We Are Moving!!!

Hi,

My husband, 9 year old daughter, the dog and myself are moving from Wales to Townsville at the end of January (hopefully)!!!

We are torn between settling in Cairns or Townsville, so plan on visiting both. We were over in Australia in July but that was to have a look at Adelaide which we found to be too cold!!! not the issue we're going to get with Townsville / Cairns by the looks of things!

Some information on best family areas to live and good state schools would be gratefully received. I have researched quite a bit online but nothing beats personal recommendations. also we will need to go into a short term let when we arrive, and again any sign posting to that from personal experience would be a big help.

Thanks in advance

Mandy

Welcome to PIO!

People are often surprised how cold they feel in Australia - it was snowing in the mountains outside Melbourne just this week & it's summer.

I can't help with Cairns/Townsville but for short-term lets http://www.stayz.com.au is the usual source or try Airbnb.

Hi and welcome to the forum

You wont get cold up there, but you need to understand it is a tropical area. So, wet and dry season. Though Cairns is much more tropical than Townsville. Both though will get significant rain during the summer and both are prone to cyclones.

Which is better I would base on the availability of jobs for your occupations rather than anything else.

Welcome to PIO!

 

People are often surprised how cold they feel in Australia - it was snowing in the mountains outside Melbourne just this week & it's summer.

 

I can't help with Cairns/Townsville but for short-term lets www.stayz.com.au is the usual source or try Airbnb.

Thanks for for the link, very helpful.

And yes we were shocked at how cold Adelaide was!!!

Well my husband is a chef so we're hoping he can find something in either area fingers crossed.

That's great, thanks Lady Rainicorn

Well my husband is a chef so we're hoping he can find something in either area fingers crossed.

Ooh gosh, I wouldn't fancy kitchen work in the humidity!

Have you considered Perth - it isn't that cold in the winter or ever that humid - it has a 'Mediterranean' climate - too hot for me in the summer at 40 degrees plus but that might suit you.

No we looked at Perth but during the year of research we did, we liked Queensland better! He's used to hot kitchens so should be ok. We're expecting the adjustment to the heat in general to be a steep learning curve anyway!,

Migrating is a learning curve and an adventure. Cairns and Townsville are places ive never been but know people who have lived in both and love it. Lots of luck with everything and enjoy exploring areas to live ,thats a lot of fun when you arrive and it amazes you how places vary across a short distance.

Cal x

Townsville is the biggest town in FNQ. I don't know it well, it has a rep for being a bit rough & ready. Defence forces have a base up that way. Cairns is quite nice and tourism is the main industry, gateway to the Barrier reef etc. Probably a bit option for your OH's occupation. Has a casino and lots of restaurants. Port Douglas isn't far away and is an upmarket resort (for work). I was pleasantly surprised by Cairns, I'd go there ahead of Townsville personally

No we looked at Perth but during the year of research we did, we liked Queensland better! He's used to hot kitchens so should be ok. We're expecting the adjustment to the heat in general to be a steep learning curve anyway!,

i worked in a couple of kitchen in cairns when i backpacked in oz. they have aircon on so its not to hot & is no more humid than the kitchens i worked in during my student days in london. thinking about it the kitchens in cairns was better because of the aircon.

You went to Adelaide in just about the coldest month of the year in one of the wettest, coldest winters on record. If you'd gone there in the summer months you would have gotten a totally different feel for it.

Queensland is good though. I've worked in Townsville a lot and stayed there over a lot of weekends when I've had time to look around. I like it a lot. Had a long weekend there as it's too far to fly back to Perth for 3 days then back there again. Went to Magnetic Island, hired a motorbike for the day and had a brilliant day out.

Maggie Island must be one of the best kept secrets I reckon. Sat outside the pub after taking the bike back, listening to a few local musicians who were so good and people so friendly I got the 11:pm ferry back. Townsville itself has improved loads over the last 20 years.

The strand is brilliant, there's heaps of good restaurants, great 50m outdoor pool on the Strand.

We went on holiday in September to Port Douglas and Cairns. Loved Port Douglas but Cairns not so much.

Out the two I would pick Townsville to live.

