steveNem

If you want to leave windows open at night in the summer then security screens are very useful and definitely a feature. Places of high density living such as coomera will always have a risk of break ins. It can be easy pickings. But anywhere does, in any city in any country.

I think you would be better off Northern Gold Coast so you can commute to Brisbane for work if you need to. Its not that easy to get a job on the Gold Coast. My husband tried for 3 years and had to work away before that just to work. We live in Upper Coomera and to be perfectly honest I wouldnt recommend it. Its not overly bad but isnt all nice either. We are looking to move to Helensvale which is a more established area, reasonable house prices and everything you could possibly want in a central area including activities for kids. You would be best North Gold Coast for any commute. I have heard lots of people say the Southern End of the Gold Coast is great for families also but you would be looking at a long drive to Brisbane if you needed it. Also consider schools. If you are looking at public schools then they are based on catchment areas. Its really difficult to get into a state school when you live out of the area. Another reason we are moving to Helensvale. Maybe look on line for the kind of school you would like and then base your house search on that. Unless of course you are going private then there are no catchments. Gold Coast is a great place for young kids. We have a 4.5 yr old and a 10 week old and moving here was a great decision for us. We are from North West England and our son didnt get to experience playing in the sand or on the grass till we moved when he was 8mths old!

Hi Ruth We are also in upper coomera and have been there 3 and a bit years. We are looking at buying at some point this year and will probably move to Helensvale. We have a 4 year old and one due in a few weeks. Once bubs is here we would be happy to meet up. We have spent so much time trying to find work and get settled we neglected the making friends side of things. oh and Smith family, you shouldnt have too many troubles finding work as a SW lots of non govt organisations also employ social workers. I work in Mental Health admin and we have loads of them! Good luck with your move.

We currently live in Upper Coomera and have done for 3 years. We hope to move to Helensvale in the next 12 to 18mths Some parts of Upper Coomera are ok others not so good. I tend to find that the areas off Billinghurst and around the Shopping Precinct there have a bad reputation. Lots of break ins etc. We live off Roe Street nearish the Coles. It is handing having a good Drs surgery, shopping, pools etc all in the one place however as previously mentioned traffic can be horrendous! We have to drop our son off at daycare a few hours earlier than we would like due to getting stuck in all the school traffic in the area. There are lots of private Schools here. Both main roads in and out tend to totally jam at peak hours and we have to plan around that. We are fortunate in that we have good neighbours around us but have had some shockers as well. People are people wherever you go so you will always risk bad neighbours, barking dogs etc. I have had on a few occasions had to call the police due to various criminal activity and once foiled a group of lads doing break ins in the street (thank you pol air for helping out!). There is lots of development up and coming in the area around the Train Station etc. Lots of new houses. Some so close together you can put your arm out the window and touch your neighbour! Personally its not for us but Im glad we gave it a go. I would say do your research, there is a lot on line about the good and bad areas. Good luck!

I have found that he is sick more. HOWEVER, we are in our second year here and he started daycare just before winter. The first two to three months we were here he was sick CONSTANTLY!! It was god awful. We were living with other kids who were at school and kindy and they bought stuff home that didnt affect them at all but it did our little one. We have just been through our first winter in daycare and been sick pretty much all the time again. Endless colds, runny nose, fever etc. We seem to be through it all now. He has always been a healthy child. I would say though that when you get there they are suddenly exposed to all sorts of new viruses that they have not encountered before. They are bound to get sick. I dont think its any different to the UK only that winter is shorter (in QLD anyway) so less chance of illness. I think all kids get sick regardless really, they just pass it round each other at varying degrees.

We bought ours with us. We have used it a lot over the last month or two with all the rain and we have a very messy nearly 2 year old so lots of washing to do. We have noticed an increase in our electricity bills but not a huge one. We tend to put the washing out in the morning to get a bit of sunshine then stick it in the dryer. It wont dry completely anywhere else at the moment.

I an an Aussie and have just moved back after 14 years in the UK. Honeslty I feel more British now than I do Australian. I find myself on this forum and seeking out other poms on facebook. Its weird I feel quite displaced. We are not currently looking at moving back to the UK but who knows. Been here 1 year next month and its been really tough. I still havent found work and hubby has been made redundant and is hoping to get some contract work and find something more permanent. I guess we are lucky in that we have a very young son so we dont have to pick our forever area to live just yet. Winnie = I am also from Western Queensland (west of Toowoomba) where are you from?

When we moved over here we borrowed a travel cot and he slept in that for nearly 3 months till our stuff arrived. We did without a change table and just used a bed (oh my poor back!) and a high chair was a cheapie from ikea. The ikea basic costs £15. If you cant wait for your container ship over a few essentials in a box. We did that and I am so glad I did. I couldnt afford to pay out for all new stuff just for a few months. Good luck!!

