We had the same dilema as you.............teenage boys and an 8 yo and plenty of work for Paul, all of these factors had to be taken into account.
When we first arrived we were set on Berwick but the more times we drove down to the peninsula, the more we fell in love with it.
The deciding factor was Main St' Mornington!! We let the boys have a night out down there and they were hooked and didn't want to live anywhere else.
As others have said, we all come here for different reasons and looking for different things.
Once you are here, find yourself a base, get a car and just drive around the different places on your list, sit and have a coffee or a glass of wine and watch the world go by. Try and do this day and evening time and weekends/weekdays. It helped us make a decision but it wasn't easy!!
Good luck and if you head down Mornington way once you are here, give us a shout and we will give you a guided tour.
Lesley
hello again, hope i didn't offend anyone with my post, it was only my take on things, much of east victoria has loads to offer and every thing is only a car drve away,i think we are realy spoilt on the peninsiula, we have great beaches , fantastic wineries good weather ( most of the year),also there is a realy good cafe culture where people just sit, drink coffee and chat , i agree with the jonzys mornington/mt martha are brill places to live and you couldn't want more , good luck, , steve.
[quote=andyandyvonne;134317]hi lesley
thanks for your reply, would love to give you a shout when down under, guided tour..?????
more like a beer or wine and a good natter
andy
Who's been talking...................Sally Jones, have you been telling people that I am partial to the odd tiple!!!
Any way a glass of wine and a chinwag sounds good to me.
Lesley
We are also looking at similar areas (three kids 8,11 &12) and at somewhere to stay while we do a reky. Where are you staying and has anyone else have any suggestions?
Jo &Lo
We love Frankston!!!!!
We live in Frankston South and I work in Frankston its really an ok place to live and bring up kids....... don't believe the hype
Donna
Who's been talking...................Sally Jones, have you been telling people that I am partial to the odd tiple!!!
Any way a glass of wine and a chinwag sounds good to me.
Lesley[/quote]
I never said anything Lesley about your drink problem, honest ................ anyway we can smell the fumes from here !!!!!!!!
I'm looking forward to getting to Frankston South/Mornington and having a coffee (I mean wine & a good old chinwag !!!) See you all soon Sally-ann
__________________ Finally living in Mount Martha, Melbourne......... and loving it !!!!!!!!! TRA passed - Feb. 07 ...........Visa granted (136- General Plumber) 14th June !!!!!!!! Landed in Oz 9th December 2007!!! PIO Skilled Trades database for Victoria: http://www.freewebs.com/victorianskilledtraderslist/index.htm
Just wondered where you ended up whether it was Frankston or Berwick?
We love the look of Frankston and think that the fact its not just a suburb is great as there is more to do and its right on the beach. We think that it too has got a bad rep due to its past. (Aparantly Ferntree GUlly has never really shaken off it hippy druggy past but its not a bad place to live either as it is not a haven for hippies any longer).
Plus Frankston house prices have gone up and it looks like its just as pricey as anywhere else so it seems that others are thinking that it cant be that bad either.
Anyway if you or anyone else is living there now can you enlighten me as to whether the bad crime area stories are a thing of the past or not.
Thanks and i hope wherever you are things are great for you in Oz!!
We love Frankston!!!!!
We live in Frankston South and I work in Frankston its really an ok place to live and bring up kids....... don't believe the hype
Donna
Ditto Donna,
We love living in Frankston South. Frankston town centre is great..lots of shops, good cinema complex, the beach is fantastic and the the revamped Waterfront looks great. Can't wait for the new boardwalk to be finished.
Our boys (14 and 16) go into town most weekends and I have no concerns about them being there. Have to say, I wouldn't let the go at night, but then I'd say that about any town/city.
Just because North Frankston is a bit dodgy, it doesn't mean that the rest is.
................ anyway we can smell the fumes from here !!!!!!!! 
