Hervey Bay, QLD

[OnYellowBrickRd]

Hi all

Hubby and I have learnt in this process that the only thing that we can be certain of is that there is nothing we can be certain of

Our plans have (sort of) changed AGAIN and now we are considering moving to Hervey Bay. Has anyone been there? What's it like?

We had a look at living in or near Brisbane, but we are dreaming of life by the beach and Brisbane beaches...well...they don't look that great.

Does anyone know what Yarrilee State school is like? We are considering sending our daughter there as they have the higher NAPLAN scores of the state schools.

Any information or experiences will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[AndreaL]

I know lots of people would love to live in Hervey Bay, it is apparently lovely there. I hope someone who lives there can give you the low down.

[Caz]

Sorry, cant help - haven't been to the area yet. We are planning though to go camping on Fraser Island within the next month or two.

Hope all works out for you.

[MandC]

We drove through it on our LSD trip from Cairns to Brisbane. Its beautiful there, small town feel I could pick up. And best of all Fraser Island is right on your doorstep!

Just not sure if you can swim in the sea there yet, but I think you can. I know if you go further up QLD you cannot swim in the sea. They have the most beautiful beaches, yet the sea is too dangerous with box jellyfish.

Have you found jobs there?

[Aneldari]

Hi daar

Ok, verskoon die Afrikaans, kan my beter uitdruk...

Hervey Bay is NIE wat mens dink nie. Ons het op die harde manier geleer. Ons het sak en pak vanaf Canberra getrek na HB in Jan 2012 met groot verwagtinge, en einde April 2012 het ons getrek na Cairns en ons is glad nie mense wat sommer net sal opgee nie. Die Here was ongelooflik goed vir ons en Johan het ‘n voltydse pos by ‘n goeie privaat skool gekry hier in ‘n pragtige suburb van Cairns.

HB was jare terug ‘n pragtige kusdorpie en baie ouer mense het daar gaan aftree. Maar omdat meeste behuising so ongelooflik goedkoop is en Centrelink mense geld gee, is ‘n GROOT deel van die populasie ongelukkig die tipiese (jammer om te sê) lae-klas unemployed mense… Regtige groot gommies...

Kyk, ja, Johan se werk was ‘n GROOT stresfaktor – hy het by ‘n skool vir kinders met groot behavioural issues gewerk.

Voor ek verder daaroor uitbrei:

Die see en scenery daar is glad nie vreeslik spectacular nie. Fraser Island is wel daar maar dis ongelooflik duur om met die ferry oor te gaan ($100 return), so ons plan om die eiland baie kere te geniet en daar te gaan kamp, was daarmee heen.

Die dorp self is nie regtig spesiaal nie, baie dele lekker gaga en vuil. Daar is wel mooi buurte aan sekere van die buitewyke, maar natuurlik baie duurder.

Laat ek noem dat daar wel paar SAners is en hul is wel heel gelukkig.

Ons is onderwysers en alhoewel ek nie weet hoe dit is in die spesifieke skool is wat jy genoem het nie, sal ek nooit in my kind in ‘n staatskool in HB sit nie. Daar is paar privaat skole wat seker ok is.

Midges: sulke klein muggie-tipe goeters wat jou lelik en seer byt en dan bly die merke vir baie lank. Ongelooflik baie mense en info op internet het gewaarsku oor die midges in baie dele in HB, veral langs water en mangroves.. Ek het waarlik gedink dat nie so erg is nie, maar glo my dit is, mens sal nie ‘n huis wil he in daardie areas nie.

Nougaan ek voorbeeld gee van een van die voorvalle by Johan se skool waar hy wasen dis na hierdie storie dat ons besef het dat nie net daardie kinders baiebaie bad is nie maar ook hul ouers.

Johan was aangerand deur ‘n kind daar, gelukkig kon die kind nie veel regkry nie en Johan het paar kneusplekke en bloukolle gehad, ek gaan nie in detail ingaan nie, maar hy wou basies strooi aanjaag in klas en Johan moes paar keer hom aanspreek maar tevergeefs. Seker so halfuur na die insident, het hy ons bakkie se deur vol duike geskop. Ons moes vir die 1ste keer in Australia ‘n claim op ons karversekering maak… daar was nog ‘n kind betrokke, maar dis nie nodig om verder uit te brei nie.

