Mackay - What's It Like?

DP just rang me very excited. He could get a job in Mackay driving coal trains. They are offering absolutely ridiculous fall off your chair type money.

Think we might fly up there early December to check it out - hey, it's a holiday even if nothing comes of it.

I'm very open to moving -my only reservation is that it would mean yet another change for DSD who's about to start VCE.

But the shifts are 4 days on, 4 days off so I guess conceivably DSD, DD and I could stay here and DP could fly down.

Anyhow, what's Mackay like?

I've only ever been there when on holidays, but I think it's beautiful :D

Hopefully someone pops in to tell you more though LOL

I've only ever been there for holidays too XH and I had rellies there it is beautiful we were going to move there too but due to unforeseen circumstances at the time we never did but I really like it up there.

Good luck:goodluck:

DF's mum moved up there a couple of years ago and we went up last Christmas. There are lots of beautiful places close by to go and visit (Daydream Island etc isn't too far away), and I think there are some rainforests around?

From what I remember shopping is pretty good, there are a couple of large shopping centres. They have a really great pool setup - it's free to get in, there's a waterslide, some smaller pools for the kids and a deeper pool. It's more like a lagoon though rather than a pool but it is lovely.

The weather wasn't too bad, it was warm and a bit humid but with air con you could survive. DF's mum's house had air conditioning but it didn't work, and we ended up leaving for home a couple of days early because it was just too hot! There were a few torrential rain showers that came through too, I've never seen anything like it! It absolutely bucketed down for 10-15 mins, the type of rain that if you spend 10 seconds in it you will be soaked to the bone!

I agree it is lovely, although fairly isolated, especially as it is so far up the top of Qld. But you wouldn't really need to go anywhere else for shopping or anything.

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I agree it is lovely, although fairly isolated, especially as it is so far up the top of Qld. But you wouldn't really need to go anywhere else for shopping or anything.

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LOL, you think Mackay is in Far North Qld?! I think Mackay only touches the south border of North Qld. It's about 8hours south of Cairns.
It is hot and humid, but not as bad as Townsville or Cairns. So providing you like the heat, you'll be right ;)

ETA: I think Tali is in Mackay now, isn't she?? Maybe she'll pop in.

Just been doing a bit of internet research and if it wasn't for DSD's likely reaction, I'd be there in a flash.

We could get a really good 4br 2 bathroom place for less then we would rent our place out in Melbourne.

Any advice on areas. If I had a choice, I'd pick somewhere with good views so Dolphin Heads looks great - but are there shops/cafes there (I mean browsing sort of tootling around shops not Coles etc.) or would I have to go into the CBD?

u wanna move to mackay? do it! mackay is an awesome town, and even if you had to go into the cbd for shopping its only 15 minutes from anywhere :dance: i used to live there when i was a kid and its the best place ive ever lived in (i've lived in a few places). i've been back a couple of times and its expanded a lot since i lived there but its still good ol' mackay, still got a heap of friends up there and they wouldn't leave for the world. there's this one place called kahuna... or something i cant remember the same, its a resort in mackay and its awesome, i used to love going there like every weekend, its got like 5 pools all connecting in some way and its just beautiful. also when you're up there for a holiday, u have to go to finch hatton gorge, its soooo beautiful there, fresh water rocks pools & waterfalls as well as the rainforest... omg i wanna go there now! but yeah, mackay is awesome, great town.

cheers

Thanks guys!!!

Can someone please come in and tell me that Mackay is crap so I calm down a bit?

ok, mackay is crap, don't go there...
I'm going there instead! :D

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ok, mackay is crap, don't go there...
I'm going there instead! :D

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Thats what i was going to say !

We are thinking about heading up that way ourselves. Never been to Mackay but i have family who have stayed in Mackay and like it.

Best of luck with your decision... Hope your DP gets the job - that would be awesome.

FWIW - you only live once ! :D

xoxo

It's very hot so if you like hot you'll like it!
It's isolated in that for your DSD she wouldn't do Uni there etc - unless something has changed. I lived in Townsville - Mackay I did a few months there also and also Rockhampton. Mackay has lovely access to the islands etc.. That's a positive.

It's the heat. I am not sure how you would cope coming from Melbourne. :lol: It's the humidity more than the actual temperature. I personally don't like that heat at all - but some popel are absolute fans (scuse the pun :rofl:)...

I think anything that pushes you out of your comfort zone is a good thing - why not do it if you're up for adventure?! If you don't like it you've made some good money and you can get on to the next thing.

Good luck! :hug:

Well, I never thought I liked heat but having air conditioning and have discovered a new deodorant :p, summer so far has been perfectly manageable. The worst thing about the heat for me is that I don't drive ATM so I walk/public transport everywhere - have my licence but Melbourne is a new drivers' nightmare. But the idea of driving on quiet roads (compared to Melbourne) doesn't scare me at all.

DSD wouldn't want to move at all - but she is a big fan of the beach so maybe that may soften the blow a little if this thing has legs.

There are so many positives that it would be hard to say no just because of DSD. It ticks all DP's boxes and all my boxes.

Yep I live here... but I might not be the best person to ask :lol:...

its starting to grow on me a little but I would perfure to be back in Cairns, but thats just coz i love cairns as I think its so much bigger and better then here, but dont let me put you off...

lets see whats in Mackay, well apart from me ;) they have 2 shopping centres but compare to Melbourne you might not call them that, but we do have almost all shops here you would normally expect to find in bigger town shopping centres, we have the big 3 ( kmart big w and target) but only one of each so if they dont have then you miss out, we are rummered to be getting a myer but I am still waiting to see where that will be...

as for cafes I would DIE for a good one... there isnt much of them here, but they do have a few in canelands and mt pleasent...

there is a free lagoon here which most people go too..

I find the rent up here $$$ but it would depend on where your renting now I guess as to weather you find it cheeper or not, we are paying $450pw to live on 18acres in seaforth about 40 min drive nth of mackay, but if we could live our time again we would choose to move into town, I like Blacks beach area, but even there you have to drive a good 15- 20 mins to get to you local food shop... Mt pleasent is a nice area, glenella is ok too, nice and close to everything, with with a teen would be helpful...

what year would your DSD be in next year as QLD does a year less here than vic so you might find she should have finish school when she gets up here lol, but that would only mean she will be older than everyone else so no biggy really... they only just brought in prep 2 years ago in QLD so 1st year used to be the year they turned 6 not matter when that was, if that makes it any easier to guess where he would be for school, I guess the best thing to do would be ring or email and find out, if you email let them know what year and month she was born so they will be able to give you a better idea...

Ummm what else what else, we are NOT Nth QLD or I dont think they are I see the North as townsville and Cairns well Airlie beach up... here I would say they are the north of the midcoast of QLD, but I am sure mackay born and breads would disagree with me, but then again they would disagree with alot of what I think lol...

by comming up in DEC/Jan will give you a good idea of the heat, I dont think its too bad but then I have lived in Cairns and Darwin which are much more sticky, so far ( we have only just been here sence june but it feels like forever )...

I have met a few ladies who meet up at the PCYC most weeks so if you do end up up here you will have to come join us...

If we had a choice I would move to Airlie beach I just love it there, but I dont know if it has a high school you would have to check it out, also some compaines ( like the one BHL works for ) wont let you live there as they say it too far to drive from the mines, so most people have to hang around Mackay...

Ummm most mines are about 2.5hrs or more from here, but to get houses out near site is next to imposible, plus are very clicky... there are few good places to see up here, I sure ( or I am hoping ) we have only just scraped the surface...

So I think thats about it, any questions please ask, I know how hard that type of money is to knock back, hence why we are up here, if it wasnt for the mines I couldnt be a sahm so for that I very greatful to mackay...

Oooo almost forgot one of the best things.... we get a local discount to the whitsunday islands which is pretty cool, but you have to book no more than 3 days before you want to go, but thats ok when your DH has 4 days off, just ring the week he is out see if there are any local rooms left, its that simple... we havent been yet, been waiting for the heat to get here as its been too cold for me to swim just yet, but in the last 3 days I think the build up has arrived :dance:...

thats another thing it can flood here so have a look at where your house is when renting, as if its low laying or in reclamed flood lands, then expect to get wet feet if the huge rains come like they did at the begining of this year...

Ok ok I will shut up now :shhh:

I am pretty sure they do have a uni here, but it doesnt offer all fields, but nothing a little googling wouldnt find out...

but I do know alot of young people go up to townsville for uni still... but thats coz JCU has such a good rep...

Been to McKay and didn't like it but maybe that was because we got stuck there when we were camping a few years ago. We also found that many of the shops closed at midday on a Saturday and nothing much was open on a Sunday.
Not much help...

O yeah thats true, nothings open on sundays, I think that shopping centres are open all day on saturday now but then again we dont ever go in then as it would mean taking all 3 winkies and I am not that crazy...

Thanks for all that info Tali.

Not too fussed about unis as we'd only be up there for 2 years max. DSD goes into Year 11 in Jan/Feb so she'd just have finished high school when we'd come back to Melbourne.

The way I see it is this - yes it would be a big adjustment for me after living in big cities (ie. London, Melbourne) for most of my life but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to really get ahead financially. So I would see it as an extended holiday. TBH even though I'm not a beach/hot weather person, I'm really good at entertaining myself and don't mind being home if the house is not complete chaos as ours is at the moment because it's too small. GIve me a nice house, with space and storage and I don't think I'd care too much about where I was living. And hey, on the money they're talking, I could fly down to Brisbane/Sydney twice a month if I was missing city life.

Then you do it!!!! I find the heat debilitating up there - but I survived working in air conditioned hospital and having air con... You will too! Life is short - do this and it will get you ahead! :hug:

Have you spent much time in the tropics? I was born in Bundaberg.... but I can't deal with the heat... actually the humidity is what I struggle with: it makes me feel like I have asthma or when it's really bad like before a cyclone I feel like I'm drowning... but that's just my body... it's very "Northern" (think northern hemisphere). But maybe you'd get used to it :dunno:

I found that living up there things go mouldy. A few of my canvas paintings have been ruined by living in humid locations. I would recommend storing most of your things down here.

I won't go on about too many other negatives. Maybe you should just view it as an extended holiday... you'll won't want to spend the rest of your life wondering...

I also can't comment too negatively because I would miss you if you went! (And it's not about me) ;)

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DP just rang me very excited. He could get a job in Mackay driving coal trains. They are offering absolutely ridiculous fall off your chair type money.

Think we might fly up there early December to check it out - hey, it's a holiday even if nothing comes of it.

I'm very open to moving -my only reservation is that it would mean yet another change for DSD who's about to start VCE.

But the shifts are 4 days on, 4 days off so I guess conceivably DSD, DD and I could stay here and DP could fly down.

Anyhow, what's Mackay like?

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My DH has applied for a job up there too. Even as a trainee the money is pretty good..

There is also a good chance your DP will get one if he applies as they are wanting to fill the experienced driver jobs as a priority.

Thanks Bath!

Well, we have our first hurdle. I was actually nutting it out on BB while DP was asleep so we literally had a five minute conversation this morning and then I convinced myself it was a top idea.

Anyhow, when DP woke up after his afternoon nap (my timinng wasn't great:redface:) Itold him I thought it was a great idea and hey, I'd be willing to go almost anywhere for 18 months. At which point, he got very shirty about throwing in the security of his job down here JUST for 18 months and what would be the point? So, at the moment we're poles apart.

But the point is that in 18 months we would have got the mortgage down to almost nothing, we could then move back and add an extra storey to this house. In the meantime, I could pack in the job I hate and study.

DP doesn't seem to realise the irony when he talks about giving up his job down here. That's exactly what I did when I gave up my full-time job for a part-time one. Basically my career has gone backwards because I put DD first.

My DH is beside me now saying that you're crazy to want to go up there LOL He's talking money mainly (as a banker would LOL). Says the costs of moving/living away REALLY eat into savings...said things are likely to be more expensive up there (even groceries etc). Maybe if the company paid all your moving costs and gave you some rental assistance then consider it... these are the terms that we would move... and as you know I'm also very keen! (but NOT the tropics!)

Qld is one of the most expensive states in Aust now for cost of living... I heard it on radio national th other day!

I'm for adventure! Go forth to the hot tropics for a couple of years I say!

