Kermit Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Hi, We have just had the green light from WA for our visas so have now started seriously looking at moving over....still hasn't properly sunk in.! I was wondering if anyone can recommend some good areas in WA, we don't have children so don't need to be near schools etc. We prefer more rural areas, not personally a massive fan of new builds/estates etc.. nice open spaces, we have 2 large dogs so somewhere near some nice walks, parks etc... can anyone help? Thanks in advance, this forum has been a godsend.! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Think it depends on where your work base is. Its not so much the distance to commute but time wise. The freeways are very busy in the mornings/evenings. Perhaps get a map locate where your working then put a ring round it distance wise then perhaps someone on here can tell you the commute time from different areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Hi Kermit, welcome to PP and congratulations. That's a hard one to help with, drive an hour or so in any direction from the CBD and you'll be in a rural area and it stays that way more or less until you hit the east coast. It depends on how far away from a metro hub you want to be and what sort of services you require from that hub. There are large regional towns but they will obviously have fewer large organisations, specialist services etc that Perth has. It would be useful to know a little more about you to advise, it's pointless making recommendations for you to look at towns a few hundred km's inland if you're a corporate lawyer and want to go sailing every weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibbs Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 UK rural isn't the same as Perth rural. Perth itself is pretty remote, to then be remote to Perth is a long way from anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted May 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Thanks for all your replies... I am a Veterinary Nurse and although I will be looking for work my husband has a great job and works overseas travelling back every 6 weeks so money and finding that job immediately isn't going to be my immediate drive....Our main drive for moving to Australia is to spend more time outside, we both scuba dive so a local beach that you can do that from would be awesome. I guess when I say rural we would like to be no more than 1hr from Perth, no more than 20/30 mins from a supermarket / shops / restaurants etc....would be great to be in walking distance to a beach or large park / walks etc. I do love the sounds of the hills, how far realistically would you be from a beach? Are their any downsides to being in the hills? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted May 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Maybe I should of said what places should we avoid?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROB T Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Probably being within a short commute of a Dome cafe would be sensible. Kalamunda has such a cafe and has a national park on its doorstep also. Or if you fancy something even more rural then there is one at Mundaring which is a fab place by all accounts and under an hour to the CBD. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beandownunder Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Probably being within a short commute of a Dome cafe would be sensible. Kalamunda has such a cafe and has a national park on its doorstep also. Or if you fancy something even more rural then there is one at Mundaring which is a fab place by all accounts and under an hour to the CBD. Lol you are shameless Rob T! i have been asked to remind you that someone will still be along for her free flat white even though she no longer resides here..... J x ps hope wife and daughhter had a safe trip x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROB T Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Always a pleasure for that particular person which you refer to; as well as yourself of course but you knew that anyway. Oh and all went well back in the UK, thanks. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I would consider Margaret River, Dwellingup, and possibly parts of mandurah. Some will depend on budget as what you want is also popular. Margaret River is as far as I would want to commut to the airport (I do the same roster as your husband). York is possible, but not for beach. Margaret River would probably tick a lot of your boxes but will be VERY expensive. Be aware that if your husband is claiming tax free status in the UK via the 90 day rule he will lose it here as there is no such rule and normal tax applies regardless of if working overseas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I have a friend who's a veterinary anaesthetist and her husband is a vet working livestock and they both say your average vet is beginning to struggle unless they have a specialty. I'm not trying to worry you, just give something of a heads up. There will be many areas that fit your criteria of being both rural and close to the coast. The hills are beautiful but do have some drawbacks but they're probably an hour or so from the coast so easily doable for a weekend dive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Probably being within a short commute of a Dome cafe would be sensible. Kalamunda has such a cafe and has a national park on its doorstep also. Or if you fancy something even more rural then there is one at Mundaring which is a fab place by all accounts and under an hour to the CBD. Lol Sorry for the highjack Kermit, Rob is something of a Dome fan and spends his days off touring around trying to visit every Dome cafe on the planet (or something). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutnudger Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I have a friend who's a veterinary anaesthetist and her husband is a vet working livestock and they both say your average vet is beginning to struggle unless they have a specialty. I'm not trying to worry you, just give something of a heads up.There will be many areas that fit your criteria of being both rural and close to the coast. The hills are beautiful but do have some drawbacks but they're probably an hour or so from the coast so easily doable for a weekend dive. Can I just ask what you see as the drawbacks of living in the hills? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 The Hills are great and sound perfect for what you're looking for, as long as you don't mind a bit of a drive to the beach. It's about 40 mins to an hour depending on where in the hills / which beach. Can't advise on diving beaches unfortunately. Personally I'm an advocate of the Northern Perth rural areas. People tend to think you need to pack a picnic to come to Bullsbrook and Chittering but in reality you are 30 mins from Midland and Joondalup and an hour or so into the city. It's amazing Horsey country with rolling pastures and you also get a taste of real bush where seeing Roo's in the back garden is a regular occurrence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Can I just ask what you see as the drawbacks of living in the hills? The proximity to the ocean would be an issue for us and may be for others. We love walking along the beach with the dog and watching the sunset at least a few times a week and I think I'd miss that. For us also, coming from London, the need to be somewhere that feels lively and vibrant with festivals, a good selection of restaurants and live music is important and whilst I love the area, the hills just felt too sleepy for us. We've acclimatised now but still love the Freo Doctor that blows in and cools us in summer and it can be noticeably warmer and more humid. I didn't mean to offend, sorry if I did, I was referring mainly to the OP's requirement of being walking distance to a beach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo and scott Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 The Hills are great and sound perfect for what you're looking for, as long as you don't mind a bit of a drive to the beach. It's about 40 mins to an hour depending on where in the hills / which beach. Can't advise on diving beaches unfortunately. Personally I'm an advocate of the Northern Perth rural areas. People tend to think you need to pack a picnic to come to Bullsbrook and Chittering but in reality you are 30 mins from Midland and Joondalup and an hour or so into the city. It's amazing Horsey country with rolling pastures and you also get a taste of real bush where seeing Roo's in the back garden is a regular occurrence! the hills sounds fab nikki, we are not worried about living right near the sea, but would prefer a pool instead, and kangaroos in your back garden ?? my girlies would love that :-)) xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arwen Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I'd love to live in the hills or out Chittering way but the bush fire risk would scare the living bejezuz out of me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 We were looking at a block at the weekend. It was in Lower Chittering rather than the hills which is a bit further South. We set off two Roos just minding their own. What you don't realise is just how well camouflaged they are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I'd love to live in the hills or out Chittering way but the bush fire risk would scare the living bejezuz out of me! It is a risk but if you take the right precautions you can minimise that risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted May 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Thanks for all the feedback guys, given me lots to think about. Appreciate the clarification of Robs message portlauny....had no idea what he was taking about but didn't want to ask...am now intrigued as to what a Dome Cafe actually is though! You mentioned about a friend who is in veterinary, I am a nurse rather than a vet and the visa is based on there being a shortage of Qualified nurses, I've signed up to a few agencies who constantly send me job vacancies.....can you clarify you meant vets rather than nurses? Inside info is always good xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laz Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I'd love to live in the hills or out Chittering way but the bush fire risk would scare the living bejezuz out of me! Likewise! Bushfires happen every summer....scary! And it must be so hot in the hills!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibbs Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 am now intrigued as to what a Dome Cafe actually is though! It's a chain of cafes that do average coffee, and generic (not so) fast food. Can be found all over and usually frequented when everywhere else that's nice is full. Popular, but then so it Chlamydia. All in my opinion though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 It's a chain of cafes that do average coffee, and generic (not so) fast food. Can be found all over and usually frequented when everywhere else that's nice is full. Popular, but then so it Chlamydia. All in my opinion though Ouch! That's fighting talk right there. I'll grab the popcorn and await Rob's arrival. (I can't disagree with what you've said though and I look forward to Rob demonstrating there is quality in Dome) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 For Rob T Sorry totally off thread but thought I would ask since Dome was mentioned Talking of Dome cafes are you going to let pps sit outside yours with their big dogs if they want a coffee ??? Just thought I would throw that one in the pot ps coffee pot perhaps (ouch feeble attempt at humour) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibbs Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Ouch! That's fighting talk right there. I'll grab the popcorn and await Rob's arrival.(I can't disagree with what you've said though and I look forward to Rob demonstrating there is quality in Dome) I'll admit, it might not be all Dome's, I can only speak for the ones I've been in. Which is :- Maylands, Applecross, Perth (Hay & Westralia), Northbridge, Margaret River, Freo, Rockingham, Mandurah, Vic Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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