Ons albei was baie geruk en upset… Dit was ‘n Maandag, die hoof van die skool het toe genoem dat daardie naweek wat verby is beide die kinders se pa’s inhegtenis geneem is omdat hul oor die naweek polisiemanne aangeval het… enough said.

Ons was te bang om in die aand by die esplanade te gaan stap want so na etenstyd begin die skruffel-jonges daar uithang. In die 3 maande wat ons daar vas, was verskeie aanvalle met messe en so aan, darem geen gewere nie, maar steeds… ook inbrake is groot.

Genoeg van HB...

Ek sou sê dat enige plek noord vanaf Gladstone pragtig verby is….!!! Daar is baie meer Great Barrier Reef eilande en die strande is pragtig!! Wel, Sunshine Coast is ook mooi vir my…maar steeds te groot vir my.

Kyk, ek sal groot campaign vir Cairns, absoluut paradise…!!! Maar daar is nie teveel werk nie en dis dalk beter dat ten minste een persoon 'n voltydse pos kry. Ja, dis flippen warm vir paar maande in die somer, maar ons het great weer gehad laas jaar toe ons hier aangekom het in April. Dit het so mid/einde Nov heelwat warmer begin raak. Maar ek sien uit na die res van die jaar.

Maar, die weer hier is nie vir almal nie…

Dis verkeerd om te sê mens kan glad nie in die see swem nie. Dis net in die somer maande wanner die stingers rondkerjakker. Die res van die jaar kan mens sonder enige stinger protection swem - dis nou stinger suits waarvan ek praat, dis soos 'n wetsuit maar net dunner materiaal. Waarneer mens dit aanhet kan mens steeds heerlik in die see baljaar in die somer. Dis ook baie goed vir die UV-strale van die son.

As ek en Johan altyd soek vir dorpe waar ons kan bly (hopelik is Cairns vir nog baie jare ons tuiste), kyk ons altyd na die huispryse (huur en koop) – ons kyk
sommer op hierdie website: . http://www.realestate.com.au/buy . Ongelukkig is plekke soos Gladstone en Mackay ongelooflik (soos in vrek baie) duur omdat die myne daar naby opgegaan het en die vraag baie groot is. Rockhampton is ook maar duurderig en is vrek warm en het altyd ‘n groot vloed risiko.

Ek weet dis maar moeilik en baie daunting om te besluit waarheen om te gaan en glo my, jul sal heel waarskynlik weer trek binne die volgende paar jaar, want dan weet mens bietjie meer en het ‘n beter gevoel vir sekere plekke.

Ons het vir 1 ½ jaar in ‘n kleine dorpie in Suid-Aus gebly, toe vir net oor die 3 jaar in Canberra, 3 laannngg maande in Hervey Bay en nou is ons hier in die tropics en ons was op 17 Feb presies 6 jaar in Aus – beste besluit ever…!!

Vat die kaart en explore… geniet hierdie deel van die reis ook, dis exciting…!

Baie groete,

Aneldari

[Jill]

We looked at moving to Hervey Bay from Emerald a few years ago...it is a lovely place to stay and I could easily have moved there...the only problem is, it is very much a place where everyone wants to live, so fine if you have a job but if you lose that job it might be really tough to find another one...

[Aneldari]

Ek stem saam. Daar is waarlik nie baie werk nie. Ontsettend baie min onderwys poste, dis hoekom Johan maar die pos gevat het by daardie skool. Ons het waarlik gedink, na al ons navorsing op die net, dat dit 'n idilliese plek is, maar wat 'n absolute groot teleurstelling...

[MandC]

Wow Aneldari it sounds quite rough. But I think, like with most things, every person on here's experience will be different and hence their advice different. Which is all valid of course, and it is good to have all the opinions in your head when you are in a similar situation because it helps you to look out for certain thing.

OYBR my advice would be to go and check it out. Perhaps you shouldn't decide too soon where you want to settle. Stay a few days, get a feel for the place first. I hope that we will be able to do that if we cannot get jobs from here.

[Aneldari]

That's quite true. I just want their first Aussie home town to be good for them.

The facts are that HB has a low-socio economic element, high unemployment rate and for me personally (I do not have stats) a too high crime rate. Now look I am not talking about crime such as in South Africa...even a high burglary rate is the pits for me.

