Lparker15 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Hi guys, so we have a possible job opportunity in Cook Town, Qld and I was wondering if anyone had moved there or visited there. I understand it’s a very rural small town and I’m just not sure if it would be to rural for me and my family. I would be moving with my husband and 6 year old daughter and we enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. We would have to stay in Cook Town for 2 years and would be then free to move on if we want to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Yes I have visited briefly. Its VERY isolated and very humid. For 2 years it might not be too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Lparker15 said: Hi guys, so we have a possible job opportunity in Cook Town, Qld and I was wondering if anyone had moved there or visited there. I understand it’s a very rural small town and I’m just not sure if it would be to rural for me and my family. I would be moving with my husband and 6 year old daughter and we enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. We would have to stay in Cook Town for 2 years and would be then free to move on if we want to It is someone i have yet to visit but 2 years will fly by, so its a chance i think i would take. Have look at some of these sites and see if its help give you an idea of the place https://www.homely.com.au/cooktown-cook-far-north-queensland https://blog.queensland.com/2017/09/09/48-hours-in-cooktown/ https://www.realestate.com.au/buy/in-cooktown,+qld+4895/list-1 Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lparker15 Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 Thanks for the info and love your quote! That’s what I thought just see it as a bit of adventure for 2 years living and experiencing life somewhere we would never normally live and then we can always relocate to the Brisbane area (which is where we want to be) my main concern is that I would have a job to go to but my husband would properly find it really difficult to get work in such a small town (although he’s willing to do anything) my wage will be 75,000 so I’m hoping if we live by our means and with it just being the 3 of us then we might just manage 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 See if you qulaify for any family benefit from Centrelin whilst he is job hunting, it will depend what visa you are on. Brisbane is awesome so at least that would be something to look forwards too if Cooktown wasnt quite what you wanted. Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lparker15 Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 It looks like we would be going out on the 457 visa so I don’t think I would be entitled to any benefits but they said once I’m out there they will apply for the 187 visa for PR so maybe could get something then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyyu Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 cooktown is on cape york famous for where capt cook repaired the endeavour after running aground on the reef. it was a fair size in the late 1800's but is rather small now. the endeavour river is the main thing in town and this is crocodile territory. it has been some years since i was there last but i did not mind then you had to do your shopping in cairns as no supermarkets were available and the road to cairns was not sealed so a 4 wheel drive was a must.treat it as an adventure and time will fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alscotoz Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) About 20 years since I've been to Cape York. Stayed for a week. very expensive and unless the roads have been upgraded you can become isolated in the wet season. Nice people though. Edited January 28, 2018 by alscotoz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus1 Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 We've been to Cooktown numerous times over the years, I absolutely love it and if I could afford a second property somewhere, it would be at the end of Webber Esplanade overlooking the ocean. As for living there. Yes, it is very rural and a small town. There's no department stores, cinemas etc, there's no large supermarket (Coles/Woolworths). There's an IGA supermarket, but it's not huge. It's a good road all the way there, so no problems on that front. - the Mulligan highway was fully sealed by 2006 Cyclones - a possibility but a rarity, before the 2014 Cyclone, Cooktown hadn't been hit for 60 years. I'd research important things such as school/medical facilities etc (It's a long way to travel if you need a specialist, probably Cairns or Townsville). Look at myschool.edu.au to see how the schools perform. I know Endeavour Christian College is quite a new school and I believe has quite a good reputation If you like getting out and exploring, 4wd tracks etc and are adventurous, there's enjoyment to be had there. I think from a personal point of view, if I were living there, I'd be looking to break things up a little. Maybe head down to Cairns a couple of times a month for the weekend. Stop the night there, stock up on shopping, do some of the things in Cairns that you wouldn't be able to do in Cooktown. