The Barfields
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Hi There Chris and Donna, your best bet is to go for lots of drives when you get here to see if you get a feel for a certain place. There are lots of good areas. We moved here 4 months ago and after much research and driving around settled on Benowa, it is a quiet area but is great as there is a shopping centre just down the road and we have our daughter starting at Benowa primary school which is reported to be a great school. you are only a 10/15 minute drive to anywhere be it the broad water, broad beach, surfers is just down the road and the spit and sea world are 15 mins away also. It's a 20 min drive to Helensvale. We have also since arriving been to a few places further south such a currumbin and palm beach etc which are lovely but just that bit too far away for us. It's really depends on what your individual family need once you arrive. we are loving it here though, if there is anything else I can help you with just ask! Good luck to you and your family.
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Hi Chris and Donna, We have been here on the Gold coast for 12 weeks now. Most of the suburbs here are nice places to live. It depends on what your looking for really, we are in Benowa which is lovely, it's a quiet suburb but central to a lot of places and Broadbeach is only 15 mins drive away. Where are you staying at the moment, Ashmore palms? That's where we were before we moved. We had a manic first 2weeks and just drove around looking at areas and Schools. What age are your children? Mine are 3 and almost 5 years. Would you like to meet up with us sometime? Let me know if there are any other questions I can help you with. Kind Regards, Lyndsey
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Hi Carla, Thanks for you message. Sorry didn't get back to you earlier we have been so busy since arriving. We rented our house out in the u.k because we knew if we sold it, it would take forever and also we wanted to keep a foot hold in the u.k just incase it doesn't work out for us on the Gold coast. First impressions are very good, it seems that the Gold coast has so much to see and do. The kids are loving it. Have you thought about putting your house up for rent? Our house rented out as soon as it went on the Market! The rental Market seems to be very strong at the moment. Keep on touch and let me know how you get on, if you have any questions just ask. Kind Regards, Lyndsey
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Hi Netty and John, I have just noticed your reply on pomsinoz. You are probably in the air now! When you get to Ashmore you could just ask where the Barfields are staying. We will let reception know that we have friends arriving. Am sure we will see you though they are numerous kids activities going on in the mornings, we haven't got to any of them yet as have been so busy house hunting! Good luck and hope to see you over this weekend once you have got over the jet lag! Kind Regards, Lyndsey
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Hi Netty and Carla, It's very real for us now as we have arrived down under!!! This is our third day! Netty I noticed you said you have your movers coming tomorrow? Lots of luck with that! The journey was not as bad as we thought with our two kiddies. The best thing we did was to book night flights as they both did sleep for quite a while. It was uncomfortable though as you just can't move or lie back much.Singapore airlines were great and the flights both went well, the last two afternoons we have all been very tired with the jet lag it really sets in on the afternoons. Today I feel almost back to normal. From what we have seen of the Gold coast so far it is amazing! We can't wait to find a house and so we can start to enjoy living here, there seems to be an awful lot to do here when you have got children. It kind of reminds me of a little Miami with all of the sky rises. If you have any questions before you leave just ask. I would strongly suggest that you bring a few warm cardigans/ jumpers with you as the mornings here are freezing at the moment! It has rained a bit also, but we were told today it hasn't rain at all for ages so they do need it. September is supposed to be lovely as it's the start of spring. Good luck to both of you with your pending moves to oz. Netty when you arrive at Ashmore if you would like to meet up sometime just ask at reception where the Barfields are staying and they will tell you which number and street we are in the resort as I will tell them that I am waiting to hear from you, kind regards, Lyndsey
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Hi Carla, sorry have kept meaning to reply to your post. When are you due to leave? Have you got children also?
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Just noticed that your location is Birmingham.? Is that right cos we are just 40/50mins away from there!