Highland Reserve in Upper Coomera? Has its own school and new houses with good broadband.

Excess baggage charges are crazy! Singapore airlines wanted to charge us nearly £400 to take a travel cot. Needles to say it got left with the inlaws. We shipped a few boxes of winter stuff and baby essentials before we moved (stuff we couldnt wait for the container and couldnt fit in our bags). We shipped just over 70kg and it cost us around £250. This was with PSS. I couldnt recommend them enough. It was so easy and stressfree. Delivered door to door.

I am not sure if we would or would not to be honest. When my mother travelled to the UK with us as children she gave my twin and I this medicine as prescribed by her GP. It had the opposite affect on both of us and we were hyperactive for a long time during the flight. My mother said it was the worst thing ever! I am glad that most of you have no issue near children on a plane. Pity the man who was sat near us in the bulk head where the bassinettes were didnt feel the same. The whole flight he complained to us mothers about the noise the children were making and that the plane was 'not a playground' and they should sit and not move. It was awful to see this non stop abuse. HE is part the reason why mothers sedate their children. Its so bloody hard!

Great advice Lambfamily! When you start again you literally have to start all over again. I had a well stocked spice rack at home and had to start all over again here and it took time. Along with all the cleaning supplies simple things like pegs, we had to buy a washing line etc. Rentals need money up front at well. On that wage you should be more than fine and the fact he will start working straight away is a bonus. Good luck!

We used PSS to send a few boxes of extra bits mostly toys and baby clothes and stuff we needed. They were great and the boxes arrived just fine. Good price too.

Welcome back Salma! I have been wondering how you have been getting on and thinking of your family at this awful time x. So pleased to hear you sounding positive and great news about hubbys job. Fingers crossed things continue to fall into place for you x

Defo speak to the agent on the phone and demand to speak to someone in a senior position if you are not happy. We had a real problem when we were still in the Uk where our tenant put her abusive, jail bird boyfriend in our rental. She never even lived there just paid his rent. When they broke up (after his 5th prison sentence whilst living there) she stopped paying rent and tried to sell this big sob story, even though she swindled us! Its an awful situation to be in and you have my total sympathy. I wouldnt sell over this just yet I would demand action and an inspection. Do you have a reference from your tenant? Just to be sure she hasnt done this before.

I am on the Coast but from what I hear its the same everywhere. I am finding it very difficult to get my son in somewhere full time. There seems to be endless waiting lists and the ones that dont have waiting lists dont have them for a reason. I am going to check a few more out this week but its giving me a big headache and stess. I want him to be happy and safe and also a place where he will learn and grow. Not just left to his own devices in a room full of kids. We had such a wonderful experience with nursery in the UK and I really hope we can get the same here. If you know the area you are looking for google them for reviews there are loads of kids websites like essential baby and bubhub where people will post reviews that I have found useful. We are thinking of moving nearer Brisbane and I am already thinking of putting us on a few waiting lists up there just in case but dont want to prevent others from having a spot. So much easier in the UK when we could go off personal recommendations.

Work out where you will be working then where you will live will follow. We are on the Coast and are still looking at moving nearer to Brisbane next year because of the commute.

I bought a couple with me. Didnt know you couldnt? I also accidently had aerosols in my container despite thinking I had got them all out and they were fine too. could you not put them in your suitcase and bring them that way?

I would wrap them and maybe put them in a separate box labelled fragile glass on it or something. That way if the box is also inspected by customs they will be aware.

My ironing board. Crazy I know but I cannot find a good ironing board and I regret not brining ours. We have used our tumble dryer a lot, especially with a little one. Not sure what else as we are yet to go through our first aussie winter.

I can guess. We had a similar issue with packing half full boxes. I took a few photos of them too. No wonder it was a tight fit in the container and thing got left behind. The unpackers here were surprised at the amount of paper. It would have totalled a small rain forest. Sorry you have had a bad experience. I have to say the Aussie end of the contract for us were outstanding so hopefully you will have a good experience as well.

So utterly terrible. My thoughts are with you and your family. Sending prayers x

We are going to the Wiggles concert and little one will be very over tired by then but we will hopefully be able to make another one. Have a wonderful time x

We use those bombs you can buy from bunnings etc. We had loads when we first moved into this rental but seem ok now. We do however have a cheeky 1 year old who leaves food in stupid places so we can never be completely clean. We do our best though.

Cant help on much but we live on the coast and work is in Brissie. Big mistake unless you like commuting ! We are going to move closer to Brissie next year now just to cut the commute times down. The Coast is beautiful but you can always visit on the weekend and it will be like having a mini holiday when away from the city.