barry family

Hi we live in Cairns, been here 18 months we live Kewarra Beach which is the northern beaches. We have 2 boys 15 & 14 and they have settled in great and play football. We also are from the North East of England (Hartlepool) and came strait to Cairns (we hate the cold so love love love the heat) If you have got aircon and a pool your fine. The mozzies love me and my kid`s, hubby has never been bit. I take vitamin B still get bit but not as much. The locals call it Paradise and I agree, I miss my friends and family back home so much but so glad we made the move. Feel free to pm me if you want all the best for your move

Hi Lizzie I live in Cairns at the Northern Beaches, I`ve never been to Freshwater so can`t comment on area. We moved here from UK Ocotober 2014 (11 months) The heat was not a problem to us, we love it. Mozzie bites and sand fly bites are a bitch! my hubby never gets bit but me and my children do (me the most). You can swim in the ocean everyone does it (Just don`t swim at night) and stinger season swim in the nets or just stay away until stinger season is over. Are you coming just you and the children? have you got work sorted? It will be cyclone season then, Last Christmas there was a cyclone headed our way and everyone was so chilled they were like the mountains protect us it will hit further south it it`s going to hit, they said the reef slows cyclones down so by the time they get to land it`s just strong winds. I have screens on my windows I always make sure the doors are closed to make sure no spiders get through open doors (or snakes) heard horror stories about them but never seen one. Plenty of sunscreen on yourself and children as you can still get sun burnt in the shade (so I`m told). People are friendly but there are plenty of **** drivers about. Feel free to pm me if you need any into etc. amanda

Hi Donna What a great read you post is, congratulations on your baby. We have been here 10 months (Cairns) and we love it, miss family and friends like crazy but like you would never want to go back and live there. Unlike you my biggest struggle here is "making friends"!! My husband works fifo... 4 weeks away, home for 1...I have 2 teenage sons 13 & 14 they have settled in great and made friends. When they were younger taking them to school you could talk to other parents in the school yard, but with the age they are don`t get to meet other parents. They play football and though I would have met some other parents that way, but there is only a couple of parents that go to watch their children and they`re in a little "click" and don`t like to open their group up. I got a casual job at a local petrol station, but I work by myself (5 minute shift takeover) so thought I would meet people at work (did not realize when I applied for job I would work alone) But the great thing about the job is every 5th week when my husband is home I can take the week off to spend with him (so it has it`s advantages). So even though I`m unhappy that I have not met more friends I hope in time I will, but still would rather be here in Australia. Enjoy your trip back to UK it will be very emotional but so worth it. Amanda x

You have to do it, We moved to Cairns 10 months ago and we love it. I did not want to stay in UK and live with regrets and get to 60 years old and think 'what if'! Just try it, you can always move back home. I sold everything in UK and brought only clothes and pictures. My sister moved to Perth and shipped all her furniture over and it never went with the house, so she got rid and bought all new and regretted shipping the furniture over. I have day`s where I`m home sick but know it will get better it`s just a roller coaster of emotions. My children are 14 & 13 they have made loads of friends and love it here and never want to go back to the UK. The weather I love. We got told stories about the humidity,snakes,crocks,mozies etc and not I`m here the humidity was not a problem for me or my family. I live the Northern Beaches (Kewarra Beach) and during the stinger season they have the nets up on the beach so you can still swim. We jumped strait in and bought a house with pool and the views are fantastic. It is Paradise. My husband works FIFO and I work 3 days in a petrol station (they call it a servo over here) It`s surprising how many British/Welch/Scottish people they are here, Your children will love it and there is so much to do on your doorstep. I have spoken to people that have moved up from Perth & Melbourne as they feel it is better for their children. As you have not got the hassle of needing to sort out accommodation, I really would just go for it. I`m sat outside now typing this post looking at the lush greenery and palm trees rustling, sun glistening onto my pool. I just wish I had family over here!! If you would like to meet up for a coffee when you move over PM me and I will give you my contact details.

Thanks Jockin Tas that made me laugh at "subtitles"...people say to me Oh your Scottish accent is so strong and I say I'm not Scottish!

Thank you for your reply's, it's good to hear how other people have got through it. My children are both into football and have spoken to a few parent's but they all Australian and when I talk I'm constantly having to repeat myself or explain as they don't understand my lingo and I am talking slower (which is hard to do). I think we will all have a better life here in Australia than back home. And as for drive through I get my children to do it as they never understand me....sorry can you repeat that Grrrrr!!!!

Hi I have been living in Cairns for 8 months now, I just felt as though I needed to type this to see if anyone else felt the same? I have weeks where I love it here and this is me and my family forever, then I have day`s where I think what the hell have I done! I have left family, good friends and my husband had a good job in UK. I got a local job after 4 weeks of being here which is ideal my husband on the other hand applied for over 200 plus jobs got nothing so he has had to go and work in Perth (Barrow Island) he is away 4 weeks home 9 days! I have made a couple of friends they are from UK also. I know in reality it is only early day`s and I so want this to work out, we have bought a house so show`s we committed to making this work, but it`s a Rollercoaster of emotions that is just doing my head in! I`m from the North-East of England and the Australians are finding my accent hard to understand, so even that in itself is hard when I`m trying to hold a conversation. I say to myself I have no intention of returning back to UK but then I think of my family and friends and feel why am I doing this and missing out on the next 40 years in the UK with them. (But obviously I was not happy in the UK that`s why we made the decision to emigrate in the first place to give our children a better life than what is on offer back home) They have settled into school very well and tell us there is No Way they are going home and are staying here forever. They are 14 + 13 year old boy`s and so happy they feel this way. Will it get easier for me or will I live with this Rollercoaster in my stomach forever??

