G'Day from the Gold Coast

Jo&Rich · 17-11-2007, 01:51 AM

Hi all, been reading through this site since we first thought about applying for a visa, and now we have arrived in Oz, decided to finally register and say g'day! We are Joanne (30 Full Time Mum), Richard (35 Bricklayer), Daniel (4), Bethany (3) and Luke (1). We arrived 8 weeks ago from Oldham, Lancs, and stayed in Burleigh Heads, before moving to our rented property in Biggera Waters, about 20 minutes up the road from Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast. Loads of questions for all you who have settled here, and happy to share our very limited knowledge (as yet!) with anyone thinking of making the move.

Joanne

johatts · 17-11-2007, 02:48 AM

WELCOME TO PIO AND AUSTRALIA!

We are having a poms in oz meeting on 1st Dec at Ian Dipple Lagoon at Labrador. From 1330 onwards. There is a chippy there and a barbie. Bring some grog and grub and your swimmers and come play!!!! I am Joanne 36(nearly) and a nurse, OH Mark 43 and a bus driver. We live in Sinnamon Park, Brissies west

calNgary · 17-11-2007, 03:08 AM

Hiya welcome to poms in Oz ,hubby works at southport near surfers.We have been here just over a year now and are loving everything Oz throws at us,,
Cal x

Jo&Rich · 18-11-2007, 10:29 AM

Thanks for your replies- that meeting sounds great, just five minutes up the road from us! Hopefully see you there,
Joanne

Els-Bells · 19-11-2007, 07:18 PM

Hi u guys and welcome! Glad to hear you are having a fab time. We are looking to move to Gold Coast next year so will deff PM you nearer time for advice etc, still cant decide on which suburb to go though still doing my research!!!

scots-in-oz! · 19-11-2007, 09:29 PM

Hi Joanne & family, & welcome to PIO!
I'm Mags (34) a nurse, OH Robert (41) stock controller, Lauren (13) & Robyn(10). We're hoping to move to the Gold Coast sometime next year, but depends on visa, house sale, etc. Still waiting for my skills assessment to come back!

We still haven't decided for definate which area we want to move to yet, so I might be in touch in the future for some advice if that's ok?! Hope you're enjoying your new life down under, and that all your dreams are coming true!

Mags

x

Jo&Rich · 19-11-2007, 10:42 PM

Hi els-bels and scots-in-oz?, hope you get your visas soon, it's almost soul destroying the waiting! We live in Biggera Waters, which is a really nice suburb, but quite expensive, with quite a high proportion of more senior residents as a lot of sea front flats. We certainly can't afford to buy here! Runaway Bay is lovely, great shopping centre, can't say if schools are any good though as mine are still at kindy. The neighbouring suburbs of Arundel, Labrador and Parkwood all seem very nice, loads of playparks, very family orientated. We are hoping to move higher up however, north of Brisbane around the Redcliffe area; gets a bit more for your money. Had a drive, and is really beautiful (as are most places), and would appreciate any feedback on the area; all I've heard is positive so far! Thanks for your replies, and will be happy to help;
Joanne

Els-Bells · 21-11-2007, 10:18 PM

Hi Joanne,

Thanks for that info, we are soooo undecided on where to go it all sounds and looks so lovely!!!! Ha

better than dreary old Britain,it is freezing hea, rained for 3 days solid and to top things off England are getting beat off Croatia so looks like no Euro 08 for us never mind we wont be hea to watch it anyway!!!!!

Redcliffe seems a really popular area we were recommended there from some friends hea on PIO!! Were also recommended Elanora or Robina near Palm Beach. We want somewhere near beach, good schools and not too quiet,is that too much to ask...is it???

How did you guys find the initial move? I am worried about settling and the homesickness. But still soooo excited!!

Jo&Rich · 22-11-2007, 12:31 PM

Hi, I am quite homesick; I'm 30 and I miss my mummy!

It passes though, and you know you'll see people again. I found the move quite difficult, but have three very young children, so doesn't help. We booked into a holiday apartment via the internet for nine days, which was not really long enough, as found it difficult to find a rental. Best thing we found was to look for open days to look around rentals in the newspaper and fill out the application a.s.a.p. Things move so quickly, we found it difficult to get appointments to view before houses had been taken, and ended up with a 2 bed flat, not ideal, but better than nothing. I wish we had used one of the relocation companies, purely for the fact we would have had somewhere to stay for a bit longer on arrival, without paying over the odds in a holiday flat, to get sorted out without the big panic.
Robina seems nice, we looked at a house there but missed out. A bit inland, so higher temperatures, and a fair drive to beach, but very well served for shops etc. Not very familiar with the area yet, not been to Elanora; still trying to decide where to settle ourselves! Best of luck with your move; although I have my (frequent) off moments, feel we have done the best for our family, now the worst of it over. Joanne