It was a shock to discover that in January I will have been living in Port Macquarie for seven years. I had to count on my fingers using the kid’s school years to work it out, Hippie Child was in Year 4 now she’s in Year 9 that’s one … two … and so on. Maths was never my strong point.
But that has got to be the fastest moving seven years of my life! No question.
This place we call home is coastal town with a population of around 49,000 or, when you include the smaller communities in the Council area has well, about 70,000.
Surf, sand, some wineries, a restaurant or two, the little fishing village is growing up.
However, after 23 years of city living there were some adjustments that needed to be made in moving to life in the country.
I’ve come up with my top five list of things you need to realise if you are making a sea change/tree change.
1. Don’t moan to your colleagues about the painter you hired, he’s probably related to the office accountant.
2. If you are relying on the classifieds for the job advertisements you are going about it the wrong way, join the local footy club, volunteer as a surf lifesaver, chat to parents at your kid’s soccer games, that’s where the jobs are being “advertised”.
3. Leaving the shopping to Christmas Eve doesn’t work in a place where there are a limited choice of shops and stock. Trust me, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT ON THE SHELVES AND NEWCASTLE IS A TWO AND HALF HOUR DRIVE AWAY. Sorry for the shouting I’m obviously still scarred from the first holiday season spent here.
4. Your budget needs to add in increased fuel consumption, soccer games are no longer a few k’s to the next suburb, they are in the next town which is an hour up the highway. A Sunday drive can be a three-hour round trip (although that could be something to do with your husband’s inability to follow directions – and nothing at all to do with the fact the phone service dropped out and you lost google maps, then you had the paper map upside down for most of the journey).
5. You forget your own history of holidaying in the town for 20 odd years and immediately develop an irritation for tourists who nick all the best car parks during the school breaks.
See, it’s important you come prepared if you intend to relocate. Gosh you are lucky to have me with my words of wisdom!
Over the next few months I’m going to take you touring to a few of the places of interest in Port Macquarie, I’m just working out the negotiations with the crew, who are proving to be a little difficult over the idea of family exploring, photo taking and blogging the outcomes. They are starting to talk contracts, with photo refusal options and confidentiality clauses. As if I would ever tell embarrassing stories on the blog??
Where do you live? Tell us about it in the comments.
Thank you to Sarah at Home To Roost for suggesting this as way of getting to know the participants in the Just B Blog School (which is free and open to anyone I believe).
Not having heard of Port Macquarie before and thinking that New Castle was in the Uk (which I am pretty sure there is a place with the same name there too right?) and not in Australia… I’ve already learned a bit by coming here but I’m looking forward to exploring more the sights through your upcoming posts. (If you manage to bribe the crew..:)
Yes there is Newcastle in the UK as well. Thanks for stopping by, I’ll keep working on the crew to get the other posts happening.
Your points are all absolutely spot on. I might also add to be prepared to lose your anonymity. No such thing as popping quickly to the shops – there will be 4 people you will need to stop and have conversations with.
Oh Yes!
i hear you, janine! we’ve been in my house for 7 or 8 years, and these middle childhood years go by quickly! maybe one day i’ll come visit and be one of the tourists who nick parking places. isn’t that funny how you forget that you used to be a tourist there, until you got smart and moved. but now where do you go for vacation? joy to you, n
I would so love you to be one of the pesky tourists. We have struggled a bit with going on vacation since we got here, financially, my husband’s health issues, then building a house all contributed to that, I also sometimes find it hard to justify spending money to go to another holiday spot particularly a beach when we have such great beaches here. Last year we had a couple of trips to Sydney and the road trip to visit family further South. Hopefully in 2013 we’ll get to do a couple of getaways to special places.
I can attest to the FACT that you are very lucky to live where you do! I have lived a lot of places and traveled to a lot more and without a doubt think that Port Macquarie NSW is right at the top!!! I think Australia in general is amazing…the Gold Coast is beautiful…loved everything I saw and experienced from Sydney to (almost) Brisbane! But, I was lucky enough to be able to explore the area and beaches of Port and absolutely loved it! You are all lucky indeed!