Hi everyone only a few days to go and getting excited. We will be in cairns in a few days and i think i have every thing sorted,like were we will be living,hire car,school ,but when i get there is there anything to do thats important in the first week or so. Thing that you wish you done or knew about when you arrived. Thanks for your tips and advice. Amanda x

Hi just trying to get my tickets sorted now coming over end of Oct early Nov! Really exited and nervous! How are you finding it Stanley Pirates? did you have jobs to come to? White house and Cricket Club are my local! love the cricket club on a sunny day. How has your first month been? Pete & Amanda how are you finding it? we looking to rent either - Trinity Beach, Trinity Park, Palm Cove, Clifton Beach or Redlynch area. We are hoping to rent for 6 months then purchase. Hope you have settled in well and enjoying Carins. Amanda & Kev

Not bringing anything with me, sold Car furniture the lot! someone told me their friends car broke down in Perth and it cost them $900 just to get it towed to a garage. I`m thinking of $20,000 to buy a second hand car?? hope will get a decent little car for that?

Thanks guys makes me feel better, knowing there is breakdown cover amanda x

Hi all we are moving to cairns in 7 weeks and dont know why but i am worrying, if my car breaks down is there any company's in cairns that do breakdown cover like here in the uk like the aa , rac etc. Thanks everyone for your help in advance. Amanda x

HI GUYS THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE. iT HAS'NT PUT US OFF, CAIRNS WILL ALWAYS BE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR US. I JUST HOPE WE CAN SETTLE INTO CAIRNS LIFE REALLY QUICKLY NOTHING IS EVER PERFECT YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT. IT IS ALWAYS NICE TO GET ADVICE AND OPINIONS. IF THERE IS ANYMORE HINTS AND TIPS TO GIVE US THAT WOULD BE GREAT THANK YOU ALL AMANDA X

Hi BOBJ IS IT CONSTANT RAINING DAILY AS MY FAMILY WANT CAIRNS BUT I JUST DONT WANT IT TO BE RAINING ALL THE TIME FOR 5 TO 6 MONTHS ?

Hi everyone could anyone let me know how often and for how long on average does it rain in the wet season in cairns. We have only been there in the dry season were it hardly rains. We are moving there in july with my 2 boys (12 and 13) just wanting to be prepared for the wet season. Thank you all in advance amanda x

Hi Everyone I am NVQ level 3 qualified as a rigger in the oil and gas sector in the UK(offshore rig and oil refinery), and coming to Cairns to live and work in July(visa 489) hopefully to get a job in Queensland. Does anybody know if I need to get any Australian certificates when im there and if so are there any places in Cairns or close by to do them. Thanks for anyone's time with my question. Kevin

Thanks for your reply. My agent has said the other day what to expect, did'nt think to ask him in the first place. Confident I will pass but just like to get prepared. What part of Australia are you thinking of going.?, and how long has it took you.?

Thanks Craig have you got a date when you are moving over there.? Must admit Perth does look good around freemantle,joondalup,but so does Adelaide. I've Got lots of decisions to make. did'nt think it would be this hard to pick a state lol.

Thanks Craig. Agent told me I can only go to Adelaide or Perth . I was in Cairns last year and didnt want to go home,but agent said I cant go there yet on my bricky visa. I would have to do Adelaide or Perth for two years first. So really need to go were the work is. I do rigging(oil and gas industry) aswell when I have no work on a building site so maybe i,'ll have a good chance to find work. Could you please tell me what good areas to research in Perth. .

Thanks guys it gives me an insight into what to accept when I arrive.Hopefully have no problems and get my visa.should be in Australia by the end of the year . I Fancy Adelaide but been told Perth could be better for work. Any opinions would be welcomed thanks

Hi everyone this is the year we are moving to Australia (cant wait so excited to do it). I have just passed my IELTS test and in Febuary I have a bricklaying skills test in London. Can anyone help me with some info on what the test entails i.e what do you build , written test , time limit etc... Ive been doing bricklaying for 22 yrs but just wanting to know what to expect. Thanks in advance for the help it is much appreciated

Hi we are at the very begining of starting our visa and have visited Cairns, Adelaide and Melbourne and loved them all. But do not know which one to choose to hopefully move to. The advice i`m wanting to know is which place is the best for employment? I`m a brickie and my wife is an accounts assistant. But would do any work. Would hate to pay all money on visa then be unable to find work! any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks :arghh:

Ok thanks for your help, i`ve got the assessment fee as $3500 in total which is lot on top of your Visa fees, then got to hope can get a job once over there, Just hope that after paying all this I don`t get turned down!!!