BlueKangaroo

Everything is going up in price right now! You would probably be ok budget-wise on one of the new build neighbourhoods (Bli Bli, Perigian Springs or possibly Harmony - although I've heard Harmony is a bit cramped). Bli Bli seems to have a nice community feel and good facilities and would probably be my choice, but I don't really knwo the others. If you want something non-estate, Coolum and the whole surrounding area would be my pick (although check out flight path of new airport if you look at Mt Coolum - mind you it's only a few small aircraft a day). There are a few towns north of Noosa (Cooroy or Pomona) which would be lovely if you want a smaller rural town feel (not sure on times to the beach). These areas cover many schools. I don't think there are any terrible schools, but I know a few people are not keen on Sunshine Beach High. Coolum High used to not have a great reputation, but I hear good things about it now. Also I heard that getting a rental is really tough at the moment, so be prepared for that!

Just thought I'd update almost 1year on. It was all ok in the end! The first 4 months were very up and down for me and I'd happily have gone back to Uk. But after 4 months 'unfamiliar' became 'familiar', and we started to get invited out and now I am completely at home here. It was great to have support from fellow poms in those first few weeks!

I think there is a bridge towards the south side of Perigian Springs which takes you over the motorway and along past Coolum High School. It would have to be a few miles though.

Ha Ha I agree with you @Jack91 Mooloolaba would be one of my choices too. I'm currently renting in Mudjimba which I love (can walk to the beach :-)) but they are building a new runway at the airport soon which means we will be on the flightpath/approach, so we'll move to another neighbourhood in due course. We'll probably stay mid coast as kids are at school in Buderim although school bus services run right from Noosa and Caloundra so could potentially end up anywhere. @richierich I don't knwo anyone in Coolum, but I read somewhere that its had the highest crime rate on the coast (along with Nambour), but to be fair crime here does not seem to be on a par with the part of UK I left at least! I don't really know Yandina, but it looks nice. If you are interested in the Hinterland: Montville and Maleny are beautiful little communities.

I've been on the Sunshine Coast for around a year now. It was apparently hot and dry this summer so I can only base my experience on that - low/mid 30's most days, humidity was ok. I really found with aircon it's easy enough to escape the heat/humidity if you want to. I think it could be uncomfortable if you have an outside job and you have to be out. Darkness - it really does get completely dark quickly and early. Queenslanders seem to be morning people, so loads of activities (including nippers) start at 7am. Schools do a lot of their activities before the school day. People tend to go out and eat early (6pm) and go to bed 9/9.30pm. It does get light early so you just have to shift everything earlier. Perigian Springs is nice but if you want walk to beach it will be expensive (you would need to be in Perigian Beach). It would definitely be a drive from PS, BUT there really is very little traffic and you can always get a parking space at the beach for free. PS is popular and has lots of international families, they seem to be nice properties and good value for Sunshine Coast. If there is anything else I'd be happy to help.

Submitted 820 visa application in Aug, paid got confirmation and bridging visa, logged in end of Sept to check a doc was uploaded (it was). Just logged in again as I hadn't heard anything and my application has vanished! All that that I can see is my visitor visa (I don't think this was even on there before). what should I do? How can it simply have disappeared?

I'm sorry have no advice, but just want to send a hug and empathize! I've been here 4 months and also have moments of desperately wanting to return home. From all the people I have met I think this is 'normal' and many have said they spent the first couple of years having moment of wanting to go home. I am trying to conquer this by thinking I will aim to stay for a year as now we are here we might as well give it a good go! Then I will evaluate how I feel. If I'm having a particularly bad day I think I will stay till at least Feb so as to miss the worst of the UK winter - I think it would be a bit miserable to sit through those grey dark days. I don't think it's helped the the UK has had some beautiful weather and now seems to be recovering from Brexit. So no real advice, but I completely get it! Hopefully someone will be along with better advice for you.

I'm trying to set up my son's PS4 which has recently arrived from uk:wacko: He wants me to set up PlayStation plus so he can play with his friends. His friend bought him a uk voucher to subscribe but it says if the PS4 is not located in the uk the code won't work. Does anyone know anything about this stuff?

OK sorry to hi-jack this thread but I also have some questions with regard to certified copies: I have sent off for copies of my birth/marriage certificate and the documents they have sent me have 'Certified Copy' printed across them - does this count as a certified copy for visa purposes? If not, my husband matches the criteria to be able to certify, can he do this or does it need to be someone not connected? ..and finally..(!) I cannot see anywhere in the online application where it says scanned originals are acceptable and do not need to be certified copies, can anyone verify this?

OK thanks, makes sense. If I did do it in advance is worst case scenario that I'd have to pay to redo it later on? I was hoping as I'm a really straightforward case the process might be quite quick but I guess I'm probably being unrealistically optimistic ;-)

I will be applying for an onshore partner visa (820/801) and I'm confused from the border.gov.au website as to whether I should do the My Health Declaration process before lodging the visa application. On the partner visa subclass 820 and 801 page it says it should be done first, but on the My Health Declaration page it says not to apply in advance if the visa processing time is likely to be more than 6 months.

Yes 'the escape' option is empowering - I now have my head around that! And keeping in mind why we did make the move! It's funny how quickly you see 'home' through rose coloured glasses... you're right Claire, I do have my immediate family with me which is why I didn't expect to feel homesick, but it's more the community of friends and family at home i miss, the convenience of it all. anyway great to hear from people who understand, onwards and upwards!

Thanks, all good words of advice! It reassuring that it's quite normal. I'm going along to an 'exercise in the park' class on Sat. Kids school is sorted so I'll try to make contact with a few parents too. Can't wait for next 4 weeks to be over and have some 'normality'!

Oh god been here less than a week and in the run up I never really stopped to think about homesickness - or at least not for me! I'd consider myself a very positive person, have been to Aus many times, often for several months at a time, I only ever imagined I'd get involved stuff and at least make acquaintances quickly. So how come now I'm here as soon as night falls I am practically on the brink of panic about the enormity of leaving a happy secure life in UK to be here with nowhere to live, limited funds and not knowing anybody? I suddenly get overwhelmed by the fact that I don't know a single person within an hours drive. It sometimes feels like there is nothing out there. Please tell me once the kids start school, we move into a house and I get a job I will stop feeling this! Is this normal?

If you enter Aus under a tourist visa (with your Aus family) and they suspect you we going to stay, what are the possible outcomes? Will they deny you entry? also if you are an Aus citizen and you enter saying you are just visiting but it turns out you are staying does that matter? entering Perth if it makes any difference.