UKC

I'm moving to Oz in a few months (Visa pending!!). I looking to live in a coastal town, outside of the city, but close to climbing and possibly the mountains for mountaineering & winter sports.

Just wondering were there's plenty of climbing and would make a really great place to live for my family??

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!

Mark

In reply to k2hvs: maybe somewhere near melbourne. i dont live in melboune , i live in the blue mountains but if you live near melboune your not to far away from arapiles or the grapians i think(dont take my work for it. or you could live near sydney, then you have all the sea cliffs nearby and the blue mountains 2 hrs away.

In reply to jay590:

Hi! We were considering Brisbane or Adelaide. As Sydney and Melbourne seem realy expensive places to live. Any thoughts on the matter??

Is there much climbing in the Blue Mountains as we were offered an exchange with a family from Katoomba, but it sadly fell through.

Also wondering is there anywhere in Australia similar in terrain to the French Alps, but maybe on a smaller scale?? Do you have ice climbing and mountaineering in the Winter???

Many thanks!!!

MArk

In reply to jay590:
"i live in the blue mountains"
They are beautiful!!

In reply to k2hvs:


New Zealand...

The Blue Mountains IS the centre of NSW climbing !! Though Nowra afficionados might disagree.

In reply to k2hvs:

http://www.onsight.com.au/shop/blue-mountains-climbing-2007-edition-p-219.h...

In reply to k2hvs: There is very, very little ice climbing in Australia, and what there is, is a long way from any major city. The Australian Alps aren't really like the French Alps at all. They are beautiful, but in a completely different way. Mountaineering isn't their strong point.

Brisbane is too warm for winter sports- it's hot up there. By British terms, very hot and very humid.

There is plenty of good sandstone climbing in the Blue Mountains, which are accessible from Sydney, but probably not in an after-work kind of way. Sydney is the most expensive place to live in Australia, particularly in terms of rent, but compared to the UK, Australia is cheap. Melbourne is a really nice city, but while isn't much climbing right there, it's not too far away. See www.chockstone.org for info.

Australia has brilliant climbing, but not a lot of it near major cities- that's one of the reasons I live over here now, 5 minutes instead of 2 hours from the nearest quality crag.

The best place I can think of is probably Tasmania. Have you thought about Hobart or Launceston?

In reply to k2hvs:
Brisbane has climbing about 1hr inland, but it would be too hot to climb at summer.
So it would depend what time of year you were thinking of going. Loads of beaches though.

Blue mountains has heaps of sport climbing, lots of climbers, and some more adventurous stuff too

Australian mountains are kind of hills but for about $300 you can fly to NZ

In reply to k2hvs: If it has to be Australia and you want something akin to mountaineering then my pick would be Tassie - Hobart or Launceston both have good access to climbing and there's great bushwalking there too. If you want mountaineering and winter sports, though, Australia is probably not the best country.

In reply to AdrianC:

and Tassies weather is a bit like the UK compared to the rest of Oz - much like NZ really

In reply to bare_feet:
Cheers! Really good info! Hadn't thought about Tasmania to be honest? Wll look in to it. Just wondering what the weather is like there? I'm a teacher, for my sins, so just wondering if there would be much call for this sort of job?

We don't want to live in a major city, but it has to be near the coast. I climb alot on sea cliffs. Is alot of the southern/eastern coast likely to deliver this type of climbing?

Also, is it cheap to fly and spend a week climbing in the Southern Alps? Or is this an expensive thing to do?

Many thanks for everyone's help!!! Keep it coming!!

MArk

In reply to k2hvs:

It is all relative. Teachers are reasonably well paid so spending $500 flying there and back is not bad really.
From Tassie though you have to fly to Melbourne first.
Tassie has sea cliffs

In reply to k2hvs:

http://www.thesarvo.com/confluence/display/thesarvo/Climbing+Guides

http://www.planetfear.com/articles/Cragging_in_Tasmania_265.html

http://www.geocities.com/craglets/index.htm

In reply to k2hvs: I live in sydney and i went to the aussie alps this winter and frnaly they are more like rolling hills then mountains, tho there is some ice climbing of sorts up there its pretty sparse.

they are currently offering all sorts of incentives for teachers to teach outside of the cities so you could do allright here.

central coast or south coast of nsw is really nice, newcastle, terrigal, avoca, places like that all have great beaches and there is generally a bit of bouldering about the place, tho the blueys would be your best bet for some decent climbing.

