Brisbane & Gold Coast suburbs where would you recommend to live ??

[smiles4u]

Hi all,

As some of you might have heard DP & i are eager to make a big change in our lives and therefore are looking to move out of Ballarat, Victoria (we moved here from Sth East suburbs of Melb nearly 6years ago without knowing a sole here then so we know we can do it again but with a 4yo DD in tow this time ).

DP had a job interview over the phone this week and they sound eager as they want a second interview in person with him. He was told he can chose to work in either Brisbane or Gold Coast office if he gets the job.

Even though he and i have holidayed in both Brisbane and Gold Coast we honestly know nothing of the suburbs in either area.

We would rather get some idea then none incase he does get offered the job.

We don't know whether we would sell or rent our house here in Ballarat so will decide on that if the time comes. But we would certainly look at renting first for say 6 or 12mths instead of buying a house incase we don't like living there (Brisbane or GC).

DP feels Gold Coast location of work seems a better work premises so Gold Coast suburbs it might be but still would like to know of Brisbane suburbs too

So can you ladies please help me with what suburbs in Brisbane or Gold Coast you consider to be a nice area without being insanely expensive (if there's such a thing).

I need to feel it's a safe area and by no means rough and filled with ferals (without sounding snobby, and no we aint rich$ but doing ok, lol).

DD in Victoria would have been starting 4year old Kinder next year in January 2011 then Primary School in January 2012 (she will be 5 in May 2011, cut off age in Vic is 5yo by end of April here, so What is it in Qld ??)

We are wanting to sell our second car here in Ballarat so either i or DP will more than likely have no choice but to catch public transport for some time before we get a second car, so need a suburb reliable for that.

So yeh basically suburbs that look nice enough, have parks/playgrounds, reliable public transport, some shops or not far to shopping centres (yet not too close for noise) and good Kindegartens and Primary Schools (public or private).

Approx price$ of say a 3brm house would be helpful too

Please be as honest as you like in describing areas ... i truely would like to also know the suburbs to steer clear of YKWIM (please feel free to PM incase you may feel you could offend anyone here as that i wouldn't want happening here)


Thanks a million for any help and will let you know of any good news

[blessedatlast]

Just live near me and you will be fine!!! Lol.. Umm.. Everyone has different takes on areas.. It depends where you are used to I guess.. I *PERSONALLY* like the southern end of the GC, Paml Beach, Burleigh, Elanora.. But not sure on public transport.. I don't think public transport is fantastic here on the Gold Coast anyway!! When I didn't have a car I lived mainly in Southport.. It's central, has a big shopping centre, but a bit of a dive.. (Sorry any Southporters!!!) Northern end of the coast is not bad, but again public transport is not great.. I lived in Oxenford/Gaven (can be called either suburb depeending on where your house is ) It's fairly cheap for a 'family' size house and not a bad area, and there is a big local shopping centre.. Mudgeeraba/Robina again, reasonably priced, big shopping centre (I LOVE ROBINA TOWN CENTRE!!!) but not sure on public transport..

So many places but they are the main ones that come to mind.. Not sure about schools etc, but I know there is an awesome park in Palm Beach/Currumbin called the pirate park.. I will be interested to see what other people say about the ares of the Goldy.. Good luck, hope your DH gets oggered the job

[boomba]

How exciting hun! Good luck to your DH!

I dont know too much about the suburbs on the GC but hopefully the others can help.

As for Brisbane I will tell you where I would love to live lol....hawthorne and balmoral are beautiful suburbs...Mt gravatt and mansfield are nice too. We live in Logan and it gets a bad rap but its a really nice place to live. Cant help you with prices etc.

Good luck xx

[C~Q]

Oooh YAY I am soooooo excited!!! I'll help you with anything you need to know lol!

I've lived on the GC and Brissy and I love them both but I didn't realise till I moved to Brissy how different the people are. Now I don't want to offend anyone on the GC! But Brissy people seem a lot friendlier...not so much southern GC but central and Northern.

Brissy is awesome, I love it!! Public transport is good, schools are good and the city rocks my world! 45 mins from GC and Sunchine Coast.

