Cairns

[smidsy]

Hi Guys,
Thinking about a move north, hopefully for teaching work but if that falls through tempted to go anyway and find non teaching work.

If I go I don't want to mess around with a motel or a caravan park I'd rather have place rented for my arrival.

Is anyone here living or lived recently in Cairns able to give me some info in terms of good spots or places to avoid - there's plenty of rentals on the net but I don't know what area's are good or bad.

I'd be after a 1 bed unit in a smaller complex, somewhere quiet and ideally a garage or parking at my door since I have motorbike as well as the car.

Happy to take replies by PM if you don't want to bag a place publicly.
Cheers
Paul

[Cliff Rogers]

Do you know where you are going to work?

Cairns is long & skinny & the commute from the North or the South is a pain.

Old joke in Cairns says to avoid suburbs with a name starting with M... not a bad guide.

Inner city suburbs need good security but it is good to be that close that you can afford a taxi home after a night out.

North Cairns is under the flight path.
Yorkie's Knob, Holoway's Beach & Machan's Beach are all under the flight path & the first 2 get cut off when it rains heavy.

When you are checking out rentals, ask about flooding & access when it rains heavy.

I lived in White Rock & Bungalow.

Currently live up the hill on the tablelands but still go down a couple of times a week.
Have friends & relos down there so I can answer any questions you have or even do a drive-by if you need.

[dabbler]

This time last year I was approached about a 3 to 6 month contract in Gordonvale. For various reasons it never happened. But rather than a motel, I looked at short term rentals. I was surprised how much seemed to be available, how varied it was and the range of prices. You had to commit to a fixed period beforehand and most ask for the lot up front. Some were limited facitly resort rooms and some were regular units. There were other costs like end of rental cleaning etc. It might be enough to get settled.

Google "short term rental cairns".

I have friends (teachers too) in Cairns so after looking in Google Earth first, I asked them to cruise past a few. Of course they could also tell me which were backpacker party haunts. It's increasingly common for 2 to 4 bachpackers to rent this way if you're wondering. They don't just rent rooms and beds.

My friends have always told me Cairns was a dear place for housing.

[smidsy]

Thanks guys.
At this stage I'm just thinking out loud, been staying with brother but things are getting strained so I need to start thinking about moving on and Tracer is saying that there's both long and short term vacancies up there - but if I go up there teaching I would be wanting a years end contract.

Supposedly there is a shortage of Man Arts teachers but I haven't been able to get anything for this year and an average of 1 day a week supply teaching here in Bris just isn't enough.

I've been looking on the net and places can be had as cheap as $120 for a studio apartment, but from what I can see most places are complex style and private parking is pretty much a must with a car and motorbike.
Thanks for the info guys.

PS If any teachers here know of a school that could use a Man Arts or Man Arts / English / SOSE teacher, drop me a pm