Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast?

[Ecosse]

We have our visas and were planning on a move to the Gold Coast but the more I read the more I think the Sunshine coast (Mountain Creek/Buderim) might be a nicer/safer place to settle. We have two teenagers 14 & 16 so good schools are essential. Would love to hear from anyone living in these areas. Thanks

[kdal]

Hi & Welcome to PIO

OK we are on the Sunshine Coast we have 2 boys 15 and 17 years old.

We know lots of PIO friends that live on the Gold Coast and they love it and didnt like Sunshine Coast when they explored it. Personally we liked it here on the Sunshine Coast so what suits some doesnt suit others.

The Gold Coast probably has lots more to do in terms of the theme parks and Surfers Paradise where the youngest like to hang out and go clubbing. But the Gold Coast has quiter areas to live but all this can only be a short drive away if you want it.

The Sunshine Coast in my opinion in a quiter way of life my boys sometimes go to Mooloolaba beach and my eldest goes there most Fridays after college with college friends. There are a couple of night spots in Mooloolaba but dont know what they are like. We live Sippy Downs, Chancellor Park which has been a great location for when we first arrived here, as the estate is big and your children can go out on their bikes an meet people, also they have a good school here which my son bike rides to. We are not far from Buderim or Mountain Creek area, they are nice also.

As i say Sunshine Coast / Gold Coast, it depends on you and your family personally but both are good locations and if you live in one and then 1 1/2 - 2 hours drive and then you can spend the day/weekend in the other now and again - all is not lost!!

Good luck with researching and you can contact me if you would like to with any other questions

Regards Kim

[o2coffix001@optusnet.com.]

Hi Ecosse We relocated here from Melb we live in Mountain Creek and I have a 14yr son who goes to Mountain Creek school. We love it here my son loves the school has made friends and rides his bike to school. It is a family area and close to the beach.

[MariAndyok]

We live in Varsity Lakes on the GC, kids (17, 14) go to a good school, have settled really well and there is loads to do..beaches are great, hinterland, theme parks, markets, and even surfers.

never been to SC so I cannot comment

Andy

[calNgary]

I think it would depend where on the Gold Coast you were thinking of, the hinterland side suburbs such as Springbrook,Advancetown, Murwillumbah, Bonogin etc would be very similar to Buderim,there are beautiful green areas not too far from highways and beaches but obviously if you choose somewhere like the middle of Surfers Paradise it would be busier, more built up and with it being a major tourist attraction have a slightly higher crime rate. I guess im trying to say you will have suburbs on the Gold Coast that compare to Buderim, it all depends what else you want on your doorstep and where you can secure work.
Personally for the reasons you mention i dont think you would find much of a differnce on the Sunshine Coast or The Gold Coast if you reasearch suburbs properly.
Cal x

[benedict1]

We have our visas and were planning on a move to the Gold Coast but the more I read the more I think the Sunshine coast (Mountain Creek/Buderim) might be a nicer/safer place to settle. We have two teenagers 14 & 16 so good schools are essential. Would love to hear from anyone living in these areas. Thanks

Will follow your thread with interest.

My friends lives in Buderim but have a baby not teenagers. However they were looking long term when they chose the area they wanted to settle down in.
They love Buderim and think that it has the best of both worlds. Not too quiet but quiet enough - depends on your interpretation of quiet of course. Also, not too long a drive to Brisbane - further to Gold Coast but in UK you (usually) have a drive to coastal towns.

We are in the process of researching Brisbane areas and have teenagers. Only just started looking though so haven't much first hand experience of many areas.
Good Luck

[jewels1356]

at thois rate i think the sunshine coast will become little england (iam going their to 16th march)
wahoooooooooooo cant wait
julie

xxx

[Ecosse]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. It's been almost 5 years since we were last in Aus. At that time we looked at schools in Robina/Varcity and Mountain Creek. A job offer here meant that we didn't come out back then but now we're all set for beginning of July when school finishes here. I have only just starting looking at regions again and got very confused about where we should be going. My girls are not really into clubbing (yet) and tend to socialise here at friends houses and school based activities. I will let them have a say in where we end up but I would like to 'vet' a few areas and school reputations first before we give them a choice! I came across this site yesterday and must say it has been a fantastic source of information.

[paradisi]

each is as safe as you want it to be

we live on the sunshine coast and the house down the street (about 25 houses away) is right on the beach and sold for $8milion a few years back. within weeks of that happening drug houses move into the street. everyone knows where they are - just look for the cop cars - but other than that exceptionally safe. esp when compared with bits of england - I lived for a few months in blacon in the 90's and what a shocker (sorry if anyone is from Blacon) all I encountered there were drugs, sex, anarchy and wannabee hardmen

go where the work is and make your life the best it can be

[Sun Luva]

We live in a quiet part of the Gold Coast and it suits us perfectly, our kids are roughly the same age as yours. There's loads for them to do around here, probably too much if anything. Many of the acitivities they get involved with arise out of school events, church youth groups, scouting etc. so all good positive stuff.

I'd say have a good look at both areas and see which suits you best, both the sunny and GC have their good points.