A few people have mentioned about the wet and dry seasons and when we were in Port Douglas we spoke to a lot of people who had been there for the dry season but were preparing to leave. They all said it's not nice being there in the wet season. It's still warm but very humid and when it rains it rains hard. I've been to Townsville in the wet season too and it's not quite as bad.

Either choice would be OK though. Another place we liked on holiday was Palm Cove, just North of Cairns. Well worth considering rather than Cairns itself. Then again Port Douglas is much nicer and I would imagine lots of opportunities for a good chef. Good luck.

Hi,

 

My husband, 9 year old daughter, the dog and myself are moving from Wales to Townsville at the end of January (hopefully)!!!

 

We are torn between settling in Cairns or Townsville, so plan on visiting both. We were over in Australia in July but that was to have a look at Adelaide which we found to be too cold!!! not the issue we're going to get with Townsville / Cairns by the looks of things!

 

Some information on best family areas to live and good state schools would be gratefully received. I have researched quite a bit online but nothing beats personal recommendations. also we will need to go into a short term let when we arrive, and again any sign posting to that from personal experience would be a big help.

Thanks in advance

Mandy

it was an unusually long, wet and cold winter in Adelaide this year. And pretty cold the year before. Everyone was moaning about it. 35 degrees here today though!

Well my husband is a chef so we're hoping he can find something in either area fingers crossed.

Well it seems (to me) that Cairns and around Cairns is more touristy. So therefore perhaps more hotels and restaurants. And more need of chefs.

Having said that, Townsville I believe has a large casino and waterfront eateries.

Cairns is maybe more affected by the wet season than Townsville is.

So both have their positive and negative aspects.

Personally I am of the belief, that if you are a trained chef, you can get work almost anywhere.

I would not worry about a hot kitchen. Most kitchens are hot, as it comes with the territory. I worked in a kitchen in London and a kitchen in Darwin. About the same in heat levels. Except the Darwin one had air con.

We are torn between settling in Cairns or Townsville, so plan on visiting both.

What a great idea. Then you decided which one you like best.

The dog can stay at a kennel short term, and you can stay at a caravan park (most have chalets), and when you decide which area suits - then rent or buy a house.

Lucky you for having this opportunity to choose between two.

I don't recall ever being cold in Queensland.

But I do remember Central Australia around Alice Springs could be freezing at night, despite hot day temperatures. And this past winter in Sydney, I was so cold I had to wear thermal long-johns and thermal socks to venture out.

So yes, I agree with the comment "People are often surprised how cold they feel in Australia".

Migrating is a learning curve and an adventure. Cairns and Townsville are places ive never been but know people who have lived in both and love it. Lots of luck with everything and enjoy exploring areas to live ,thats a lot of fun when you arrive and it amazes you how places vary across a short distance.

 

Cal x

Thanks Cal, your words are reassuring and very kind. We are looking forward to the adventure and giving our daughter the experience of a new way of living. We can't wait....... even with the nerves! X

i worked in a couple of kitchen in cairns when i backpacked in oz. they have aircon on so its not to hot & is no more humid than the kitchens i worked in during my student days in london. thinking about it the kitchens in cairns was better because of the aircon.

Yes that's also what one of the chefs my OH employed said about his experience of working in Oz kitchens.... very reasuring to hear it again though, thanks Booma.

Aircon being the norm I'd have thought kitchens in FNQ could well be better heat regulated than those on the UK. Do you already have a visa? I ask as this may a bearing on where you live.

You went to Adelaide in just about the coldest month of the year in one of the wettest, coldest winters on record. If you'd gone there in the summer months you would have gotten a totally different feel for it.

Queensland is good though. I've worked in Townsville a lot and stayed there over a lot of weekends when I've had time to look around. I like it a lot. Had a long weekend there as it's too far to fly back to Perth for 3 days then back there again. Went to Magnetic Island, hired a motorbike for the day and had a brilliant day out.

Maggie Island must be one of the best kept secrets I reckon. Sat outside the pub after taking the bike back, listening to a few local musicians who were so good and people so friendly I got the 11:pm ferry back. Townsville itself has improved loads over the last 20 years.

