Moving to Mackay

[Lexi]

Hi, I am new to this site. My husband and I are moving to Mackay around March/April with our 1 year old son. I am very excited but the unknown is also terrifying. I have a few questions which I am finding difficult to get answers too so here goes,

Are there any B&B's, guest houses that we could stay in on a temporary basis that would not cost a fortune? But they would have to be to a good standard for our little boy. I have emailed the council but have not had a response. I have also emailed 4 estate agents and also had no response. I have received some prices back from hotels in Mackay and they are very expensive.

My Husband's office is in East Mackay (Sydney Street). I am trying to get an idea of how far everything is, so could we look at property in North Mackay and could he cycle to work or is that a large distance?

I would also would like to know which areas I should be looking at for rental accommodation. North Mackay and South seem to have big outdoor swimming pools so I assume these are the areas that have the most happening? I would really like to be somewhere that has clubs for my little boy to join etc so we could both make friends.

Anyway my questions could go on forever but I will stop there. Even if you dont know the answers to my questions just making a friend before I get there would make me feel a lot better.

[Bobj]

G'day mate, you've given me a curly one, indeed!

May I suggest that you look at this:
Real Estate, Houses & Land for Sale - Rural and Residental Properties | Eldersrealestate.com.au

Here is a map of the Mackay area

Map of Mackay, QLD | whereis.com

Cheers, Bobj.

[Still-a-dream!]

[QUOTE=Lexi;964032]Hi, I am new to this site. My husband and I are moving to Mackay around March/April with our 1 year old son. I am very excited but the unknown is also terrifying. I have a few questions which I am finding difficult to get answers too so here goes ....


Hi Lexi

We are also looking into a move to MACKAY and have 2 young children too. Did you ever find any responses to your questions i.e. short stay rental, B&Bs for when you first arrive and are looking for your long stay rental, or any info on good areas to look to move to, longer-term? We are trying to do a budget/costing for everything also so would be good to have a good idea of all the costs involved.

Would be nice to hear from you!

Kate xx

[firebladebally]

HI, i stayed in mackay for a while, i couldnt find a hotel/b&B for a reasonable price. I believe this is because of all the miners that are in mackay and the accomodation is priced for there wages and most of the time is completly full anyway. The only thing we could find was on a caravan park, a little unit that was $400 a week so we ended up renting in a shared house which cost us $200 a week. Private house rental is (i think) the only way to go. When you get there go to a newsagents and buy a pocket trader which has private rentals in there, there are usually about 20 or 30. Hope this helps.Cheers

[Lexi]

Hi Kate,

Got loads of help. As far as I can tell food is very expensive and fruit and veg will get more expensive becasue of the damage the cyclone did to the crops. I found that temporary accommodation was expensive too because it all seems to be geared towards tourists. There were cheap places but I was not sure if it was up to standard for my little boy to live in.

Electricity seems slightly cheaper and if you rent you wont pay council tax which seems slightly more expensive.

We are also from Newcastle, we live in Cramlington at the moment but we have tenants moving into our house soon so moving in with my in laws in Blyth at the end of Feb. Have you applied for you visa or are you just thinking about things at the moment?

Carrie

[Lexi]

Thanks Firebladebally. You can also look at the daily mercury on line which is the local newspaper and it has rental property in the classifieds.

[lise2802]

Hi Kate,

Got loads of help. As far as I can tell food is very expensive and fruit and veg will get more expensive becasue of the damage the cyclone did to the crops. I found that temporary accommodation was expensive too because it all seems to be geared towards tourists. There were cheap places but I was not sure if it was up to standard for my little boy to live in.

Electricity seems slightly cheaper and if you rent you wont pay council tax which seems slightly more expensive.

We are also from Newcastle, we live in Cramlington at the moment but we have tenants moving into our house soon so moving in with my in laws in Blyth at the end of Feb. Have you applied for you visa or are you just thinking about things at the moment?

Carrie

Hi there Lexi. I am from Durham. I'm living in New Zealand at the moment ( do not like it) and due to the pike river mine disaster will be moving to Mackay. Have you moved there yet? My boyfriend has just gone over there As he starts his work on monday, but i have to remain in New Zealand until my Visa comes through. Being only nineteen I'm concerned about college and completing my education. do you know of any colleges or how any schools work?

Lisa

[Lexi]

Hi lise

I am not sure about colleges but I am sure there will be one. There is a Uni called the James Cook University in South Mackay.

We are not there yet still waiting on our visa but should be there by the 1st April. When do you think you will be arriving in Mackay?

If I can find anything out about colleges I will let you know. Hope you like Mackay more than New Zealand!

[Still-a-dream!]

HI, i stayed in mackay for a while, i couldnt find a hotel/b&B for a reasonable price. I believe this is because of all the miners that are in mackay and the accomodation is priced for there wages and most of the time is completly full anyway. The only thing we could find was on a caravan park, a little unit that was $400 a week so we ended up renting in a shared house which cost us $200 a week. Private house rental is (i think) the only way to go. When you get there go to a newsagents and buy a pocket trader which has private rentals in there, there are usually about 20 or 30. Hope this helps.Cheers

Hi and thanks for your reply. Ive heard that it is rather expensive to live there. Unfortunately I dont think we could do the shared house thing with 2 toddler - more for the other residentd peace! Yeah I think I would check out the private rentals, Thanks!

[Still-a-dream!]

Hi Kate,

Got loads of help. As far as I can tell food is very expensive and fruit and veg will get more expensive becasue of the damage the cyclone did to the crops. I found that temporary accommodation was expensive too because it all seems to be geared towards tourists. There were cheap places but I was not sure if it was up to standard for my little boy to live in.

Electricity seems slightly cheaper and if you rent you wont pay council tax which seems slightly more expensive.

We are also from Newcastle, we live in Cramlington at the moment but we have tenants moving into our house soon so moving in with my in laws in Blyth at the end of Feb. Have you applied for you visa or are you just thinking about things at the moment?

Carrie

Hi Carrie,

Thanks for the reply. We lived in Rowlands Gill (some people havent heard of it mind!). We responded to a job ad on Pomsinoz and the recruitment guy thinks my partner could have a good chance with the company he is recruiting for - Based in Mackay - with visas. But we have had a job offer before in Brisbane and had it all fall through so we are rather cautious about things. But I like to find out about the areas etc first. Someone else off this forum is going over for the same job and the process has been quite quick for him.

We have had our house up for sale for over a year now as wanted to sell it before this came about but I think we would have to rent it out.

I know what you mean, you need a good sturdy, decent place to take little ones into, im rather picky too! What do you think you will do, will you go straight into a longer-term rental?

Kate