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus1 Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Some photos below from when we've been to Cooktown 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Lovely photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 9 minutes ago, Toots said: ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Lovely photos! That’s because he stole mine. Hey Hubby get your own photos lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Cooktown like Cerberus said is a little piece of paradise at the end of the road (it use to be the end of the tarmac section of the Cape but that extends further now). Could I live there, absolutely!! Is it practical, for me probably not. I’m presuming you would be going up to the medical field as there isn’t anything else up there, maybe electrician. Could I do it if it was my only way in to Oz, then yes, your daughter is 6 so you could manage. However things to note: It would be an 8 hour round trip to your nearest main shopping centre, even for little things like a microwave etc (although there was a little shop on the high street who did electrical things and then a camping shop). School the new one had an excellent reputation when we visited. Property, you could buy something amazing for less than anywhere else, even with sea views. The village (that’s what you would Class it as, a village away from anywhere else) has an excellent community spirit, everyone gets along and even the aboriginal locals work together. croc wise - crocs are often seen on the beach or inlet so you would have to be aware. Shopping for food, there is an excellent bakery, numerous little cafes and an IGA. You would need to book a weekend in Cairns every so often for essentials and sanity, but if your health is A1 and there is no other option then go for it. You can get cheap weekend accommodation in Cairns. They will be so desperate for someone to work in Cooktown you could even ask to split the two years between Cairns and Cooktown. ‘I think my hubby has stolen most of my photos above but i will see if I can find some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Here are some of the Cooktown festival parade it gives you an idea of the high street as you you can see there isn’t much on the high street at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Here are some more of the Cooktown festival held once a year to celebrate Captain James Cook coming ashore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Now I want to go back, but it’s a hell of a way from down here now. There is so much to explore off the beaten track, if you like 4 x 4 adventures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 I will see if I can find some from around the area. That way you get some idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Here are some more of the high street and the musuem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lparker15 Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 Thanks so much for all the info and pics guys, so helpful. We have done heaps of research ourselves and it really does look like somewhere we could live, like some of you said we would defo be spending the odd weekend in Cairns. The most important thing for us that it is a safe place and has a community feel, and we love the heat! I think my daughter would be attending Cooktown state school so still need to find out a bit more info on that. We love the outdoor lifestyle, hence why we’re moving and I really do think that with it being a small community that your more likely to form close friendships unlike you would in a big city. Anyhow we should be hearing back in the next couple of weeks and then hopefully start the visa process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus1 Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 36 minutes ago, Lparker15 said: Thanks so much for all the info and pics guys, so helpful. We have done heaps of research ourselves and it really does look like somewhere we could live, like some of you said we would defo be spending the odd weekend in Cairns. The most important thing for us that it is a safe place and has a community feel, and we love the heat! I think my daughter would be attending Cooktown state school so still need to find out a bit more info on that. We love the outdoor lifestyle, hence why we’re moving and I really do think that with it being a small community that your more likely to form close friendships unlike you would in a big city. Anyhow we should be hearing back in the next couple of weeks and then hopefully start the visa process. Hope all goes well on the visa front, keep us updated on your progress. It's good to see that there's been several projects over the last couple of years in the area. I think the foreshore redevelopment should be finished now, they're doing some work on the airport, solar/battery storage project south of Cooktown etc. Unfortunately, we're further away now having moved from Cairns -> Townsville -> Lockyer Valley, so what was a 3.5 hour drive is now a 24 hour drive. Don't know if I'll manage to get back up there this year or not, but definitely planning to be there for Cooktown 2020 for the 250th Anniversary celebrations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alscotoz Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 11 hours ago, The Pom Queen said: Here are some more of the Cooktown festival held once a year to celebrate Captain James Cook coming ashore. You sure that's not the Cooktown Mardi Gras? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lparker15 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thank you, looks like a really good event. Although it is a small rural town it does look like the community get together which is what we’re looking for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxymollo Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 Just wondering if you went and how it's turned out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lparker15 Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 Hi, no we didn’t. A opportunity came up in Sydney so we moved here just over a year ago. More opportunities for us as a family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.