Where to visit on a recce?

[lensgirl]

Hi

we are hoping to start our migration process in a few years once i have finished my degree, however we would like to visit in 2 years (when we can afford it!) and make sure that it really is something we would like to do. SA has cropped up because the State Sponsorship seems the best way to go for us as we will be approaching our late 30's by the time we can apply. SA is so huge so could anyone recommend where to visit so we can get a feel of real life in SA, not just the tourist area. We are expecting that our boys will be around 17 and 14 when everything is sorted, so really need to see good schools and perhaps outside life too.

I know this is probably a "how long is a piece of string" question but any help would be gratefully received.

[dunsford]

Hi there lensgirl

You haven't given any indication of budget or what kind of work or housing, so I'll just list a selection of different nice spots in Adelaide so you can get a feel for what they are like on a recce.

Take a look at:

Lockleys
West Lakes
Brighton
Modbury
Magill
Beaumont
Stirling
Mt Barker
Blackwood
Hyde Park
Happy Valley
Seaford

The most upmarket areas with the best schools are mostly in the south east and inner south

If you want to look at rural centres try:

Mt Gambier
Port Lincoln
Murray Bridge

[pablo]

Were planning on Victor Harbor S.A,but probs too quiet for kids,an area we liked in Adelaide was Port Noarlunga,and Seaford as mentioned,and Moana

[lensgirl]

lovely thanks so much, i will take a look at those areas

[boomerang]

Hi

we are hoping to start our migration process in a few years once i have finished my degree, however we would like to visit in 2 years (when we can afford it!) and make sure that it really is something we would like to do. SA has cropped up because the State Sponsorship seems the best way to go for us as we will be approaching our late 30's by the time we can apply. SA is so huge so could anyone recommend where to visit so we can get a feel of real life in SA, not just the tourist area. We are expecting that our boys will be around 17 and 14 when everything is sorted, so really need to see good schools and perhaps outside life too.

I know this is probably a "how long is a piece of string" question but any help would be gratefully received.

Areas that are nice and still within easy reach of the beaches and close to the city would be anywhere from Seacliffe to Semaphore . Lovely areas close to the city and close to the foothills are Norwood, Magill, Hyde Park, or any of the other suburbs east of the CBD Also as kids getting older the city will draw them in later on. Outher southern areas like Moana, Noarlunga, Sellicks Maslins etc or from these places inland such as Mclaren Vale or surrounding areas in the Southern Vales are lovely but probably not as easy access to the city for teenagers. Adelaide has easy access form hills to beach and city as its quite compact but definetley steer away from Northern Suburbs.....North Eastern suburbs are mostly nice though especially the hills areas.

[Diane]

Hi there lensgirl

You haven't given any indication of budget or what kind of work or housing, so I'll just list a selection of different nice spots in Adelaide so you can get a feel for what they are like on a recce.

Take a look at:

Lockleys
West Lakes
Brighton
Modbury
Magill
Beaumont
Stirling
Mt Barker
Blackwood
Hyde Park
Happy Valley
Seaford

The most upmarket areas with the best schools are mostly in the south east and inner south

If you want to look at rural centres try:

Mt Gambier
Port Lincoln
Murray Bridge

Some good areas to look at there, but I disagree with the bit I've highlighted in red. In Adelaide the most upmarket areas tend to be those suburbs very close to the city (North Adelaide, Norwood, Unley, Goodwood) and then the Eastern suburbs are generally the best for schools - state and private. There are a couple of private schools with excellent reps in the south - Scotch College (close south) and Westminster (Marion) but far more in the East (Prince Alfred College, St Peters, St Ignatius, Wilderness, Mercedes and several others) - and the 'best' state schools are generally considered to be Marryatville (East - Kensington), Brighton (West), Adelaide High (Central), Golden Grove (North East), Norwood Morialta (East) and possible Blackwood (South East) and Unley (close South) off the top of my head.

I think with the ages of your children, you probably want to be looking somewhere within easy travelling distance of the city centre, with public transport to there too. Have heard of a lot settling in what they think are lovely beachside areas, but maybe an hour out of the city, or over $100 each way in a taxi - and teenagers very quickly get bored - not a lot of beach-going happens in the winter months, and to be honest, most of what happens here happens in the centre!