Hastings Vic, Apollo Bay Vic

[Pandora]

Apollo Bay is very commercialised now though - not as bad as Lorne but not the same as it used to be.
If you DH is any better a surfer than a beginner he;d be travelling to get to a decent surf beach, but Joannas not THAT far I guess.

No idea on Hastings, Im a westie

[fionas]

I'm not much for the Peninsula - it's really the topography more than anything. I don't like flat places with too many straight lines and the thing that always gets me about driving between the towns on the Peninsula is that the main road is very straight and very tree-y so you kind of can't see the houses and what's going on. Don't like. But I'm fully prepared to hear I'm being a weirdo about this!

So Apollo Bay I like more because obviously it's on the Great Ocean Road which isn't flat plus it's near the Otways and basically, there's more views. Having said that though, it does seem very touristy and therefore very slow off-season. So I'm guessing it would be too busy for me in summer and too quiet in winter.

Warrnambool I like - seems to be lots going on there and DP and I went to Port Fairy recently which we both loved too. Bloody expensive though property-wise.

Dream destination for both of us would be Hobart but I have to make do with getting my Hobart fix with holidays.

[smiles4u]

DP & i moved from Melb to Ballarat four years ago not knowing a single person here in Ballarat.

We were looking at moving to Qld but thought at least Ballarat is only just over an hour drive for most family & friends ... and DP's parents about a 2hr drive to come & visit us.

Well, it turns out know one visits us as they consider Ballarat to be too far to drive so DP & i have dragged our 2.5year DD visiting everyone that won't visit us since she was 5wks old for about 2 to 3 weekends out of each mth

We have become so tired of driving that at times we have wondered if we just should have moved to QLD like we would have in the 1st place but didn't because we considered others ... well, how silly were we

My advice is obvious - moved to your 1st choice of living area & visit those that don't visit you when you feel like doing so ... not when they 'want' you to come

By the way, i don't recommend Ballarat ... too darn cold here ... yeh kind of nice living here & a relaxing lifestyle here but too chilly

I use to body surf in the morns in Apollo Bay on holiday many years ago there ... just loved it

[Ginger]

are you talking about the school woodleigh?

[Inanna]

No - I can't find the name of the school name - it was an independent school - but a friend I was just speaking to thinks that it is a boys only school - no good for me I am afraid...

I am looking at property around Beech Forest so not quite in Apollo Bay... I like a rural aspect and open spaces....

Thanks everyone for your in put! Keep it coming!!!!!

[melbel]

Maybe you are thinking of flinders christian college but it is co-ed (used to boys only though).....didnt think it was in hastings itself though...there are no boys only schools down this way, although there are some great independent schools. Penbank is one that is very non- mainstream but that is in Mornington. you also have Minimbah (junior school) and Woodleigh (Senior School) which are independent as well. FCC is great too and they have a campus just near us in Carrum Downs ( we are next door in langwarrin). To be perfectly honest I probably wouldn't recommend Hastings itself to live in....it is locally known as boganville where you have to stop and put your moccies on to cross the border!! LOL
Down here is a beautiful area though there are a heap of really nice suburbs and we are far enough away from the CBD to be countrified and have rural aspects as you say but still quite close to good shopping centres and other facilities. And yes we have quite a few great schools down this way, all but one are co-ed now and that is Toorak Girls College in Mt. Eliza. As a teacher who has taught in quite a few of the state and independent schools I can recommend a few if you get serious...even some of the state schools around here are quite good also. In Langwarrin we also have an awesome montessori pre-school owned by my best friends sister. In fact about the only type of education we don't have in easy access is steiner but we are pretty up there with the rest!!
The medical facilities here are good also and with all the new freeways and bypasses you are really only about an hours travel from the CBD in non-peak if you need a serious shopping fix! It does rain a bit more than what you are used to though!! Like today for example...it is the middle of summer and we had to turn the heater on this evening for a bit!

Hope that helps...anymore questions ask away.

ETA: unless you are thinkin of Toogoolawa school in hastings which is for boys and is attached to the toogoolawa childrens home. they have a campus at Hastings that takes about a dozen boys in year 7 and 8 only. Thats the only boys only school i can think of.
Other independent schools include westernport Christian school and Bayside Christian College if any of those names ring a bell.

[Junglemum]

it is locally known as boganville

ROFL i was trying to be diplomatic!

Great school Rainy!

[MantaRay]

Oh no, not another mod moving south My sister lives on the pennisula and really loves it. Her DH is a surfer but I'm not sure where he surfs. The one thing I would recommend is taking a trip down there to scope it all out. That way you can see for yourself and get a feel for a place. Like most things I think a first impression tells you a lot. Best of luck hun.

[Ginger]

Great school Rainy! [/QUOTE]

i know! we're thinking of moving down that way actually and i wood seriousley consider sending the kids there.

flowerchild- i'm heading to lakes entrance for a little holiday this weekend actually, so i'll let you know what it's like they do get pretty extreme weather there though i think.
apollo bay is absolutely gorgeous