Research - areas, guidance please!

[Guest brandyslad]

My OH wants to explore country living as opposed to living in the city. We would be happy to rent in Adelaide to get going but ideally city living wouldn't suit him long term, we live 60 miles from our nearest city here but in saying that we are only 1/4 mile out of the nearest village, so I'm not talking really remote! I would like to be within half an hour of Adelaide really at the most.

 

I have had a look at the map and am looking at a few towns but wanted to ask people for some suggestions, just so we can get a rough idea of what smaller towns are like, houses etc.

 

On my list so far I have Gawler and Mount Barker, any advice on these or other suggestions welcome, thanks.

[Guest Lulujim]

This is a really hard one - not many people reply to these threads (this was my first question on here too and I didn't get one reply!) - but don't take it personally - it's such a hUUUge answer and so subjective. Also seems quite sensitive as everyone likes their own area, obviously, and understandably don't want to disregard another!

 

I can't really help much, but I visited Mt barker on my reccie.

It is beautiful, really stunning and only 30/40 mins in to the CBD. I did feel quite detached and a bit remote even though it's only as far as some of the southern subrbs, to me, it felt quite far out.

It had a really 'quaint' high street - with a cafe with gorgeous yummy deli type mince pies, pastries etc..

We spoke to some people there and there seems to be a strong sense of community and lots of activites for children.. ballet, dance, horse-riding etc.. (I have 2 girls - so not sure about sports for boys etc..)

House prices are good - more land so if you like a bigger garden - or even not being as looked-in by your neighbours, the houses seemed a bit more spread out. There are lots of new builds too, we viewed one and they said they are building 100s more over the next few years on that estate!

 

Oh also: the estate agent told me the nearest beach people in Mt Barker tend to use is Victor Harbor.

 

Sorry can't be of any more help, Alexis

[Guest cornish Busdriver]

Hiya.

When we came over on our reccie last year we looked at aldgate and stirlin area that are only about 30 min from the city, didnt want city life as were fron Cornwall.

There are some realy nice houses out there and seems to have a good community feel to the area.

When we got here we decided to be by the beach out of the city area instead mainly cause missus was scared i would be playing with or trying to find snakes.

 

Matt

Christies Beach

[Guest Jo&Phil]

Mt Barker is a nice small town approx 20 mins from the city and would prob suit well - a bit cheaper (rental/buying) than city. Hills living so not so close to beaches

For beachside living you might look at Noarlunga (45 mins to city) or Aldinga (similar) or McLaren Vale (lovely wine region, 1 hour from city).

 

English 30 mins - given road conditions - is equal to 45 mins here as traffic better.

 

If you fancy small town feel but closer to city try Blackwood or Coromondel Valley (suburbs of Adelaide but only just) which are both halfway between hills and beach.

 

You're more likely to find rental in Blackwood, Coromondal Valley, Mt Barker, Noarlunga ........... have a look at www.realestate.com.au and put in one of these and then click on 'show near suburbs' for some more ideas

 

Good luck with your search

Jo :-)

 

 

Gawler is further north - 45 mins city - or you may like Tanunda or Nuriootpa in the Barossa region (1 hour from Adelaide)

[Guest Libby1971]

When we first started looking at moving to Adelaide, OH thought Gawler would be a good place to head for. At the time this site wasn't very old and Tyke kept saying about being south, and then Guzzler&Sas did too so we started looking.

 

When we did get here, we had a quick reccie at Gawler...it was nice, larger than I had expected, but with a high street sort of feel, up in the hills out of town and near lots of other small towns eg Lyndoch, Nuriootpa which are all part of the Barossa Valley but Gawler is on the ouksirts of that. Evanston Park isn't far away and there is ALOT of building going on there or there was.

 

We also went to Mount Barker...quite a few were commenting about it so I thought we would be nosey and have a look. Much smaller than Gawler, again with a high street feel, it didn't feel Australian much and we didn't think our kids would have had much to keep them occupied.

 

We went to Murray Bridge the other day...it was beautiful! Right on the Murray River, there was a beautiful reserve just by the river, with little cruises going up and down, ideal for a picnic or somewhere quiet to read a book. Town has shops in a number of scattered malls, essentially an undercover high street with air con, but nothing that felt too busy. We went down the highway and the journey there was 45 mins to the city.

[Guest woolmerdj]

Hi

we have just bought a house in Aldgate, which is in The Hills.It is about a 20-30 minute drive to the city but far enough to be in the country.Very pretty area, tree's wildlife and privacy.Cooler in summer, byt cold in winter!!

I have visited Mt Barker which has a mixed feel of being more like a town, but I have heard there is a lot of private and public housing being built, which you can use your imagination to conclude.

Wherever you live around Adelaide, with a good car you are never really that far away from the country or beach,

Jane

[Hayshake]

An area about 1 hour from the city is Murray Bridge. As it say's it is on the Mighty River Murray, so swimming and boating are close at hand. They have a Race Track for Horses and another for Speedway, a good open air swimming pool, a good Golf Course, but is still a small town, where property is quite cheap to rent and buy. The freeway runs from the city right up to Murray Bridge and once you are past Mount Barker the traffic is almost non existent.

Might be worth taking a look!!

[Guest brandyslad]

Thanks everybody, you have given me lots to go on!