Jonndalup & Surrounding Areas...

[Guest Sue1203]

Hi all

 

Well only 78 more days until we fly off but who's counting!!!!! :wink:

 

Just wondering if anyone has information on Joondalup and surrounding areas as we originally were looking at south of the river and it looks like we may go for north of river i.e. Joondalup and surrounding areas so I was wondering if anyone lives there or has had any experience there and if so what is it like.

 

We are a family of 4 going, 2 boys so schools, what are the houses like to rent & Buy etc..., da usual.

 

Many thanks

 

S

x:wubclub:

[an1ta]

Hi all

 

Well only 78 more days until we fly off but who's counting!!!!! :wink:

 

 

Just wondering if anyone has information on Joondalup and surrounding areas as we originally were looking at south of the river and it looks like we may go for north of river i.e. Joondalup and surrounding areas so I was wondering if anyone lives there or has had any experience there and if so what is it like.

 

We are a family of 4 going, 2 boys so schools, what are the houses like to rent & Buy etc..., da usual.

 

Many thanks

 

S

x:wubclub:

We have family that live in the area, they have been there a very long time. They all have young families. you can get to the city in about an hour, but I know its the same if u go to rockingham. I have been there aswell but I would rather go Joondalup

the beaches are beautiful there.

Ocean reef is nice I think u will find most areas are good over that side.

Hope this helps and good luck :biggrin:

[the bottler]

I would say Joondalup is a great place to live ... my son lived there for many years and I visited several times ... good schools ... transport links ... large shopping centre with food hall ... Lake Joondalup and Neil Hawkins park ... and " Sugar and Spice " ... cakes to die for ! ...

[shazney64]

We live in Mullaloo not far from Joondalup. It is our main big shopping centre. My son goes to Ocean Reef high school. However only been here for 6 weeks ourselves. Im happy to answer what i know though. Beaches are gorgeous, good shops, great schools and Hilary's harbour. Rumour has it (has been for years) they are to build a harbour at ocean reef.

sharon xx

[tonyman]

ive had the pleasure of living NOR and SOR ,although i do prefer SOR where i now live ...........we almost bought in Joondalup but then realized there was a homes west at the back of it ,like a mini council estate , Edgewater Woodvale or Kingsley would be great established places to live ,of course it all depends on what you can afford ,Ocean Reef and surrounding areas are now ever so pricey ......we looked at many places NOR Carramar ect ,all new houses are now built too close together with little garden space ,i would rent in an area like Edgewater ect for 6 months ,look at all new and established areas NOR and SOR .....and take it from there , you will soon see that Joondalup is like little Britain and all beaches are nice ...........Joondalup isnt an hour to city its probs half an hour if that, providing the traffic is following for you ........sorry if this sound negative but you did ask for opinions and experience and these are mine ............pm if you want me to get straight to the point ect .........

[moirclan]

joondalup has a lrge shopping centre , lake side , plenty of places to go to eat out, a train station and a bus station , a tafe college , and a university.

places close would be heathridge , beldon , carramar, tapping, currmebine , edge water, kinross, connolly, oceanreef, illuka ,woodvale , burns beach and parts of mullaloo.

rent varies deending on where and what you are looking at.

eg in joondalup to buy it goes from early fours to well over a million .

local beaches would be oceanreef , burns beach, mullalloo , whitfords , oceanreef having the free boaat launch area .

local cinemas are at whitfords , currembine , and joondalup.

there are home west houses mixed up in estates all over perth a new sub division in subiaco had to allow for two home west places and the land alone cost wise was $ 700,00 then [ this was approx five years ago,

[Northernpommy]

hi,

We have looked ourselves NOR and love Joondalup. Enough there to keep from going into city and close enough to beaches... Plus affordable.

Carramar/Tapping seem popular with families. Edgewater/Woodvale seem to be older suburbs but have a good reputation.

How old are your boys? Do they play football as Joondalup has a great football club too...

Good luck with the move....

Elaine.

[moirclan]

We live in Mullaloo not far from Joondalup. It is our main big shopping centre. My son goes to Ocean Reef high school. However only been here for 6 weeks ourselves. Im happy to answer what i know though. Beaches are gorgeous, good shops, great schools and Hilary's harbour. Rumour has it (has been for years) they are to build a harbour at ocean reef.

sharon xx

 

the plans at oceanreef are for units shops etc down by the harbour , it wont happen they have approoved it , but

who is going to spend hundreds of millions when the land is lease hold only ?

the time to buld that kind of thing is when they are developing the land , so they are 20 years to late .

although they do have the boat ramp for launching your boat and its free

they do how ever have plans to build a marina at alkimos

i would have thought you would have been as close to whitfords as joondalup shopping centre ?