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Hi Netty, just noticed you are under a new user name. This time next week we will be on the plane hopefully!if there's no delays. Had some bad news today our tenants for our house have dropped out at last minute with no valid reason really. Luckily estate agents very busy and have arranged a viewing for tomorrow, am shattered have been cleaning lots! Was just starting to chill out a bit before we go and now this has happened it's all systems go again! Never mind hopefully will find another tenant very soon. The last week has just flown by. Will def get in touch before we fly out and see if we can arrange a time to meet hopefully by a pool with the children! Have you noticed a chill in the air here in Britain can't wait to go now! Good luck with everything
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Hi Netty, we are in a classic family villa/interim cabin. Yes the long stay ones. We are flying to Brisbane via Singapore. We leave the midlands on the 17th we have an evening flight. I am hoping kids will sleep for some of it! It's going to be hard for you without a fridge for 5days. We sold our family car just a week before the visa came through, our daughter was so upset that our car had gone to someone else! What visa did you get? Ours is 457. My husband is a Geo technical engineer what sort of engineering does John do? Lyndsey
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Hi Netty, I think that they are strict the other end even with the shoes you are wearing! We had our removals come on July 18 and 19th so by the time we leave we will have been camping in our house for a month! We did plan is that way though as we are staying at Ashmore palms for a month so we hope after the 8weeks we will have our furniture although if it does happen to take 10weeks to arrive we will have to stay at ashmore for longer. Are you staying at Ashmore for the whole 8weeks nearly then while your wait for your container to arrive? We are at Ashmore until sept 16th. We luckily have built in fridge freezer here so that's been handy have borrowed the basics like saucepans etc so have been able to cook. We still waiting to here if the company are sorting out a vehicle for us when we arrive or if that fails will need to book some kind of meet and greet as will have 5suitcases 4hand luggage and 4 people to transport! Don't mind answering any more ?s at all. After all this is life changing stuff!x
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Hi again! The thing I miss the most is the washing machine and our comfy sofa! It is very hard work with the children not having their toys, but luckily the weather is on our side and we are going out and about as much as we can. I was so relieved when our container was packed and it was full we couldn't have got anything else in it! I have never worked so hard in my life as I did before the removals came. Have you made sure you have jet washed garden furniture and treated it if necessary? Also any bikes and I lost count of how many pairs of shoes I hand washed with a toothbrush! It took Paul hours to clean all of his collection of tools etc. If you have anything you need to ask about removals just let me know. P.s if you get Jimmy and Steve make sure you have plenty of tea and sugar ready! Lyndsey
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Hi Netty, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Things pretty manic here! Just 2 weeks tonight and we will be boarding the airbus! Getting excited now can't wait, have wanted to move to oz for a long time and now it's upon us! Good luck with your removals and remember to check all of your cupboards before your container goes as we had a cupboard full of Tupperware left behind! Who is doing you removals? We had John Mason they were excellent. Kind regards, Lyndsey
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Hi everyone, We arrive at the Gold Coast on 19th August and I will be working in Helensvale. My daughter will be 5 in December and we need to find a decent primary school for her. Can anyone recommend a good primary school in the Gold Coast area preferably no more than half an hours drive from Helensvale. Many thanks.
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Hi there Netty, Think I have just replied to your husbands message on the forum. You will see that we would be glad to meet up with you sometime in Aug/ Sept. Our daughters are the same age. We to are staying at Ashmore palms. Kind Regards, Lyndsey
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Hi there, You didn't put what your name was I don't think? Myself, my husband and our two children aged 2 and 4 are flying out of the U.K on August 17th and will arrive at Ashmore palms on 19th August. We will be looking to live not to far from Helensvale where my husband will be working. Would be good to perhaps meet up with you when you arrive at Ashmore. It's all happened very quickly for us with our 457 visas coming through less than 2 weeks ago, we have removals coming on monday and the we live in an empty house for 4 weeks until we fly out to Brisbane airport. We still have lots and lots to do and as you can imagine it's not easy when you have children to look after in the meantime! How old is your daughter?We have to tell our daughter next week that she won't be going to school in the u.k now which we're not looking forward to. Look forward to hearing from you, Kind Regards, Lyndsey
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Hi Stacey, for now we have told them we are going on a very long holiday to oz as I don't want to overload them with too much info as they are both still young. My daughter was due to start school in September. They are very excited though! We have heard Perth is lovely also. Hope you get your visa soon, I know the waiting is awful and we only waited 3 weeks! Lyndsey
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Hi Stacey, No we didn't need medicals, but I think if you work in healthcare or with children you have to have them. We ( myself, hubby and two children aged 2 and 4) are moving to the Gold coast, what about you? Where are you hoping to go? Lyndsey
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Hi Stacey, My husband was sponsered through a Geotechnical company and the migration agent lodged our 457 visa on weds 8th June. We got the visa approved just 3 weeks later on thurs 30th June. The migration agent said it would be sometime between 4 and 6 weeks. I'm not sure how they work it all out, whether it's to do with the job you are doing. We do know that the construction industry is very much in demand. We have had a crazy week since our visa came through, booking flights, short term accomodation, removals etc. We leave the u.k in just 6 weeks! My advice to you is start sorting your house and garage out in preparation, I started doing this when my husband got the job offer in April and there is still a lot to do!! If you need any other advice or have any other questions I'm happy to help if I can. Good Luck, Lyndsey
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Short term let needed on the Gold Coast!
The Barfields replied to The Barfields's topic in Renting & Real Estate
We've booked in with Ashmore Palms arriving on Friday 19th August for four weeks while we find somewhere more permanent. Prices for temporary accomodation for a family of 4 were very reasonable. We have gone for an interim cabin. Originally we were put off because of the price after trying their website, but we must have been looking at the wrong type of accomodation. All sorted now, only 6 and a bit weeks to go! -
Short term let needed on the Gold Coast!
The Barfields replied to The Barfields's topic in Renting & Real Estate
Yes, we've tried Gumtree but there doesn't seem to be much choice and we're getting a bit anxious now as time moves on. -
Hello everyone! We are new to Poms in Oz and have just received our 457 visa after only a 3 week processing time! My husband starts his new job in around 9 weeks time in Helensvale on the Gold Coast. We are hoping to arrive in Oz around the end of August and are in need of a temporary house to rent for approx 4 weeks while we look for somewhere permanent. We have two children aged 4 and 2 and ideally would like to rent a property with 3 bedrooms and garden near to Helensvale which is where my husband's job is. Can anyone recommend a website for temporary lets, as we have looked at the most well known and there seems to be little choice. Or does anyone know somebody who has a property? We know very little about the area and would also love to hear from anyone else who lives there or who is making the move with kids in tow! Many Thanks, The Barfields