There is not much for the teenagers to do there and then they have time to make trouble.

HEOJ & OYBR, I really do not want to scare you off, you asked, I answered to the best of my ability. Of course it is your decision alone and I wish you the very best.

I have followed your trials and tribulations from the start, I cried and celebrated with you and I know that you will make Aussie your home no matter where you are.

I am quite excited for you guys, very exciting times lay ahead.

Good luck with all the decisions that lay in front of you and I know that Aus will gain 3 precious people.

Cheers

A

[MandC]

That's quite true. I just want their first Aussie home town to be good for them.

The facts are that HB has a low-socio economic element, high unemployment rate and for me personally (I do not have stats) a too high crime rate. Now look I am not talking about crime such as in South Africa...even a high burglary rate is the pits for me.

There is not much for the teenagers to do there and then they have time to make trouble.

HEOJ & OYBR, I really do not want to scare you off, you asked, I answered to the best of my ability. Of course it is your decision alone and I wish you the very best.

I have followed your trials and tribulations from the start, I cried and celebrated with you and I know that you will make Aussie your home no matter where you are.

I am quite excited for you guys, very exciting times lay ahead.

Good luck with all the decisions that lay in front of you and I know that Aus will gain 3 precious people.

Cheers

A

Very true.

I have to say I am a bit jealous of you living in Cairns. Love the place...

[Aneldari]

Yes, it's beautiful here...

I grew up in Richards Bay, therefore not too much of a shock to my system when summer arrived. There are so many places and things to see and do. There are actually hundreds of ex SAners here.What's even better is that our only family in Aus also lives here, 15km from us - my sister and brother-in-law...

Anyway, I don't want to hijack OYBR's thread...

Cheers

A

[OnYellowBrickRd]

@Aneldari. BAIE dankie! Dis presies die tipe raad wat ek gesoek het.

Oh boy! I guess we start searching all over again. This is one of the reasons I find this forum so helpful. Many people say "just look on the Internet", but the Internet can give a very sugar-coated idea of a place (just google Joburg ). I will keep on searching online until we leave and...as long as u guys are willing to respond with invaluable advice...I will keep asking your opinions SAAus.

So, what would you say is the quietest part of the Sunshine Coast? I don't want to live in the centre of a tourism Mecca, but for now I'm not letting go of my dream of a house with a sea view near a beach (that's not as hot as Cairns...HEOJJ will melt ).

Keep those suggestions coming. We have a 189PR, so Australia is our oyster

[MandC]

I tend to agree with Aneldari that up to Gladstone it seems ok, however (and I am not being judgemental here) on our trip down to Brisbane there were quite a few small towns that seemed a bit dodgy, much like some of the characters she described in HB - you know, mullets and tattoos and scary looking. With that said, Ive found that generally Australians are good and very friendly people, so they might be perfectly nice.

The sunshine coast is beautiful, and even though it seemed a little bit more busy, it had a great feel to it. One of my favourite places on the route was definitely Airlie Beach. The most beautiful blue sea. But thats a bit further up. I'll live there easily (and tell HEOJJ that is one of the places I saw the built in gyms in the park LOL)

The Gold Coast is also VERY beautiful but also quite touristy.

I also have the dream where I can wake up in the morning, look out of my window and see the ocean. We can only hope

Hold on to that dream. So excited for you guys. We were also supposed to leave in April, but cant anymore.

[AndreaL]

I've replied to your other post re Sunshine Coast and have understood a little of what Aneldari tried to relay and just want to say it is really difficult to advise people where to settle in Australia.

Just imagine that I took an Australian or two and dropped one in any suburb of Johannesburg and one in any other town in RSA, firstly, how would they know how to look for work, how would they know where to go and where not to go, where to shop and so on...I say this not to scare you, but more to prepare you, it is tough in the beginning and you only have one another to rely on.

In a way you just have to get here and then make a few mistakes until you learn the way things work, get some connections....and then you plan.

Just trust that with hard work and willingness to try new things, you will find your way. Perhaps you should think about basing yourself somewhere with more work opportunities and then look for your little ocean view house later on.

[luckytobehere]

Aneldari / H.E.J.J.

I stem saam a hundred percent that Cairns is a great place to live. I'm really surprised that you say so many Saffers live here. I've met virtually none in 15 years!! Not that I've gone out looking for them. Know a couple of Zimbos and a young bloke from C.T. who works in Woollies. Granted I live 40 km south, and head home straight after work...

