Queensland

Queensland (QLD) is Australia’s second biggest state and covers an area of 1,727,200 km². If it were a country in its own right, it would be the 18th biggest in the world, just behind Libya. The UK could fit into it over 7 times and it is the same size as America’s biggest state, Alaska.

It has a population of around 4.66 million people. It is known as “The Sunshine State” and its residents are affectionately called “Banana Benders” or sometimes, less affectionately, “Cane Toads”.

Queensland Location MapIts most famous attraction has to be The Great Barrier Reef, arguably the best place on the planet to look at the pretty fish.

Famous Queenslanders include Geoffrey Rush, actor, Rod Laver, tennis star and Powderfinger, one of Australia’s most successful rock groups. But surely the states most famous resident was John McCallum. John who? McCallum! Creator of Skippy, Australia’s most famous resident of ALL time.

Places in Queensland

The capital city of Queensland is Brisbane, but there are plenty other major towns, cities and localities to choose from within the state.

Here’s a list of all of them with a population in excess of 10,000 people along with a guide to how many people live there. It’s probably worth mentioning here that the Greater Brisbane region is made up of five different urban centres, including Brisbane City, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, and Redland City. This explains why you’d won’t see any of these places in my list of Queensland towns below.

Populations of places change on a daily basis. When I compiled this list in 2011, I got my population figures from various sources and some of them are from the census of 2006. I have decided not to try to constantly update these population numbers, so if you are interested in a certain city or town, then you may want to search online for updated information about the population.

That way you can see if the population is growing, unchanged or shrinking.

  • Gold Coast – over 450,000
  • Sunshine Coast – over 180,000
  • Townsville – over 128,000
  • Cairns – over 98,000
  • Toowoomba – about 95,000
  • Mackay – about 66,000
  • Rockhampton – approximately 60,000
  • Bundaberg – approaching 50,000
  • Hervey Bay – over 40,000
  • Gladstone – about 28,000
  • Maryborough- over 20,000
  • Mount Isa – about 19,000
  • Cairns Northern Beaches – over 15,000
  • Bongaree – around 14,000
  • Nambour – about 13,000
  • Yeppoon – about 13,000
  • Warwick – over 12,000
  • Emerald – about 11,000
  • Gympie – about 11,000

And then there are all the towns with less than 10,000 population, we’ll be adding those as we go. If you live in one any of these towns, or the smaller ones not yet listed, why not tell us about it in the comments below.

Fancy going on a virtual road trip along the Queensland coast?

In 2016 I hit the road for 19 days, driving from Brisbane all the way to Port Douglas, with plenty of stops along the way. I wrote over 30 posts about it so that you could take the same journey, virtually, at any time to suit you.

To start at the beginning, go to Another Australian Road Trip: Brisbane to Port Douglas.

Join me as I set off, then follow the journey by clicking the links at the foot of each article to get to the next stop. All the way to Port Douglas.

 

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{ 256 comments… add one }
  • Helen September 25, 2021, 2:23 pm |

    Hi all, looking to move from nz to aus. Currently live in a city that is in a basin so muggy in summer (no higher than 30 degrees) and damp and foggy in winter. Want to move to somewhere temperate / warm mostly all year round with reasonable employment opportunities. Have been researching Australian states but can’t work out which one would fit the bill. Would love to hear about the different states climates and what people think.

    • Chris September 26, 2021, 10:50 pm |

      Hi Helen- I escaped from the UK 21 years ago and ended up in Queensland. I’ve moved around a bit – Townsville, Bundaberg, Mackay, and have settled inTownsville , but my work dictated this would be my best choice. I’m an anaesthetist, and the Townsville University hospital has given me a quality of professional life that would not have been possible in Bundaberg or Mackay. However the wet season (summer) is brutal for two months of the year with temps in the mid 30’s and 98% humidity so not for the faint hearted. The upside is that most of the year is climatically delightful and I have forgotten all those dreary grey drizzly months that makes the UK so miserable.
      The climate in the Bundaberg/Hervey Bay Area is outstanding. The summer is less humid and slightly cooler than the far north, and you are only a four hour drive from Brisbane should you need a big city fix. The area is also more affordable- so worth looking at. If I could have got the same job satisfaction in Bundaberg as I get in Townsville I would have stayed- so I suppose it depends what you need in terms of employment opportunities.
      Best of luck- I’ve never looked back and regretted moves I have made- only those opportunities that I didn’t follow up on.
      Cheers
      Chris

      • BobinOz September 27, 2021, 8:53 pm |

        Like Chris, who has given you a lot of good advice, I can also recommend Queensland as the best state in Australia. I moved here 14 years ago from the UK, I live in Brisbane, and I love it.

        Being Queensland’s biggest city and capital, there are a lot of job opportunities and being in the south-east of the state, the climate is great all year round. It’s nowhere near as humid here as it is in far North Queensland, and personally speaking, I only find it slightly uncomfortable with humidity about four or five weeks in each year. Mostly though it’s brilliant sunshine and warm weather in winter (22° to 25° mostly) and then our usual temperature for most of summer is about 32°.

        I’ve pretty much travelled all around Australia since been here, nothing would tempt me to move away from Brisbane and I do highly recommend it.

  • Neil May 31, 2021, 9:37 am |

    I love this website Bob, such a good site for people to gather useful info before or during a move around Australia.
    We love Queensland, we moved to Australia back in 2004 and moved to Mornington, Victoria. When we first moved there I thought we had found paradise. A beautiful seaside town with great vineyards just a short drive inland. However, like everywhere else Melbourne has grown and spread outwards. Mornington to me it now feels like a suburb of Melbourne. Its got really busy and we started struggling to get a parking spot in Mornington town.
    Recent global events have made us re-evaluate our life and priorities. We got married in North Queensland before we moved to Australia and its always been a special place for us. We settled on relocating to Hervey Bay, Queensland. As a window cleaner I’m only getting a fraction of the work I used to on the wealthy Mornington Peninsula but on the flip side we have bought a stunning display home with no mortgage and plan to retrain and set up an online business here. Ive learn’t from life here, that sometimes you have to just reinvent yourself. Loving winter in Hervey Bay!

    • BobinOz May 31, 2021, 7:59 pm |

      Thanks Neil, glad to hear you like my website.

      Interesting story, quite similar to that of me and my wife in a way. When we moved to Brisbane from the UK neither of us had jobs to go to and we had both given up decent jobs to come here. When we arrived, we each started an internet business that we ran separately, and we also started a local pet care business that we ran together.

      So like yourself, we reinvented ourselves. Had a lot of fun doing it as well and of course we are living exactly where we want to live.

  • Evan May 11, 2021, 6:23 pm |

    Thanks. You helped me with my homework. The facts are interesting. I live in the Gold Coast.

    • BobinOz May 12, 2021, 5:45 pm |

      Thank you, but I do hope you are aware that some of these statistics are from 2011, which is stated above. Hope you get a good mark though and good luck 🙂 Bob

  • Rex November 7, 2020, 9:47 pm |

    Where is the huge city of Ipswich bigger than Toowoomba

    • BobinOz November 9, 2020, 8:54 pm |

      I’m not sure if you are asking me where Ipswich is, geographically I mean, or where Ipswich is on my list, as in why isn’t it on my list. So I’ll answer both.

      Geographically Ipswich is about 40 km south-west of Brisbane CBD. The reason it doesn’t appear on my list of towns in Queensland is because it’s actually part of the greater Brisbane region, so it’s included within Brisbane itself.

      The greater Brisbane region is made up of five different urban centres, including Brisbane City, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, and Redland City.

      It’s not something that 100% make sense to me, but it is how it is.

      PS. I have now added a slight amendment to the above page just above the list of towns to help clear this up further for other readers.

  • Liam September 1, 2019, 8:37 pm |

    Hi Bob thank you for a very helpful site. We are looking to move to Brisbane next Jan. We would like to initially rent in a safe, quiet suburb with close access to a train station (around 30 min ride to the city). However we are on a limited rental budget for a 3×2 or 4×2 of $400-500 a week.

    • Cathy Browning September 1, 2019, 11:14 pm |

      Hi Liam,
      I suggest you check out:
      http://www.realestate.com.au which is the prominent estate agent site in Oz. Should provide you with lots of information. Most rentals are for a minimum of 6 months. Also check out Google maps so you get an idea of locations and train stations which may influence where you decide to rent.
      Hope this helps.

      Cathy

      • Liam September 2, 2019, 5:29 pm |

        Thanks Cathy. Any thoughts on Enoggera?

        • BobinOz September 2, 2019, 7:46 pm |

          I don’t know the area that well, but I’ve driven through it a few times, it looks alright to me. I think you’re on the right train line, I’d be looking at anywhere from Enoggera through to Ferny Grove at the end of the line. I drove through Mitchelton just the other day as well, it looked quite pleasant.

        • Cathy September 2, 2019, 8:05 pm |

          Hi Liam,
          Well when I’ve been through (many years ago as currently in the UK) it was a place I would consider. That suburb is also home to an army base.

