WelcomeIf you are new to Poms In Oz and migrating to Australia or currently living in Australia feel free to say hi to all the other either in or moving to Oz.
Hi Gaynor,
There are many beautiful places here to live on the Central Coast, Terrigal -Avoca- North Avoca-Kincumber-Erina Heights
- Tuggerah - Green Point- The Entrance the list goes on,
My hubby drives to Sydney for work and its takes him 1 to 1.5hours depending of what part of Syd he is going to sometimes longer if its right the other side of sydney.
The crime rate is alot lower here on the coast as over the last few months there have been quite a few shootings and muggings in Sydney that we have been reading about in the papers.
Can't really pick one spot that tops for families and there are families all over the coast and quite a few ex pats (but according to figures we are not unindated with ex pats here)
not quite sure where the figures were compared with !!!!
We have everything that you could need here on the coast except a main airport which is Sydney and Newcastle (about 45mins to Newcastle from where we are)
Our local shopping center is only 7mins by car and has cinema ice skating etc its at Erina Fair
There are lots of kids clubs around along with child care clubs too which makes it easier for working mums.
Please feel free to ask anything else you need to know
Have a great day
gizmo x
Thanks for all the great advice, Gizmo. The Erina Fair website is great - didnt realise you would have such a large modern shopping centre so close by. I had an impression that the central coast was very quiet with not much in the way of large retail areas. We were considering Avoca, but from what I had found on the web, it seemed really quiet. Any thoughts on Avoca as a place for families to live.
Also, can you tell me what the housing market is like at the moment - are prices rising? Things are really slowing down here and you have to price your house really reasonably to sell it. We will be putting ours on the market shortly!
If you don't mind me pestering you from time to time, I will be in touch again, with a few more questions!
Hi Gaynor
My wife and I moved from Chingford In N London to The Entrance in the Central Coast in November. I dont know about schools as our family has grown up, but I would certainly recomend the Central Coast, as very family oriented. Like Gimzo said, Erina Fair is massive. It must be one of the world's largest shopping centres. Personally it does my head in, and I try and avoid it. We are buying a house in Fountaindale Just outside Gosford. You dont hear many POM accents in the area, unlike Manly or Bondi. If you need any advice, or just to chat, please let us know. Stuart and Amelia
Hi Gaynor
Welcome to the site. I'm also married to an Aussie - he was born in England but emigrated to Oz when he was a toddler so more Aussie than English! I've been in Sydney about 16 months now and absolutely love it as I know you will. I came out here on a temporary spouse visa, process was quite straightforward and painless and I've recently applied for a permanent spouse visa.
Anything I can do to help or advise you please let me know
Best wishes
Karen
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This site is brill - all my anxieties seem to be drifting away. Getting more excited about the move, by the minute.
Thanks for all your advice, Guys
Gaynor, Shane, Amelia (5) and Ruby (4) x
I am so pleased/releived to at last have heard from people who are in the Central Coast ! My husband and I are hoping to move to the area Jan '09. Just started the visa process and already very scary. My husband is doing a reccy visit at Easter to check out schools, houses etc.. We have 2 small children - girl, Keira, age 3 and boy, Kyan, aged 6 months. We're both teachers - pls don't hold that against us ! Am currently spending hours on POI and on realestate.com.au dreaming about our new life!! You've definitely helped to confirm my hopes that the Central Coast is the place to aim for.
Any tips for places for Lee to check out whilst there would be greatfully received.
Hi Natalie
Glad there is someone else thinking about the Central Coast - there is a great video on the the realestate.com website about Avoca/Central Coast, if you havent already seen it. We are considering Avoca and it looks amazing - house prices seem affordable - not exactly cheap, but you get good value for money. Would love to know how your hubby gets on with his reccy as we will not have this luxury. Any info on schools would be really valuable to us! Obviously, this is a really important factor of our move, as we hope to give our children a better quality of life etc...
Good luck and hope to hear from you again
Gaynor x
Am amazed at your quick reply - you must be and addict too! I seem to spend every spare second on here at the mo ! Haven't seen the video so will certainly check it out. Providing Lee survives his trip I'll let you know how he goes. He's only going for 11 days so he's got a very tight schedule - plus he's staying with relatives of mine who would test the patience of a saint - however i must remember to be eternally grateful to them for accomodating and ferrying him around whilst he's there! Avaco is top of our list too and one of the places Lee will be visiting. He has already managed to set up opportunities to view a couple of schools in the area as well as child care for our youngest.
or Tess
x