.

[Guest bbor]

NOR/SOR each has its merits, i advise renting around Joondalup as stated above and find out what you want when you get here, we rented for 6 months then moved to Connolly which we like but lots of great suburbs out there SOR and NOR, would recommend avoiding the Pommy hotspots of Butler\Rockingham, not that they are bad but just to avoid coming to live in an area similar to what you had in UK seems crazy!

[Guest Amandajane71]

Hi...we have lived in Australia both east and west coast but much prefer WA NOR.

SOR is beautiful but too far fromthe city where as Joondalup area takes about 35 mins or so on freeway.

This is how I view the areas as I am coming from a family with 5 kids and so schools have played a big part.

Iluka/Burns Beach: WAY TOO PRICEY...........

Ocean Reef: too pricey, State school: Beaumaris primary school ok, ocean reef high school rough, Private school: Prendiville Catholic College cheaper than most private schools, 2 of the kids go there and generally happy (kids like it so must be ok)

Mindarie/Quinns Rocks: nice area, not as expensive, lots of shops and new estates. schools are ok i think, private quinns baptist college has good reputation.

Kinross/Currambine: again schools are ok, cheaper houses because road seperates from beachside estates of the previous mentioned areas.

Connolly nice area, more established and quiet.

Joondalup: good shops, lakeside has grown into a large shopping mall. ECU (uni) is close and area has more of a cafe strip feel to it.

Carramar/Tapping/Banksia grove: These are some of the newest developments to be going in. New schools and lots of new houses, shopping complex, etc. Land is alot cheaper than 10 mins drive to beach. St Stephens college here is fantastic, more pricey than prendiville but have 3 kids there and couldnt say enough about the school...happy we moved here (we are in rented in tapping currently and like the area).

Yanchep i think will be next big development and so prices will start to rise there. You can still get acre blocks around these suburbs and wanneroo but at around the nine hundred thousand mark to one and a half million dollars.

 

Hope some of this helps and good luck.

[Guest Crosby Family]

Hi...we have lived in Australia both east and west coast but much prefer WA NOR.

SOR is beautiful but too far fromthe city where as Joondalup area takes about 35 mins or so on freeway.

This is how I view the areas as I am coming from a family with 5 kids and so schools have played a big part.

Iluka/Burns Beach: WAY TOO PRICEY...........

Ocean Reef: too pricey, State school: Beaumaris primary school ok, ocean reef high school rough, Private school: Prendiville Catholic College cheaper than most private schools, 2 of the kids go there and generally happy (kids like it so must be ok)

Mindarie/Quinns Rocks: nice area, not as expensive, lots of shops and new estates. schools are ok i think, private quinns baptist college has good reputation.

Kinross/Currambine: again schools are ok, cheaper houses because road seperates from beachside estates of the previous mentioned areas.

Connolly nice area, more established and quiet.

Joondalup: good shops, lakeside has grown into a large shopping mall. ECU (uni) is close and area has more of a cafe strip feel to it.

Carramar/Tapping/Banksia grove: These are some of the newest developments to be going in. New schools and lots of new houses, shopping complex, etc. Land is alot cheaper than 10 mins drive to beach. St Stephens college here is fantastic, more pricey than prendiville but have 3 kids there and couldnt say enough about the school...happy we moved here (we are in rented in tapping currently and like the area).

Yanchep i think will be next big development and so prices will start to rise there. You can still get acre blocks around these suburbs and wanneroo but at around the nine hundred thousand mark to one and a half million dollars.

 

Hope some of this helps and good luck.

Thanks so much for all your get information, We are comming over in nov and were thinking of Prendiville for our 12 yr old son .We were thinking of staying in ocean reef but short term is so expensive for the time we arrive so we are looking at quinns rock for short term. then see after that. Is it difficult to get into the private schools? what information do they look for ?

