Comments on: Moving from Sydney: What we’re after http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/ Expat adventures Down Under Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:11:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1878 Matt Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:08:00 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1878 @Geraldine: Glad it helped! I've only been through Nowra once so don't feel that qualified to talk about it. It didn't seem particularly interesting I must say, though it's quite well positioned in relation to the other places on the coast. And it does have a rail link to Sydney. The whole area around Nowra and Ulladulla has, I believe, the highest unemployment rate in Australia, which put us off somewhat! @Geraldine: Glad it helped! I’ve only been through Nowra once so don’t feel that qualified to talk about it. It didn’t seem particularly interesting I must say, though it’s quite well positioned in relation to the other places on the coast. And it does have a rail link to Sydney. The whole area around Nowra and Ulladulla has, I believe, the highest unemployment rate in Australia, which put us off somewhat!

]]> By: Geraldine http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1629 Geraldine Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:30:58 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1629 I found this analyses of places so useful. My husband and I have been trying to leave Perth for the last two years but work keeps us here, and not knowing where to move to on the East coast! It's good to get an evaluation - opinions on Nowra would be helpful too. I found this analyses of places so useful. My husband and I have been trying to leave Perth for the last two years but work keeps us here, and not knowing where to move to on the East coast! It’s good to get an evaluation - opinions on Nowra would be helpful too.

]]> By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1310 Matt Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:41:35 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1310 @Kay: I know what you mean - the Blue Mountains don't seem to have many things going on do they? Or maybe you have to live there a while to discover them! And yes, where are all the pubs?! Actually I feel that even Sydney is bereft of pubs (once you get outside the CBD that is), but that's because I'm comparing it to London. I have a blog post in the offing about this topic actually. @June: It sounds like you've made a good decision with Bellingen. It really is a nice area, and I've heard good things about the Steiner school too. Also, I expect that now you've committed to it and got the ball rolling, everything will fall into place - it usually does. :) @Kay: I know what you mean - the Blue Mountains don’t seem to have many things going on do they? Or maybe you have to live there a while to discover them! And yes, where are all the pubs?! Actually I feel that even Sydney is bereft of pubs (once you get outside the CBD that is), but that’s because I’m comparing it to London. I have a blog post in the offing about this topic actually.

@June: It sounds like you’ve made a good decision with Bellingen. It really is a nice area, and I’ve heard good things about the Steiner school too. Also, I expect that now you’ve committed to it and got the ball rolling, everything will fall into place - it usually does. :)

]]> By: June http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1308 June Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:17:22 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1308 Oh Wow....some people just like us! My husband Daniel and I are in Melbourne and have been tossing and turning where to move to with our 2 year old. I absolutely adore the Blue Mountains...but its a tad expensive for us and too close to Sydney. We also want to send our daughter to a Steiner school, so were originally going to go back to Newcastle, where we both grew up. We decided...what the hell, if were gunna move we may as well really move. it all came down, in the end to Bellingen - they have a great Steiner school, and a steiner long day care and preschool as well as having all the great things that you guys have said. Now the rubber has really hit the road for us, as we sold our house last thursday. We were pretty relaxed originally about the settlement time, but now the buyers need a quick settlement - like 1/8/08. Wow!! This is scary! We are going up to scope out the land/ rentals (no time to buy), and crossing our fingers (we have 2 dogs!) that we can find something quickly. Have you got something up in Bellingen Kay? We are finding that ther are more rentals outside of Bellingen proper - but when thinking of flooding, that can be a good thing! Hope you do well down in Bowral too Matt...beautiful place, but a bit too expensive and cold (yeah I know...we live in Melbourne!) for us Oh Wow….some people just like us! My husband Daniel and I are in Melbourne and have been tossing and turning where to move to with our 2 year old.
I absolutely adore the Blue Mountains…but its a tad expensive for us and too close to Sydney. We also want to send our daughter to a Steiner school, so were originally going to go back to Newcastle, where we both grew up. We decided…what the hell, if were gunna move we may as well really move. it all came down, in the end to Bellingen - they have a great Steiner school, and a steiner long day care and preschool as well as having all the great things that you guys have said.
Now the rubber has really hit the road for us, as we sold our house last thursday. We were pretty relaxed originally about the settlement time, but now the buyers need a quick settlement - like 1/8/08. Wow!! This is scary! We are going up to scope out the land/ rentals (no time to buy), and crossing our fingers (we have 2 dogs!) that we can find something quickly.
Have you got something up in Bellingen Kay? We are finding that ther are more rentals outside of Bellingen proper - but when thinking of flooding, that can be a good thing!
Hope you do well down in Bowral too Matt…beautiful place, but a bit too expensive and cold (yeah I know…we live in Melbourne!) for us

]]> By: Kay http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1306 Kay Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:04:14 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1306 Yes we're in the Inner West. I didn't say why we'd discounted the "Blueys" because I find it hard to sum up in a few words. We've been weighing up the positives and negatives for about 3 years now but when it comes to it it feels like it would be a bigger move than going 6 hours away to Bellingen. Nothing's going on and although it may sound ridiculous to some (particularly as we have a 10 month old baby) there's barely any decent pubs! Proximity to Sydney is great but driving regularly on the Great Western Hwy would kill me. Many more positives and negatives, I could bore you to death. I look forward to seeing your post on the Sth Highlands. Yes we’re in the Inner West. I didn’t say why we’d discounted the “Blueys” because I find it hard to sum up in a few words. We’ve been weighing up the positives and negatives for about 3 years now but when it comes to it it feels like it would be a bigger move than going 6 hours away to Bellingen. Nothing’s going on and although it may sound ridiculous to some (particularly as we have a 10 month old baby) there’s barely any decent pubs! Proximity to Sydney is great but driving regularly on the Great Western Hwy would kill me. Many more positives and negatives, I could bore you to death.

I look forward to seeing your post on the Sth Highlands.

]]> By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1298 Matt Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:54:03 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1298 Kay, thanks for your comment. It's great to hear from someone in the same boat! Are you currently in Sydney? Well it looks like we may finally have decided on the Southern Highlands. I'll be writing a post about this shortly. Not East Bowral though - I agree with you, it's a turn-off. Rows and rows of identi-homes. (A local park ranger we bumped into said it was "as if Campbelltown had grown legs and moved down to Bowral!") I'd be interested to hear why you discounted the Blueys. Personally it's a bit too far from the beach for my liking, and I found some parts of it a bit down-at-heel somehow! Anyway, I hope you enjoy Bellingen. It's a lovely place. Do let me know what you think of it. Kay, thanks for your comment. It’s great to hear from someone in the same boat! Are you currently in Sydney?

Well it looks like we may finally have decided on the Southern Highlands. I’ll be writing a post about this shortly. Not East Bowral though - I agree with you, it’s a turn-off. Rows and rows of identi-homes. (A local park ranger we bumped into said it was “as if Campbelltown had grown legs and moved down to Bowral!”)

I’d be interested to hear why you discounted the Blueys. Personally it’s a bit too far from the beach for my liking, and I found some parts of it a bit down-at-heel somehow!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy Bellingen. It’s a lovely place. Do let me know what you think of it.

]]> By: Kay http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1297 Kay Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:37:03 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-1297 How have you got on with your search for a better place? We seem to be in a very similar situation to you and we're going to check-out Bellingen next weekend. We've already discounted the Blue Mountains, Bowral (lovely but too expensive plus East Bowral was a major turn-off),towns around Jarvis Bay area (too surburban) and many other areas within 2 hours of Sydney. Have you left Sydney yet? Kay How have you got on with your search for a better place? We seem to be in a very similar situation to you and we’re going to check-out Bellingen next weekend. We’ve already discounted the Blue Mountains, Bowral (lovely but too expensive plus East Bowral was a major turn-off),towns around Jarvis Bay area (too surburban) and many other areas within 2 hours of Sydney.

Have you left Sydney yet?

Kay

]]> By: Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-379 Matt Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:38:24 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-379 Thanks for your suggestions Jason. We passed through Bangalow briefly I think, and it looked nice. The areas around Byron and Noosa were a bit too pricey for us sadly. We'll definitely check out Bowral - we're exploring south of Sydney at the moment and are coming up with some great options. Thanks again for the tips! Thanks for your suggestions Jason. We passed through Bangalow briefly I think, and it looked nice. The areas around Byron and Noosa were a bit too pricey for us sadly.

We’ll definitely check out Bowral - we’re exploring south of Sydney at the moment and are coming up with some great options. Thanks again for the tips!

]]> By: Jason http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-374 Jason Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:02:02 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-374 We have been to Bellingen and loved it too. Other places on my list to check out would be 1) Bangalow (inland from Byron Bay), a very vibey place but smaller than Bellingen, 2) Bryon Bay itself or somewhere close by. Has a reputation for being very alternative but it is slowly becoming more and more mainstream, 3) Noosa, pretty trendy place with expensive property but there are areas opening up nearby which will be a lot cheaper, 4) Bowral, the southern highlands are beautiful and it is only an hour and a half from Sydney. Good luck on your search and keep us updated. Jason We have been to Bellingen and loved it too. Other places on my list to check out would be 1) Bangalow (inland from Byron Bay), a very vibey place but smaller than Bellingen, 2) Bryon Bay itself or somewhere close by. Has a reputation for being very alternative but it is slowly becoming more and more mainstream, 3) Noosa, pretty trendy place with expensive property but there are areas opening up nearby which will be a lot cheaper, 4) Bowral, the southern highlands are beautiful and it is only an hour and a half from Sydney.

Good luck on your search and keep us updated.

Jason

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