          I live on the Sunshine Coast but would recommend you stay on the north side of Brisbane which overall has a better reputation than the south side and nicer places to boot.

          Really, I would narrow it down to a couple of suburbs and settle on that. Remember this is only a temporary stop before you settle and once there, you will get a better feel of the place, and the suburbs. I would also advise checking out the bus services in the suburb of your choice allowing you flexibility to travel into the city.

          Guess it also depends on where you end up working. Naturally if you are in the city it won’t make a huge difference but if you work on the south side and live on the north side, well……
          Also, are you going to be doing an normal 9-5 (8-4) or shift work. Some train routes and bus lines are more frequent than others.
          Happy to answer any questions you have. I’m hoping to return next year.

          • Liam September 6, 2019, 7:40 pm |

            Thank you Cathy; great advice

    • Simon Elvins September 2, 2019, 7:42 am |

      Hey Liam
      We moved to Brighton, about 30 mins north from Brisbane by train. Its very nice and a ten min drive from the sea, However, Sandgate which is a 5 min drive from us and right on the beach has a main line station into Brisbane. I believe the rents are reasonable -ours is $495 a week for a 4 bed with garden front/back. Its very safe here and extremely quiet. Best of luck! Simon

  • Cathy Browning January 29, 2019, 12:09 am |

    Hi Simon,
    I believe you can drive on your UK licence for 6 months but check out at:
    https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Licensing and more here: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing/overseas/driving

    I can’t tell you about the place you mention as not familiar with it. Trying to rent from here will be a nightmare. Wait till you are there. You will need references and id (up to 100 points -common thing in Qld, driviing licence, passport, bills etc) but as a new resident, I would enquire what you need. Take any rental references from the UK with you. I think airbnb would be a good way to go and would be happy to host you but am still in the UK myself yet hope to return to the Sunshine Coast later this year. That way, you can get a feel for the place before renting. Rental are for 6 or 12 montths at a time.
    I don’t know what type of work you do so cannot advise you further.
    Any other questions, ask away.

    Cathy

    • BobinOz January 29, 2019, 4:06 pm |

      I’m pretty sure the driving license thing has changed since you got a license Cathy, I certainly didn’t have to take any kind of written or practical test when I got my license in 2008.

      I assume you got yours before then?

      I just googled it for more information, it appears the UK is still one of the recognised countries for having acceptable driving standards and I think all that needs to be done to convert a UK license to an Australian one is to go to the nearest state (which ever state or territory you have chosen to live in) transport office to go through the process.

      A basic application form, a photograph, maybe an eye test and then pay the money. The following website has a list of recognised countries…

      https://austroads.com.au/drivers-and-vehicles/overseas-drivers/applying-for-a-license

      Good news for you Simon I think?

      • simon January 29, 2019, 5:33 pm |

        Yes i think thats pretty much it although i did see something about being a resident and then needing to swap it over after 3 months. I never understand these things but my wife used to work in the RTA in Sydney so perhaps i’ll let her handle it all once we arrive! 🙂

    • simon January 29, 2019, 5:23 pm |

      Hey Cathy, so much useful info, wow, thank you so much! Not sure what the ref to 100 pts means, is that a qualifying standard of some sort? Sounds like it will be Air B’n’B then and see how we go from there. I was thinking of looking for a job before i go but opinions on whether its possible before landing are mixed, with some people on various forums mentioning employers prefer you to be IN Oz rather than abroad when applying. I’m guessing i can still apply just before moving over? I am an ITIL Problem Manager here, i haven’t actually started looking yet but will be posting the resume (not CV as per UK) up on seek and other places soon enough. I’d like to do contracting as i do here but not sure yet on whether there is much of that about. We are looking to buy later so i will have to see whether that is suitable to obtain a mortgage etc. Any opinions are of course, welcome 🙂

  • Cathy Browning January 25, 2019, 8:47 pm |

    Hi Simon,

    No worries. Flooding does occur but as Australia is a land of extremes it is only to be expected. When you get to Brisbane, visit the Botanical Gardens by QUT (Queensland University of Technology) in the city and you will come across a flood marker showing just how high the floods water have been IN THE PAST. However, don’t be alarmed. Check out the flood maps and don’t live at the bottom of a hill. Some surburbs do get flooded from time to time but a bit of common sense and research should see you right.

    There is a suburb called The Gap, not that I know it but from the news I know it used to get lots of wind/rain related damage in storms. Other than that, I personally would live north of the CBD. Brisbane is surprisingly hilly in places. Apart from living in one of the very prone flood areas shown on the maps, you are no more likely to get flooded there than back in the UK. Common sense and research.

    Brisbane has good train and bus services taking you right into the city. One great thing about them is that you are not allowed to eat or drink on them so the cleanliness is far superior to the trains and buses in the UK. Driving is easy, but slightly different. You are only allowed to park in the direction of travel (unlike the UK) and many places have angle parking. Traffic light sequence is slightly different, red to green, no amber on going but amber on stopping. Other than that, it’s all pretty easy compared with the M25 M1 et al!
    Some signs are different too. I mean, where else do you see warning signs for kangaroos! Just avoid driving at dawn and dusk in country areas. You will soon get used to things. You will have to sit a written driving test – multiple option to get your Australian licence – unless things have changed since I got mine, and you are meant to carry your licence with you whenever you drive. There are very hot on drink driving with random roadside tests often blocking the entire lane off. Again, it’s just one of those things you get used to – being pulled over and having a random breath test. I used to take my teenage son to work at night and was often subjected to the test.

    I would choose to live near a bus/train station if you are working in the cbd. Spring Hill is a suburb right in the heart of the city and you can walk to many offices from there.

    Rentals are through agents – check out Realestate.com.au for example. All real estate (estate agents) offer rentals but you need to commit to a six month lease. Your bond is usually about a month in advance (held in trust by goverement agency) and rent of two weeks in advance, so you need 6 weeks rent in advance just to step into the place. I would rent fairly centrally for 6 months till you get the feel of the place, then maybe move.

    • Simon January 28, 2019, 3:59 am |

      Hey Cathy, thanks so much again for taking the time to write – lots of info for me to read up on – wasn’t aware of the driving test requirements, painful 🙁 – We are thinking of Sandgate and around that area – right by the sea and laid back/friendly vibe. London is a tough place to live and this sounds like the perfect remedy – I have seen that Bob has mentioned it also with a good opinion. I have no idea about where work will be within Queensland but assume it will be in or around Brisbane fingers crossed. The ONE thing i would ask is whether it is easy to set up a rental for 6 months before we arrive, or try stay somewhere like an air B’n’b before hand and have a look around. Also i hear water side of Brighton Rd is best for avoiding potential floods. So grateful for your comments 🙂

  • Cathy Browning January 25, 2019, 8:03 am |

    Hi Simon,

    Congratulations on getting your visa!

    Have a good look at Brisbane City Council’s website and somewhere there should be a planning section where you should be able to see the flood areas. There is lots of useful information on there. Also check out RealEstate.com.au for house prices and demographics.
    Do your research. If working in Brisbane, I suggest you live in Brisbane rather than on the Sunshine Coast because it’s an hour and a half commute by car minimum. The train is slow and you have to travel some way to get to the train. station wherever you live on the coast except Nambour where the train passes through. You can always go there for a weekend. Actually I’m intending to return to the coast l later in the year having been in the UK for family reasons.

    Many things to consider. Also if you have read Bob’s previous posts you may consider taking most of your stuff with you – furniture and the like. If you want any information just ask, happy to help

    Cathy

    • Simon January 25, 2019, 6:03 pm |

      Hey Cathy
      Massive thanks for the tips re travel time. ill follow your advice re areas, its all a bit overwhelming atm, not sure im worrying too much re floods etc? Apart from the big flood issues, are there regular small floods every year?

      • BobinOz January 25, 2019, 6:28 pm |

        Hi Simon and again, congratulations on the visa. Some good advice from Cathy, thanks Cathy, here is, hopefully, some additional help.

        If you go to my main page about Brisbane there are three links embedded in the written text, the first will take you on a tour of the beaches of Brisbane, the second to the councils interactive flooding map, and then the 3rd to an article I wrote about Brisbane flooding and should people be worried.

        I think they are all likely to be interesting articles to you, given your questions. Also on that same main page about Brisbane, check out the comments, lots of talk about where to live. Cleveland is really nice, I know someone from the UK who move there recently and loves it. Not sure it would be a good commute though, it’s only 30 km, but I can’t imagine you doing that in under 45 minutes in rush hour. I think it would take at least an hour, maybe more.

        Sandgate and the surrounding suburbs a bit to the north of the city by the coast could well be worth a look and would be a much easier commute. Worth googling the cycle path maps of Brisbane as well, we have quite a network, including a couple of great cycle paths that go alongside of the Brisbane River. As I say though, you will get more help and ideas by skimming through the comments on the Brisbane page.

        Good luck, Bob

        • Simon January 25, 2019, 11:51 pm |

          Hey Bob, much thanks for taking the time to reply, very much appreciated. ill follow your advice over the weekend and perhaps come back with a question or two 🙂

  • Simon January 25, 2019, 6:31 am |

    Just got my visa to live in OZ – YAY! we want to live near Brisbane. I’m hoping to get work in the city so looking for: Somewhere unlikely to flood – commutable into Brisbane, train/car, no more than 45 mins maybe: Access to the coast. Property rent is middle of the range, i pay £1100 pcm now in London. Looking for something fairly quite/leafy/not ton of kids/, cycle paths, some nature/parks.
    Ideas so far:  Redhill, Enoggera and maybe Cleveland. There are others such as Hendra and surrounds but the potential flooding concerns me – Also, i hear driving into the city from the north is easier than the south as there’s probably less likeliness of needing to cross the river, which can be congested. Any ideas would be very much appreciated as this is hurting my brain.

  • Nat September 13, 2018, 12:34 pm |

    Hey Bob,

    Me and my partner made the big move out to oz and have been based in Perth for the past 3+ years. We have PR and love it here however now we are looking at buying a property we feel like the areas we would like to live are out of our price range.

    We moved out to oz for the outdoor lifestyle however feel with both working full time we have slipped back into old ways of not really doing much during the week other than working and only going out and about on weekends.

    The winters here in Perth suck (still nowhere as bad as England I know) so during winter everyone kind of hibernates.

    We are 29 years old now so are obviously thinking about buying our own place and starting a family in the near future. My partner is a carpenter by trade and would love to start his own business doing oak framed buildings etc however in Perth there just isn’t the market for this.

    We have been researching at it seems like there is more of a market for this type of work over the east coast. We particularly like the Sunshine Coast when we travelled here and are wondering if we may be able to get that better work life balance there. We love spending a lot of time at the beach especially now we have a puppy.

    Do you think we would get this there and what are the average house prices for a place walking distance to the beach.

    We loved Brissi but we were thinking of Noosa Heads or Mooloolaba area?

    Looking forward to hearing from you 🙂

    P.S great site!

    • BobinOz September 13, 2018, 8:35 pm |

      Whilst I can’t tell you whether or not Sunshine Coast would offer better opportunities for your husband as a carpenter, I do think it would be a good move for you.

      I love the Sunshine Coast, and Mooloolaba is one of my favourite towns. I would put it ahead of Noosa if I were you, because Mooloolaba property is not as expensive. Noosa is also more touristy and can get very busy during holidays.

      You can still, just about, buy a house within 20 minutes or so walking distance of the beach in Mooloolaba and surrounding suburbs for around $700,000ish, but I think you will need to be quick. A website called Hotspotting recently named Sunshine Coast as the nation’s top location for potential property price increases.

      And you will just love the winters, they are mostly like a good summer day in the UK. See…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/1986/pictures-of-an-australian-winter/

      Hope that helps, Bob

  • Sanel May 14, 2018, 12:47 am |

    Is Toowoomba a good choice?
    And why?

    • BobinOz May 14, 2018, 6:55 pm |

      Good choice for what? For example, it’s not a good choice if you like going to the beach. What do you want most out of wherever you end up living?

  • utchey April 25, 2018, 10:33 pm |

    Hi guys,
    Am back again with question about Queensland regional area. been looking out for jobs in Toowoomba t lately still not finding anything even some locals are complaining about high unemployment .
    A friend referred us to Mackay due to jobs in minning over there, can someone living in that area hints me on job hunts and life in Mackay.
    We are coming in July with 3 kids my background is insurance and Hubby is business dev/sales but we are actually looking for any type of job to start up first.
    PS.I heard mackay is prone to cyclone
    Thank you.

    • BobinOz April 26, 2018, 9:45 pm |

      I wouldn’t have said Mackay was prone to cyclones, they can get them, but they don’t get them often. Most serious cyclones occur further north, although if you Google it, you’ll see that Mackay got hit with a bad one about 100 years.

      As for jobs, I’d have to leave that to the locals. Anyone who knows Mackay well got any advice?

  • Lucy Kemp April 18, 2018, 7:35 pm |

    Hi Bob, thanks for this website, it’s fantastically informative!

    My Husband, 3 children and myself are seriously considering emigrating to Australia. I’m so confused on where to live.. have you been to Cairns? Are there crocs etc there? I know you’re in Brisbane but if you didn’t live there then where would you go?

    • BobinOz April 20, 2018, 6:09 pm |

      Thanks Lucy, glad you like.

      Yes I’ve been to Cairns, see…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/21139/a-thorough-look-around-cairns-far-north-queensland/

      And yes, they do have crocodiles up there. I really like Brisbane, so I’ve never thought too hard about where I would go if I didn’t live here, but when I have, the answer isn’t another major city.

      I’d probably go to either somewhere along the Tweed Coast, or somewhere on the Sunshine Coast, probably Mooloolaba.

      If you check the comments below here, you will see some people talking about Cairns and what it’s like.

      • Lucy Kemp April 20, 2018, 7:56 pm |

        Thanks so much !

    • Cathy May 14, 2018, 3:42 am |

      Hi Lucy,

      I lived in Cairns for three years a while back. Yes, Cairns has crocs so no going into the rivers and creeks. However, there is a free public lagoon on The Esplanade for all to use and every other house has a pool. The weather is hot and during the wet season, the humidity is very high. Prone to the odd cyclone, usually in February, most don’t hit land but move out to sea but you need to be aware.

      Cairns is a laid back small town, with a young workforce. Lots of shopping centres, restaurants, schools etc. The have a casino and a convention centre which is hosting more and more functions. The Tanks Arts Centre is also a hub of activity. The Airport is about 2 km from the main centre.
      Being a port city, there is no beach but mud flats with a lovely long walk on the Esplanade. But there are beaches in the northern suburbs. Easy to get around, but a car is a definite.

      The Atherton Tableland is a lovely area, up behind Cairns. I used to drive there alot for work and loved it. Again, Port Douglas to the north is a lovely place to visit and a great coastal very windy drive.
      Check out the following website and also use google for research.
      http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/region

      https://www.australia.com/en-gb/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-cairns.html

      I’ve also lived on the Sunshine Coast – a great place to bring up kids. If you want easier access to city living, then one of the Brisbane suburbs would suit.

      Hope this helps.

      • Lucy May 14, 2018, 4:20 am |

        Thanks so much!! X

  • Brooke January 3, 2018, 6:37 pm |

    Hello Bob, I’m hoping you’ll be able to answer a few questions I have about a few areas in Queensland. My partner and I are looking to move from Sydney, we’re both quite young so we’ve looked at areas that are cheap to rent. All of which are in the top end, near and in Gladstone. I wanted to know where the major cities were and what the job opportunities are like in each area as the both of us would need a job whether that’d be in a shopping centre or somewhere else a short distance from each of them. Neither of us want to travel anymore than 45 minutes to or from work each day. The cities I’m hoping you’ll be able to answer these questions about are Tannum Sands, Kirkwood, Telina, Kin Kora, and Gladstone central. I’m also unsure of where major shopping centres / malls are from each area. Sorry for the amount of questions, thank you!

    • BobinOz January 3, 2018, 7:26 pm |

      Hi Brooke, I’m afraid this is one I will have to leave to somebody who knows these areas well, I just don’t know enough about them. Everything I know about Gladstone is on this page…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/19927/gladstone-second-stop-on-my-queensland-coast-road-trip/

      And the pages that link from it. From what I’ve heard, unemployment is quite a problem the further north you go in Queensland, so I suspect jobs won’t be easy to find. As I say though, hopefully someone else will see your question and be able to help you more than I can.

      Good luck though, Bob

  • Romina December 22, 2017, 5:38 am |

    Hello Bob, thank you so much for such a great website 🙂
    My partner and myself are planning to move back to Australia for early 2018. We used to live in Sydney and now we’d like to try something different and cheaper. Queensland has been in our minds.
    Im a graphic designer and he is a registered nurse. We would love to live by the beach and if there’s surf that would be definitly a plus. We are on a tight budget so we are looking for a cheap place that also has job opportunities for both of us, maybe somewhere close to a city so that we don’t have to drive for more than an hour.
    Is there any place that you could recommend for us. It would be very appreciated.
    Thank you so much again and happy holidays 😀

    • BobinOz December 24, 2017, 4:19 pm |

      These days I think it is usually best to try and secure jobs first and then live close to where you are going to be working. The further north you go in Queensland, the higher the unemployment rate becomes so is worth bearing that in mind as well.

      Have a look on my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship and use the links to search for jobs to see whereabouts in Queensland you and your partner would find the most opportunities.

      Given what you have said though, if you can find work in the Sunshine Coast, maybe Caloundra or Mooloolaba, then you’ll certainly be close to some beaches with good surf.

      Hope that helps, Bob

  • Robert Mcg December 4, 2017, 9:34 am |

    Hi, my family and I are planning to move to Australia (wife and 5 children) we will be moving from Belfast, Northern Ireland. At this stage it will be 2/3 years to get everything in order and plan. I have not got a clue where in Aus would suit our family. I will be 30-32 When we make the move and my youngest child would be 5 – 7.

    I am a plumber/gas engineer fully qualified (but I’m not sure if my qualifications will carry over?) I’m guessing I will need to be close to a big city or a place where they are in need of my trade and where I could earn good money as I would be providing for the whole family since my children are young and my wife will be looking after them full time.

    We want our children to have a good education so a place with good schools would be a priority for us.

    I’m in a good position with money I will be bringing around £300,000 I think that’s roughly $500k so I could buy a house outright if that would be the right thing to do or should I rent and keep my options open. But then with the family the move is big enough without renting and having to move all over again I would prefer to get settled.

    I hope the area I would end up would be a large plot of land with as many bedrooms as I could get (min 5 bed) a swimming pool and maybe not too far from a beach. I don’t ask for much do i lol I’m not sure if all these things are possible in one location and was wondering if anyone had any information or could give me any tips that could help us out? Thanks in advance

    • BobinOz December 4, 2017, 6:01 pm |

      Gosh, it sounds like you have a lot of research to do.

      You will find lots of answers here on this website, concentrate on the main pages that you can access from the navigation menu across the top. Have a good read of the pages covering where to live in Australia, especially the comments, you will learn a lot.

      Australia’s major cities are all very different from each other and house prices vary massively across the country. One thing I can tell you for sure though, you will not buy a house for $500,000 that has lots of bedrooms, a large plot, a swimming pool, close to a major city and not too far from the beach. Such a house would cost much more than that.

      If you remove the requirement to be close to a big city, then yes, maybe you could get all the other things, but I suspect it would then be very difficult for you to find regular work.

      So, as I say, you have a lot to work out, as there are no simple and straight forward answers to your questions. Sounds like you have plenty of time before you make the move though and hopefully my website will help you with that research.

      Good luck, Bob

      • Scott Blanch December 4, 2017, 10:03 pm |

        You can still buy a house in Townsville with a pool for not much more than $5K Granted Its not a major city as in a capitol but its big enough to have everything you are looking for with a high employment rate for tradespeople and only takes about 20 -25mins to travel by car from one side of the city to the other.
        https://www.townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au/

        • Robert Mcglone December 6, 2017, 3:31 am |

          Hi Scott thanks for the reply, 25 mins from each side sounds nice, I would even live a 30min to 45 min max drive from where I could work to get a better home. I’m going to research Townsville tonight and I’m looking forward to it

          Thanks

      • Robert Mcglone December 6, 2017, 3:06 am |

        Thanks for the reply, I will start my research on cities first. Would you know what type of wage a fully qualified plumber could earn either in Brisbane or Melbourne?

    • Chris Jelliffe December 5, 2017, 11:01 am |

      Hi Rob- I came out to Townsville in 1999 from the UK for a 1 year working holiday and 18 years later am still here and love it. I could not stand to return to the UK and Townsville has many of the advantages of a big city without the big city prices. The current population is 280,000, with a large Defence force presence. Housing is affordable and the $500k you mention will certainly get you a house with a pool. There are beaches, and Brisbane is 1hr 40m by air away if you really feel the need to enjoy traffic jams and crowds.There are some very good schools in the city, a booming food culture with a wide variety of different restaurants, a civic theatre, two museums- but you can get all this sort of stuff on the internet.

      I have no idea what transitioning your qualifications would involve- I’m an Anaesthetist and my qualifications from the UK are now accepted here (they weren’t but that’s another story!). There is certainly plenty of work in the building industry here, but no need for heating! Air conditioning is the requirement, and a specific trade ticket is required (worth obtaining- air conditioning fitters earn a lot!)

      The downside to living in Townsville is (consult map) we are a long way up the coast in the dry tropics so two seasons- wet (summer) and dry(winter). The “winter” is glorious – 6 months of dry,temperate weather, blue skies, temperatures around the low 20’s. The wet season can be challenging initially with very hot humid days and some interesting weather including tropical storms and the odd cyclone. I’ve never got used to having a hot Christmas but apart from that find the hot humid days far less depressing than the relentless November to March gray skies and cold drizzle that the UK dishes out. The other big ‘downer’ is that for half the year beach swimming is limited to within ‘stinger nets’- due to the presence of the box jellyfish. However I think it’s too hot to frequent beaches during stinger season (wet season aka summer) so not an issue for me.
      I think renting first is a great idea- it’s very much a buyers/renters market at the moment, so you’ll get good value for your rent. It’s far easier to move if you are renting and it would make sense to rent for a while until you find your feet and keep all your options open. I know moving is a pain – our last move in 2007 was our sixth but we are settled here for the foreseeable future and very happy with that.
      Hope all goes well- good luck!
      Cheers
      Chris Jelliffe

      • BobinOz December 6, 2017, 12:23 am |

        Some good info on Townsville, thanks Chris and Scott, and as you both say, Rob could get the sort of property he is looking for for 500k. My bad was probably using the term major city when I should have said capital city, and we all know Rob won’t buy the sort of house he wants on that budget in one of those.

        I suspect the best description of Townsville would be a big town, rather than a major or big city, and I think the worry might be getting work, as you’ve pointed out. I actually did a post a while back where I found a property with sea views for 500k just outside of Mackay, here’s the link…

        https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/20433/the-beaches-and-the-country-roads-around-mackay-queensland/

        If you scroll down towards the end of the article, your see a picture of the Veranda overlooking the sea. Only 3 bedroom though.

        I reckon you could buy a property overlooking the sea in Hideaway Bay for similar money or less, and that looked like paradise…

        https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/19791/hideaway-bay-queensland-a-small-slice-of-paradise/

        But it’s very remote. Three hours from Townsville.

        Townsville is an option, as you both say, but I worry about the work. Rob, take a stroll around Townsville with me if you want…

        https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/20887/a-stroll-around-townsville-north-queensland/

        • Robert Mcglone December 6, 2017, 3:29 am |

          Sorry I just saw the first reply when I wrote my first one didn’t realise others had replied to me 🙂 Townsville does sound like an option I just need to make sure i can make good money so we can have a good life out there. Once the kids are all up and at school my wife would be back at work. She worked as a dental nurse here until she had to leave for the kids so that could be an option for her in the future. I’ll do alot of research through your website tonight (I won’t be able to sleep after my head will be buzzing lol

      • Robert Mcglone December 6, 2017, 3:21 am |

        Hi chris, thanks for the information I will certinally look at Townsville. That’s good news that I could get a house with a pool for that amount I live in a 6 bed house at the moment and it’s perfect for the family but I suppose I could go smaller just until I get myself settled.

        I spoke to a friend who told me I could earn up to $2,500 a week if I done weekends as there is pelenties? I’m assuming that’s not a fine find of some sort lol

        I’m not sure I could get use to a warm Christmas it wouldn’t feel the same!

        Thanks for the reply
        Robert

        • BobinOz December 6, 2017, 8:49 pm |

          A couple of things to add Rob, I meant to mention this before. I’m pretty sure you will need to do some sort of additional qualification in order to ply your trade as a plumber here, most of the tradies do. You might be able to get an insight on how much you could earn from one of the links on my page Getting a Job or a Sponsorship, it’s under the title of how much can you earn, or something like that.

          One of my readers did post a very long comment with some great information about how to get qualified as a plumber here, you might like to read it. This link should work, it’s on my page about Melbourne and this should take you to it Nick May 5, 2013, 7:13 pm, or you can just scroll through the comments until you get to that date. My answer to that comment also includes a link to Nick’s original comment about plumbing in Australia which I think you should read as well.

          Hope that helps, Bob

  • Rohan August 22, 2017, 2:02 am |

    Hi Bob,

    I will be migrating to Queensland with my family (wife and 7 year old kid) soon on 489 visa and my visa condition is to stay in regional area for 2 years and work for 1 year full time. I am into insurance sector and my wife has vast experience in student placement in universities and colleges.

    Can you please guide me which regional area of Queensland will be better for job opportunities in our area of expertise and also which provides better quality of life along with low cost and safety & security.

    • BobinOz August 22, 2017, 9:25 pm |

      Somebody mentioned in a comment somewhere here on this website that a major insurance company, I think it might have been Youi, have relocated to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. That area is still, I think, classed as regional.

      That’s what I would look into first, because it is actually a very nice area to live and only an hour and a half from Brisbane.

  • Utchey July 18, 2017, 7:17 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    We just applied for provisional visa 489 and we should be moving to Queensland early next year.
    part of the visa requirement is to live in a regional area and we are a bit confused to where to live.
    can you or anyone help us with a good location to get job faster? we are not so keen on white collar jobs something that will foot the bill and all till we are settled .
    We are family of 5 three children 8,6,2 hubby is into sales and i am an insurance person/customer service but like i said i can do any other job. we are from Africa no preference just low housing but good one, cheaper cost of living, good school for children easy to get any small job to foot the bill low crime rate, not too far from everything and quite know your neighbor kind of place.

    Someone one told us about Toowoomba,Cairns and Rockhampton but all i have seen on the internet is peoples mixed feelings.

    Hoping to hear from you soon.

    • BobinOz July 18, 2017, 11:27 pm |

      I’m pretty sure that Sunshine Coast, at the moment, is still classed as regional and if it is, that’s where I would be heading. It’s just an hour and a half drive from Brisbane, great beaches, and I’m told the chances of finding work there are improving lately.

      Maroochydore is probably the centre of it, so anywhere close to that would be good.

      I wouldn’t mind living there myself 🙂

    • Chris Jelliffe August 22, 2017, 9:38 am |

      Hi Utchey
      Only just seen your post, so late reply.
      I cannot think of three more totally different regional cities in Queenland!
      Rockhampton is 30 klms inland, and is brutally hot during the summer months with no sea breezes to mitigate the relentless oven-like experience. It is the “beef capital of Australia”, and is I have known several colleagues who have worked there and couldn’t wait to leave. It is not an attractive city, and is strictly a working metropolis. It does boast a university and a Cathedral however! Population 80,665.

      Cairns, in complete contrast, is a significant hub with an international airport in the far tropical North of the state, situated right on the coast in the heart of the Wet Tropics. As such it experiences two seasons, wet and dry, with the wet season bringing very hot humid conditions, the odd cyclone or two, and roads regularly cut by floodwater.The dry season (‘winter’) is months of clear skies, warm weather, with night temperatures rarely falling below 12 deg C.Population 160,000.

      Toowoomba is totally different again. It sits 125klm west of Brisbane in the Darling downs, a temperate area of rich farming and grazing country. Temperatures are much less extreme, and the City is nicknamed the “Garden City”. It is undoubtedly the most attractive of your three, and boasts Queenslands annual ‘Carnival of Flowers’ in September each year.

      So – three incomparible choices really! You will be able to research median house prices, education opportunities etc on the internet easily. I don’t have a clue about job opportunities – not my field at all! The only view I like of Rockhampton is seeing it receding in my rear view mirror as I leave it.

      Most Australians seem obsessed with ‘ocean views’ for some reason. If you are not so concerned about living on the coast I suspect your choices will be much broader.
      Good luck
      Cheers
      Chris

      • utchey December 8, 2017, 8:43 pm |

        Thank you so much for this.
        I think i will be heading to Toowoomba although they don’t have much Insurance stuff going on but i can always find alternative from other sector.

        The weather is also what attracted me to Tbay.

  • malaika July 11, 2017, 10:30 pm |

    Hie everyone,
    i am currently in africa and we are planning on moving to Australia we have been thinking of Queensland..i would like to find out where would be the best place to move to as my husband is a refrigeration and air conditioning Technician,we are a young couple and we have two children (young parents)
    Abit of advice would be much appreciated

    Thank you Malaika

    • BobinOz July 12, 2017, 6:35 pm |

      Queensland is a massive place, I think you will need to be more descriptive about what you want from where you are going to live other than a job for husband.

      Big city? Small town? By the sea? Inland? Busy? Quiet? With more information, maybe somebody will be able to help you.

  • Mark Mcpherson June 25, 2017, 9:39 pm |

    Hi does anybody have some information on living in naranba valley. pros cons.
    I’m thinking of moving there with a young family next year. schools?
    Id be trying to find work in warehousing etc. Industrial areas?
    Any info would be great please.
    Regards mark

    • BobinOz June 26, 2017, 8:45 pm |

      I don’t know the area at all well, but hopefully a local will see this and let you know what they think. I have found an old comment on my page about Sunshine Coast though, you will need to click through to find that comment made by CC on October 19, 2015, 2:03 am in reply to a comment made by Robyn Neil August 12, 2015 about the area. It doesn’t sound encouraging, so it would be interesting to hear if someone else has anything to say about the Nerangba Valley.

  • Lakshika Bhanushali June 16, 2017, 2:06 am |

    Hello, I’m Lakshika (Female) from Mumbai / india, I’ve scored 81% in SSC state board 10th examination 2017.

    I would like to seek your university assistance for further studies of underage i.e. below 18 years.

    I’m keen to pursue psychiatry in medicine as a major subject post foundation course which you may have.

    Best Regards,

    Lakshika Kumar Bhanushali
    Skype:kumar_bhan

    • BobinOz June 19, 2017, 7:58 pm |

      May I suggest you speak directly to the university about this? Good luck, Bob

  • Bings May 15, 2017, 6:49 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    Am eager to relocate to Goldcoast as I have seen new developments in terms of good residential houses available in a gated community at Gainsborough Greens but was partly off by the latest news on typhoon Debbie’s devastation at GC. I wonder if anyone could shed light as to the best place or suburb to live in GC and how to avoid being trapped buying a property in a floodzone area. Is whole of GC prone to flooding (if not now, in the future probably?) Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks much

    • BobinOz May 16, 2017, 8:38 pm |

      The aftermath of Cyclone Debbie took everybody by surprise really, the cyclone came nowhere near Brisbane or the Gold Coast, but the rain that followed it a few days later was just relentless. I think some areas were getting anything between 200 mm and 400 mm of rainfall in a very short period of time, and the drain systems just cannot cope.

      It was an unusual event, but you are right to be cautious when considering buying a property in Gold Coast or anywhere in Australia. Maybe a local can give you more information about what actually happened after Cyclone Debbie down there, but if you Google ‘Gold Coast flood maps’ you will find a selection of online maps that will help you look at the area and see those that would be most likely to flood in one of these kinds of events.

      I have for a long time had a preference for houses that sit on the top of hills, it’s hard to go wrong with one of those.

  • Jill April 28, 2017, 8:48 am |

    Hi Bob!
    I am 21, from Canada and am planning to move to Australia in October to work and live!
    I think I’ve narrowed it down to Queensland, now I just need to find a town/city. My background is Hospitality, and I’d most likely be looking for a job at a hotel or resort. I am wondering if you could give me any recommendations for a place to live with decent rent pricing and good job availability.

    I want to be in a place near the water and a little secluded, but not too far that I can’t take a lift into the city if I feel the need. I still want to be in a place big enough so there are at least 1 or 2 pubs, but I’m not big into nightlife so small town feel is better for me.

    Any suggestions you have, would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!
    Jill

    • BobinOz April 28, 2017, 6:39 pm |

      Hi Jill

      I think your request probably has a little bit of a conflict, you say you want a small town that is a little secluded, but then you want to work in hospitality and these kinds of towns just don’t have hotels or resorts.

      If you want the best chance of landing that hospitality job, you need to go where there is tourism and that means somewhere that is going to be quite busy and commercial. We have quite a few of those dotted along the coast.

      May I suggest you use my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship to search for hospitality jobs in Queensland and then see if you can narrow down a few towns from that and then come back to us if you have any more questions about those places.

      Good luck with your search, Bob

      • Jill Stewart May 2, 2017, 10:17 am |

        You’re completely right there Bob, thanks for the info!
        I’m not looking for something super quaint but not as hustling as a city like Brisbane, I still want to be surrounded by beautiful land and close to the beach, just a small town feel!
        I’ve been looking into places like; Coolangatta, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Port Douglas, Mooloolaba.

        Do you have any recommendations out of those places or anything similar?

        Thanks!
        Jill

        • BobinOz May 2, 2017, 7:15 pm |

          Port Douglas is absolutely beautiful, but I’m not sure what rents will be like there, it’s quite a sought after holiday location. It would be very hot and often overly humid up that way, but if you can deal with that, it’s not a bad choice.

          I would cross Townsville off of your list, it’s quite a big town and the beaches just aren’t as good as those in the other places. If it were me, I would be concentrating on Coolangatta and Mooloolaba and the surrounding areas, but rents would certainly be cheaper on Sunshine Coast.

          So, for me, the winner is Mooloolaba. If you put Mooloolaba into my search box on the top right hand side of every page, you’ll see I’ve been there loads of times and I have plenty of photographs online.

  • Nicola April 24, 2017, 2:09 pm |

    Hi Bob!

    I’m writing to see if yourself or any Queenslanders could offer any advice on where to live! We moved from the UK to Sydney just over 2 years ago now, and your site was so helpful before we moved over! (I also messaged you a couple of times back then:) )

    We currently live in the northern beaches of Sydney which we like as we’re away from the city, but can still commute for work, and obviously have the beaches on our doorstep. We’ve recently been away to Port Douglas and it made us start thinking about how much money we waste in rent, and that we’d actually like to live somewhere else, and would enjoy warmer winters; we think Queensland is hopefully the answer.

    We do like the beach, so I don’t think Brisbane is for us? We’re not put off by being limited at actually swimming in the sea in northern beaches of Cairns etc. because of stingers, we just love seeing the sea, and could settle with a pool 🙂 Sydney is obviously pretty busy too so open to a more relaxed feel.

    We don’t have children yet so work is more priority: I’m an Event Manager and my partner is an Electrician, we’d like to find him something first before we moved.

    We like the idea of Cairns, Gold Coast, maybe even the Sunshine coast as it seems to be more up and coming? Open to any suggestions though in Queensland.

    Any advice to point us in the right direction would be very appreciated!

