Moving to Queensland - what can I bring in?

[Tony Egan]

I have been to nimbin once the first time I was here in 1999. We camped overnight and while it was interesting it's not on my top lost of places to go back to. Thought it a bit of a 'wild west' experience at the time though equally I wasn't keen on Byron either which seemed a bit too boutiqey. Fussy ain't I?

Sent from my GT-I9100

Yes, Byron is an overpriced zoo these days. Lots of designer trinkets and trendies to negotiate to find what's left over of the soul of the place. Still love the beaches though.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Well yes, the Nimbin cemetery is sprinkled with my ancestors who were dairy farmers in the area - Doon Doon, Uki, Nimbin etc. I went to school in Lismore for 6 years in the '70s and know the region well. Committed my own petty crimes on the streets of Nimbin back in the day. Why did you leave?

A falling-out with the owners of the property when I came back with a Hearing Assistance Dog. Dogs (cats etc.) at the time were as welcome as herpes on a honeymoon, even those recognised under law. Ferrets seemed to be all the go at the time, along with galahs perched on shoulders and nibbling their master's dreadlocks. So I exited. Four years later, I turned over the Hearing Dog (and the stupid hearing aids) to do things my way. So far, so good, 26 years on...

Byron Bay has terrific beaches, I'll agree on that, but othewise I'm after more excitement and visual stimulation, not sterile yuppy strip-shops and boutiques, so it's the rainforests or beaches down the east coast. I do like the lighthouse location, but a very similar one with wilder scenery exists on Bruny Island, Tasmania.

 

[Glenn Mathison]

There are some lovely places to visit around there whilst you search for the right one for you. Enjoy the journey ;-)

 

[Athiril]

Depends how close to the beach, jobs, culture and infrastructure you want/need to be and how much you want to pay of course. Somewhere like Murwillumbah has reasonable cost of living, close to beaches, national parks and major airport at Coolangatta but far enough away from the tourist strip to avoid all those negatives. Less than 90 minutes to Brisbane if you need the facilities of a large city occasionally. Mullumbimby is similar but smaller. Nimbin is so-so. I woudn't live there. Uki just outside Murwillumbah can give you a similar counter-cultural, small village lifestyle without the feral tourists and petty criminals. I lived fairly close to Inglewood at Wallangarra on the border for 4 years in my teens. Girraween NP is a great place for photography but I don't think I could live in towns like Tenterfield or Casino. Kyogle might be as far west as I would consider but I come from the personal viewpoint of liking being close the beach and having an occasional conversation with a non-right winger!!

p.s. my wife and I have always had a soft spot for Bangalow. Let's retire to a little bungalow in bangalow

I used to live in Brunswick Heads, in fact spent most of my life there, right next to Mullumbimby. It is one of the nicest places you could ever hope to live. It is also beautiful. It is also not far from the gold coast. It's also a lovely place for a midnight summer's walk, usually very quiet unless there is something on (fireworks, carnival, something at the single pub, which is one of the nicest looking pubs, large outdoor beer garden overlooking the river), warm with a pleasant breeze, and usually a sweet smell in the air down across the river behind the beach.

All the places you are suggesting there are inland, and are not really ideal. They are kind of more isolated than my tiny town of 2000 people (Brunswick Heads) I used to live in.


Lismore is a terrible place to live. It is large suburbia at it's worst. Probably the drug user and dealer capital of the area (not talking about the laid back pot smokers), assault, violence, major crime.. terrible. It is also quite isolated. It is also always cut off by flooding, roads cut off, and even cave in deep into the ground there. Most the place there is very prone to flooding and it happens quite often.

The coastal areas on the north coast on the other hand, all drain out very well during the storms.

 

[Athiril]

Murwillumbah looks good. Will check it out when we go on our little tour in the coming weeks (getting a car sorted first).
The other options we have are Brisbane which seems pretty expensive or Toowoomba over here which is maybe a bit too far inland but nearer the folks.
That nsw/ qld border still appeals more.

Sent from my GT-I9100

Price? I'd probably stay away from anything more than 30 min drive from the coastline. Including Brisbane area.

Byron is expensive (and not a great place to live imho), but nearby areas are great (such as where I used to live in Brunswick Heads). The whole north east coast of NSW continually has some kind of community & cultural activity/festival/market going on somewhere. The farmer's markets are close by too. One of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen including pictures is near Byron. It is called White's Beach in Broken Head. It is actually not suitable for swimming, as it is isolated, no life guards for miles, and a slow drive to get to from anywhere with help, and the water looks dangerous.

It is a long walk down the steps cut into the cliff, but the rock formations are tall and beautiful. It is iconic and scenic, well worth the visit.

The picture of it here: http://www.byron-bay-beaches.com/whites-beach.html

Is actually on the other side of White's Beach, the one showed is very dull and large compared to White's Beach. White's Beach is like some magical landscape portrait out of a fantasy movie.