Any advice would be great

Muriel

[Guest Amandajane71]

Hi Muriel,

Most private schools start high school at yr 7 now (this is the 1st yr to do so, used to be yr 8 and above). Depending on when your sons birthday falls will determine if he goes into yr 7 or 8. My daughter turned 12 in May and is currently in yr 7 at St Stephens, but if her birthday was 1st July she would have been in yr 6 etc.....

There is a waiting list for all private schools in the area. It only matters if you are out of the catchment area except for state schools so Quinns rental would be fine. If your son has a good last school report it will definately help to go armed with this if you get told there are no spaces available at Prendiville.......I moved from the Gold Coast back to WA when my eldest was just starting yr 8 and she went into Ocean Reef High school. We were told that there were no places anywhere at any private school. I then asked for an appointment with the principle of both St Marks (Whitfords/Hillarys area) and Prendiville. After sitting down with them both and letting them see my daughters last report, they both offered places on the spot for not only my eldest, but my other 4 children also.........basically it pays to ask!! Same thing at St Stephens, we were put on the waiting list and told we would probably not get a place but within 6 months had 3 places accepted........................ I do like Prendiville on the whole and as mentioned, girls both like it there, just bear in mind that religion is a pre-requisite there and students must pass religious studies to graduate from high school. No other school has this but its because it is a Catholic scool subsidised by the church hence the lower school fees.

Mindarie is also a good area to look at for rental or Currambine if you want cheaper rates and closer to the school. currambine has a good bus connection to Prendiville which my girls caught from Shenton Ave. also alot of local kids would be going to the school so good chance of making friends.

[Guest Crosby Family]

Hi Muriel,

Most private schools start high school at yr 7 now (this is the 1st yr to do so, used to be yr 8 and above). Depending on when your sons birthday falls will determine if he goes into yr 7 or 8. My daughter turned 12 in May and is currently in yr 7 at St Stephens, but if her birthday was 1st July she would have been in yr 6 etc.....

There is a waiting list for all private schools in the area. It only matters if you are out of the catchment area except for state schools so Quinns rental would be fine. If your son has a good last school report it will definately help to go armed with this if you get told there are no spaces available at Prendiville.......I moved from the Gold Coast back to WA when my eldest was just starting yr 8 and she went into Ocean Reef High school. We were told that there were no places anywhere at any private school. I then asked for an appointment with the principle of both St Marks (Whitfords/Hillarys area) and Prendiville. After sitting down with them both and letting them see my daughters last report, they both offered places on the spot for not only my eldest, but my other 4 children also.........basically it pays to ask!! Same thing at St Stephens, we were put on the waiting list and told we would probably not get a place but within 6 months had 3 places accepted........................ I do like Prendiville on the whole and as mentioned, girls both like it there, just bear in mind that religion is a pre-requisite there and students must pass religious studies to graduate from high school. No other school has this but its because it is a Catholic scool subsidised by the church hence the lower school fees.

Mindarie is also a good area to look at for rental or Currambine if you want cheaper rates and closer to the school. currambine has a good bus connection to Prendiville which my girls caught from Shenton Ave. also alot of local kids would be going to the school so good chance of making friends.

Hi Amandajane71,

Thanks so much for getting back to me, I have been in contact with prendiville a few months ago so i might send them on another email and let them know where we are with the visa.My son was 12 on 30june but if we go in Oct/Nov i wont be putting him into 1st yr here as there will be no point and the expence would be better used for school in OZ. When do they finish up for xmas hollidays and when do they go back, ?would like to view a few schools before they break up.Sorry for all the questions , have so many questions i dont no where to start

Thanks Muriel

[Guest Amandajane71]

Hi Amandajane71,

Thanks so much for getting back to me, I have been in contact with prendiville a few months ago so i might send them on another email and let them know where we are with the visa.My son was 12 on 30june but if we go in Oct/Nov i wont be putting him into 1st yr here as there will be no point and the expence would be better used for school in OZ. When do they finish up for xmas hollidays and when do they go back, ?would like to view a few schools before they break up.Sorry for all the questions , have so many questions i dont no where to start

Thanks Muriel

 

 