    Thank you,
    Nicola

    • Al April 25, 2017, 12:50 pm |

      Hi Nicola, We have been living in Cairns for about 5 years and are enjoying it. We moved here from Melbourne which was too busy and cold for us. Swimming in the see is not an issue as there are nets during jellyfish season. The only thing we don’t like about the beaches up there is that the water is very murky because of those mudflats. So we ussualy go to Port Douglas or Mission Beach which are about an hour away drive from Cairns. Also you must know that about 2-3 months in a year during summer the weather is very hot and hummid and many people just can’t bear it. But the rest of the year is fantastic. Not much of a social life here compared to big cities so take this into account too. Also people here are more laid back meaning that you will be seeing people that are not putting much attention in how they look in public or behave. In regards to rents or house prices that is definatelly more affordable. Jobs are quite scarce here but electrician working on ABN should do fine. Basicaly moving to Cairns you must love a good climate but must sacrifice other things for this. I never been to Goald Coast but we explored this option before and found that house prices are unafordable here too, about twice as much as Cairns withe the same wages. Good luck with your move.

      • BobinOz April 26, 2017, 4:52 pm |

        Well, I spent four days in Cairns and three days in Port Douglas last year, holidaying with my family. Of all of the cities I visited on my road trip that were north of Sunshine Coast, I think Cairns was my favourite and Port Douglas is just beautiful.

        As Al has suggested though, to live there permanently would require some sacrifices as there are simply things you won’t get to do or see that you can in the bigger cities of Australia, and, as he also mentions, you will have to survive the quite difficult humidity during the hot season.

        As you probably know, I live in Brisbane, so I do have lots of experience of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Of the two, you will save much more in housing costs by going to Sunshine Coast and as you say, it does currently seem to be expanding.

        That has been mentioned in a few posts, in the comments here on this page and also on my page about Sunshine Coast. Maroochydore is the expanding centre and apparently quite a few big firms are relocating there at the moment. Historically, finding work has always been the problem in SC, but the locals tell me that’s a situation that is rapidly improving.

        The beauty of the Sunshine Coast is that it has a fantastic climate and summers will be hot and humid but not as humid as Cairns. It’s also about an hour and a half drive from Brisbane for when you need a city break.

        So, Sunshine Coast would be where I would head if I were you.

  • woj March 24, 2017, 3:07 am |

    Hi Bob !
    Ive written numerous Times before as i had a lot of questions regarding life in queensland and also a partner visa we had been applying for, for my wife.
    Well, things have moved up a Little. My wife received the partner visa and we Just got back from oz (we had to fly in to activate the visa). Queensland? We loved it!
    We stayed at coolum Beach and Mt coolum. We are taking the Kids and moving down this yr 🙂
    Job wise, are places like coolum and mooloolaba Comparable? We are looking for somewhere not far from the Beach and which is Great for family life (we have 2 small Kids aged 7 and 3.5), so party and club life is not nr 1 on my priority list. A place which has a fair bit of shops, schools etc so we have all we need locally 🙂
    Any suggestions as to pros and cons of places like coolum Beach, mooloolaba? Maybe something else worth considering?

    • BobinOz March 24, 2017, 6:45 pm |

      Hi woj, yes, I remember you well. Mooloolaba would be the bigger of the two places but I think the problem with both of them, and one that is associated with Sunshine Coast, is that jobs are hard to find. Other than that, it’s a great place to live and I know they have some very good schools and obviously the beaches are great.

      Work is the problem, but that very much depends on what you do. I suggest you do a good deal of research into this, my page Getting a Job or a Sponsorship will help you with that.

      By the way, congrats on getting the visa, I’m very pleased for you and your family 🙂 and yes, Queensland is pretty good isn’t it?

      • woj March 24, 2017, 11:09 pm |

        Pretty good? Its Great! 🙂
        I have read that employment is the biggest problem on the SC. I work in the sports field (tenis coach and personal trainer) so maybe in my line of work job would be possible. My wife can work anywhere really – she has experience in office work but would not be scared to work anywhere (retail etc). I always thought that you can always find a job if u Look hard enough. Unless there are no Jobs to find, full stop. But im sure its not that bad?
        Bob, once again thanks for all the help 🙂

        • Rob March 25, 2017, 12:12 pm |

          Have lived and worked throughout a lot of Australia and am throwing in my 2 pence worth.
          You are right to be impressed with the Sunshine Coast, but it does cover a big area and although historically a tourism and agricultural area times have changed and are now changing faster. Sunshine Coast is a high growth area, Maroochydore is now the chosen area for a large city centre and currently undergoing massive development. There are many other large scale developments going on which bring more work. The Sunshine Coast University Hospital precinct which is completely new and AUstralia’s largest new hospital in 35 years, it looks like a whole town and starts to open this month. It has brought with it masses of linked industries into the Kawana/Caloundra area as well as major companies starting to move there, one of Australia’s largest insurance companies, YOUI, is one of many commercial operations that now moving to SC. In the same area a new city is being built by SC largest developer Stocklands, this area next to Caloundra is near enough to Brisbane to be commutable, 60+ mins drive is a low price to pay to live near beautiful beaches and sceneary and is quite common to do so, especially from Caloundra. As you go further north up the coast, this option is not possible (Noosa to Caloundra is a 90 minute drive itself). Remember that the closer to the beach you are, the higher the price but go a few streets back and the prices start dropping but the blocks will inevitably be small. As to your area of work, SC folk are generally healthier than their city counterparts. I use the very unscientific shopping mall test and the SC has a tangible healthier and less obese population that the city areas, which sort of makes sense. Great climate fot Tennis and there are many private and council courts, most golf clubs have excellent courts that offer trainers. Boot camps are commonly seen all over and the trainers are mainly self employed.
          Migration is a leap of faith – I came here over 20 years ago, no money, no job or anywhere to live but just tried to get on with it. Australia is by no means perfect and the petty everyday anoyances are here as well, I will never know if I did the right thing but when I take the dogs for a warm walk along the side of the Pacific ocean life doesn’t seem too bad especiall if it is winter and whales are breaching 400m from the beach!.

          • woj March 25, 2017, 3:59 pm |

            Rob. Thanks for your reply!
            Yep we fell in love with it. Of course like you write, Australia has its downsides – but everywhere does. For Us its about where we arę comfortable being with the family and im sure our Kids will Simply love those Beaches and sun, will never know until we try i guess..
            We lived at Mt coolum. We are thinking about that area, allthough have also been at Mooloolaba and loved it. Buderim was also nice but Mooloolaba on the Beach which is better for Us.
            Would u say that a place like Mooloolaba Would have better job prospects than a place like coolum? According to Google the population of the two places is similar but Mooloolaba Just seemed more developed with the shops etc.

          • Woj March 25, 2017, 5:01 pm |

            Rob. Was looking through the net – I think Ive just answered my own question regarding Mooloolaba vs Coolum. Maroochydore being the coasts CBD is 5km away from Mooloolaba, from Coolum – 20km. Now thats a difference when trying to find or commute to work!
            What about places like Alexandra headland, Buddina?. Out of the suburbs, are there any “better” or “worse” in that area? Meaning more or less safe? Like I mentioned. We are looking for a place which will be Family orientated.

            • BobinOz March 27, 2017, 6:47 pm |

              Firstly, thank you Rob for the update on the Sunshine Coast, sounds like things are moving in a positive direction when it comes to finding work there. I never knew, so thanks for taking the time to spread the news.

              Woj, I’ve been to SC many times, and stayed in both Alexander Headland and Buddina, they are both very nice suburbs and I think it’s fair to say it’s all very safe around that area. Rob will probably be able to give you more specifics, but I thought I’d throw in my 2p.

              • Woj March 27, 2017, 7:41 pm |

                Thanks Bob. All comments are kindly seen, no matter wether they are 2p worth or 50p worth. U know how it is. 50p here and 10p here and another 5p here…sum it up and u have a lot more than you started with 🙂
                We are making all the arrangements to make the move. Selling up, starting to look for tickets (the sooner you buy the less it will be). Such a huge step for us. Excited is an understatement 🙂

                • BobinOz March 28, 2017, 7:19 pm |

                  Yes, I can remember how excited I was at the same stage. Still lots to do, but it’s exciting to do it, rather than a chore, knowing where it leads. Hope it all goes smoothly 🙂

                  • Naomi Gerardin April 10, 2017, 11:17 am |

                    When it comes to finding the best location to live on the Sunshine Coast, I think if you select a central place you will have quick access all over. The distances may seem further, but we do not have the traffic you have in the cities and through the Sunshine Motorway it is quick and easy to get from say Moloolaba to Coolum (15 mins). There are fantastic schools on the coast and bus services for most. My daughter goes to Sunshine Grammar (Forest Glen) and her school bus picks her up and drop her in Peregian Springs on the David Low way.
                    We moved from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast 5 years ago and by far one of our best decisions ever made. Originally from South Africa, we moved to the South of France where we lived for 10 years. I loved it and never thought I would find a better place for my family, but I can honestly say that life on the Sunshine Coast far exceeds all my expectations. We first lived in an estate (Coolum residences/Beach Side) in Yaroomba (in front of Mount Coolum) when we arrived on the Sunshine Coast. We had our own private beach entrance 50m from our front door and the estate has its own pool, barbecue area and tennis court. Most people in the estate have kids and we had regular get togethers where they could safely play in the private roads and parks inside the estate. Not to mention beach get togethers.
                    I now live in Peregian Beach and may not be on the beach, but it is close to everything and we have made and still meet such amazing friends that we still have our get togethers with such a large choice of wonderful places and beaches to celebrate any and all events in our lives.
                    As a keen tennis player, I have tried most clubs and if you have access to courts you can start giving private lessons by your self. We had a lady that use to come to our estate to give us a tennis fitness class a twice a week.
                    Rob is correct that the Sunshine Coast is a high growth area and I believe there will be more job opportunities in the future. If you are an entrepreneur, this is the perfect place. Initiatives such as Spark Bureau (https://www.sparkbureau.org/) is supported by the Queensland government and support local businesses during start-ups and further. Rob has mentioned the University hospital already and I have to add the expansion of the airport to become an International airport in the next few years (see: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/sunshine-coasts-347m-airport-expansion-a-boon-for-producers-20161223-gthcq4.html) that will increase business opportunities and create more jobs.