We are lucky indeed.
Hi, we are moving to Port Macquarie ( from Alice Springs) for a sea change in January 2014. Just wondering what you think of the Shelly Beach area to live in and Hastings Primary school / Port Macquarie Highschool? Cheers, Sara
Hi Janine,
My family (4 kids, 5 if you include my man child ) have been living in Sydney on the Northern Beaches for 9yrs now and although we love it here we just cant afford to get ahead. We love the Port Macquarie area and are thinking of making a change. Where would be the best area for me to be looking for houses with schools both primary and highschool (good ones). We are going to be making a road trip up your way to suss some things out, but knowledge from a local is always helpful 🙂
Thanks,
Jennifer
Sent you an email.
Hi Janine,
We too are thinking of making a “sea change” from sydney’s northern beaches – 2 children one almost 14 and another 10. My brother moved there 12 months ago and loves it, my only issue is employment later on. I really need some good advice and thinking of lighthouse beach area – on the high side opposite the beach? I have also heard that SCAS is a great school which my brothers kids go to – I would really lvoe to talk to you.
Nicole
Hi Nicole, I’ll email you some suggestions, I really need to do a blog post about this!
Yes please do!
Hi Janine,
I found your blog quite entertaining and informative-Thanks for that!
I know you may have now had this question about a billion times, and I am more than happy to do our own research, which we have been doing, but my fiancee and I have recently come up with the idea of moving to the lovely looking port Macquarie-we’re both in our early 30’s, and our only real concern is getting good work there. My fiancee should be fine we’re guessing, as she is an enrolled nurse, and have seen there’s a couple of hospital options there. The issue is more myself-as have predominantly only worked in offices for about the past 15 years, mainly call centre type roles, but looking to develop some skills and qualifications between now and moving there, in the Business administration areas.
If you can give any advice as to whether my type of skills may be easily transferable to a place like Port Macquarie, this would be hugely appreciated, as we’re very eager to move there, we’ve both lived many places, and are currently based on the gold coast-ACHING to escape the relentless crowds to a much more relaxed vibe.
Thanks hugely in advance. Matt.
I Matt I will email you a reply.
Hello Janine,
Your website it’s really good, I wondering if you could give me some suggestion about the best area , safe with god catholic primary schools. Me and my family will be moving from UK after New Year in 2016.
In September we just going for 3 weeks just look around
I will be very appreciate for any advice
Best regards
Dorota
Janine,
are you still living in Port Mac?
Yes I am.
hi
I’m single parent 2 kids(8&10) and thinking of moving
from Sydney northern beaches as I cannot afford anymore as the rent is soooo high and keeps rising plus soooo much traffic- I’m care worker for elderly so should be good for job- I don’t have much in support network in Sydney anyway other than my sis and nephews but I have friend here at port Macquarie and I am holidays here and loving it- what should I consider? any big things I haven’t thought of?
I don’t drink/smoke/drug and so
don’t need night life etc
what do kids do school
hols(winter) – vacation care for working parents?
I like lighthouse and Shelly beach for renting a house as soooo
much cheaper than where I am currently
any advice would be awesome
thanks
Hi Kylie, there is vacation care for kids during the holidays, here’s one http://www.pmncinfo.org.au/pages/oosh-vacation-care.php and this is another http://www.jumbosplayland.com.au/oosh_vacation_care.html plus there are quite a lot more, I haven’t used any for my kids but I’m sure they are all good.
Lighthouse and Shelly are both very nice areas with a good primary school. Port Macquarie is a lovely place to live, work can be difficult to get although the industry you are in is a growing field here, but we certainly enjoy living here. Good luck if you choose to move.
thanks for that
what about prices for electricity/gas
and food- fruit/vegs
is it anymore exp than Sydney?
I will be renting but to make it a good financial move I want make sure I’m not going spend more $$ on living
thanks