Hi again Muriel, Just to mention firstly that the school break up on 13/12/11 and return back around 2nd/3rd Feb 2012. As your son has obviously been to school in the UK, he will be 6 months or so ahead of Australias school year. He will also be the youngest possible age for his yr group as the schools in WA work on the cutoff dates being 1st July-30th June. I cant imagine he will miss out too much in the last few months as they do tend to wind down in December. They have what they call NAPLAN testing here in yrs 3, 5, 7 and 9 which indicates your childs results compared with the rest of WA. If your son does struggle, he may be able to start in yr 7 from Feb rather than yr 8 as there is only a day difference in the cut off period. Otherwise he will be going into yr 8 which is now the 2nd yr of highschool. I am happy to answer any questions at all that you may have and when you do get here, I will give you my email and depending on which school you choose, my girls will also be someone for your son to ask questions etc....there are sooooo many Brits here you wont have any trouble at all making friends

[Guest The Newlands]

hi,

We have looked ourselves NOR and love Joondalup. Enough there to keep from going into city and close enough to beaches... Plus affordable.

Carramar/Tapping seem popular with families. Edgewater/Woodvale seem to be older suburbs but have a good reputation.

How old are your boys? Do they play football as Joondalup has a great football club too...

Good luck with the move....

Elaine.

 

Hi Elaine, we're going to Perth in the new year and our son is football mad, he'll be 14 when we go. We had a look at Joondalup when we was there at Xmas and really liked it, do you know the name of the football club you mentioned as this will be very interesting for our son..

 

John&Sarah&Scott

[Guest Crosby Family]

Hi again Muriel, Just to mention firstly that the school break up on 13/12/11 and return back around 2nd/3rd Feb 2012. As your son has obviously been to school in the UK, he will be 6 months or so ahead of Australias school year. He will also be the youngest possible age for his yr group as the schools in WA work on the cutoff dates being 1st July-30th June. I cant imagine he will miss out too much in the last few months as they do tend to wind down in December. They have what they call NAPLAN testing here in yrs 3, 5, 7 and 9 which indicates your childs results compared with the rest of WA. If your son does struggle, he may be able to start in yr 7 from Feb rather than yr 8 as there is only a day difference in the cut off period. Otherwise he will be going into yr 8 which is now the 2nd yr of highschool. I am happy to answer any questions at all that you may have and when you do get here, I will give you my email and depending on which school you choose, my girls will also be someone for your son to ask questions etc....there are sooooo many Brits here you wont have any trouble at all making friends

Hi Amandajane71,

Thanks again for all your information.He is sooooo excited to be starting school in oz and has done very well in school so hopefully he will continue doing so when we get there.Its such a mind field with schools ,accomadation, areas etc it gets on top of you at times but i would be greatfull for youe email address when we get out there.We are from Ireland so if you dont mind a Paddy ha! ha! ha !!!!!! it would be great to have someone also for Cameron our son how things work with school etc

Thanks

Muriel

[Guest Amandajane71]

Hi Amandajane71,

Thanks again for all your information.He is sooooo excited to be starting school in oz and has done very well in school so hopefully he will continue doing so when we get there.Its such a mind field with schools ,accomadation, areas etc it gets on top of you at times but i would be greatfull for youe email address when we get out there.We are from Ireland so if you dont mind a Paddy ha! ha! ha !!!!!! it would be great to have someone also for Cameron our son how things work with school etc

Thanks

Muriel

 

Hi, My eldest daughter at prendiville has a good friend whose parents are both Irish. The husband is a keen golfer and mum is a school teacher. Really down to earth and almost everyone you meet here have the same friendly attitude. You will be coming at a good time of year as well. Its freezing here at the moment but getting warmer during the day and Oct/Nov will be lovely just before the hot temps hit Dec/Jan/Feb so you will be more accustomed.....only advise for rental is try to get one with a pool. Best thing we did. I know its a little more expensive but you will really feel the benefit during the hot months and its a great way to start your new beginning here especially for your son.........

[newjez]

Hi again Muriel, Just to mention firstly that the school break up on 13/12/11 and return back around 2nd/3rd Feb 2012. As your son has obviously been to school in the UK, he will be 6 months or so ahead of Australias school year. He will also be the youngest possible age for his yr group as the schools in WA work on the cutoff dates being 1st July-30th June. I cant imagine he will miss out too much in the last few months as they do tend to wind down in December. They have what they call NAPLAN testing here in yrs 3, 5, 7 and 9 which indicates your childs results compared with the rest of WA. If your son does struggle, he may be able to start in yr 7 from Feb rather than yr 8 as there is only a day difference in the cut off period. Otherwise he will be going into yr 8 which is now the 2nd yr of highschool. I am happy to answer any questions at all that you may have and when you do get here, I will give you my email and depending on which school you choose, my girls will also be someone for your son to ask questions etc....there are sooooo many Brits here you wont have any trouble at all making friends

 

 

Just found a website with free downloads of the old tests if you'd like to check whether your kids are at the same level as Aussie schools.

