Guest markit8dude Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Hi Ben. Thank you for the informative comment. My wife and I will be relocating to Canberra ~9 months from now from SE Asia and am already perusing the Canberra area for places to live, grocery shop and things to see/ do, respectively. Were 30-somethings as well, no children and wish to live in an area that is conducive to walking rather than driving for the aforementioned caveats. What I've read insofar is Canberra's public transportation is quite decent. We may resort to getting a car, though having lived here in Asia for 2 years with no car (I bicycle everywhere and get/ place our groceries in a waterproof backpack every other day, including water!) and the public transportation being HORRIBLE, we manage quite well by our estimate. Considering the majority of our groceries are from Oz, NZ and the UK we know what groceries are available upon arriving to Canberra. You've noted the possible insulation issues in some houses. Were from the U.S., specifically Colorado and the thought of being near snow once again is VERY enticing! We've also lived in Alaska for 2 years as well! Thus we'll more than likely possess a car for those camping, snow-shoeing and boarding excursions. Though go carless if possible for our everyday lifestyle. Thus my query. What area(s) of Canberra boast of safe, close to decent grocery stores (were foodies with an interest in foods with no food colorings, preservatives, leavening agents etc., whereas we've been fortunate to continue said food preference here in SE Asia) and parks, recreation areas? Though also don't make a huge dent in one's wallet? Any information is most appreciative. ~Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Just go to Sydney, driving there is a real test. Dont even mention taxi drivers, they are all pretty manic and I always feel ill after the roller coaster ride. Good old Black Cabbies in London! As for cold housing, we rented in the Metropolitan Towers, a relatively new apartment block in the City, we froze sufficiently due to large areas of signle glazing until we found a double glazed apartment in Kingston - now much warmer. Oz is 10-20 years behind the UK. For a Country that has just brought in a controversial Carbon tax, the lack of double glazing to keep the heat in / out seems rediculous. Be aware of this if you are looking for a property in Oz - find a well designed / constructed modern property if you are looking for a warm property! Martin Double and triple glazing available so not sure where you got that from? And a report a week or so back showed Britain has the worst insulated houses in Europe. and the highest winter mortality rate. Nothing there to crow about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slean Wolfhead Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 (edited) Thus my query. What area(s) of Canberra boast of safe, close to decent grocery stores (were foodies with an interest in foods with no food colorings, preservatives, leavening agents etc., whereas we've been fortunate to continue said food preference here in SE Asia) and parks, recreation areas? Though also don't make a huge dent in one's wallet? Any information is most appreciative. ~Cheers Are you looking at apartment living or house? For walking predominantly, you'd be looking right in the middle of the Civic or a bit further out to Turner, Braddon ; south of the lake around Kingston or Manuka ; or near to Belconnen, Woden or Tuggeranong centres., though even these are built around the car and facilities can be spread out. Canberra's unique as a capital city in that it hasn't really got a densely populated centre like say Bangkok...the smaller plots of land are on the edge of the city as land becomes more valuable with the bigger older plots towards the middle, sort of the inverse to every other city that's grown naturally. There's a small and growing apartment culture, but nothing like the high-rise living norm of the asian cities with millions of people producing a low-cost, high volume micro-economy. Pretty much everywhere is near to parks or open space, you'll be spoiled for choice anywhere so prepare to keep an open mind about location. Parks are free, or a small per car "donation" to maintain premium places like Tidbinbilla http://www.tidbinbilla.com.au/ More 50m swimming pools and gyms than you can throw a stick at, and you can play any sport you like or cycle. The public transportation is great if you want to get from A to B and they try to link up major centres, the trouble is that Canberra is a big place with a fairly low density population, so lots of people don't live on the normal bus routes and it can be an interchange plus a good walk at each end, which might make it impractical for everyday work use. You can take bikes on buses and carry them in a basket on the front however https://www.action.act.gov.au/ is good for trying out routes and seeing the route overlay on Google maps, then looking at timetables for frequency of service etc. We used it when deciding where to live compared to job locations, because travelling a good few hours per day just to get to and from work is something we came here to offload. Taxies are not cheap by any standards...you can save money by having a night out at a friends across town, then have to spend $50 for a 10 minute journey home at the weekend. There doesn't seem to be much competition in the taxi market. http://www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/ This is every Saturday morning in the North of the city, the rationale is that food is from this "region" with a low food-mile ratio (though bear in mind the size of the region). http://belconnenmarkets.com.au/ is Belconnen which is fairly near to us. There are other fresh food markets dotted around and lots of independent shops and grocers, bakeries and butchers. Plus a few good Asian supermarkets for specialist Asian, although normal supermarkets sell a lot of Asian and Chinese veggies....not sure if they're in the organic section or not. To me it feels more rural American than British, lots of similarities and the big supermarkets