Yep, I'd say my DH is aware of that too Inanna... he has several clients that partly reside up there.... good ole Radio National eh? :)

If you really want to view it as an extended holiday then go for it... but just be careful if the prime motive is money making...especially if you have to pay your own way.

Hmmm ... well we're still going to go up early December to see what's what.

Basically, DP would be happy anywhere he can drive trains, have an Apple computer so he can fiddle with his website (about trains) and have a bottle shop for beer. He's a man of very simple needs ;)

I, on the other hand, like living in a city. Like eating out for good food. Like interesting shops. BUT, I like new experiences. I see it as an extended holiday. Not my ideal place. If I really wanted an adventure, I'd move to Paris IYKWIM but it makes a lot of sense financially.

It really is crazy money. DP is already on very good money and we're talking 3.5 times his current salary. I've checked out rental costs and we're talking $150 a week less than we could rent this house for. So that's $600 a month that we could put towards extra living costs.

Oh man Fiona, I say DO IT! Make it happen. You only live once, and even with some extra living costs, and those associated with moving etc, you're still going to come out way in front (sorry Bath :), I know you don't want her to go). It doesn't have to be forever, but you don't have to put an absolute limit on it either. This could be the solution that you never dreamed of, to all those housing problems!!!!

I can't wait to hear how this pans out, good luck :D

Mmmmm you love city living.... well then you just might like it here very much, Mackay is a funny place, you are either a born and bred or your here for work and are counting down the days until you get to leave :D, Bath I correct the cost of living is more up here, I used to spend about $350 pf on food while now I am spending about $500, that could be just because I am now shopping weekly...

Rent up here is about $450+ for nice houses, dont let your DH choose your house without you there, I have made that mistake, so we now have a house which has NO AIR CON ! but so far we havent needed it, but like I said before I am a tropical person, so dont feel the heat as much as other might...

Have a good look around when you come up, the build up is well and truely here... so it is getting nice and sticky so at least you will get some idea of the weather, but do remember that its only sticky here for about 4 mths then its a very nice mid 20's all winter... I grew up in the hills of Vic so I know cold, but found after spending a dry a wet then a dry, the wet doesnt feel nearly as hot as it did the 1st time around...

there are plenty of houses with pools so look for on of those...

Dont forget you can swim in the beach over the wet ( the hotest pasrt ) as with the wet we get stinger and trust me you dont want to get hit by one of those, hence why most people get a pool...

we are saving a great deal of money living here, even though the cost of living is up, the money BHL gets at the mines more than makes up for it...

its cost us about $3800, to hire a U-pack- it container to get up here, which isnt too bad, ( it will be cheaper to more back south as there are more people going nth than there are sth so they are just happy to get a load back down there )...

thats about it for now I think...

Thanks Green Frog!

It's looking less likely this morning. DP has gone off the idea and is trying to clarify salary - I think the 3.5 times his current salary might be for a short time only and perhaps because they're so short of drivers at the moment. They're looking to recruit 200 drivers in Jan so presumably if they succeed in doing that then wages will drop.

But he does know three blokes who've jointly bought a flat up there which they share and who then fly down to Melbourne on their days off shift - so they must have weighed things up themselves and still reckon it's worth it.

DSD was quite funny when we told her (she's used to us coming up with various plans so I knew it wouldn't worry/freak her out too much) - when we told her that one option instead of us all moving would be for DP to be based there and fly down to Melbourne, she said, "oooh, that sounds good - we could have our own bachelorette pad." DP said, "what you and your friends?" She said, "no, me and Fiona." So that was nice.

Hate to tell you it doesnt work FIFO from Melbourne we tried it for a year and that was with BHL doing 14 day on 7 off, you lose a day each way in flying time... plus the cost of the flight on any day but tuesday and wednesday if just rediculas, plus you have the school holiday time flights which goes up everytime, for about 3 or so weeks as QLD has differnt holiday times too VIC... there are no direct flights from Mackay to Melbourne, so you have to change at brisbane, I lost count the amount of time BHL's flights were delaide....

it just didnt work out too well for us... so really really really look into FIFO before you commit too anything, look at flights for every day of the week plus school holiday times...

No worries - thanks Tali!