It looks like we're going to make the big lifestyle move out of Sydney to the far North NSW Coast. We're looking at acreage behind towns such as Pottsville, Cabarita Beach, Kingscliff etc., so a change also from suburbia to rural living. We're not going as far as Tweed Heads, but may consider towns south of that such as North Tumbulgum.*

It's a big move physically & emotionally - we'll be leaving both sets of parents, all aunts & uncles and friends, but we've wanted (particularly my husband) to live by the beach with some land and this was a place I've finally felt might be possible. I've holidayed at Cabarita for 30 yrs of my life and my parents still have a holiday house there, so they would come up, maybe twice a year.*

I'd love to know any info from families that live up there, as holidaying is one thing, but living somewhere is another!*

Is there a good sense of community? Are there playgroups? What are the schools/pre-schools like?

What about access to good GP's & dentists?*

Also, what I'm not sure about is my children and whether I'm going to be providing them with a safe environment and culture to grow up in. I've heard a bit about child/teen gangs in Tweed Heads and a strong drug culture, particularly in Kingscliff. Apparently crime is an issue too? One local advised us to put our kids in the local private schools to avoid some of these issues.*
Does anyone have any opinions on this?

And the biggest thing looming on the horizon is telling our families - for anyone that's done a big move, any tips on how to break the news and manage the aftermath would be great! (that last point I've also put as a separate post!)

Any advice would be great!