The strand is brilliant, there's heaps of good restaurants, great 50m outdoor pool on the Strand.

We went on holiday in September to Port Douglas and Cairns. Loved Port Douglas but Cairns not so much.

Out the two I would pick Townsville to live.

A few people have mentioned about the wet and dry seasons and when we were in Port Douglas we spoke to a lot of people who had been there for the dry season but were preparing to leave. They all said it's not nice being there in the wet season. It's still warm but very humid and when it rains it rains hard. I've been to Townsville in the wet season too and it's not quite as bad.

Either choice would be OK though. Another place we liked on holiday was Palm Cove, just North of Cairns. Well worth considering rather than Cairns itself. Then again Port Douglas is much nicer and I would imagine lots of opportunities for a good chef. Good luck.

Thank you so much for all that great advice. We have considered both Port Douglas and Palm Cove, so it's good to know our intuition is right on the money!!! Also we did think the opportunities for Chefing would be better Cairns way due to the huge tourist aspect.

and yes, we were told by numerous lovely people in Adelaide when we went that the weather wasn't the norm at all, but boy did we get a shock! Travelled all that way for the same weather we get in Wales, we were disappointed to say the least, but it did make us realise what we did and didn't want.

Anyway, thanks again, all comments are invaluable at this point.

Aircon being the norm I'd have thought kitchens in FNQ could well be better heat regulated than those on the UK. Do you already have a visa? I ask as this may a bearing on where you live.

I have Australian Citizenship so just got the Sposal Visa for my husband!!

Well it seems (to me) that Cairns and around Cairns is more touristy. So therefore perhaps more hotels and restaurants. And more need of chefs.

 

Having said that, Townsville I believe has a large casino and waterfront eateries.

 

Cairns is maybe more affected by the wet season than Townsville is.

 

So both have their positive and negative aspects.

 

Personally I am of the belief, that if you are a trained chef, you can get work almost anywhere.

 

I would not worry about a hot kitchen. Most kitchens are hot, as it comes with the territory. I worked in a kitchen in London and a kitchen in Darwin. About the same in heat levels. Except the Darwin one had air con.

Haha yes, that's basically what he thought!

What a great idea. Then you decided which one you like best.

 

The dog can stay at a kennel short term, and you can stay at a caravan park (most have chalets), and when you decide which area suits - then rent or buy a house.

 

Lucky you for having this opportunity to choose between two.

 

I don't recall ever being cold in Queensland.

 

But I do remember Central Australia around Alice Springs could be freezing at night, despite hot day temperatures. And this past winter in Sydney, I was so cold I had to wear thermal long-johns and thermal socks to venture out.

 

So yes, I agree with the comment "People are often surprised how cold they feel in Australia".

oh I like the idea of staying in a caravan park, hadn't thought of that!

It is good to be able to have a look at both areas but I want to get our daughter into school quickly to help establish routine....This is the problem when you take children and dogs adventuring with you!

I live in Cairns. We have a six year old and a four year old.

How old are your children?

Do you want to live in the city, on the beaches or in a more rural location?

Rental property is not cheap in either Cairns or Townsville. Try http://www.realestate.com.au to try and get an idea of what you are likely to pay. But good properties generally have gone before they get listed on the web, so a relationship with a couple of good real estate agencies is the best way to get access to the best property.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

There are several good caravan parks around. But stay away from Cairns Villa and Leisure. It has the reputation as one of the most frequently visited locations in Cairns by the police due to violence.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

I live in Cairns. We have a six year old and a four year old.

How old are your children?

Do you want to live in the city, on the beaches or in a more rural location?

Rental property is not cheap in either Cairns or Townsville. Try www.realestate.com.au to try and get an idea of what you are likely to pay. But good properties generally have gone before they get listed on the web, so a relationship with a couple of good real estate agencies is the best way to get access to the best property.

 

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

Hi Chris, our daughter is nine.

Thanks for the advice on the rental situation, I had researched the costs involved but didn't realise it was so difficult to secure something decent..... oh dear!!

Can I ask how you find living in Cairns in general? We want to be on a beach location if possible.

Thanks.