scarlet mia

Hi angie we got the children into school quite soon after we got here but we did have to have a rental agreement torove we was in the catchment area. The school is great my kids have settled so well and they love it. I also have a 6 year old and he is in year 1. It would be good to start before December but if you can,t get to I wouldn,t worry as the kids at the school and the teachers have all been so welcoming and they have settled really well. I have 4 at school and my youngest who will be 3 in January goes to mountain creek daycare twice a week whilst the kids are T school and he is really enjoying it. if you want to meet up when you get here that would be great just get in touch good luck with everything xx

Hi does anybody know if you can put hair colour like garner nut rises in your suitcase and bring it from England to Brisbane. many thanks x

Thank you for all the tips on places to go. We will be trying them all. And I have drove past that pub a few time looks really good too. thanks again and if you have any more keep them coming Karen

Hi we are staying at headland gardens. The owners are fab and they have helped us a lot. The prices are reasonable and it,s in a great location.

I will do that thank you. My 9 year old can,t do 2 lengths but really wants to get better now he,s here. Use to really try to push them into to swimming back in England but had no interest. Now I think he really have listened. They are going to mountain creek and didn't,t know they did lessons there so that would be great. thanks again for you help karen

Thanks for that I have just looked at website and it looks really good. My younger kids aren,t very strong swimmers and didn,t have much interest in swimming in england so I think I need to get them some swimming lessons. I noticed an outdoor pool at cotton tree wonder if they do them there. I really want them to be confident in the water and to enjoy it to thanks

Hi I have read before when the surf club has been mentioned so I went when we first arrived. The lady at the desk told me it would be November when I could sign the kids up for it. Does this sound right. My kids are 11,9,7,6,2. Thanks for any advise

Hi we are about o move into our rental in buderim. We have only been here just over 2 weeks. Our kids will be going to mountain creek and our youngest will be going to mountain creek daycare just round the corner from the school. I think where we are must be on the border as we seem closer to mountain creek. Would be great to meet some people and get some info on the area, where all the things are for the kids to do. karen

Please do I would be happy to help. For now all I can say is I feel we have made the right choice to move here it,s gorgeous and feels right. Good luck with your move and pm me and if I can help with anything I will x

Hi thanks. I will have to look out for the get togethers it would be really good to meet some people, thinks that is all what's missing not really knowing anybody

Thankyou feels like it took us years to get here but only weeks to get everything sorted. Apart from missing loved one I think we are gonna love it here x

Hi just a little message for those planning the big move. We started all our planning about 4 years ago and then last September got our visa,s. the goodbyes were awful and found them really hard to the point it was making me not want to come. We left for the airport and took the 25 hour flight and so far life has been amazing ( early days I know ) we booked a holiday rental for 4 weeks so 2 weeks in now in and it,s fab just accross the road from mooloolaba beach. We hired a car for a week and ny husband the day after we arrived got a job he starts tomorrow. We started to drive around some areas we liked the sound of mountain creek and buderim and they really a lovely places well so is everywhere here. The first house we viewed and applied for we got which was great as it is in the catchment area for the school we want (mountain creek) which we loved when we looked round. The children start there next week. We have just bought all the uniforms and books and pens which they have to have and it was a small fortune especially with 5 children . So we have 4 starting school and my youngest starts daycare in Tuesday the same day the others start school which is just round the corner. we did quite a lot of research before we left mostly on here which was great but until you get here you just don,t know what it,s going to be like . So far for us it has been better than we could of imagined. The cost of living is higher and I do prefer the food in England as I am a vegetarian and there doesn't,t seem as much choice but I just think so what it,s not England and just have to get used to what's on offer. Now just can,t wait to move into our house and for the container to arrive and then hopefully really settle and hope the kids settle at school it will then be perfect. fornthose worrying about leaving loved ones, both our parents have booked fllights come one set in oct for 3 weeks then my parents in dec for 3 months so I just focus on that when I,m missing them. thanks for reading and if I could be any help to anyone who is soon to be making the move just ask karen xxx Tt

Hi We are moving to sunshine coast and fly on the 7th Aug this year. My mum and dad are going to be coming to visit for christmas for 3 months. My mum is wondering when to apply for her visa to visit us and how long it takes to arrive once applied for. Think they are getting a bit worried so would be great for any advise to reassure her. Thanks Karen x

Hi we have the packers coming on Tuesday next week and was wondering if anyone knows if it is o.k to put feather pillows and a duvet in the container. I have only just thougt of it and when the companies have come round it has never been mentioned as a no no. If anyone does know it would be great to know as I have just bought some feather pillows and my duvet is also a goose feather one too. Thankyou Karen

Hi we are staying at Headland Gardens which is at Alexandra Headland. We are going August this year for 4 weeks and as it,s off peak it,s cheaper. You also get a discount the longer you stay. The owners seem lovely and have been really helpful. We can,t wait to get there. Also as we have 5 children they even have the larger family rooms which I was struggling to find and can accomodate 8 people. Good luck Karen x

Just because someone makes a point on how expensive the food is doesn,t mean they should stay in England. Sorry just don,t understand why this comment has been made.

Hi we are letting our house out to someone we know and they are wanting it long term to so hopefully will work out well for us. I have got a contract and they will set up a direct debit into my account to pay the rent every month. We have family on standby for if tennants need anything but we have the usual boiler cover and the oven is covered for 12 months and it is quite straightforward. For us we are happy doing it this way. Good luck Karen x

Hi we are flying to Brisbane on the 7th Aug hoping to settle on the sunshine coast. We have never been to oz before and are not doing a recci. Just gonna go for it. Good luck Karen

Thankyou for the replies it,s a great help and I will look on the immi website for more info. Karen

Hi We are flying to Australia in August this year and are really wanting to settle on the sunshine coast. We are looking at Mountain Creek and Buderim as these places seem to be very family friendly with good schools. I have read so many great things on here on the Sunshine Coast and from my research all the Sunshine Coast seems great. My husband is a sheetmetal engineer so it all depends on if he will be able to secure a job there (fingers crossed). There does seem to be jobs when looking on seek.com but then there are more closer to Brisbane so we will have to see. Hope someone can help you more and advise you on your job. Good luck Karen

Hi thanks for the reply. I didnt realise they would have to have a visa to come for a holiday. I think my mum would like to come for 3 monthe at a time when she visits. Do you know the maximum length of stay is before you have to have a visa. Thanks again

Hi We fly to Australia in August this year to make the permanant move. I was just wondering if anyone knew or had any idea how long family can stay when visiting us. Thanks Karen x

Thankyou so much for your replies. Much appreciated. x

Hi We fly to Brisbane on 7 th August. For months we have had our hearts set on the sunshine coast. We have researched the schools and suburbs and would love to live there. We have been speeking to someone who lives on the Gold coast and has a business in cleveland and he has advised us there aren,t as many jobs for my husband. We have looked regular and there are some jobs but now when we look closer to Brisbane there are alot more. My husband is a sheet metal fabricator. We are now looking 30 mins from Brisbane and like the look of Redcliffe as it is close to the beach. Can anyone advise me on any other areass which they may live in around 30 mins I think North of Brisbane. We are still hoping for the sunshine cooast but that may not work out now as we have planned We have children all at school age so schools are really important to us. Thankyou for any advise. Karen x

Hi I have already submitted a post earlier but didn,t have much response. I basically just wanted to know if anyone has rented their house out and not used an agent ? Iam just trying to get some info together I just really wanted to know if it is easy enough to do and just about the tax side of it. We are not using an agent as we have found long term tennants and the fee,s are really high and we wouldn,t be able to cover them. Thanks Karen x