peregrine

Hi Lee My husband (from Melbourne orginally but has worked in UK for 17 years) has been working in Darwin since January 2013. We have stayed in the UK so my daughter can finish her gcses. Hub comes back Christmas and summer holidays. We are due to go in July 2014. Hub lives in Gray (rent cheap), but he would not recommend this area. Palmerston is a newish area, and he knows colleagues who live in Gunn and Rosebery and these are good areas. Palmerston is family friendly, new houses, smaller plots. I think Gray and Moulden are a bit crappy. Woodroffe OK. If you like nature and big plots (like 5 acres), then you need to look at Howard Springs, Virginia, Bees Creek, Humpty Doo. These are 30 mins drive to city. Hub had a look at some houses there - wonderful nature, but felt isolated. Nearer into Darwin itself, people like Leanyer, Anula, Wulagi, Woolner, Tiwi, Moil. Fannie Bay, Cullen Bay, Nightcliff are v expensive. Frankly, I am staggered by the prices in Darwin. I have heard that Malak and Karama are up and coming - older houses on bigger plots, and shedding their bad reputations. We will rent while we wait for stuff to arrive, and then pick an area. I fancy the places in the bush (howard springs, etc), but I may go for practicality and move as near as poss to the secondary school - I am driving a 30-mile round trip 2 or 3 times a week for after-school activities at my children's school in England. It is something you don't think about when the children are young, but when they are teens it drives you mad. What job are you going to do in Darwin, if you don't mind me asking?

Hi, I am new to the forum. We may be moving to Darwin in August 2014. I would value people's opinions on the suburbs of karama, malak, leanyer. Are they improving? Would they be a good investment? Are they safe for a family? Our children would be going to O'Loughlin Catholic College, so Karama very convenient, and the houses seem good value for money (given Darwin prices). Suggestions of other family-friendly suburbs would be welcome. Thanks.