Suburb advise please

[Dano169]

Happy new year everyone,

My wife,myself and our 3 year old son hope to be moving to Perth later this year and would like some advice on suburbs. Looking at areas within our budget of $450 a week, the few we like the look of are Baldivis, Waikiki and Secret Harbour in the south and Alkimos in the north. We really like the look of the area and houses in Baldivis and you seem to get more for your money south of Perth. Just like to know about living in these areas? Crime rates? Good for young children and family's?

Thanks

[P1999]

The only advice I would give you is move as close to the cbd as you can, life in the sticks is very different in Australia than the UK.. I feel the further you go out the more perth becomes a housing estate with parks and small shopping centers dotted around and nothing else.. The only other thing I would say and this is just personal is that I belive north of the river offers more than South.. It's always a hot debate but for starters all the best beaches are NOR

[ivanoo]

The only advice I would give you is move as close to the cbd as you can, life in the sticks is very different in Australia than the UK.. I feel the further you go out the more perth becomes a housing estate with parks and small shopping centers dotted around and nothing else.. The only other thing I would say and this is just personal is that I belive north of the river offers more than South.. It's always a hot debate but for starters all the best beaches are NOR

 

 

Absolutely agree with this. There's just something about SOR that doesn't feel right for me anyways. My mate has just built a house

in Alkimos, which I reckon is going to be a lovely suburb when it's finished. also relatively close to Butler train station and only short drive to Joondalup Shopping centre.

[verystormy]

Baldivis and Secret Harbour are very popular and have a lot going for them.

 

The SH beach is very good.

 

Personally, I prefer SOR and find the North a bit soulless.

 

It it depends a lot on where you are likely to be working.

[portlaunay]

Another shout for SOR.

There are some interesting areas up to around Scarborough but after that, for me, it just becomes a little too organised and shiny, no creativity or life. Beaches aren't everything, you have to fill your days with many other things.

[elfie]

SH ewwwwwwwwwww cant wait to leave the place the beach is not safe for little children it has mega rips its more of a surf beach full of dog poo

Horses for courses so they say its the SOR for us further from CBD the better

[Scot01]

You can't say you are moving to Perth if you live in these suburbs. Secret Harbour is 60 kilometres away from Perth, Alkimos 45. Bit like saying you are moving to Manchester and live in Liverpool. Agree with first post.

[Lou8670]

We live in Secret Harbour; about 6 doors down from Elfie [emoji1]. We have 3 kids aged 8, 8 and 10 and we love it here! So much so we've just bought our first Aussie home here exactly 6 months from arriving!! So it is each to their own. I can completely understand why some hate it but if you have young children and are willing to get involved in lots of local activities and clubs with them I'd be surprised if you didn't like it.

 

My youngest two have settled well into SH Primary School; the elder one often gets the bus to school in Mandurah (he's at a private school). The senior school here, Comet Bay, is developing an excellent reputation and houses within it's catchment are being snapped up.

 

We love SH beach. It reminds me of St Ouen at home; a little rugged, big rips and lots of surf. The best thing here is to get your kids into Secret Harbour SLSC and they'll be taught all about survival and surf life saving skills. It's a fantastic club and a great way to meet people. Kids can start from age 6 providing they pass a swimming proficiency test. The club has just had approval to build a $6m new club house and won Australian Surf Club of the year.

 

Rockingham foreshore is beautiful. The kids do board training there Wednesday evenings and I often have to pinch myself that I'm actually here. The waters there are very safe for little ones to swim; no rips or currents. Warnbro Sound is also beautiful and there are areas for swimming along the beach. Mandurah also has some lovely beaches and the kids have swimming lessons at both Waikiki beach in Warnbro Sound and Doddis beach in Mandurah. Of course you also have Coogee, Souh Beach and all the beaches up to Freo. I'd beg to differ that NOR has the best beaches. Beaches NOR tend to shelve deeply and are quite dangerous so I'd always recommend swimming between the flags during patrol times. A lady drowned on Boxing Day swimming at a beach NOR. If we ever go north to the beach we head to Hillarys or Wanneroo, as they are safer for the kids, and that's quite a drive.

 

There's a great little wine bar in SH and a few shops including a great little surf shop. TBH I don't feel the need to go shopping that often and the local shops serve me well. If I need a shopping fix I'll go up to Garden City or Perth.

 

I'd say the down side of SH is the fact that you have to drive 15 mins to get to Rocky or Mandurah. It's 10 mins to Warnbro station but it you go after 7:30am you won't get parked so have to head to Rocky train station anyway. There is a good bus service to both the train stations and Rocky and Mandurah but from SH the bus takes 35 mins to Warnbro train station because it goes through all of the housing estates on the way.

 

I'd agree with the comment about the further out you go it becomes estate after estate but we opted for SH because it's not a continuation of Perth's sprawling suburbs; it's by the beach, has a beautiful golf course, a fab surf club, is 10 mins from a fantastic swimming club (Rockingham Stingrays...our whole family swim) and our family live nearby in Waikiki. My hubbie works in the CBD and drives to work. It usually takes him 35-40 mins and he says he doesn't mind the extra driving so he can live by the beach. We looked at going north and loved it around Sorrento and Hilary's but the drive I believe isn't dissimilar and with our family being south it seemed crazy to us to move to the other side of the world and not be close to our only relatives here.