                    • woj April 11, 2017, 10:11 pm |

                      Thank You Naomi! I Just noticed your reply today actually. Better late than never they say. .. 🙂
                      GReat info from ur side. I am a very motivated person so looks like by what u write might not be as tough as sometimes u read on the net..
                      Another question and this one is on account of recent incidents queensland has been having.
                      How often would the sunshine Coast experience the sorts of floods and tornados it got a couple of weeks ago? I know northern parts of queensland have tornado season, but How often does it effect places down South like the sunshine Coast?

                    • Naomi Gerardin April 12, 2017, 7:33 am |

                      Hi Woj, I had to reply here as there was no reply option under your post 🙂 Most cyclones makes landfall in Northern Queensland and and we do sometimes get affected (to a lesser extend) by the tail end with heavy rainfall and strong winds. I have only experience bad storms twice in last 5 years (most recently with Debbie). We did not have any excessive flooding. There were some road closures, but from my knowledge no houses got flooded. As you may be aware, Debbie affected areas in Brisbane and New South Wales far more than the Sunshine Coast. We had a few trees blown over at its worst.
                      I found this list of Cyclones hitting the East Coast over the last 100 years: http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/eastern.shtml
                      I do not believe the Sunshine Coast gets more affected than any other town (apart from up north) down the coast including New South Wales.
                      There is always the possibility of one making land fall close to us, which will be worse, but I believe that is very rare

                    • BobinOz April 12, 2017, 5:11 pm |

                      Yes, sorry about the disappearing ‘Reply’ button, it’s a built-in feature of WordPress and happens when a thread, due to the number of comments, gets too narrow. That’s when the button automatically disappears, as it has now with this thread.

                      The only solution is to start a new thread at the top which you are all welcome to do.

  • Henry Osebor Obinomen February 18, 2017, 9:07 pm |

    Hello BOB,
    The contributions and info here are of great help.
    Henry.

    • BobinOz February 19, 2017, 9:06 pm |

      Thanks Henry 🙂

      • Henry Obinomen March 25, 2017, 11:06 pm |

        Hello Bob,
        I will be moving to Brisbane in June for a Master degree in Marketing at CQUNIVERSITY.

        What suburb should be preferable in terms of closeness to CQU and finding a part time job?

        • BobinOz March 27, 2017, 7:22 pm |

          CQU is right in the heart of Brisbane city, so anywhere close to the university should also be good for finding a part-time job. It might be an idea to contact the university to find out if there is any cheap local student accommodation nearby where the rest of their students tend to live. It’s always good to live close to your fellow students if you can, that way you can get to know them socially as well. Good luck, Bob

          • Henry Obinomen March 27, 2017, 8:18 pm |

            Thanks Bob. I will contact CQU ASAP with respect to the accommodation.

            Your responses are always of great help.
            Thanks.

            Henry

  • Mariha February 11, 2017, 4:24 pm |

    Hi Bob and everyone,
    I have applied for a TR and nominated by state of Queensland for skilled regional visa. I have been wondering when i fly to Queensland with Brisbane and Gold coast off the option, what may be a good regional option to live with a 4 year old. Also where do i go on day 1 and stay

    • BobinOz February 12, 2017, 8:33 pm |

      Interesting question, but I just don’t know. I wouldn’t think there would the any problem you flying into Brisbane or Gold Coast, I think the idea of the skilled regional visa is that you need to ultimately live and work in a regional area.

      I don’t think it matters where you go or stay on day one, it only matters where you finally choose to reside and work. If you used a MARA agent for your application, they would be able to tell you with more accuracy what the rules are.

      As for a good regional option to live with your for your four-year-old, I’d go where the work is. If you have a choice on that, then come back and let us know what it is, and may be me or somebody else here can help.

      • Mariha February 13, 2017, 6:41 pm |

        Thank you Bob!
        Will touch base once i have more details.

  • Khalil ur Rahman January 2, 2017, 12:31 am |

    Hi, I have planned to come for a six month visit and stay to the university of Queensland. I am a student please tell me where I should plan my accommodation which is reasonable for me in term of distance and specially in cost.

    • BobinOz January 2, 2017, 6:33 pm |

      I would stay as close to the campus as possible, lots of housing in the area has been converted for student use and is available at reasonable rates.

  • Shivani December 15, 2016, 5:45 am |

    Hello Bob and everyonr
    How is Mackay to live in!

    • BobinOz December 15, 2016, 8:57 pm |

      Well, I couldn’t tell you what it’s like to live there, but I have written three posts about Mackay after my recent visit. The first is here…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/20360/mackay-the-town-the-shops-the-river-and-the-lagoon/

      And that post links to the next and so on. That’s all I know about Mackay, but maybe somebody who does live there can tell you more.

    • Chris Jelliffe December 16, 2016, 7:00 pm |

      Hi Shivani- I’m a doctor and lived in Mackay for two years that I’d rather forget.
      We too saw the tempting you-tube tourist footage promoting the region and its quite genuine- but sees the region with rose tinted specs big time. Life is not all about driving miles out of the city to see the few “local” amenities- it’s very different living there rather than having a holiday there as I know! The beaches are better suited to wildfowling which is illegal here.
      Mackay bloomed about ten years ago on the back of the mining boom, which has now collapsed. Hence property prices have plunged, there is high unemployment, and the city is in serious recession. In its heyday it was a blossoming mining city, but the collapse of the industry has left Mackay floundering. There are very few decent restaurants, the shopping centre at Canelands is marginal, and the word on the street is that the Myers that opened there to great fanfare is struggling in a city with no money.
      So- Bob says he likes its remote feel- but lives in Brisbane?
      If you have a great job offer in Mackay that doesn’t rely on mining- go for it.
      But if you are looking for a great place to move to for no particular reason- I’d personally avoid Mackay like the plague!
      Good Luck!
      Chris of

  • Godwin December 11, 2016, 8:45 am |

    Please, advice me where best to stay in Australia and be happy living. I am a Doctor of Biochemistry, University lecturer and researcher. My wife has a Master of Education degree. We have three beautiful daughters. We wish to find work, earn a decent living and raise our children.

    • BobinOz December 12, 2016, 7:14 pm |

      Many will tell you that happiness comes from within 🙂

      Seriously though, there is no particular place to go in Australia for happy living, I’m sure there are happy people spread out all over Australia. Choose somewhere that suits you best, my page A Quick Guide to Choosing a City in Australia might well help you with that.

    • Scott January 24, 2017, 9:00 pm |

      I would start looking at the weather and population on Wikipedia, do you like busier, faster paced cities, slower country town cities or in between. Cold winters with rain or warm weather all year round? Or Cold or year round!
      Then it really is best to choose two or three and visit for at least one to two weeks if possible, and look at other things like are you children into sports/music, where the recreation centres are etc. Do you like the beach? Australia really has something for everyone.

  • Moka October 25, 2016, 9:41 am |

    I just finish submitting my EOI stating Queensland as my target state. My question is do i have to have the funds needed for state sponsoring (45000 AUD in my case) as it seems that they ask for a bank statement and if not how much should i have as minimum in my account?

    Thank you in advance.

  • Chantelle October 25, 2016, 2:24 am |

    Where is the best place to buy a farm for cattle and sheep?

    • BobinOz October 25, 2016, 8:06 pm |

      I have no idea, but I’m sure there are plenty in the outback. Rockhampton is known as the beef capital here, but I would have thought most of our major cattle farms are more remote than that.

      Maybe somebody else who knows outback Queensland better than I do can help; can anyone help Chantelle with this?

      • Chris in Townsville October 28, 2016, 6:40 pm |

        Hi Bob- you certainly get some “curved ball” enquiries don’t you! Lol
        Cheers
        Chris in Townsville

        • BobinOz October 30, 2016, 6:24 pm |

          Yes, and it all adds to the fun 🙂

  • Folukemi October 22, 2016, 6:48 am |

    Hello House.
    I am Folukemi from Nigeria. I, my husband and our two year old baby girl are relocating to Australia in November, Queensland precisely. It’s a state sponsored visa 489 which allows us stay in regional areas for four years, please I need your advise as to which region is best for us. I am a poultry farmer, but open to any other opportunity. My husband is a chemical Engineer. We need your help please.

