Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

moving to Sydney in 6 wks ..eekkk!!

10 replies

boboops · 13/10/2009 22:38

Hello!!

Moving to Sydney in 6wks (from Bristol)A little nervous as my daughters (2 and 1 yr old) have a very busy social network (me too!)

Looking to be involved in the playgroup/mum meetup thing,can anyone living in Balmain/Drummoyne/Mosman areas tell me where is best to live??

Never even visited Sydney so need help!!

OP posts:
SkinnyLattePlease · 14/10/2009 01:43

Can't help you with regard to playgroups as I am in Melbourne but take a look at www.essentialbaby.com.au. There is a section for meeting new members by state. Post in the NSW section and you are sure to get lots of replies. Lots of ex-pats down under.
Have a great time!

savoycabbage · 14/10/2009 03:13

Hi, I used yo live in Mosman but it was before I had children.I really liked it though and it was very child friendly when I lived there, lovely cafes etc.

I live in Melbourne now. I found some english friends on the poms in oz forum.

I made lots of friends really quickly when we moved to Melbourne from the UK in January. We did not know anyone at all when we got here. When you have children it is easy to ask people that you see where they go to playgroup or swimming lessons or whatever as you have a sort of story to tell. People are always happy to help. One of my best friends here I met when I got talking to her Mum in the park with her grandchildren. She took my number and her daughter gave me a ring and we met up.

Ozziegirly · 14/10/2009 04:11

Hi there,

I was in Sydney for a year (now Adelaide). Mosman and Balmain are both very nice, I don't know Drummoyne.

Balmain is full of nice little shops and cafes, and you also have a easy commute to the city (if you need this) by bus or ferry. We have friends who live there and it's lovely, really family friendly fairly upmarket area. Not as posh as Clifton, but in some ways has a similar vibe.

Mosman is considered to be posher, but the main road of shops is a lot busier. Houses are also probably a bit more expensive. Also relatively ok transport.

If you are looking at the North Shore (which is Mosman) I would also consider Neutral Bay and Balmoral. North Shore in general is an expensive part of Sydney though, although nice.

Other good family areas - Rushcutters Bay, Rose Bay, Double Bay are all nice, although the public transport isn't as good.

If you don't need to go to the city, or don't mind a longer commute, have a look at the Northern Beaches - Narabeen, Collaroy etc are cheaper but still nice, with very nice beaches.

Good luck with it, it's a great city to live in.

boboops · 14/10/2009 08:27

Thanks soo much everyone!!! Back to packing!!!

OP posts:
Bubbaluv · 19/10/2009 12:09

Hi there,
I'm moving back to Sydney in about 8 weeks - so exciting!! We'll be over East, but I would say Balmain or Mosman would be my pic of the suburbs you mentioned. Balmain is more funky/urban/villagey and Mosman more posh/conservative/suburban/leafy. Both great though. Let me know if you need more info.
Not sure how the mother's group things are arranged - maybe through the hospitals?
Are you moving for work? Permanently? Do you have somewhere to live when you first arrive?
Happy to offer guidance if you need advice.
Happy Packing!!

boboops · 20/10/2009 20:16

Hi there!
Thanks for your message.Yes moving over because of husbands job/the rain/increase in uk tax and vat etc..Haven't even visited Sydney but ready for an adventure!!Probably will stay for good (if I get on there) as I won't be putting on the 'rose tinted glasses' like I did when I returned to uk from New York!
Will be put up by husbands company for a couple of weeks but thinking of looking to rent a place in Manly as I really want to be near the beach (I'm from Birmingham!)Don't fancy travelling far to a beach if so whats the point of living there? Also my days of hanging out in funky coffee shops are over with two toddlers in tow.
How come your moving back and where exactly are you moving to?

XX

OP posts:
Bubbaluv · 23/10/2009 15:55

Manly has a beach, but it is a bit backpackerish to be honset. In Mosman you'd have a much nicer area with more toddler-friendly beaches. Also the commute to the city is better.
If you have the budget then Bronte is lovely as is Rose Bay both with great access to beaches. North Bondi is also great for families.

Keep in mind that beaches are great, but you can't spen all day at the beach with toddlers. Being in an area with good parks, playgrounds, shops etc will also be important.

Bubbaluv · 23/10/2009 15:58

Oh and to answer your question, all our family are back in Aus (we're from Sydney) and we don't want to deprive our parents of thier grandchildren any more. DH got a good transfer with his work, so it was all too easy!
We will be moving to Bronte.
I assume your DH will be working in the city?

clairesparkle · 09/11/2009 18:19

Boobops

I'd be really interested to know how you get on. I'm also from Bristol and hopefully moving to Sydney with my husband's work for a year (or two or three) the year after next (not exactly six weeks away, but still kind of in sight). We're thinking of something more central like Annandale or Glebe.

By then we'll have a DS who will be three and hopefully another (1 ish...?). I won't be working so am also looking for toddler groups etc to meet people.

Will you come back and let us know how it goes?

boboops · 23/11/2009 09:14

no problem! Hopefully see you soon??

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread