Opinions on a few areas for first rental

[Guest theclarkes]

Hi guys, Hopefully moving over shortly, just need your opinions on a few areas. West Lakes Shore, Sheidow Park and Aldinga. What we really need to know is which is more suitable for a family with young and older kids/young adults for facilities, shopping, socialising etc??

Any advise would be great

 

Cheers

Neil

[Guest Emu]

Don't know the other areas, but West Lakes is close to WL Shop Ct (check out the Westfield Shopping website), to the beach, apparently it has good schools and not to far from the city - if you happen to work in the city. Is a nice quiet area.

[Hayshake]

I would suggest that if you have younger members of your family that you go to a place with good rail or bus links, so that as they get a bit older they can get around easily by themselves.

I would consider Aldinga a bit remote, Sheidow park is closer to the city and West Lakes is fairly easy.

However any of the southern suburbs like Glenelg, Morphetville, Warradale, Brighton, Seacombe Gardens, Darlington and Hallett Cove are all closer to the city and Marion Shopping Centre.

[Guest guest3462]

I don't think Aldinga is remote. There are lots of young families with young and teenage children in the area and there are good bus links to seaford, noarlunga etc for them to get about if they want. There are also lots of social and sports clubs for the young ones to join and the schools are very good. It is a long way from the city - an hour by car but we find we manage just fine and my oh drives to work at the RAH in the cbd every day.

Beautiful beaches, reasonable shopping in easy distance and good schooling makes for a perfect location imho!!

[Guest theclarkes]

Thanks guys our plan is to stay in furnished accommodation until ours arrives but being simple creatures we are easily confused, we firstly thought we wanted to stay in the Brighton area cos that is close to everything for all of our kids who ages range from 14mths to 20 years, but cant find any properties there, so have looked further down the coast at Aldinga, Noarlunga and Hallet Cove

 

I think our main concern is finding a rental in an area where we want to settle cos we have to get the children into school and have to be in the correct catchment area, i think to try and sum it up because the age of our children is so varied we need somewhere that has sporting activities going on, close to the beach,parks, shops, restaurants, and easy to get to the city if the older ones want to venture out.

 

Not asking for much am i (lol)

 

Cheers Guys

[antlet]

When we first moved over we went to Henley, and then onto Glenelg where we still are. Getting to know the city and surrounds with a teenager this was the perfect location. Central to everything and being in the heart of Glenelg means you don't need to go far for things to do. The beach is right here, the Beachhouse play thingy (water slides etc), shops, lots of clubs.

West beach is in the middle, far enough away from the hussle and bussle but close enough to easily get to them. 3 shopping centres close by - Harbour town, Westlakes and Marion. About 3 surf clubs all within easy reach (Henley, West Beach and Glenelg). Schools are fantastic in the area.

 

I guess it boils down to what you want out of life.....you did say a first rental however, and I reckon the above are good starting points until you make up your minds and know the area better.

[Guest theclarkes]

Hi Antlet thanks for that i'm sure your right and it will all sort itself out when we get there but you know what its like, panicking that we have to find the perfect place for everyone before we've even arrived.

 

Thanks for our help

[jim and adel]

Lots of places to choose from, as others have said. Of the three that were first listed, all are nice but my choice would be West Lakes. Across the road from the beach, Semaphore just a bit up the coast, Henley, Glenelg etc just a bit down the coast. Shopping close by, easy and quick to get into the CBD by bus, car and train (from Grange). Some really nice properties around the lakes, but it can be a bit congested on match days.

 

Jim

[Guest theclarkes]

Thanks Jim i am starting to sway towards West Lakes cos as you say it seems very close to everything and may be better for the kids, just out of interest what is Semaphore like.

 

Neil

[Guest Lisa & Kevin]

Hi Neil

 

I hope you will find what I write to be helpful, but it is only my opinion and we all like the area's we live for different reasons otherwise we wouldn't be living in them

 

When we first came over, we spent the first month or so driving around exploring the different subhurbs at different times of the day/night getting a feel for where we wanted to live.

 

It was one of the hardest decisions other than emigrating in the first place we had to make. We were renting a beautifull fully furnished house in Port Noarlunga via Tamara and fell in love with the area.

 

It was however just a bit too far out of the city and as Kevin had not at this time found a job, we realistically felt we had to live closer to the city. We also wanted to be near a train station as at the time we only had the 1 car. Being able to walk the Children to school was also something very important to us and also being able to walk down to the beach on a beautiful summers evening was high on the list.

 

We have been extremely lucky and found the house of our dreams to rent in Seacliff Park, we can walk to the school in 8 mins, the train station in 10 mins, the beach in 15, we are within a 5 minute drive to the Marion shopping centre. After school I often take this boys down to Kingston Park for an Ice Cream and at weekends we have got both the Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club and Seacliff Yatch Club close at hand, both of which have great atmosphere's

Other than the train we can also drive down as far as Glenelg and park for free and jump on the the Tram into the city.

 

We have alot of very popular restaurants within the area, as well as the huge Cinema Complex at the Marion and a Supersized swimming pool complex due to be finished early next year.

 

All in all we have found living in the Seacliff Park area a fantastic experience, lovely community, after moving to the other side of the world.

 

Good Luck with your move over

 

Feel free to PM me if you have any other queries.

 

Kind regards

Lisa

[jim and adel]

Thanks Jim i am starting to sway towards West Lakes cos as you say it seems very close to everything and may be better for the kids, just out of interest what is Semaphore like.

 

Neil

 

Hi Neil

 

Semaphone is a nice seaside suburb with a main st lined with shops, cafes etc. There's plenty of lawned areas next to the beach offering some great picnic spots, good kids' playgrounds, and plenty of parking. It has a few rides (water slide, carousel, small steam train that goes up and down the coast) and at certain times of the year a bigger fair comes to town. It looks a little faded, but perhaps that's part of its attraction!

 

Jim

[Guest the umphs]

Just arrived (Nov '10) and have moved to North Glenelg. We wanted a compromise of beach and city and this is great. Somerton Park, Brighton, Glenelg, Henley, Grange, West Lakes are all lovely. I'm well pleased and loving it. We're right next to bars/harbour, Jetty Rd and all beaches are walking distance (half a mile max). The schools are mixed blend of private and good old fashioned normal schooling (!!) - Both of which get rave reviews. I have met loads of people here as it has a lot of clubs, playgroups, transport to city, etc.

 

I don't doubt Aldinga, etc has all that too, you can't really go wrong here if you have the right positive attitude.

[antlet]

Yes it is hard and I do understand that you want everything to be sorted before you arrive. It's only natural that you want to make the move as easy as possible, especially when you have kids.

Do you have a short term rental option? That's what we did in Henley. Took out the rental for 8 weeks - only stayed 4 as we found the place we wanted, but it gave us breathing space and the chance to look around, and sort schools without being stuck in a catchment area.

I have to say though, I can't speak highly enough about Henley High School. They were incredibly helpful before we came, and even met us pretty much the day we arrived to make sure "we" were ok, not just our daughter.

PM me if I can offer anything....

[AussieRob]

I guess I'm only going to repeat what has already been said. West Lakes is the most expensive of the areas you've listed, but is great for everything you need, cinema, hotel, shopping, watching AFL, even the soccer isn't to far away and with excellent transport links.

 

Shadow Park is a nice area though too, but, if i was going to look at that area then Hallet cove would be better, right on the train line and most houses with views of the sea. The train takes you through Seacliff and Brighton for beaches and cafe's / bars.

 

Aldinga is a long way from the city, but many people who live there are very happy. It has all the important ingrediants to be happy and comfortable, but doesn't offer a great choice or variety within a close vacinity. However if living by a beach is important and the budget is a little tighter then Aldinga is perfect.

 

There is no right answer, just what suits you and your family, but staying as central as possible to begin with keeps your options open for work, socialising etc... but it can be a little more expensive than the outer suburbs.

[Guest kangomik]

West lake shores.

Lots of things very close, and plenty to do.