Living in kununurra- do it or dont do it

We have lived remote in the NW of WA for years - some of the initial things I can think of that you might not have done is

! Isolation from extended family - airfares from Kununarra are going to cost you an arm and a leg if you want a quick trip back home.

2. Checkout the cost of insuring things - not all insurers cover above the 26th and when they do the really know how to charge you for it.

3. Rockhampton is far bigger than Kununarra - in QLD you can "get out of town" to somewhere different - its not quite like that in the north of WA. We enjoyed our "favorite" spots but when it came to lets take a bit more of a trip to somewhere else it was a major expense and took up quite a bit of your time off just getting there and back. boy I hope that makes sense.



When we originally made the move I was really keen but the first couple of years were pretty trying with the isolation - etc. I am now the biggest fan! Unlike when we took it up there is now internet shopping, and Skype hookups which make things a lot easier!

Do give it a lot of thought before setting out because once there is can be pretty expensive getting back. I do hope I havent put you off though.

Cheers
Sue

Gday, we moved to Kununurra for a year back in 2006, best thing we ever did.Its a beautiful spot, great people, heaps to do and a great climate.
Heat is the big problem as the build up begins but if your pretty used to it, i say go for it.
We didnt have a set time limit up there but my misses didnt like the heat and missed our family back down south so we moved back.We run our own business back here now but if ever we close it, we will go back to Kununurra.We spent three weeks there last year and didnt want to leave.A major killer up there is rent.Houses are dear, we still get rental alerts for there and 75% of houses are over $750/week.
I say do it......but you may never want to leave again.

im going to be working up that way next month. i will look at maybe relocating but I dont think i can afford the house prices

is certainly one of the nicest areas up there

Thanks guys for your quick replies, yeh the remoteness is something that concerns me, not really for me but for my wife. I have heard rents are really expensive.
Do you know if there are mothers clubs etc there. Or play groups or anything.
I am looking at a couple of jobs in the area, one with the government that offers housing subsidy. What is the job prospects like there, do employers like the government and councils find it difficult to get workers.
I think if there are things there for my partner to do, and the kids then she will love it.
Any other feed back from everyone would be greatly appreciated.

The climate in Kunnunurra is vastly different to Rockie. The heat and humidity will far exceed what you're used to. Cairns would be a better approximation than Rockie.

Nice place though.

Ring the CEO at the local council and have a chat. If you have any engineering quals you will be very very attractive.
Secondly think about a month holiday over there or take 12 months out from your current job and go work over there and see if you like it.
Whilst the kids will probably be OK at this age think about when they are teenagers and what it may cost you to get back into the property market in a large regional area or city if you need to return.
Try not to create regrets for later life!!
Best of luck.

Recon that you need to 'try' before you make the permanent move be it to Kununurra or anywhere else out of your and your wifes çomfort 'zone'.

With your kids being so young it's a good time to try it out. But factor in when they reach high school at least then depending on a lot of factors you might consider relocating to a bigger place.

We're similar but the opposite to you. As our kids approached school age we decided to settle down in a small town, but having lived in Darwin and Townsville we chose the SW of WA for now. Up North is somewhere we will aim to go for holidays.

Where there is parents there is bound to be things like mothers groups etc. I know it's a few years away yet but consider also if you wife will be able to find work once both kids are at school (unless of course you're having more children).

Lastly I guess the thing is not to over analyze things otherwise you'd never try anything new! If it doesn't work out you chalk it down to experience, but obviously experiences as such can cost a lot so I wouldn't just jump into it with both eyes shut (which you're not anyway).

I think the biggest things that would send you home is missing family and not making any friends (the latter I imagine is pretty unlikely in a small place). Apart from factors like climate and cost of living I find the biggest thing that makes a place feel like home is the people that live there, if everyone seems friendly and you make a few friends relatively quickly it makes it all the easier to settle in. So do a bit of digging to see what's offered of interest to you ....weather you're into sports or whatever. Besides you'll have more spare time for that sort of stuff lol.