 

http://www.naplan.edu.au/

[Guest Crosby Family]

Hi, My eldest daughter at prendiville has a good friend whose parents are both Irish. The husband is a keen golfer and mum is a school teacher. Really down to earth and almost everyone you meet here have the same friendly attitude. You will be coming at a good time of year as well. Its freezing here at the moment but getting warmer during the day and Oct/Nov will be lovely just before the hot temps hit Dec/Jan/Feb so you will be more accustomed.....only advise for rental is try to get one with a pool. Best thing we did. I know its a little more expensive but you will really feel the benefit during the hot months and its a great way to start your new beginning here especially for your son.........

Hi Amandajane71,

We just had our medicals today so hopefully it wont be long !!!!!!! We are still hoping to be over in oct/nov but i am finding it so hard to get short term rental for 4 to 6 weeks in Quinns rock and around that area do you have any advice on how to get short term rental ? or what sites are the best. have tried stayz and hollidayletting.co .uk but there are sooooooo expensive or booked out.its so frustrating....... Any help would be greatly appreciated x

[Guest Amandajane71]

Hi Amandajane71,

We just had our medicals today so hopefully it wont be long !!!!!!! We are still hoping to be over in oct/nov but i am finding it so hard to get short term rental for 4 to 6 weeks in Quinns rock and around that area do you have any advice on how to get short term rental ? or what sites are the best. have tried stayz and hollidayletting.co .uk but there are sooooooo expensive or booked out.its so frustrating....... Any help would be greatly appreciated x

 

 

The best site to go to for house rentals or buying is www.realestate.com.au we actually found a short term rental on this site but its more common for 3 months plus although definately worth a look as you can get a real feel of whats happening in the suburbs in general. Another site similar to this is www.reiwa.com.au . A holiday rental site is www.homeaway.com.au and this is just holiday rentals but will bemore expensive because of the shorter lease times. If I am going away for a few weeks or just want o check out a good deal, i go onto www.wotif.com... if you still dont find anything let me know and i will ask around :smile:

[Guest Crosby Family]

The best site to go to for house rentals or buying is www.realestate.com.au we actually found a short term rental on this site but its more common for 3 months plus although definately worth a look as you can get a real feel of whats happening in the suburbs in general. Another site similar to this is www.reiwa.com.au . A holiday rental site is www.homeaway.com.au and this is just holiday rentals but will bemore expensive because of the shorter lease times. If I am going away for a few weeks or just want o check out a good deal, i go onto www.wotif.com... if you still dont find anything let me know and i will ask around :smile:

Thanks Amandajane, I will check out the websites you gave me, because we dont have the visa yet its hard to get conformation on dates etc but as soon as we do i will be hunting the websites to secure something, If i cant i will call on you again. if thats ok? You have been great with all your infomation and always replying back to me..... your an angel:angel_happy_face_haxx

[Guest sjmmdm]

Hi I have been reading with great interest your thread, we have our visa now and with house hopefully selling in good time hope to make it jan/feb. My son is 11 and will be 12 in feb so I believe would start high school in feb and we are looking at the catholic college and at prenderville as it is closest to my sister but my daughter will hopefully go to st. andrews with her cousins so any feed back on prenderville is very useful.

 

Thankyou

[Guest luckylady]

Thanks for this info. I am just starting to look at areas, and found this helpful.

[woodymcfc]

Hi I have been reading with great interest your thread, we have our visa now and with house hopefully selling in good time hope to make it jan/feb. My son is 11 and will be 12 in feb so I believe would start high school in feb and we are looking at the catholic college and at prenderville as it is closest to my sister but my daughter will hopefully go to st. andrews with her cousins so any feed back on prenderville is very useful.

 

Thankyou

 

Someone will correct me if I am wrong but if your son turns 12 in Feb 2012 then he will start his final year in primary school (year 7) in Feb 2012........see here

 

http://www.det.wa.edu.au/schoolsandyou/detcms/navigation/parents-and-community/schooling/?oid=Category-id-3869597

[Guest sjmmdm]

I believe the catholic schools bring them into high school early, as my sister has checked.