NZPom

We're on the Redcliffe peninsula. State schools aren't great but two of my kids are at fee paying schools which are pretty inexpensive. Shorncliffe is nice and the State primary school has a good reputation but is nigh on impossible to find any rentals at all there. Sandgate is also good. It has a railway station, and a not bad 'town' centre. Handy to get to places. Agreed that you should avoid North Lakes/Deception Bay/Caboolture etc.

Hi This isn't a question for me personally, as we are not moving to the UK, but I have been told that someone I know had to take a citizenship test and was denied benefits on returning to the UK, despite holding a British passport. I am convinced that this isn't normal and that there must be more to it. If you hold a passport, and as long as you haven't done anything dodgy, then surely you can just move back, no questions asked? Has anyone else encountered anything like this? Thanks

We're in Woody Point (end of Redcliffe). Have three kids - 15, 13 and 7. Let me know if you need anything. Kate

Don't be put off Redcliffe just because of the lack of railway line. It is only a 10 minute drive to get to Sandgate station (or at least it is for us from Woody Point). It is also a lovely drive over the bridge! Agreed that you're best to decide when you get here. You might even not make a definitive decision straightaway. Try renting in a couple of places till you find the area you like.

shefg, if you've decided on St Paul's, then I'd get a rental in one of the areas nearby and decide from there. It's impossible to decide when you're not living here. I don't like recommending schools as it is such a personal thing and different schools suit different children. The only thing you can do is visit and get a feel for the place and even then, you can make a wrong decision. There are a lot of fee paying religious schools around here (my kids go to one of them). They are heavily subsidised by the church so they are a lot cheaper than St Pauls but they are quite heavy on religion (for obvious reasons) and not everyone likes that. That's a nice budget you have for a house. For that sort of money you could live somewhere really nice! You'll get a feel for where you like when you're here!

You were probably lucky. It's a very common problem there. I'm sure there are people who are fine but it's wrong that they should have so few portals for such a huge place. No matter to us now as we don't live there anymore but it is definitely a problem in NL. You either strike lucky or you don't!

Opinions can be quite divided over St Pauls (as they are with most schools - anywhere in the world!). I have friends who have kids there and love it and I know other people who have moved their kids out of there but that is just the way it goes. I'd also suggest not living in North Lakes if they're going to St Pauls. The areas suggested above would be better for St Pauls and you are more likely to meet like minded people.

PS the comment re ADSL is very true. I was gobsmacked about that when we moved there. Even out in the Boonies in NZ you get better internet connection. Chances are you'll end up on wireless. Be prepared to tough it out with Telstra for a discount as it is very costly (even with the discount. We had to insist on no live streaming at all - including Skype while we lived there). Loving the freedom of being able to Skype friends again now that we've moved!

I can't remember the exact number of Brits there (sure the info is easily available). I think percentage wise it's up near 20% which is quite a lot. I lived there 5 months very unhappily. It isn't for everyone. Then again, I don't like estates, I don't like shopping centres and I especially don't like estates attached to shopping centres so it was never going to work for us. We all make mistakes. Good luck with it. Some people like it there so hope you'll be happy. And remember, if you don't, you can always go elsewhere. A lot of people don't end up in the suburb where they started.

Hi. Can't help you re areas as I don't know much about those places (though had heard Robina was a bit rough) but just to say hi as we also moved from NZ before xmas. My motives were different to yours I think - I loved NZ and we left because of the earthquakes. Considered Auckland but decided to make the jump to Oz. Where in Auckland are you? Anyway, good luck with it all! Kate

Hi. Re Redcliffe, it really depends on what you're used to and what you're expecting. If you want lots of fancy restaurants and somewhere that is very busy/thriving, then you'd probably want to be closer to the city. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes etc in Redcliffe (all over the peninsular) though. Another option for you could be Sandgate/Shorncliffe (though very difficult to find rentals there - we tried). You have the beaches and tracks etc and nice older queenslanders to live in and you have a railway station in both that you can walk to and take the train to town if you fancy a hassle free night out. We're in Woody Point, so we're just over the bridge from Sandgate so for us it's quite convenient for town. I have no idea about night transport - I'm sure it exists but don't know the details - someone will! If you need both outdoors and nightlife, you are going to have to compromise somewhere - decide which is the most important to you!

What about somewhere on the Redcliffe peninsular if you like outdoorsy stuff. The commute isn't bad to Chermside from there and you'll have beaches/cycling and walking tracks etc.

We moved from Christchurch (because of the quakes) just before xmas. We didn't have to come to Oz - we thought of Auckland but in the end decided to give Oz a go. I love the climate (I'm sure you do compared with sunny Dunners!) Like you, I've struggled to adjust a bit. I took to NZ straightaway (we were there for 6 years) and I can understand what you are saying regarding jobs and schools here. We are paying for the kids' education now so at least we are happy that they are getting a good education. We made a very bad choice with regard to the first area we moved to and the primary school there. We have since moved and are a lot happier here. We are committed to making things work here but I think it will be a long time before I think of it as home. I thought of NZ as home almost instantly. What were your reasons for leaving? I'm very mindful of not looking back on things with rosy spectacles (pre quakes, that is). There were things I didn't like but I do think people are friendlier (especially on SI) and it's easier to meet people. Hope it either gets easier for you or else you go back. My daughter is just back from chch. I'm definitely going to arrange a visit very soon - will do me good. At least we don't have far to visit friends, I suppose!

