Guest Walt Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Hi, We have been living in south Australia for over a year and are thinking of moving to Qld. I work in IT so will need to be close (ish) to the city. The most important thing for me is that I wouldn't have more than a 45 minute commute to CBD (public transport). I'm not into really busy City living so looking for a quieter area. We have two children 7 and 10. I like the look of The Gap and Ashgrove, Ashgrove expensive though. We would be looking to rent for the first 2 years. I would rather be closer to the beaches on the Sunshine Coast than Gold Coast so have been loking at areas to the North of the river. Having moved from UK over a year ago I don't fancy living in the new areas that I believe are full of ex-pats (not that there's anything wrong with ex-pats!). Looking for a leafy, safe, family friendly area (aren't we all?!) Would be gratefull if anyone could recommend an area... Thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhampa Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 have you looked at caloundra ? might be a bit far for ya actually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger2shirts Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Buderim is the best place to be (wait for the howls of protest from my resident troll) but its more than 45 mins from thge CBD of Brisbane. Have a look at Redcliffe it might fill the bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 We are heading to eatons hill, just past Albany creek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Have you looked at Samford, Samford Valley and its surronding suburbs ?,, green open spaces so you get a peaceful feeling ,yet not far to the city for commuting. Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhampa Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Buderim is the best place to be (wait for the howls of protest from my resident troll) but its more than 45 mins from thge CBD of Brisbane.Have a look at Redcliffe it might fill the bill. I wouldn't mind living in Buderim at all !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Samfords beautiful, ten mins from where I will be. Bout a forty five min commute to western suburbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Walt Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Thanks for all replies so far! Would love Caloundra but unfortunately too far a commute. Just looked at Samford - looks lovely but too quiet. Hadn't thought of Buderim - will google that area. Had thought of Redlands and Victoria Point, quite like the idea of outer suburb though to have a bit of a 'buzz'! Eatons Hill looks nice - reasonably priced houses - ta. Thanks all again and would appreciate more ideas :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Hi Walt, So in summary: - leafy, safe, family friendly area - I like the look of The Gap and Ashgrove, Ashgrove expensive though. - no more than 45mins from city centre by public transport - I would rather be closer to the beaches on the Sunshine Coast than Gold Coast so have been loking at areas to the North of the river. - Having moved from UK over a year ago I don't fancy living in the new areas that I believe are full of ex-pats - I'm not into really busy City living so looking for a quieter area. - quite like the idea of outer suburb though to have a bit of a 'buzz'! Bit unsure what to recommend as you are looking for a quieter area but also with a bit of buzz so not sure how quiet or buzzy you would like it or the sort of buzz you would like nearby? Another thing to consider is housing. You mentioned Ashgrove...I live in Ashgrove surrounded by 100 year old wood and tin character homes but others prefer the modern brick and tile of the outer suburbs? 45 mins on public transport probably rules out the bayside suburbs of Brisbane (eg Redcliffe, Cleveland, Redland Bay etc). Brisbane leans on the sleepy side so in general you need to be closer to the city to have much buzz...most of the outer suburbs are very sleepy. Most suburbs in Brisbane are leafy, quiet, safe and family friendly so this doesn't narrow it down as much as you might think. Even most inner suburbs are green, family friendly places (Ashgrove is only 4.5 km from the city for example). If you could add a few more specifics I'll try and think of suburbs more suited to you than others that are cheaper than Ashgrove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Walt Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Thanks Fish. A friend had recommended The Gap which looks nice. I hadn't realised that most Brisbane suburbs are leafy and family friendly - this is great news. To be honest, we couldn't afford Ashgrove. It looks beautiful but as I'm no good at DIY a newer house is what we would need. When I say 'buzz', I mean a suburb that has a few outdoor cafes, a community oval for kids to play sport etc. Definately not too busy though. I suppose most people would not consider a few cafes a 'buzz'! Chances are my children would be going to state school (as they do in South Aus) so would be looking for a decent school. I must say I like the look of Eatons Hill. Can you think of somewhere similar to Eatons Hill that's a little closer to Brisbane? I believe it takes an hour door to door from Eatons Hill. Thanks again :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Walt Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Just thought of something else that I'd love - an area that's quite hilly as I would love a house with views! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Just thought of something else that I'd love - an area that's quite hilly as I would love a house with views! I think your friend has given you a very good recommendation. The Gap is cheaper than Ashgrove but by no means an undesirable suburb. Given it is surrounded by mountains it is hilly, green and lovely with beautiful outlooks starting only 11km from the CBD. It has some central shops and cafe's but it's still quiet, has a great football (soccer) club in beautiful surroundings, lovel parks, swimming club etc and has very well regarded primary and secondary state schools. It has a mix of housing mostly from the 1960's/70's onwards. It has a community feel centered around the schools with local estate agents reporting people live in the area for decades as it is a distinct place due to having to travel through "the gap" in the mountains to enter the suburb. It is right next to the road that takes you up Mt Nebo and through the D'Aguilar National Park. It's also home to the little Walkabout Creek wildlife centre (low key fun place for the young kids) with family bush walking around the Enoggera Dam. You can ride your bicycle from The Gap to the city mostly along bike paths if you are so inclined (colleague of mine does this). Some of the suburbs through the hills from The Gap also worth considering are Upper Kedron/Ferny Grove though I have no knowledge of the schools there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Here's a few of my iPhone snaps to give you a real life feel for the area. The photos were taken late afternoon so are a bit dark. Coming up to "the gap" in the mountains to enter The Gap: Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Central shopping village (with Brisbane's tv towers on Mt Coot-tha in the background): Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Football club: Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Wildlife Centre and entrance to bush walking tracks: Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Looking over suburb: Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Local picnic ground: Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr One of the many lookouts on Mt Nebo (roughly 15min drive up the mountain road from The Gap): Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Views from the mountain road over the Samford Valley Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Untitled by fish.2, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo1 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I have heard Mooloolabah is nice but that is maybe too far also I am afraid. I am torn between moving to Qld (which I loved) and SA which I have heard great things about. If you do not mind me asking, are you moving from SA because you do not like it? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Walt Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Hi Fish, Really appreciate the pics! Very nice of you - thanks. The Gap sounds amazing and the pics look great. Having looked on realestate not that many affordable houses there though. Will look on the other areas you mentioned. Do you get many Cane Toads around the Brisbane suburbs? Saw a documentary on them on SBS a few months ago! Davo - nothing at all wrong with SA! Just always fancied the Winter warmth of Qld! Mooloolaba looks beautiful - definately too far though :-( Thanks all again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiamilo Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 We moved over in Demeber and just happen to have ended up in Redcliffe/Scarbourgh area which is lovely and not as far as Caloundra. We are five minutes from a beautiful beach and they are just building a new train line to go to the city in the next few years but at the moment it is easy to get to one of the local train stations from here. It is an hours drive to the Sunshine coast and and about an hour and 20 minutes to Gold coast. Good luck with the move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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