Priices are so different all over. I live in Underwood which is in Logan. It's not the best area and i'm sure you oculd prob live somewhere a bit nicer lol. It's kind of the nicest area in a slightly dodgy area! I'm looking at moving Bayside at the moment which is beautiful. Check out Wakerly, thats what i'm looking at and a 3 bdr is around $350-$400 I think?

Anything you want to know just holler!!!

ETA - Hawthorne and Balmoral are awesome and my fave place in the world is there - Oxford St! Can you PM me (or say) an idea on $$$ then can let you know whereish to look

[boomba]

I think you can get bad poeple in any suburb....so maybe work out what areas you want to be looking at and then find a nice street...although you can never tell by the look of the house if people will be nice or not lol!

The bayside is nice...but it is not in brisbane its about half an hour out Wakerly is nice CQ will you change the kids school again? ..sorry for hijacking lol

[Fleur]

Argh I have to get off here & go to work!!

I will be back later, but just quickly - I agree with BAL, Southern Gold Coast is lovely (not so Gold-Coasty IMO)

Come for a visit & I will drive you around for a look

[nina21]

Hi we live in Shailer Park which is about half an hour from the Gold Coast and about the same to Brisbane it is kind of in the middle right near the highway, it is a lovely area heaps of good schools and public transport. Stay away from and I hope I am not going to offend anyone but Woodridge and parts of Beenleigh. All the best for you new venture

[luna moth]

I love both. Brissie was a huge shock to my system after living in Melbourne, but as someone said, the people are SO friendly, I have developed some amazing friend circles. in 2 years I have better friends here than I do after 20 years in Sydney.

GC public transport is fairly rubbish, but their cycling infrastructure is quite good. Lots of quiet bike paths, and easy bike lanes on lots of roads. And it's pretty flat. Sadly, there's a lot of rude drivers. Suburbs.... I couldn't recommend a particular one, I guess it would depend on the work site, I'd be inclined to go as close to there as you could afford, to reduce travelling time and increase family time?

Same with Brissie. It's huge, so you wouldn't want to be trekking all the way across town everyday. Although, Brissie peak hour traffic is hilarious - it's pretty much over by 5:30pm and is free-flowing traffic compared to Syd or Melbs. Round where I live, the roads are actually worse on the weekends

Not much help, really! But you'll love it. Promise.

[sconeonamission]

I live in Redland Bay, and Redland Bay and Mount Cotton are beautiful. Mount Cotton has new estates being built, but there are still some nice houses for sale and rent. We lived in Manly/Wynnum before here and it's a much more friendly atmosphere.

I'd have thought some of the suburbs mentioned are a bit exxy when it comes to buying, but that could just be me...

CQ - you're moving to Wakerly? Even closer to me! It's funny how we seem to live 30 mins of each other, but I never see you! You too, Boomba!

[smiles4u]

I'd be inclined to go as close to there as you could afford, to reduce travelling time and increase family time?

:yeahthat: thanks for pointing that out Audax cause that's one thing we would like to see change in our current situation as DP drives at least 1hr & 30mins to get to work on the other side of Melb CBD, and the earliest he gets home 'some' nights is about 8.30ish if his lucky but most nights 9ish or later.

Of course like anyone i would love to keep rent as cheap as possible as compared to super cheap rental prices here in Ballarat anywhere else looks so damn expensive to us, lol.

CQ reckon your spot on there as i had a good look at some rental online last night and yeh looks like most places are up near $400 which i nearly had a head attack over even though DP did warn me of the figures as he had a peek the other night, ... cause here in Ballarat you could rent a nice 3brm home for $250 no kidding. With our house here in Ballarat ' if ' we did decide to rent it out i'm guessing we could get about $250-$260 for it (??).

With this moving adventure DP & i have to take into absolute serious consideration we don't send ourselves backwards financially in the long run therefore wouldn't be worth the move.