haven't yet sewn up the markets, although they're trying hard now. Prices are not dirt "cheap" like SE Asia, but they're better value than buying pre-packaged from the supermarket and you can often speak to the growers and know the provenance, but the cost of living here is much more so prices are charged accordingly. However wages are higher so you're often just pumping your money back towards other locals who also have to live here at the same cost, and not pushing your money offshore to multinational supermarkets who are trying to crush the locals etc. Edited September 29, 2012 by Slean Wolfhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Don't forget Southside Farmers Market a smaller version of CRFM and on every Sunday in Woden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurls Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Double and triple glazing available so not sure where you got that from? Ha! You don't see much double and triple glazing about in your average rental property though!! :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Did you check it before handing over your dosh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Ha! You don't see much double and triple glazing about in your average rental property though!! :laugh: Agreed, but it's changing due to legislation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest markit8dude Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Hello, Slean Wolfhead. Thank you very much for your informative response, provided websites, respectively. Per Canberra being less populated than Bangkok.. thank goodness! Sure it's fun to visit Bangkok, take it all in. Though it's just as pleasurable when leaving! I'd love to have a home. Having your own walls, not having to tip-toe through the halls/ stairs etc., past 10 p.m. Though we'd left our essentials to tend a lawn in the states. Thus an apartment will more than likely be our choice. It'll be nice to have a bus system whereas one's bicycle can be placed on the bus rack accordingly. I'd also gotten into unicycling prior to coming to Asia ~ 2 years ago and look forward to exploring Canberra's trails when possible. As per the grocery stores and organic items.. organic isn't necessary. Especially if the price is ridiculously high. Outside of a few U.S. grocery stores (Whole Foods & Trader Joe's) where we'd purchased pesticide free or organic items we'd stayed away from pesticide free/ organic foods. Again the reason being the prices of the aforementioned items were too expensive. As you'd mentioned, I hope to get in good graces with particular grocers. Were excited to locate a good butcher(s), bakery(ies) as well. I'm the cook and my wife the baker. I too have read about Canberra's Asian grocers, specialty shops. Fantastic. My wife making ice creams, cheesecakes, tarts etc., are the norm weekly. My wife will love the swimming pool availability. We've seen via Google Maps the myriad of lap pools available. We'll gladly provide monies for the use of the park/ hiking trails where needed. Suffice to say I can't thank you enough for the information provided. Have a pleasant week. K/r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ptp113 Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 http://www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/ http://www.southsidefarmersmarket.com.au/ http://belconnenmarkets.com.au/stores/loop-earth/item/eco-meats-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunniecat Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Hi Ben. Thank you for the informative comment. My wife and I will be relocating to Canberra ~9 months from now from SE Asia and am already perusing the Canberra area for places to live, grocery shop and things to see/ do, respectively. Were 30-somethings as well, no children and wish to live in an area that is conducive to walking rather than driving for the aforementioned caveats. What I've read insofar is Canberra's public transportation is quite decent. We may resort to getting a car, though having lived here in Asia for 2 years with no car (I bicycle everywhere and get/ place our groceries in a waterproof backpack every other day, including water!) and the public transportation being HORRIBLE, we manage quite well by our estimate. Considering the majority of our groceries are from Oz, NZ and the UK we know what groceries are available upon arriving to Canberra. You've noted the possible insulation issues in some houses. Were from the U.S., specifically Colorado and the thought of being near snow once again is VERY enticing! We've also lived in Alaska for 2 years as well! Thus we'll more than likely possess a car for those camping, snow-shoeing and boarding excursions. Though go carless if possible for our everyday lifestyle. Thus my query. What area(s) of Canberra boast of safe, close to decent grocery stores (were foodies with an interest in foods with no food colorings, preservatives, leavening agents etc., whereas we've been fortunate to continue said food preference here in SE Asia) and parks, recreation areas? Though also don't make a huge dent in one's wallet? Any information is most appreciative. ~Cheers the New Acton apartments are pretty good, otherwise somewhere like Dickson or Kingston. We live out in Woden, my husband cycles to civic every day (8.5 miles), so it is a question of how far you're prepared to go on your bike. We're not well connected by bus, though there is an express route a 20 minute walk away, and find we need the cars evenings and weekends (which is why we have two). I'm not sure how good access is to supermarkets in those areas. There is an organic food shop in New Acton, and plenty of farmers markets - southside at CIT Woden every weekend, the Capital Region Farmers Markets are northside, Tuggeranong has a monthly one I believe and Fyshwick markets would be pretty accessible from somewhere like Kingston. Parks and recreation areas are EVERYWHERE, starting in the middle of the city at Lake Burley Griffin. You won't be lacking in those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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