moving to the Blue Mountains away We have looked at lower down the mountains at places like Springwood, but it isn't the same feeling as higher up the mountains, just doesn't feel as good.

knockoff nige

I'd imagine you'd have to drive to Katoomba and then get the train to Sydney.

I really like the Blue Mountains but it gets far too cold for me. It'll be a couple of hours commute I think. I'd say driving to Sydney would be a nightmare in peak traffic.

Jon77

Train stations at most places in the mountains, Leura and Wenty Falls both have train stations, but you are right it is a good couple of hours on the train!

Dreamy

Himself works in Parramatta now but did 2 years working in Sydney CBD. We live not far outside Springwood though - that's 90minutes on the train to Sydney, so we pretty much ruled out anywhere further up. It's also where the North Shore & Western line terminates during peak time, so stations further up have fewer trains at peak time.

However, it's all a trade off, isn't it. We love living here and Himself didn't mind the commute. He always got a seat in the morning and getting on at Central it was very rare for him not to get a seat coming home - kindle and an ipod and he was sorted for the journey.

He didn't often socialise but they'd probably go for a drink after a work a couple of times a month, and that made it more problematic for any one using the Blue Mountains line. Trains are only once an hour outside of peak time.

Katoomba, Leura, Wentworth Falls - they're all lovely. When Himself retires we'd look at moving further up, possibly, but certainly not at the moment (even though his commute is only an hour each way now )

Jon77

Thanks for that, we need to look at Springwood properly I think, drive up there and view some houses. We are looking at later in the year before we can buy, probably around September / October time so still some time to look around.

stevemich

I live on the Central Coast and used to work in Wynyard which was 1:45 each way door to door.
That was fairly tiring but doable.
I now have the dubious pleasure of working in sW Sydney and this takes between 2.5 and 3 each way.
I have a great boss who lets me leave at 4, but I still only just get home to see the kids before bed.. It is very tiring and constrictive - I can never join in with office parties etc as I would have to go to a hotel each time as the trains would be so infrequent...
think seriously before you spend almost 1/7th of your life commuting!
Steve

Jon77

Cheers, just had a look at the train timetable and if I want to be home just before 6pm then no further up the mountains than Springwood. Being home by 5:59pm wouldn't be too bad. My son is at school now so the early nights / baby thing isn't so much of a problem now. He goes to bed at around 8:30 so if I get home by 6pm - 6:30pm it would be just about ok.

As for the office parties, sometimes is isn't a bad thign to have an excuse

stevemich

and I have used it often !! haha - busted!

Beoz

You could drive to Mt Druitt and get a train from there

If Sydney could sort out it's train problems and connect, very much connectable regional areas, watch property prices do some funny things.