G'day!

[June Pixie]

Hi there, just stumbled across this site and been reading posts for a little while now and would like some advice regarding living in certain areas in Adelaide.

First off we are a family of 4 – 2 kids who will be 13 and 8 when we come over next year. We don’t need to be anywhere specific for work commitments and we are not high earners so we are looking for modest 3 bed rentals. I have searched extensively on the net (real estate.au and the rest) and have narrowed the possibilities down to these areas: Maylands, Medindie, Prospect, North Adelaide and Bowden. Obviously from the areas chosen we are looking to be close to the city (within 15 minutes)
Would anyone who has lived in these areas be able to tell me if these areas are suitable for family living and if lots of families live there? Our other nearby requirements would be:

Kids play parks,
Parks & green spaces,
Cycle ways accessible to city
Recreation centre for kids
Tennis Courts/swimming pool (is there an open air one somewhere near?)
At a push a horse riding school (I realise I may have to travel for this one)

I’m looking for an honest account from someone who has lived in any of these places or if the places I have mentioned don’t offer what we are looking for. Obviously when we get over there it’ll be easy to look around and decide there and then but I’m pretty specific in wanting to be near the city and the areas look great for the price.



Many thanks in advance for reading my long first post and really hope someone can give me some insight into living in any of these areas.

[kangomik]

i certainly would not call medindie undesirable.

Your close to the busy "ring road" so just have a good look at how close, you also on or close to both flight paths, when the wind blows one way not to much of an issue, when its blows the other this could be quite noisey. again COULD.

There's plenty of bike paths, your right next to the swimming pool. and everything will be close by.

My advice..... have a good look around.

[June Pixie]

Thanks Kangomik - Never thought of the flight path but then again where I live now in UK I'm on the flight path or just off it so I'm used to that kind of noise.

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

[SA Great]

Hi there, just stumbled across this site and been reading posts for a little while now and would like some advice regarding living in certain areas in Adelaide.

First off we are a family of 4 – 2 kids who will be 13 and 8 when we come over next year. We don’t need to be anywhere specific for work commitments and we are not high earners so we are looking for modest 3 bed rentals. I have searched extensively on the net (real estate.au and the rest) and have narrowed the possibilities down to these areas: Maylands, Medindie, Prospect, North Adelaide and Bowden. Obviously from the areas chosen we are looking to be close to the city (within 15 minutes)
Would anyone who has lived in these areas be able to tell me if these areas are suitable for family living and if lots of families live there? Our other nearby requirements would be:

Kids play parks,
Parks & green spaces,
Cycle ways accessible to city
Recreation centre for kids
Tennis Courts/swimming pool (is there an open air one somewhere near?)
At a push a horse riding school (I realise I may have to travel for this one)

I’m looking for an honest account from someone who has lived in any of these places or if the places I have mentioned don’t offer what we are looking for. Obviously when we get over there it’ll be easy to look around and decide there and then but I’m pretty specific in wanting to be near the city and the areas look great for the price.

I’m not bothered about these areas being less than desirable as I have lived in some dodgy areas in the UK and Scotland –1 of the areas I lived came out ‘most undesirable place to live in the entire Northern Hemisphere’ So unless Adelaide is crime capital of the Southern Hemisphere I think we will cope.

Many thanks in advance for reading my long first post and really hope someone can give me some insight into living in any of these areas.

I reckon you have chosen some of the dearest areas in Adelaide there!! We lived in Bowden when we first came over in 1991 and to be honest I hated it!! Lots of dropkicks, we got our car grafitied and we were pleased to get out. On the plus side it was VERY close to the city but that was the only good point i can think of. I also worked there up until last Wed (18 years at the Clipsal site) so i know the area very well. A lot of people are saying it is an up and coming area and they are currently extending the tram line to there. I think it has a long way to go IMO. Medindie, and parts of North Adelaide and Prospect are nice but not as green and lush as the outer suburbs. Out of all the places you suggested (and assuming you can afford it) I would choose North Adelaide. Hope this helps.

[kangomik]

Hey no worries June.

But as posted above, there are better areas in my opinion. Thats not to say this area is not full of money, the areas are probably the most expensive. I am just saying its worth a look around.

Cheers

[June Pixie]

Great thanks all - So i've chose the expensive ones - Ooops- well we haven't got money to burn so where would my money go further in the outer northern suburbs in less desirable areas?

[SA Great]

Areas at the top of north east road like highbury and athelstone, also wynn vale and golden grove are worth a look.

[kangomik]

tea tree gully area spreads far and wide, with the outdoor pool at modbury/ridgehaven...... open Nov to April?
You could cycle down the torrens path to the city.

Spead from para hills across to pooraka. Then parafield to semaphore.


Basically there is a big area to hit.

[Rachiegarlo]

Also consider the suburbs just south of the city like Unley, Parkside, and surroundings. Here you get tree lined streets, parks, Unley swimming pool, the city is close and it's less expensive than those suburbs you looked at. Also there is a wider choice of primary schools within these areas.

Other suburbs within the same distance of the city are Nailsworth, Walkerville and Gilberton, St Peters and surrounds. Will give you the same access to the city but also the bike paths along the river. The closeby suburbs to the East like Glenunga, Marryatville offer the same and also a choice of schools.

[June Pixie]

Hi thanks for all that info - been looking at the options and Unley seems to be good for us. My daughter would be applicable to to to Unley High School and son Unley Primary - Does anyone have children in these schools to give an opinion? Very small point but my daughter wants to know what the uniform will be like at Unley High - the website doesn't have pictures of the kids like others, say Adelaide High school.