If I were you, I'd start a new thread about those areas. I enquired about Eatons Hill a couple of months ago on here as we were considering it - worth searching for the thread. Our only reason for deciding against it is that we want to be by the sea - it is quite nice there although still fairly modern. Good luck with it all. Think you're very wise to avoid NL - I'm ruing the day we took a rental here and it isn't easy getting out of a tenancy!

I can never make my mind up about Sandgate. It's definitely convenient and I do like the fact that it has a bit of a town centre and I am told it is a good community which is what NL really lacks but I agree it isn't the prettiest of places and house prices are about $100k more once you go over the bridge from Redcliffe. Trying to get a rental there is nigh on impossible anyway so I think we're more likely to be Scarborough/Redcliffe/Woody Point/Clontarf. When we lived in NZ I always found it was the Londoners who were homesick - they really missed the buzz of London. Have you thought of moving a bit closer to town? There might be a bit more of a city feel there?

We're 4 months into a 6 month lease in North Lakes. It is utterly charmless - can't wait to leave. Thankfully kids are not at local schools so we don't have to unsettle them. We will be moving to either Redcliffe or Sandgate areas. Just looking for rentals right now - can't wait! It's true what someone above said re North Lakes. There are people here who do love it (can never quite get my head round why but each to their own), but if you mention NL to anyone who doesn't live here, they shudder. I was watching The Truman Show on TV on last night - it really made me think of living in North Lakes. I can't wait to escape. My heart sinks every time we approach NL and see that big shopping centre. Our own fault - shouldn't have moved here in the first place!

Hi. We moved to North Lakes just before Christmas. We're poms but have come via NZ - been in Christchurch for the last 6 years. Love Redcliffe and Scarborough and hoping to move there within the next couple of months. North Lakes is utterly charmless! We're same age as you but have got kids - we do however also enjoy beer, bubbles and biking!!!

Just wondered how you're getting on in Eatons Hill. We're currently in North Lakes - thankfully not too long till our lease runs out - yay! We had our hearts set on Redcliffe/Scarborough or Sandgate but we are probably going to have to go further inland if we want to get a decent sized house for the money we have (to buy that is). We had a drive to Eatons Hill today (in the pouring rain). We liked what we saw but would be interested in getting someone's opinion who lives there! Schools aren't an issue as our kids are at independent schools where they're happy and they could travel from there. Is there much to do and most importantly, is it a good community? Thanks!!

Pleased to hear it. I'll have a look at Denham Crescent. How do you find North Lakes? I'm not a huge fan but then again, I'm just not into estates! I'm around if you fancy a meet up some time! When do you move in? Kate

PS people mentioning schools. My daughters (12 and 14) are at Grace Lutheran College in Rothwell - fee paying but not too expensive and the religion isn't shoved down their throats too much - they seem very happy after their first week. My son (6) has just started at Bounty Boulevard in North Lakes but am hoping to get him into Grace Lutheran Primary at Clontarf at some later point - we are going to be leaving NL anyway so no point in sending him here anymore and I would rather he was at a smaller school. However it is a nice school - staff seem great. Not finding it easy to meet people there but it's early days and the constant rain since school started hasn't helped!

Hi. I'm Kate. We're from the UK originally but had been living in Christchurch NZ for the last 6 years. Have moved over here mainly because of the earthquakes we were experiencing over there. We've been here 6 weeks - we are in North Lakes for the next 6 months but will be moving to Scarborough/Redcliffe once this lease is up. We were by the coast in NZ and I really miss it. It's too much like a big estate here (which is what it is I guess!). I have a 6 year old boy as well as two older girls. Finding it surprisingly hard to get to know people here - very different to NZ so I would definitely be up for a meet! good luck with your move back and to everyone else moving over. Exciting times - I think I've just had one of those weeks when reality is biting, I'm missing NZ like mad and it's rained all week. On the whole, I'm happy with the move but will be even happier once we're out of NL (though there is nothing wrong with it - just different strokes for different folks and all that!). Kate

It's more wet, wet, wet than hot, hot, hot at the moment! Hope the rains have dissipated a bit by the time you get here!

Scarborough's lovely. We had a holiday let in Woody Point before we came here. Scarborough is where we intend to move to when our let here is up (we've just moved from Scarborough in chch, NZ so must be something about the name!). Good luck with the move!

Hi. We just moved to North Lakes on 3 January - I'll try and have a drive by some time if you're still interested. Are you planning to sign up before you arrive? Probably best to look at the property in person first - get a holiday let for a week or so. There are a few coming up - how many beds are you looking for? It's ok here - doubt we'll be here long term but ok for starting out while deciding where to live on a more permanent basis! Good luck. Kate

We're arriving in Brisbane from Chch NZ in 10 days and we don't yet have a permanent address - staying in a hotel and then a holiday let for the best part of 3 weeks (longer is we don't secure a rental before then). Just don't know where to have our mail redirected - what have other people done? Sure others must have been in this situation. When we moved from UK to chch 6 years ago, I think we just gave the address of the central post office and all we had to do was go into that post office with our passports and they'd hand us our mail. Can't find any info on doing the same in Brisbane. Time is running out!! Thanks in advance! Kate