So H.E.J.J: if you want to have a check around this lovely area I'd be happy to show you around.

Sterkte

Witz

[rozellem]

YBR, please dont discard NSW completely. People seem to love Newcastle and especially its surrounds. I did a quick search and found this. http://jobsearch.australiateachers.com/index.phtml?a=v&j=1995 I know its says temp, but send your CV anyway.

The areas around Newcastle are breathtaking, miles of golden beaches and just next to the Hunter Valley (wine country). Plus Newcastle it self is big enough to have employment possibilities for your husband. Just my 2cents.

Edited February 22, 2013 by rozellem

[HadEnoughofJuju]

And I was so looking forward to Hervey Bay . Andrea your're right, most opinions are subjective when it comes to what a place is like but if we don't ask we won't ever know that there may be disappointment lurking. I guess we are going to have to do some exploring, I am very tempted (sorry OYBR, have told you yet ) to buy a camper van and travel the coast from Sydney to Brisbane and find a place to stay on the way. One can only dream.

[MandC]

And I was so looking forward to Hervey Bay . Andrea your're right, most opinions are subjective when it comes to what a place is like but if we don't ask we won't ever know that there may be disappointment lurking. I guess we are going to have to do some exploring, I am very tempted (sorry OYBR, have told you yet ) to buy a camper van and travel the coast from Sydney to Brisbane and find a place to stay on the way. One can only dream.

We rented one, they are not too expensive, and traveled from Cairns to Brisbane. There are many camping sites where you can stop along the way. We didn't book anything in advance, just drove and slept where we ended up. We always found a spot, pretty affordable, and this was a week before Christmas (or Chrissie) in 2011. So consider it, even if you do not use it to find the place to stay, but at least to give you a small feel of some of the places on the way.

[HadEnoughofJuju]

We are planning somewhere in our future to buy a caravan/camper van and take a year off and travel along the coast line as far as we can go. It's always been a dream and we though we would be doing it here, we haven't given up on the dream we have just changed our destination country.

[AndreaL]

We are planning somewhere in our future to buy a caravan/camper van and take a year off and travel along the coast line as far as we can go. It's always been a dream and we though we would be doing it here, we haven't given up on the dream we have just changed our destination country.

You'd be surprised at the number of people who do that. You might not be aware but most people are entitled to long service leave after a period of continuous full time employment with an employer, usually somewhere between 7 and 10 years, in my hubby's case it is 8 years and he is half way there, so in 4 years he will be able to take about 6 months off, fully paid to travel or do what we wish.

I've met many families in caravan parks who are doing this and their kids do their schooling over the Internet........now there is another wonderful thing about Australia to look toward to

[HadEnoughofJuju]

Haven't even been to Australia and I'm loving it already. Can't wait, there are just too many days left before we leave.

[MandC]

I just had my 15 years service over here. Guess what I got? A full 3 days leave, and a R2000 cash payment (taxable). Nice to know that 15 years of my life is not even worth 1 week's leave...

HEOJJ you are in for LOADS of surprises! One of which is that you do not realise how VAST the country is until you get there and actually start driving around. I am excited for you guys.

[HadEnoughofJuju]

I liked the part about you being excited for us not the part about only getting 3 days and R2000 bonus (that's ludicrous). I am also excited for us, and when I say drive the coast it will be from Brisbane down to Sydney and as far as we can make it in six months so we have enough time to drive back home.

[Mara]

Well let me throw a spanner in the works here, you need to check out Lemon Tree Passage, north of Newcastle NSW, here is a link on the map:

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=Newcastle,+New+South+Wales&daddr=Lemon+Tree+Passage,+New+South+Wales&hl=en&ll=-32.77544,152.044601&spn=0.234108,0.307274&sll=-32.730967,152.039528&sspn=0.058556,0.076818&geocode=FYB8Cf4dStILCSnlAsdxEz5zazGgqDIWaH0BBA%3BFamQDP4daPAPCSlhniadVXhzazFw7zIWaH0BBQ&oq=Newcastle&mra=ltm&t=m&z=12

Then go and check out some of the homes and there is even vacant land:

http://www.realestate.com.au/buy/in-lemon+tree+passage%2c+nsw+2319%3b+lemon+tree%2c+nsw+2259%3b+/list-1

[De Kat]

Ek weet regtig nie hoe kan Aneldari Hervey Bay verf met die kwas van hulle ondervinding nie. Ek was vir baie lank nie hier lid nie, maar toe kry ek hierdie topic in my Google Alert inbox, en moet net my siening hier gee.

