sevenseas

Hi there's quite a few Meetup groups (www.meetup.com) in the Manly area - suggest you have a look/pop along to a few. Lots and lots of people in the same situation as you.

Agree with Nippers as a great activity. My two go to North Steyne where they also have a fantastic youth program for U14's onwards so lots of continuity after Nippers age. 12/13 still a good time to start and plenty join at this age.

Hi Deb the best thing would be to contact schools directly and get applications into them as soon as possible. Both Pittwater House and St Lukes are well-regarded but also quite hard to get in to. You may also want to consider Oxford Falls Grammar which is also very well regarded (and I'm told not quite as religious as the website would perhaps have you think). Another option might be Davidson High School which I believe has a feeder primary school right next door (Mimosa Public School), however you would need to be living within the catchment for these schools. Best of luck.

You're welcome. Just so you know, Stella does not require you to be religious to attend (we aren't and may send our 2nd daughter there). They have an ethos of contributing to the community and that includes the education of (a certain proportion of) non-Catholic girls.

Hi, yes I think Mackellar can be hard to get in. Of the 9 classes in my daughter's year 7 were selective (academic, dance, sport, art, music etc) and 2 were non-selective. So if going for a non-selective place you would need to be living close to the school. Stella Maris is a good alternative. If you are on temporary visas I believe you may need to pay something for state-school education in any case. Stella is a catholic school but they do accept non-catholics. It's in a great location too. Other than that I know that Killarney Heights has a very good reputation especially with languages and a lot of families/children from overseas go there, which could be good from the point of view of fitting in/making new friends. You would need to be living in the catchment area.

Hi, Northern Beaches Secondary College has a number of campuses - Mackellar Girls, Balgowlah Boys, Manly Selective, Cromer and Freshwater. Cromer is comprehensive, Freshwater is a senior campus (similar to a 6th form college I believe). My daughter goes to Mackellar and is very happy there. There's also Killarney Heights, Davidson and Forest High. Relatively inexpensive private schools would include Oxford Falls Grammar, Stella Maris and St Lukes. All the best.

Fab. Will send you a PM with my number.

Hi, I live in Balgowlah and am happy to meet up for coffee (sorry haven't been on here for ages). I have two in school, youngest is at BHPS.

Hi Lisa, sorry I haven't been on here for ages and have only just seen your post. I live in Balgowlah and have a 9 and 12 year old - would love to meet up for coffee after the holidays if you're about.

Hi, if I recall correctly you can ask your local council for a list of daycare centres - I found this very useful when I was phoning round looking for care (though this was a few years ago). They may have it available online now. Suggest you have a look/call them to find out, then phone around.

Thank you, a couple of really good ideas there. I think we will probably start with Bobbin Head. Love the idea of hiring a tinny. Good website too with all the walks listed - it will be interesting to do the Resolute Track too, especially with the aboriginal carvings etc. Both girls were born in Sydney but we have lived overseas for five years, so their knowledge of indigenous culture is shocking. Must do something about that.

Hi, does anyone know this park well? We live near Manly and I would love to take the kids there for a day out but am not sure where would be the best place to go - have looked at the official website and am non the wiser. Would like a shortish, easy walk if possible that a 10 and 8 year old would enjoy.

Hi Kev, thank you for your reply. Will look into getting two single kayaks second hand. Sounds like a much better idea. Btw how old is your son? We have two girls, 8 and 10. 10 year-old should be fine in her own kayak, not so sure about 8 year-old but we needn't go too far to start with.

Does anyone have one of these? Are they any good? Looking at kayak hire costs on Middle Harbour we are thinking of getting our own double kayak to take out (one adult/one child at a time) and the inflatable option could be a good way to make it easier to transport. Not too expensive either (for a fairly basic version).

Hi, it might be worth you getting in touch with a local Early Childhood Health Centre and asking to be put in touch with a mothers group with children of similar ages. I did that with my 2nd child and was put in touch with a lovely group. Closest one to you is probably in Cremorne -108 Parraween Street, Cremorne NSW 2090, tel: +61 2 9953 7042‎. There's also a few good playgroups in the area, though I'm not so familiar with them anymore (my youngest is 8).

Hi, I can make Little Manly next week Friday - 10.30am at the cafe?

Hi, yes I can make those days too. Would love to meet up again. x

Hi, I can do Thursday morning and happy to meet at South Curl Curl. :0)

Hi thanks for your replies. $5/hr seems a bit low to me. I can't remember how much we used to pay - think it was maybe $8/hr (we have been overseas/haven't used a babysitter for a few years as were living with family). Will pop round and ask her how much when she's in.

Hi, Manly would be good for me though would prefer morning after school run or midday as afternoons pretty busy after school pickup. Julz, have sent you a PM. :0)

15-yr old neighbour has offered to babysit but I have no idea how much I should offer to pay her. She would be looking after two girls ages 10 and 8. Also do you think I should leave food/snacks out for her (it has been a while since I had a babysitter and the girl we had then didn't want me to leave any snacks but I know when I used to babysit it was one of the perks of the job!)

Hello, I have been here one month now, living in Balgowlah. Have got two girls in school and would love to meet up for a coffee.

Hi, recently moved to the Manly area. On my own as husband working overseas - with two girls ages 8 and 10. Busy during the week with school and other activities but finding weekends a bit quiet. Would love to meet up with others either on a weekend or during school holidays, especially as the weather improves.

Husband used to commute on a motorbike from Balgowlah to CBD - I think it helped a bit going over the Spit Bridge as he could go into the bus lane to avoid the queues there but I think he still had to sit in the traffic along Military Road (and if I recall there was at least one nasty accident involving a motorbike along there even in slow-moving traffic). I would probably discourage him from doing it again.

that's okay - would rather hear that now than after we've bought one. (have just googled - pretty bad, remember hearing about that now - thanks)