In reply to k2hvs: I left England to live in Sydney 4 yeards ago. Plus points - Massive amounts of very local, high quality bouldering (25+crags and growing all the time) for w/e, aferwork climbing. 40mins to bolted places like Berowra from Central Sydney. Central Coast is 1hours drive away north with loads of new bolted crags and bouldering which is growing all the time. Blue Mountains are 1.5 hours drive away. Nowra is about the same south plus you've got Point Perp etc - for these reasons, Sydney is without a doubt THE place to live if you want to climb all year round. Downsides are that for Australia it is expensive to rent/buy, the beaches aren't that great and for you, not much in the way of snow and ice.
Melbourne is a great city but the nearest climbing (and it is awesome) is the Arapiles/Grampians which a good 3.5-4 hours drive. Nice beaches, Wineries, surf etc.
Brisbane or Brisvegas has little to offer the climber accept its relative closeness to the trad/crack mecca Frog Buttress and the sweet granite bouldering at Harveys Marbles near Townsville. Its a sprawling suburbia full of bogans but the beaches are great and housing affordable, even if the city is caught in a 80's timewarp.
Adelaide is the city of churches - This should tell you everything you need to know. But seriously, its not that bad a place. Many locals drive to Araps/Gramps/Moonarie and it has somelocal bouldering at the Batchelor Pad and odds and sods at Norton Summit etc. Again, affordable with nice beaches, wineries, scenery etc.
Perth is just full of Poms (about a 3rd of the population) so you'll feel at home. However, it is the most returned from place for most migrants who can't cope with its position of relative isolation from the rest of the world. Great watersports, beaches, affordable etc, but miles from anywhere. Its does offer some good climbing if you're prepared to put in the miles behind the wheel. Its certainly not high on the list for the climber.
Don't know Tassie/NZ so can't comment.

In reply to Carnage:
The comments about NZ are just that if he wants Alpine stuff NZ is somewhat better than in Oz

In reply to k2hvs: Being from Adelaide, there is very little climbing, but brilliant road and MTB cycling. There are certainly climbing areas to drive to as mentioned, but they are a long drive away. Adelaide, is as they say a big country town rather than a city, but it is very chilled out.

I would personally choose Melbourne, if I ever moved back. Due to its locations and acess to everything. People have mentioned Araps and the Grampians I am also lead to believe there is great climbing in the Buller Gorge with some very big walls (not Yosemite mind), not climbed there myself, but hope to when I visit home next year.

Skiing is good, but not high. Ice climbing, there is some, but you need a good winter. NZ would be your best bet for anything winter or Alpine as Mr Rat has already said.

If you decide on Adelaide or Melbourne, drop me a mail and I can provide some info about best places to live and that sort of thing.

S

In reply to sasmojo:
>
You mean if they deport you...

In reply to nz Cragrat: Back in your box!

In reply to k2hvs:

Concur with Carnage with regards to Perth (moved out there myself and came back after a year). Very little local climbing and a looong way to anywhere decent (well minimum 3-3.5 hours to get to Willyabrup, the rest is >5hrs drive away).

slacky

In reply to sasmojo:

Many thanks everyone!!!! Really great advice!! I'm reading avidly!!

We have found out today that I need to be sponsored to go as I'm an old fart now! Apparently 34 is getting on a bit! So, we are looking at Victoria. Somewhere outside the city along the coast would be ideal. Just wondering if you would head East or West from Melbourne? Are there any really fantastic locations that would be great for a family beach/outdoor life and where I could get my climbing fix without having to travel very far (no more than 30min)???

Cheers

Mark

In reply to k2hvs:

Nearest decent crags to MEL are 2-3hrs away (grampians and Araps west, Mt Buffalo North)

In reply to k2hvs: I was sponsored at the age of 34 and spent the past four years in Sydney, although I have now returned, to Ilkley. Funnily enough I am currently on my way back to Perth for the week but am already looking forward to getting out on the grit when I get back to Yorkshire at the weekend.

Carnage is right on the money, I'd chose Sydney everytime, but the mexicans (Victorians south of the border) keep banging on about Vic for some reason. If you are serious about climbing then Sydney is the place to go, if you are very very serious about climing then it's Horsham for you Bruce! Life in Australia is just fantastic, if you are up for a good lifestyle go there. But don't enjoy it too much or you'll get fat and weak like Carnage.

I don't know why being sponsored should limit you to Vic but I'd go for Sydney if you possibly can.

In reply to Archangel:

You should check out the rental market too, it's bloody expensive here in Syd (luckily i'm squatting at my cousins!!!)

www.realestate.com.au

www.domain.com.au

I suggest margeret river. Not much in the way of snow sports, however is a small town, good surf, climbing and caving! It is in WA. Check it out.

In reply to k2hvs: If you run a search for 'Point Perpendicular', you'll find some of the best sea cliff climbing in Australia. It's also in an incredibly beautiful area. Nowra might be worth a look if you like bolts.

Tassie weather is colder and wetter than the rest of Australia, but if you're used to the UK, you'll probably be right at home.

You'd be better off driving to the Alps, by far. By UK terms it'd be cheap.

Teacher? Come right in... There's always a shortage. Maths and science seem to be in particular demand.

In reply to k2hvs:

Sydney and Melbourne are quite nice places to live.

the other cities you mentioned are pretty grim. my own opinion of course but australia tends to not have much depth in the more provisional towns and cities.

In reply to bare_feet:
Cheers!!
Point Perpendicular looks amazing! Anyone know of anymore beautiful places to live along the coast between Sydney and Melbourne that would be great family places to live and have some sort of climbing/bouldering and might be worth checking out???

Many thanks for all your help!!!!

Mark

In reply to k2hvs:

http://www.sydneyclimbing.com/crag_map.html

have a look at that site it has loads of climbing in and around sydney, id recommend terrigal about 1.5hrs up the coast, really nice beach town and as you can see from the map plenty of climbing about the place, and lots more to be developed. (my dream is to move out of sydney to avoca just south or terrigal, its paradise!)

In reply to sasmojo:

Just to note Buffalo Gorge, not Buller. Buller is a down hill ski resort which has sometimes a bit of ice climbing...

http://www.chockstone.org/MtBulla/MtBulla.htm

Mount Buffalo http://www.chockstone.org/MtBuffalo/MtBuffalo.htm

In reply to dalai: Of course we need to cut him a bit of slack, he is from Adelaide after all!

In reply to Dave C:

and he has been in the old country for a bit long

In reply to SuperK:

Right that's it's I want to move to Avoca!!!! WOW!!!

I just like to say a BIG thanks to everyone to all of your help! We have spent alot of time researching all the places that you have been recommending and checking out the websites.

The info has been invaluable!!!

As I look out the window hear in the uk (it's tipping down for the 10th day running!!!) iI can't wait to move!

Any more ideas are always more than welcome!

Mark

In reply to k2hvs:

I hope you like spiders and snakes...

the 10 most venomous snakes are in Australia.

In reply to k2hvs: Most of the Central Coast region is a good choice to get the best of both worlds. There is a very good local scene around there with plenty of activity and new crags. Plus its not too far to the Blueys as you skirt round Sydney and avoid much of the traffic. Heres some pics from the the Flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/hrccc/

Its reasonably cheap compared to Sydney (although prices have risen somewhat in recent years) and you can get a good sized house/plot, some of the beaches are beautiful (such as Pearl Beach), its very green and leafy, and theres all the amenities a family could need.

Oh and ignore all the scare stories about snakes and spiders. I've been here for 4 years and (even with plenty of thrashing through the bush) have seen a grand total of 1 Funnel Web, A couple of Huntsman spiders (big but not dangerous) and 1 red bellied black snake (not dangerous). There are some nasties like brown snakes around in the summertime but you just tread carefully in the areas where they live.

Good luck!

In reply to Carnage:

The Red bellied Black Snake is venomous and dangerous...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Black_Snake

PS Remember I live in a place with neither nasties so tend to get jumpy

Brown snake at Berowra, Sydney

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cragrat/2591798575/

In reply to nz Cragrat: yea i have to admit, on my first trip to the blueys, i saw a snake (unknown type) and a funnel web on the first night outside our tent. and 2 nights later the gum tree next to us lost a branch that smashed a fence to peices. note: DO NOT camp under gum trees! no one tells you that when you first arrive

and once i topped out on a climb only to find i was standing next to a HUGE python type thing, but it wandered off thanks god.

but thats all the nasty things i have seen in 2 years so thats not bad really i think.

In reply to nz Cragrat: Haha - Well, the red bellied is not that dangerous when compared to the others! I was more making the point that encounters, whilst not entirely uncommon, don't happen every time you venture outside.

In reply to Carnage:

You want the place full of Brits? ... oops

In reply to nz Cragrat:

I had this encounter with a massive brown snake (Eastern Brown?) at Arapiles once. It was on this log on the way to the Grotto that you had to walk along. It was not until later that it occurred to me that if it could retreat that fast backwards while looking me in the eye it can probably go forwards faster !!

The Eastern Brown Snake is the second most venomous land snake in the world after the Inland Taipan. Although Eastern Browns will seek to avoid confrontation, their venom is very toxic, and can be fatal; even juveniles have caused human fatalities. The venom contains both neurotoxins and blood coagulants.

In reply to k2hvs:
Newcastle is a gem of a place. It has a great beach, a nice vibe, housing is cheaper and it is reasonably close Blue Mountains (in Oz terms). If I were going to live in Oz, that's were I'd go. Family live in Bris. It is a nice town but hot, proper troppo hot.

Bruce

In reply to nz Cragrat: There are Eastern Brown & Tiger Snakes along the creek at the bottom of our garden!
In the immortal words of Billy Connolly, "they won't harm you if you don't annoy them.....who annoys these bastards! Is anybody that bored!!"

So you'll probably not be visiting us anytime soon then?

In reply to Dave C:

Not really - just been in Sydney June till August...

In reply to nz Cragrat:

The little buggers will start coming out of hibernation around here next month. Our cats like to harass them if they come in the garden so they generally stay out!