Ons bly sedert November 2012 in Hervey Bay. Ek gee toe dat die socio economic rating laer is as bv Brisbane, maar beslis nie so erg as wat sy beskryf nie.

Bang om saans op die Esplanade te loop? Ag nee man. Ek loop vrou alleen daar en het nog nie EEN so insident gesien wat sy beskryf nie. Daar is baie min in die drie plaaslike koerantjies oor sulke insidente.

Gommies kry jy in ELKE dorp. Veral as jy 'n onderwyser is en nou nie juis kan kies met wie jy te doen het nie. En ook VERAL as jy juis met behavioural issues werk. Is drie maande regtig lank genoeg om die dorp 'n kans te gee?

Die muggies. Ek bly in Pt Vernon. Hier is baie by ons. Maar as jy spuit as jy uitgaan, is jy okay. Mens bou 'n weerstand daarteen op, naderhand jeuk jy nie eens meer nie. My eerste byte was hel vir 1 week, en elke byt is beter as die vorige. Dis net die nuwelinge wat sukkel. Een spuitjie Off!! en jy is veilig. En ek het 'n lieflike seaview van die boonste verdieping af, onder is my buurman se huis in die pad. So ek bly reg teen die see en sommige mangroves naby.

Ek bly al vir 3 maande hier en ry baie rond, maar het nog nie die vuil en gaga dele ontdek wat sy van praat nie. Wees bietjie spesifiek dat ek kan gaan soek. Ek kry ook elke maand die neighbourhood watch se pamflet. Daar was in die 3 maande wat ek hier is, 5 inbrake in Pt Vernon. Die HELE Point Vernon. 4 was in sheds, een 'n huis wat nie gesluit was nie. Mullets? Tattoos? Ek het hulle al gesien ja, oor Desember. Dit was toeriste. Dis 'n tipiese vakansiedorp. Ek sukkel bietjie om werk te kry, maar my Afr naam en ouderdom tel teen my.

Die see is vir my pragtig. Daar is wel dele wat jy jou dinges suur loop om by die water te kom, en daar is min golwe agv die eiland. Mens moet kies, golwe of eilande om jou. Strande noord (Bargara, 100km) en suid (Rainbow Beach) het lieflike lieflike golwe en strande. Dis waar ons gaan swem. Jellievisse is siklusse. Die huidige seisoen lyk my is pas verby, gisteraand se nuusberig het hulle vir hoe ver gery per boot en nie een gesien nie. 4 weke terug kon jy nie jou hand in die water steek nie (so 100m in) of daar is een. En dis nie BOKS jellies nie. Hulle kry jy by julle in Cairns. Nie hier nie. En koop sommer jou eie bootjie, vir wat nou die ferry oorvat?

Ek ken ongelukkig nie skole nie want ek het die meer skoolgaande kinders nie.

Ons het eers op Bribie gebly, net noord van Brissie. Toe Sunshine Coast toe, waar alles onbekostigbaar duur was (Noosa area). Ons is baie gelukkig in Hervey, en beplan om hier af te tree. Het drie fantastiese drs in een praktyk ontdek, is mal oor ons nuwe GP. Hier is nie 'n paar SAners baie gelukkig nie, maar baie.

Ek "knock" nie Cairns nie, ek hoor dis mooi daar, maar daar is ook nadele (hitte en ander goed). Ek is mal oor die Reef, ons hou vakansie daar so gereeld ons kan. Maar Hervey Bay is huis. Hier kan jy nog 'n hele 5 acres met 'n huis (of twee) koop vir $400k. Op die Sunshine Coast is dit 'n klein 3slaapkamer op 'n posseel erf. Die winkels hier rond is vir my beter as in Noosa, dis nie so snobby nie. Daar is net boutique shops. Hier kry mens wat jy soek sonder om 100'e kilos te ry.

Soos ek se hang ek nie baie hier rond nie, so as enige iemand nog inligting soek, email my op kitikatter *at* gmail dot com.

DeKat