Stanko4ofus

Thanks for the response. We did very much like the areas north of Wollongong and spent a bit of time there but unfortunately very few rentals appear in the area for the size we need for under £750 per week which is a little too much and unless I build a very successful fitness business, property prices are pretty steep when we come to buy. We have looked at Kiama and spent a day there and it is a lovely place but we need to understand train times from there as my o/h will be catching the train around 4am to the airport when he travels. I also need to ensure it is viable to run a fitness business from there without the need to travel all the way to Wollongong a lot. Shellharbour cuts a bit of travelling time off, although as you say, not much. I have to say, some really nice rentals in our price range our coming up there so when we come up, I'm sure we'll explore this more. Good to know crime isn't that much of a problem. I just can't wait to get up there and start enjoying the area. I'll have a look at the thread. Exciting times. Thanks.

Although I've been a member for nearly a year now, this is the first post I've put up. A bit of background ... my husband who is Australian, and our two girls 19 months and 3 and a half, emigrated to Oz last August. My o/h is originally from from the Melbourne area so we decided to settle down there to be near some of his family (the rest live in NSW). As o/h works fly in fly out of Queensland (middle of nowhere) we need to live within a reasonable distance of a major city airport. After initially wanting to liver near to the city, we were persuaded to settle in Gisborne which is around 40 mins from the city and quite a rural small town (although perfect commute to the airport). Almost immediately, we knew we had made a mistake. Although a lovely town, it is very quiet with little to do in the town or surrounding areas (other than parks). We find ourselves having to drive to the coast or Melbourne for things to do. We also haven't had the support we thought we would have coming to the area so finding it very difficult to settle due to limited opportunities to meet people. Having a good social network is really important to me particularly when my o/h is away at work. That coupled with the very unpredictable Victorian weather, we have decided to move to NSW. Again, we need to be near Sydney airport but don't want to live in the city, although we do have friends there. We did a reccy to the Wollongong / Illawarra area at Christmas and fell in love with the areas south of Wollongong, in particular Shellharbour and the immediate area. Very picturesque but each town flows into each other so a lot more to do all the way up and down the coast. We are a very sociable, outdoorsy kind of family so the area lends itself more to the types of things we are interested in. I will be returning to work in the fitness industry and the area is ideal for outdoor exercise. Plus, coming from the Wirral in England, I very much want to get back to a coastal location and due to how green the area is, it reminds me a bit of home, just different! We are aware the area gets busy during peak season and holidays but we're used to that from home. We do have one concern and that is crime. We keep hearing from various passers by that crime is a problem in the area but I must say that I have struggled to find any real information outside of Wollongong and wondered if anyone could give me an insight given that we don't plan on living in Wollongong itself. Plus every city area has crime so is it something that is a real problem or the norm that all city suburbs deal with? Secondly, my children currently attend day care a couple of days per week with my eldest starting the kinder programme at the end of the month and due to start school next year. Are there plenty of facilities available in the areas mentioned or am I likely to struggle to get a place? What are the primary schools like? Are there playgroups / toddler groups in the area too? Finally, we need to get short term accommodation for a few weeks whilst we find a rental so any recommendations for a holiday let for a month or the like would be great. Any information on this would be good plus would be lovely to hear from any other families living in the area with their perspective on things. Many thanks Rachel, Justin, Sienna and Maddie :biggrin: