It's definite - we are moving to Australia (Brisbane) in December... Calling Eidsvold

[dejags]

Our permanent residence application is now at the point of no return. The medicals are ok and they finally have all the paperwork.

So we are selling up and moving in December!!! I am so excited!!!

Three things I need help with:

1. Please tell me exactly how disgustingly hot and humid it will be when we land in Brisbane
2. We need a nice area to live in - not to expensive, new houses and near to a good state school (not north of the river).
3. Any advice in general about life in Brisbane!

WOOOOHOOOOO. Nearly two years later, our PR Visa should finalised in the next 8 weeks!

dejags
x

I was so sure it was you Eidsvold. Perhaps I am confused and you said I should only look North of the river and not south .

I feel quite overwhelmed by the whole thing. We aren't sure where we will live - we aren't the type to rent somewhere without having looked in person. Without knowing where we will live, we can't sort the schools. If we can't sort the schools - most importantly the kindy for DS2, I may well be stuck at home with him for a long stint - anything up to six months on some waiting lists. The thought horrifies me and more importantly him - he loves nursery and gets very bored at home.

Arrrrghh. I am not sleeping at the moment because I have a head like a box of frogs.

I know how you feel dejags - we are lucky in the sense that we have Dh's sister in Brisbane who advises me on what she thinks of suburbs when I think they might be good (but of course its entirely subjective, she thinks that anything that isnt close to the city is no good and I disagree) but it is helpful. Also my kids are not at school yet but it is something to consider when looking at an area.

We plan to rent for 6 months in Windsor or somewhere near there as that is where DH's family live. That should hopefully give us the time to look around and get a feel for areas.

PS - there are some good recommendations for furnished apartments and houses for short term let (say a month or so when you first get there) over on britishexpats - you just need to do a search of old threads.

the further out from the city you are - depending on the suburb the less you pay.

Around us houses go from 250 000 up to acreage of 800 000 dollars.

However we are a 5 minute walk form a fabulous junior school - bus ride to a good high school

dh walks to the train in the morning - 10 minute stroll and then fast train to the city. Our station is a major station and so fast trains stop here. 30 minutes and he can be in the city. He works at Herston at the children's hospital.

That north lakes is the happening area around us. As I said - planned community. Everything you want is there including a large ex-pat community - 15 minutes to redcliffe - water!! straight onto the highway and about 40 - 50 minutes to the sunshine coast.