Tell me about Port Noarlunga

Hi all, we've booked our flights and will be securing our rental in Port Noarlunga this week... we're due to arrive on May 3rd and we are soooooo excited, can't wait!!!!

I've heard good things about Port Noarlunga, but I want to hear more, the good, the bad and the ugly!...

We are a young family, me (Ali) 31, Will 34, Megs 7 and Aus 3, is there heaps going on in Port Noarlunga for a young family like us? Megs currently does ballet and goes to Brownies, Austin is a proper lad and I'll be looking to get him in to rugby or at least something where he can burn off all that energy. Will plays rugby union, he considers himself a veteran, but I'd like to think he'd join a club in Aus and continue to play. I just like to be a mum and do mumsy things

What are the schools like, I've taken a look at the Port Noarlunga Primary School and Frieda Corpe Kindergarten websites, which look great! Are there other schools/kindergartens in the area, if so what are they like? Here in the UK if there isn't a place available at the school, the kids won't be accepted, is this the case in Oz? I'm worried I won't find a local school for the kids

Will's looking to join the police force in Oz, what is the commute like up to the academy (Port Adeliade)? Traffic, distance, time etc?

I make cakes and cards for any occasion, am also a talented artist specialising in portraits, I can also turn my hand to sewing, making dolls clothes etc... do you think this would go down well in Port Noarlunga?

I've heard the population in Port Noarlunga is 25% British born? If so, anyone from Yorkshire? We are from Halifax and would really like to make contact with families of a similar age? Or anyone else who's nice

Thanks all, look forward to your replies.

Ali & Will

That's an awful long way to commute, Willber. Port Noarlunga to Largs Bay - 45.4 Km, 1hour 22mins, according to Google Maps. Let's hope he gets posted somewhere a bit nearer when he passes out.

Let's hope he gets posted somewhere a bit nearer when he passes out.

LOL if I were him I'd be passing out when I realised how long my commute to Largs is going to be!

This is a good site for checking distances and commuting times - RAA

Plus points - fantastic beach with jetty and reef which gives a "sheltered" area (great for smaller kids). Great surfing at the south end of the beach too. As with most beaches, there's a surf life saver club, which is great for the kids if you can get them involved. Close to shopping centre (colonnades) and train/bus hub. Nice restaurants / cafe's just down from beachfront, together with an Art Centre.

Not sure on rugby clubs, but with a code change there's plenty of soccer and aussie rules in the area. Plenty of craft fairs and the like on the weekend in Port N and the surrounding area.

Reagrding schools - contact them (even before you come over) and arrange a look around/chat. There are plenty to chose from, and you need not restrict to yourself to the nearest one.

Bad points - yep, largs bay is a long drive. But I'm guessing you'll only be there for a few months?

Thanks guys. We will definitely be at Noarlunga for 3 months as this is the length of time we have booked our accommodation for. I think the application process for the police force takes approximately 3 months anyhow, so we should be in a position to know after the 3 months weather its a goer or not. I guess I was hoping that if we liked Noarlunga, we would stay... but if Will gets in to the police force, he'll have to train at the academy for 2 years so that commute would be a grind. I guess all we can do is wait til we are there and see how it all goes. Me being me... miss organised... I'm trying to get everything sorted before we go. I think if we are not going to stay in Port Noarlunga for the foreseeable future, I won't want to put the kids in to school there.

Thanks for your advice nichman regarding the craft fairs and stuff, has given me some ideas

Anymore advice welcome

Cheers

Ali & Will

port noarlunga's lovely, we're in seaford and my two boys go to onkaparinga devils rugby club, they've got touch rugby on for the summer, they'll be starting up again with proper rugby union in march. its a nice club to be involved with. as for schools, as far as i can make out, they have to take you if you want to enrol, mine are at seaford so i cant comment on the schools in that area, its nice though, i'd recommend it.

good luck.

helen.

That's great, thanks Helen

So excited

Hi,

We have lived in Port Noarlunga for nearly 2 years and love it.

Beach is great, 'Becks Bakery', lovely cafes/restaurants !!!

My daughter is at Port Noarlunga Primary however she is moving school in January as I am not to happy with it there. My little one is in the Frieda Corpe Kindy and so far so good!!!

I think its a great place for families, shopping centre, station, parks, beach, kids activities eg. Soccer, gymnastics, Nippers, Swimming etc etc all within easy reach!

I would love to live here permanently but think it will be to expensive for us when we eventually have enough money to buy....

Hope this help

Heidi xx

Thanks Heidi, that's very imformative

What school will you be moving your daughter to? Would it be possible to tell me what you disliked about Port Noarlunga school, PM me if you like?

Do you know if there is a Brownies or equivlent nearby? I've been told that there are Brownies in Australia, but I haven't been able to find any reference on the internet.

Ali

Hi ali

we are in seaford which we love, Port Noarlunga looks to have a lot to offer for families, swimming, lovely beaches, parks etc.

Found this website for my daughter to start when she is 5 in December, Girl Guides South Australia

Karen

Girls can also do Scouts here -a few of my daughter's friends do that and have a great time, with camping trips, gang shows, hikes etc.

I can't help on the schools front I'm afraid but I can tell you what I think of Port Noarlunga.

I used to live in the North of the City and had only ever heard negatives about Port Noarlunga. I live down South now and whilst I can understand some of those old comments, I can't agree with them.

Port Noarlunga possibly has the best reputation of the Southern Suburbs, it's the area people say they live near because of it's reputation. I personally can't see quite what's so special about it, the houses are pretty much the same as other areas in the vicinity. What Port Noarlunga does have though is a good Cafe scene, and decent Indian restaurant, a nice quality restaurant, a good pub and Thai restaurant that should be fantastic as it's got the best view of Port Noarlunga, but it's very basic inside (good food though). The local fish and chip shop has an excellent reputation, but I haven't tried it yet.

The beach is it's best feature, with my partners son already going down Jetty Jumping now it's warmer, and it's a popular hang out for the teenage kids.

Thanks everyone, sounds great!