possibly my stupidest question about life in oz yet

[robinpud]

Kids will be starting school in january when sydney is at its hottest. What is school footwear? Should I bring their school shoes? Do they wear sandals without socks ( sweaty feet-yuk anmd a little dangerous maybe)? or sandals with socks???
Any aussie mums please?

Not an aussie mum yet (will be in January, still in NZ now) but I think it would be sandals without socks like NZ.

I make sure my children have all leather sandals to stop the stinky feet scenario ... anything plastic will stink to high heaven - also, the ones with the suede lining can be stinky (soak up the sweat) ... it need to be the smooth leather lining ...

Sandal with socks is a NO NO ...

DS has brown ones very similar to the McKinlays Safari Velcro Sandals on this link

Thanks Ghosty. Thnak goodness sandals and socks is a no no. I was traumatised for years about my dad wearing terry towelling green socks with jesus sandlas and flares. Couldn't possibly force that on the kids!
Most of the uk sandals are made from cheaper synthetics and can be a bit evil after a while if worn without socks. I will look to pick up sandlas either in NZ or Sydney just before the start of term.
Are you going to Melbourne or Sydney I have forgotten.. sorry?
What's the weather like with you.. we fly into Auckland on the 30 DEc!!!!!

Um, weather is iffy at the moment - classic "4 seasons in one day" ... DS got sunburned at the beach yesterday ... I wasn't there and the other mum promised me she would put sunblock on ...
But in the morning we were wrapped in jumpers at a birthday party shivering with drizzle outside ....
Christmas is always unpredictable in NZ ... January is usually nice ...
How long will you be in NZ for robinpud? Will you be in Auckland for long?

Not Sydney for us ... Melbourne, which suits me because after arfyshimeau's description of giant man eating spiders in Sydney I have vowed never to go there

We have timed it all wrong for Auckland Ghosty which I am feeling disappointed about. We arrive on the 30th , pick up the camper van and have booked a night on the outskirts of auckland so that we can get used to the van and buy stuff before the New Year . Then we are booked onto a quiet site on the Coromandel penisula for the 31st onwards. ( We have checked it's not going to be swarming with people!) We cross to south island on the 7th of January so am not quite sure how to squeeze in Auckland.
Dh is paranoid about the funnel webs. He has ds filling all our bloody shoes with duplo so that we get used to shaking them out. I am going demented and have threatened to put drawing pins in his if he doesn't stop! I like spiders.. couldn't eat a whole one though.
Hope your move goes well. If you fancy meeting up in Sydney.. let me know!

I would check with the school - often they have a uniform policy which will state the appropriate footwear they will need to wear. Despite it being hot and summer - most kids I see wear trainers to school - and we are in Brissy - even hotter than Sydney. Dd1 attends sn school and kindy in trainers - summer and winter. Probably closed in shoes for health and safety reasons - I am sure.

So check it out first before you rush in and buy them sandals.

Never ever wear sandals with socks!!

eidsvold- I will check; I have the uniform policy here but nothing mentions shoes. I don't let mine wear open shoes to school here for safety reasons hence me asking. I will take the schol shoes we have already and with me as a precaution. Thanks