Sunny Coast - Areas recommendation for living?

Hi guys,

We are thinking of moving to the sunny coast and we are starting to look at different areas. We spent a couple days up there and really liked the vibe, but it's not quite enough to know which areas are best and which to avoid.
We want to stay clear of the bogans and are looking for areas that are safe, with good amenities, schools, family friendly, preferably near the water (dreaming of a canal place).

What would probably be most useful is areas to stay clear from, and we can sorta work up from there.

I hope some locals can chip in!

Cheers
 
Brightwater, Birtinya Island for new. Birtinya also has canal fronts. As does Wurtulla and Minyama. And the world famous Noosa of course at the top end of The Coast. And Pelican Waters at the south end. PM me for info if you like.
 
Thanks mate for the reply.
We would probably prefer established. We had a look at Pelican waters, pretty nice, all new! Pricing comparable to Minyama though, so not sure about that one.

What do you think of Parrearra?

Any areas you would stay clear from?

Thanks again
 
Buderim but don't forget "on" and not "in". Yes that's right they distinguish between whether you're on the plateau or not. There are about 10 areas in Buderim.

Seriously, it took a hit with the GFC and FIFO miner downturn but I believe it's on the up as is the Sunnie Coast in general. I've been watching expensive acreage and high end homes (still a soft market as expected) but the sub $600k market seems warm and getting warmer.

It has good private medical specialists served by many interstate specialists, the nearly completed private hospital nearby opening in 2016 (it has its own also), good private schools and well serviced with all the shopping outlets you need there or close by.

Lower Aussie dollar is helping tourist market etc. and it seems the days of a high Aussie dollar are over.

Just my 20c worth. Happy to ramble on. We have three lots of relatives that live on the Sunnie Coast. We're buying there in 2015 and again in 2019 when we'll retire there.
 
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Thanks for the reply - yeah i've heard many good things about Buderim. I don't think it'll work for us though as we are looking at being on the water.

I can't seem to find much about areas to avoid on the Sunny Coast - is this because there aren't the Auburns and Mt Druitts equivalent of Sydney?
 
Do plenty of research. There's actually lots of reclaimed land closer to the coast that has had new estates (with not cheap) houses placed on them. The place has really changed in 20 years.

Nambour is a cheaper area. West of the Bruce Hwy also (i.e. not on the coast side). I like it but some would say steer away from it. We're in the position to afford a lot better so hence sticking to east of the highway.

For acreage I like spots like Woombye and Palmwoods, probably the former over the latter. Has a small community centre with a Super IGA (better than just the ordinary IGAs), post office, bakery, train station, pub etc. Has a real nice feel to it. These are both on the west side of the Bruce Hwy so pretty affordable. Close to Nambour where you'd do your weekly shop at the new/huge Coles.

Oh goodness I'm rambling.
 
I grew up in caloundra. Nice place, if you are a retiree, golden beach is a very relaxed area and very close to amenities + hospital. If you like the surf away from the very busy kings beach, I would look at dicky beach or moffat beach. Thats where I would live.
 
Golden Beach is just a sweet spot. We try to go there each year when we visit, have a burger at the cafe, people watch....ah the simple things.
 
If I had the $$$, then Moffatt Beach and other northern Caloundra beaches, Maroochydore, Alex, Mooloolabah. Gosh I'm old.

Next choice - Sunshine Beach, Coolum and Noosa, anywhere except the tourist strips. Note I'm not looking for any schools. I'd live just about anywhere on the SC but I'm sentimental, not in it for the profits. At my age I'm more interested in hospitals or (future) nursing homes than schools. Mudjimba underneath the flight paths is still lovely and has very nice homes.
 
I've stayed at friends' house at Moffat many times and I love Caloundra too.

I have family on Bribie Island, and whilst I'm not suggesting you move there, I've heard from them (when they were looking to move from a townhouse to a house) that they didn't want to buy on a canal. They said the canals smell due to the lack of good water flow in and out, mosquitos are bad and noise bounces around from one side to the other.

I thought they were being a bit precious until I met an agent in their search and she said exactly the same things.

I wonder if that is just the Bribie Island canals or ALL canals?
 
Hi guys, thanks for the replies!

Very interesting point you raise about the canals!
When we went up there a couple weeks back, we inspected a house in Minyama on the canal. I did not pay attention to it at the time, but definitely did not notice any smell coming from it, even when we went on the jetty to have a look.

Perhaps it depends on the weather and the tide?

Wylie, did the agent you meet was on bribie island too?
No idea about noise and mosquitos, but also interested in any feedback!
 
Bribie canals are built on reclaimed mangrove swamp, that's why they smell and have mozzies. I can remember doing a science project there as a teen.
If I was moving to the SC I would be going to Mooloolaba lots of beachside dining and lifestyle stuff. I stay there every chance I get. Disclaimer: I don't have to consider schooling.
 
Bribie canals are built on reclaimed mangrove swamp, that's why they smell and have mozzies. I can remember doing a science project there as a teen.
If I was moving to the SC I would be going to Mooloolaba lots of beachside dining and lifestyle stuff. I stay there every chance I get. Disclaimer: I don't have to consider schooling.

(Waves to Joan). We made the move up here nearly 10years ago. like Joan we holiday-ed in Mooloolaba for all the reasons Joan mentions. But you just don't want to live there. Living in the middle of tourists just doesn't work, far too noisy and busy for actual living (going to bed at a decent hour and having to get up for work). We chose a resort unit in Dicky Beach, close to everything but not in the heart of "tourism"

As you are coming from a bit of a distance, I would suggest, not even thinking of buying just yet. Pick an area and rent for 6months.

We were lucky enough to be coming from Brisbane's Northside, so we spent a LOT of time up here commuting for a while.

Good luck :)
 
Was a surf member at dicky beach for years, great little spot, out of the way and not many tourists compared to kings beach or Alexandra Headlands.

I look at houses there compared to Melbourne and Sydney, and so cheap for what you get.
 
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