    • BobinOz October 23, 2016, 9:21 pm |

      I would say the best place for you to go would be where ever it is that you have the best opportunity of securing work. You can research that by using the links on my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship and searching for the kind of work you would like to do to see where the most opportunities are for you.

      I recently did a road trip up the Queensland coast through mostly regional areas, you may like to read the series to get an idea of what some of these places are like. If you start with this post…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/19874/bundaberg-queensland-first-stop-on-my-australian-road-trip/

      You should then be able to follow through the whole series from the links in each post. Hope that helps, Bob

      • Folukemi October 31, 2016, 9:48 am |

        Thanks a lot Bob. I find this very helpful

    • Godwin December 11, 2016, 8:50 am |

      Folukemi, I am sure you have moved to Australia by now. I hope to do same by early 2017, Dv. I would sure need to glean on your experiences. My email address is ‘dradejogod@gmail.com’.
      Thank you and regards to your family.

  • Fatai riliwan adewale September 27, 2016, 7:41 am |

    Pls i need a sponsor to australia for the farm work

  • Jenny September 19, 2016, 2:26 pm |

    We are a young retired couple looking to relocate from Melbourne to somewhere warmer. We are looking at Cairns. But are very naieve of which suburb would suit our age group ie quiet close to amenities etc.

    • BobinOz September 20, 2016, 8:18 pm |

      I was in Cairns a couple of months ago for a holiday, I was really impressed with it all. It looks like a great city to live in. Of course, I don’t know it well enough to recommend any particular suburbs, so hopefully somebody else will read this and help you out.

      Anybody got any suggestions for Jenny?

      • Paul November 28, 2016, 9:11 am |

        Hi there, Cairns is a nice city to live in but is VERY humid in the summer with plenty of rainfall. As for which suburbs to live in, historically try and avoid all the suburbs beginning with the letter ‘M’ (Mooroobool, Manunda etc). These are in West Cairns and traditionally have had problems although this may be changing. Try Redlynch Valley and the Northern Beaches.

        Paul – Expat now living in Hervey Bay QLD

        • Martin November 28, 2016, 11:08 pm |

          Hi Paul,
          I have been eyeing harvey bay for a while. What is it like living there? I have heard stories that it is very quiet and not much to do there.

        • Al November 29, 2016, 1:20 pm |

          Hi I live in Cairns and definitely do not recommend Mannora or Manunda suburbs, as majority of low class lievs here and you can get stabbed in your back iof walking at night on the street. But Moroobool has changed, especialy upper part, million dollar homes are here . I was onsidering Mooroobool wher were looking for a hopuse but ended up in White Rock. Nothern Beaches and Redlynch Valey are for higher income earners as rents/houses are more expensive here. Humidity in Cairns is bearable and we have not had rain for the third straight year. It is humid from Jan til April, the rest of the year is fantastic. While the rest of Australia is wearing jackets and gloves during the winter nights, You can expect to sleep with open windows. I think it is the best town to live in Australia in regards to climate. Jobs and opportunities are not so big as in major cities, but competition for them as well. Highly recommend.

  • theresa June 2, 2016, 4:23 pm |

    Hello Bob,
    Good day!

    I am really confusing about a situation right now…i want to go in australia as a nanny or caregiver..i already have my sponsor the problem is, that job is not in skilled job in list of sponsorhip.
    Please can u advice me for other way to do?

    thank you

    • BobinOz June 2, 2016, 8:39 pm |

      No, I can’t help you with that, you need to speak to a MARA registered migration agent. See Would I Qualify?.

  • claire de sousa May 19, 2016, 7:42 pm |

    Hi!
    Please leave some comments as to where a good area (good schools, space, family activities, reasonably priced accommodation) would be in Australia. Considering relocating from South Africa…

    Thanks

    • Chris jelliffe May 19, 2016, 8:25 pm |

      Awesome question Claire – bit like saying ‘ I want a house’ ! More info maybe!! ?family, what do you all do, what do you enjoy doing, what do you want to do? Are you city or bush folk? Wine bars or pig shooting?
      Why do you want to leave SA, what has made you think about Australia?
      Give us a clue!!
      Cheers
      Chris

      • BobinOz May 20, 2016, 8:23 pm |

        It’s also probably worth mentioning that there are already thousands of comments around this website all about suburbs, schools, safety and so much more. So it’s already been done, all you have to do is read them.

  • John Amodu Samba April 18, 2016, 6:50 pm |

    Am john Amodu Samba, l hails from Benue state of Nigeria.looking for a friends that will makes my dreams come through.l graduated Benue state university makurdi in the department mass communication.

  • David Jaycocks March 6, 2016, 3:52 am |

    Can you advise the best healthcare for a family with two children 6+7.
    We arrive in Brisbane on the 19th March on a 489 sponsored visa.

    Kind Regards

    David

    • Chris jelliffe March 6, 2016, 11:35 am |

      Hi David – some info for you.
      The Aussie medical system is very complex – I’m an ex-pat Doctor and don’t fully understand it all!
      I’ll try to precis:- All citizens and permanent residents are entitled to a ‘Medicare’ card. This allows free access to the public system (NHS equivalent). If you don’t have a medicare card you can get medical insurance through one of a few of the Health funds. My son was covered under an overseas visitors policy by Medibank Private, one of the bigger funds. This however only entitles you to public health access.
      Privately insured patients get a portion of their medical costs reimbursed by Medibank, a further portion reimbursed from their health fund, and any excess is paid by the patient themselves (so called ‘Gap payment’). With me so far??
      So – if you don’t have a medicare card you can’t take out a private health policy under this system. I am sure that some of the healthcare funds will provide full cover for your family without medicare cards, but I don’t have any details to hand, and it won’t be cheap.
      Brisbane has a number of excellent hospitals, including the new Lady Cillento Childrens hospital, and the back up in the public system in Brisbane is very good.
      Primary care is a mixed bag – a lot of GP’s are private, but some ‘bulk bill’ which means they send their account to medicare not you.I think you are covered by the basic visitors insurance but again each healthcare fund is very different.
      Suggest you contact Medicaire for further details- they have a website (allbeit a complex Government site)
      Another useful contact would be the AHSA, the Australian Health Service Alliance, which represents a number of Private Health Funds across the country.
      Most of the health funds under their ‘blanket’ are easy to deal with.
      Good luck and enjoy – Brisbane is very liveable city and probably a good starting point if you are considering staying here permanently.
      Get in contact again via this website if I can be of further help.
      Cheers
      Chris Jelliffe

      • BobinOz March 6, 2016, 10:02 pm |

        Good answer Chris, thanks. I’ve also got a post about it, David you might like to read…

        https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/13630/how-does-the-health-care-system-in-australia-work/

        If you do, you will see that I also use Medibank Private.

        I think it’s worth remembering that they are all just insurance companies, so the best insurance is the one that allows you to choose your own hospital/doctor/specialist and I think most of them do that. Check the small print to make sure you are aware of what they do cover and what they don’t cover.

        Good luck, Bob

  • Chris jelliffe February 22, 2016, 9:47 pm |

    Hi Ann
    Further to Bob’s helpful and realistic comments, I have no idea how the rental market works in New Zealand. In Australia rentals are “leased out” rather than being given the option to give notice either way (as in the UK). Six month leases are perhaps more difficult to find than the usual one year lease. If you break the lease and move out earlier than the lease period, you are liable for the rental fees until the place is re-let, and you also have to fund the re-advertising fees to re-let the property. You should(but may not – check with the agent) get your rental bond back from the agent.
    I think the system is interesting to say the least, but you may have had the same (very harsh) arrangements in New Zealand. I own a rental property in Mackay, and as soon as we suggested a ‘periodic’ lease to the tenants (ie a fixed term of notice either way) they immediately panicked and assumed we were selling out so left forthwith. Can’t win really!
    Have fun
    Chris

  • Ann February 20, 2016, 8:23 am |

    Hi, my husband has recently got a job working in fortitude valley area. We currently live in NZ and will be moving to Brisbane probably for 1-5 yrs depending on what happens.
    We are in our early 50’s no children but have one small dog. Need to look at renting but not sure what area to look in. Want to avoid flood zones and short commute to his work ….less than 20mins.
    Prefer to be close to area with parks for walking, running, biking but also with good access to shopping, restaurants etc.
    Where would you suggest and are we likely to be able to rent with our small dog..

    • BobinOz February 22, 2016, 5:37 pm |

      Well you won’t want to live in Fortitude Valley, it’s Brisbane’s main nightclub area. If I were you I would try to get anywhere that’s conveniently located and will allow your pet and then try and get a six-month rental lease.

      Then spend that time having a good look around at convenient suburbs to see what might suit you best. The Gap to the west might be a good area to start, given your requirements. Good luck, Bob

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