 

I think we're all different and I know some people who've looked around here and decided it's too quiet for them. However, we have a great social life and will often go out in the city, Rockingham (there are a few lovely restaurants on the foreshore) and Mandurah (Dolphin Quay). We are also often at friends houses.

 

Anyway, hope this helps and please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions.

 

Lou x

Edited January 4, 2015 by Lou8670

[flatpack]

I'm not into the NOR/ SOR debate as I've never lived South. Perth is beautiful place to live, just yesterday we got the ferry from Perth down to Freo. and was stunned by the beauty of the place even though I've done the trip before.

if you're going NOR then I personally would go as far as Alkimos as there isn't much there yet and the train line won't get there for a few years yet and the freeway will be a few years behind that! That might not sound that bad but as the area get more built up the traffic will be horrendous!

[ali]

One of the first things I guess is do you have jobs to come to and where are they going to be. When we arrived, my first job entailed working shifts/nights etc., so I didn't want a long commute - hubby's job takes him all over so didn't matter too much where his base was as he often sets off to a job from home rather than having to call into the office. We were looking for a 30 min commute to my work, good community resources, schools. A beach wasn't a major factor for us - but we're only a short drive from Freo, Coogee.

[Give me a break!]

Where you live is so subjective. You really need to leave the decision to when you get here and drive through stop off ect. Even then it's diffucult, I've revisited places I would have originally ruled out and have found they are actually really nice, not sure what I ever saw wrong with them. I worked out in the community as a Home Help and went to areas I thought were lovely that others had completely slated so it's always good to come with an open mind. Travel to work is paramount followed by schools etc oh and of course price because we'd all love to live in the flash burbs but most of us can't .

[Dano169]

Thanks everyone for all the replys, they have been a great help to us:smile:

[P1999]

You can't say you are moving to Perth if you live in these suburbs. Secret Harbour is 60 kilometres away from Perth, Alkimos 45. Bit like saying you are moving to Manchester and live in Liverpool. Agree with first post.

Good point, never thought of it like that before.. Your right 100%.. 60km is a very very long way out

[Bibbs]

You can't say you are moving to Perth if you live in these suburbs. Secret Harbour is 60 kilometres away from Perth, Alkimos 45. Bit like saying you are moving to Manchester and live in Liverpool. Agree with first post.

 

I agree. I could push to Zone 2, if you are near the freeway. Zone 1 if you are not near it.

Zone 4+ for me would be a weekend house.

 

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/portals/0/Asset/Images/Tickets%20&%20Fares/transperth_zonemap.jpg

 

I've never really got the idea of moving to one of the most remote cities in the world .. and then living away from it.

But I'm glad some people do, or Perth would be very crowded.

[Give me a break!]

Well I'm happily in Zone 7 , horses for courses.

[Starjumper]

Hello to everyone on PP! This is my first post so be gentle...

 

We arrived in Perth on October having researched possible suburbs both NoR and SoR, as we didn't know where my OH's work was to be based until about a month before we came out. We ended up NoR and really like it. Having said that, I've been SoR a couple of times and think we could definitely have found a suburb that suited us there too.

 

The rest was decided by budget, school, and just driving around different areas and finding where we liked the 'feel'. A bit vague, I know. You'll find it so much easier to decide when you get here and you're on the ground.

As for distance from the CBD, that wasn't a big factor in our decision because my OH works far out NE in Ellenbrook, and we're not used to living in a city anyway. I've been up to Alkimos, and would say that to me personally, it felt a far out but not everyone agrees!

 

Good luck!

[portlaunay]

Hello to everyone on PP! This is my first post so be gentle...

 

We arrived in Perth on October having researched possible suburbs both NoR and SoR, as we didn't know where my OH's work was to be based until about a month before we came out. We ended up NoR and really like it. Having said that, I've been SoR a couple of times and think we could definitely have found a suburb that suited us there too.

 

The rest was decided by budget, school, and just driving around different areas and finding where we liked the 'feel'. A bit vague, I know. You'll find it so much easier to decide when you get here and you're on the ground.

As for distance from the CBD, that wasn't a big factor in our decision because my OH works far out NE in Ellenbrook, and we're not used to living in a city anyway. I've been up to Alkimos, and would say that to me personally, it felt a far out but not everyone agrees!

 

Good luck!

 

Welcome to Perth and PP. Why don't you start your own thread and tell us a little about yourselves?

[elfie]

Think its slightly further than six doors down Lou.

Yes I understand why some love it here as you said if you have children all well and good it can full fill a families need. We do not so it does not suit us. The little shopping centre is fine can get all you want within reason, little cafe Jamica Blue and the wine bar or to us its a pub the Whistling Kite although that is not what we nicknamed it been there twice in 2 1/2 years again not for us full of people in competition with each other and no atmosphere. We much prefer the Vernon Arms on Old Mandurah road. Yes we have to drive but we are not huge drinkers. SH is not a safe haven as all believe the shopping centre cash point has been ram raided on a few occasions a few muggings and hoons on occasion although not the area Lou and myself live as there are too many roundabouts for them to drive flat out. That I am afraid is all the positive I can say about the place and yes I am mostly negative about it. Oh on the up I do feel safe to walk the dog to the park after 9 pm in the dark opps perhaps that is because most are in bed by 8.30 pm ...................

 

ps as you may tell I am more of a roll my sleeves up and get on with it woman rather than have my nails painted and read hello magazine ..... not that I am type casting anyone

[Starjumper]

Thanks, portlaunay! I'll do that :-)

[Akasully2]

It is very subjective, where to live. We are all different and are bound to like different areas. Personally for us, SOR just doesn't feel right. It seems a bit rougher and bland. Of course we haven't been 'everywhere' and there may be lovely bits we haven't seen. However, apart from freemantle and Mandurah town centres, nothing floated our boat.

 

Equally so, describing NOR in one big go, doesn't work either. These areas vary so much too. We live in HIllarys and love it. It feels upmarket, safe and respectable. Head somewhere else up here and it may change. You really can't judge until you get here.

[Nikkis2000]

My summarisation of the suburbs would be something like:

You want beach - you'll be living in a vast housing estate (NOR at least) even its not yet, it will be.

You want brand new on the coast - it will be smaller on a small plot

You want old - bigger plots but will be more $

You want to be close the city - it'll be expensive and probably smaller

You want city and beach - win the lotto

You want rural - be prepared to drive

You want space - there's no beach

 

I rarely get involved with these threads as I have such a different outlook on where I want to live than most poms. I couldn't give a stuff about how close to the beach I am (I probably have the same ocean view as 99% of the population of Perth ie none) we came for space and will be living (shock horror!!) a whole hour from the city, and 45 minutes from the beach. But the pay off is that we have 5 acres of bush with kangaroos, no neighbours a long driveway and are paying about the same as we would for a tiny place on the coast with no garden.

 

My point is that what suits one will not suit the other and no matter how hard people try and convince you that their way is best you have to make up your own mind. And heck if that's different to what somebody else thinks then so what!

[Nikkis2000]

I agree. I could push to Zone 2, if you are near the freeway. Zone 1 if you are not near it.

Zone 4+ for me would be a weekend house.

 

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/portals/0/Asset/Images/Tickets%20&%20Fares/transperth_zonemap.jpg

 

I've never really got the idea of moving to one of the most remote cities in the world .. and then living away from it.

But I'm glad some people do, or Perth would be very crowded.

 

For some reason I have only just seen this map.

Not sure we're even in a zone!!

 

Likewise we're glad that most people want to live near the city or coast otherwise the countryside would be too crowded [emoji6]

[jo and scott]

My summarisation of the suburbs would be something like:

You want beach - you'll be living in a vast housing estate (NOR at least) even its not yet, it will be.

You want brand new on the coast - it will be smaller on a small plot

You want old - bigger plots but will be more $

You want to be close the city - it'll be expensive and probably smaller

You want city and beach - win the lotto

You want rural - be prepared to drive

You want space - there's no beach

 

I rarely get involved with these threads as I have such a different outlook on where I want to live than most poms. I couldn't give a stuff about how close to the beach I am (I probably have the same ocean view as 99% of the population of Perth ie none) we came for space and will be living (shock horror!!) a whole hour from the city, and 45 minutes from the beach. But the pay off is that we have 5 acres of bush with kangaroos, no neighbours a long driveway and are paying about the same as we would for a tiny place on the coast with no garden.

 

My point is that what suits one will not suit the other and no matter how hard people try and convince you that their way is best you have to make up your own mind. And heck if that's different to what somebody else thinks then so what!

 

Where you live sounds great nikki! Just the sort of place Scott would like xx

[jo and scott]

Just sent you a pm nikki xx

[portlaunay]

My summarisation of the suburbs would be something like:

You want beach - you'll be living in a vast housing estate (NOR at least) even its not yet, it will be.

You want brand new on the coast - it will be smaller on a small plot

You want old - bigger plots but will be more $

You want to be close the city - it'll be expensive and probably smaller

You want city and beach - win the lotto

You want rural - be prepared to drive

You want space - there's no beach

 

I rarely get involved with these threads as I have such a different outlook on where I want to live than most poms. I couldn't give a stuff about how close to the beach I am (I probably have the same ocean view as 99% of the population of Perth ie none) we came for space and will be living (shock horror!!) a whole hour from the city, and 45 minutes from the beach. But the pay off is that we have 5 acres of bush with kangaroos, no neighbours a long driveway and are paying about the same as we would for a tiny place on the coast with no garden.

 

My point is that what suits one will not suit the other and no matter how hard people try and convince you that their way is best you have to make up your own mind. And heck if that's different to what somebody else thinks then so what!

 

Sounds awesome. Whereabouts are you?

How was the heat today? I'd love to be in the hills and love some land but not being within range of the Freo Doctor, I don't know if I could cope that well. We have no A/C and wouldn't want any unless we really had to.