... Thanks heaps & heaps Fleur that's such a gorgeous offer (my lil' secret squirrel )

Thanks heaps for the very honest info ladies, ... please, please keep the ideas coming the more info the better for us

[JDsMum]

I've lived in both places over the years....

Gold Coast - I've only ever lived in Southport or Labrador. We were in a nice area in Southport and it was really handy for us as we could both walk to work (which were in the CBD) in about 15 minutes so that was great - our cars had a nice rest and it was good for our health. It was also really nice to walk down along the Broadwater with our dogs every morning....I really miss that! I have friends that live at Hope Island and also in Runaway Bay and they are both lovely areas as well though I'm sure prices are quite high there!!!

Brisbane - Lived mainly in the inner west.....Toowong, Taringa and finally bought in Sherwood. I would only ever live on a train line....much more reliable than buses and you dont have to worry about any traffic. There are nice suburbs on all sides of the city, just depends on how much you want to spend and how long / far he wants to commute....

I miss both places....probably more so the Coast than Brisbane....just really liked the lifestyle there!!

[smiles4u]

UPDATE : DP just rang me moments ago from work that the agency has rang him that he will be flown up to Sydney (were company office is but he will be working in either Brisbane or Gold Coast if he gets the job) week after next

Good news he is only one of two people that have gotten this far for an interview

... so yeh fingers crossed for in about two weeks time

[nina21]

wow good luck!!

[sconeonamission]

Good luck !

[Fleur]

, ... cause here in Ballarat you could rent a nice 3brm home for $250 no kidding. With our house here in Ballarat ' if ' we did decide to rent it out i'm guessing we could get about $250-$260 for it (??).

Holy moly Smiles!!... we are renting a 3 brm townhouse here for $340. We would love a 4 brm house as it is a bit crowded but for that we are looking at about $430 ish for an average place.

Part of it is location though, we are in a popular area & don't want to go too far with the kids.

Area wise, I love Burleigh, Mudgeeraba & Pacific Pines is nice, Coomera and Coombabah are further north, they are areas with a bit of development going on so a bit cheaper I think and still nice. EDIT - DH has just told me they are not much cheaper
Ormeau & Jacobs Well are nice & a bit cheaper but much further north than the rest of the coast.

I'd probably steer clear of Southport, Nerang, Labrador...

AS far as travel goes, if you have quick access to the M1 it's not too bad. I can get from one end of the coast to another in about 40 minutes on the M1. It's the traffic through the middle that's a PITA.

Do you know where he would be situated work-wise?

ETA - woot! Good luck for week after next!

[smiles4u]

Do you know where he would be situated work-wise?

Fleur it would be in Broadbeach if he goes for the Gold Coast !!

He asked about relocating costs but the company won't cover it which is fair enough not every company allows for it ... then he asked the agency today when they rang about the salary being more and it seems not so much so DP is gonna ask in his second interview for more regardless cause if you don't ask you won't get anyway and we don't feel we have anything to lose cause it's not like he doesn't have a job here and we aint desperate to have to move asap IYKWIM.

(Fleur what suburb are you in ?? ... if you don't mind my asking, can PM me with it if want ... ha and don't worry not looking to move next door hee hee but that would be funny !! I like to get out and about but i'm actualy quite a private person too which surprise some people, lol)

[Fleur]

Fleur it would be in Broadbeach if he goes for the Gold Coast !!

He asked about relocating costs but the company won't cover it which is fair enough not every company allows for it ... then he asked the agency today when they rang about the salary being more and it seems not so much so DP is gonna ask in his second interview for more regardless cause if you don't ask you never would know and we don't feel we have anything to lose cause it's not like he doesn't have a job here and we aint desperate to have to move asap IYKWIM.

Yeah good idea, fingers crossed they pony up

Broadbeach is south-central I guess?

I honestly think the best thing to do is visit, and see for yourself yes I am unashamedly trying to score a visit and we have another meetup planned for November

[smiles4u]

I honestly think the best thing to do is visit, and see for yourself yes I am unashamedly trying to score a visit and we have another meetup planned for November

crikey LOL ... NO pressure woman, bahaha (BUT you know i'd badly love too)