Lizzard

Hi I am new to this forum but I am about to move to Cairns with my family (5 kids and hubby) and will need a short term fully furnished apartment or something until our furniture gets here. Does anyone know of any places that might be appropriate we have been looking through holiday rentals but they are wanting anything from $9,000 to $18,000 for 8-10 weeks rental, somewhat steep by my standards. Have also tried estate agents but they want a 6 month let which would mean putting all our furniture into store for 3 months again rather costly. If anyone has any ideas I would be most grateful the kids are hopefully going to freshwater school so as close to there would be even better.

Thanks in advance.
Liz

ABCDiamond

Short term furnished is normally about the $700-$100 per week.

However, if you can talk to the owners many will bring the rate down considerably for a 3 month stay.
We have one near us that advertises Furnished for $710 per week, but drops the rate to $360 pw for longer term.

Some people take a 6 month unfurnished at a much lower rate, and use temporary furniture packages. New outdoor garden dining set in the dining room for example.

Sally Simpson

How many bedrooms are you looking for?

As ABCD suggests, you need to e-mail the holiday lets & enquire about costs for a 3 month booking as many will reduce the price significantly.

Good luck

Lizzard

Thanks to both of you for your help, will see what the holiday lets will negotiate with us. only 5 weeks to go and can't wait. Any advice for moving there with kids? Thanks.

ABCDiamond

Give http://www.cairnsholidayhomes.com.au a try, and ask for the best discount they can give you.

Not many will give discounts during June to September, due to being peak holiday season, but just now, you may get a reasonable discount.

Sally Simpson

How old are your kids?

If you need advice about areas, just shout.
Bix has previously done some excellent posts about suburbs, which you can search for under his name, I'll see if I can find a link.

Sally Simpson

This may be useful for you!
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...cairns+suburbs

It's a couple of years old but I don't think much has changed.

Lizzard

Hi thanks for all your help finally we have found one willing to rent for 10 weeks I just hope our furniture only takes 8 weeks or we will be in it up to our ears!!!

My kids are 11, 10, 8, 6, 2. Just trying to sort out school paticularly freshwater and looking for day care for the youngest hoping to go back to work by the end of the summer holidays, Australian ones that is. Assuming I can get a job!!!!Looking to rent in freshwater once furniture has arrived or surrounding areas. Any info anyone has would be really helpful. Thanks.

Sally Simpson

Freshwater primary has a very good reputation & it is a good area. Good scout group there too if any of your kids are interested!
From there, you could go with Redlynch State for secondary, St Andrews, Freshwater Christian College, Peace Lutheran if you are looking at private. All good schools.

Where is the place you are renting short term?

I hope that you got a good deal. Apparently rental agents are offerring good deals just now to try & entice people.

I can ask about childcare at work next week. There is a daycare at Stratford but I don't know what it is like.

What type of work will you be looking for?

Lizzard

Thanks for the info Sally I am a paediatric nurse so hopefully something will come up at the hospital or in the community I can do both. The place we are renting is in Clifton beach a bit too far out from freshwater but will have to do for now until our furniture arrives which knowing our luck will just get there by Christmas. Once it has then we will look to move much nearer to freshwater, if that is possible as currently there is nothing or rather no 4,5 bed unfurnished places in the catchment of freshwater, Get the feeling it will be problematic....

Sally Simpson

I can give you a contact at Cairns Base for nurse recruitment if that would help or have you already applied?

Clifton is nice Just think carefully about secondary schools.
Oh & rentals come up all the time, don't stress about it.

When do you arrive?

Lizzard

We finally get to cairns on 1 October. We are looking at peace Lutheran as a secondary school but may consider it for all of them if it needs to be done and can't get to freshwater state. The contact for cairns base would be good thanks.

Bix

Search to include these close suburbs to Freshwater:
Stratford - Right next to but not much residential.
Brinsmead - Round the corner.
Redlynch - Over the road.
Would expect the latter two to have a choice of rentals.
Avoid anything saying Redlynch Valley Estate if you want to be close.

Peace Lutheran has a good rep and would be equi-distant from Brinsmead and Freshwater with Redlynch being nearer subject to exactly where the rental is.

Sally Simpson

Have pm'd you!

Shaun&Dee

Freshwater & Peace are both very good school. Try accomcairns,(google it) they specialise in short term rentals. They are in Sheridan Street. Speak to Zoe as she deals with it.