Hi Jason,

There is definately something about the Kimberely!!! We stayed in Kununurra last year (whilst doing a travel/work trip round Oz) we stayed in Kuna from July to November. We lived in the CP (rents are very exp) We travelled with 3 kids - they all went to the State school there - they actually had more access to certain things than a regular state school in a big city (I think due to the high indigenous population). The heat is crazy, there is not a lot there - Target Country, Coles a couple of tourist shops and not a lot else. However there are places (within driving distance that are awesome!) I made friends with a lady who was involved in a parent club, she seemed to enjoy it. They do have a swimming pool and a gym. At the time I couldn't wait to leave Kuna, but now I have to admit I do miss it.

Any serious shopping - you would need to go to Darwin. My advice would be to take sometime off work and visit the place together - see what you think - its is amazing country, but miles from anywhere.

Cheers
Caz

thanks again for the replies.
I did forget to mention that we are originally from victoria- warrnambool so all the way down the bottom. Thats where all our family is from. We moved to rocky about 3 years ago for my career. So there really is no comfort zone so to speak here. And plus now i have lived in the heat, i could never go back to the cold. Although we did live in the french alps for a whole winter for our love of skiing.

My partner currently works for the government in qld, the department of children services. Well she is on 12mth leave anyway.

Hi Jason

We met a number of people in caravan parks, who were working in Kununurra. Some were short term employment during the busy season, but some appeared to be semi permanent with big caravans. Their children ranged from pre schoolers to primary school students.

Motherhen

Been in the area for a very long time. Beaut surrounds especially wet season.
But with 2 very young kids here are my neg. points that I feel you need to be aware. Mind you these points are based on my own personal experience and so may of course be completely different for some other people.
: can be very unsafe walking around town at night
: limited health/dental/mental service
:large turnover of workforce (highly skilled mechanics etc)especially in core areas such as police,health, teachers,DOCS etc
:very high level breakins at certain times of yr.
:essential services can be stretched thin due to various staff shortages or client demands
:high degree of alchol related issues both on and off the street again depending on time of year
:long delays may occur if there is a health issue and an airvac is required
to either Darwin/Perth or Broom
:township can also be isolated by road during the wet
: limited perishables/short stock due to cutback on freight during the off peak tourist season (some produce is grown in the Ord area, shipped to Perth and then brought back to supermarkets )which often charge much higher than anywhere else.
: fuel/elect./rates etc are also very expensive

Been in the area for a very long time. Beaut surrounds especially wet season.
But with 2 very young kids here are my neg. points that I feel you need to be aware. Mind you these points are based on my own personal experience and so may of course be completely different for some other people.
: can be very unsafe walking around town at night
: limited health/dental/mental service
:large turnover of workforce (highly skilled mechanics etc)especially in core areas such as police,health, teachers,DOCS etc
:very high level breakins at certain times of yr.
:essential services can be stretched thin due to various staff shortages or client demands
:high degree of alchol related issues both on and off the street again depending on time of year
:long delays may occur if there is a health issue and an airvac is required
to either Darwin/Perth or Broom
:township can also be isolated by road during the wet
: limited perishables/short stock due to cutback on freight during the off peak tourist season (some produce is grown in the Ord area, shipped to Perth and then brought back to supermarkets )which often charge much higher than anywhere else.
: fuel/elect./rates etc are also very expensive

Move to "WA" and you wont regret it, then get a fly in fly out job, or take a job with the Local councill, we have a heap of work in "WA" also all the services are here.............then get a 4wd and explor this great country.

Enjoy the trip over.

Cheers for now...Williamh...Bunbury...WA.

Thanks again people. Is it really that dangerous as one poster read. Dangerous in what way, bashings, rapes or thefts.
I would have thought it would be a nice quiet town. Some people say it is and some say it isnt. I guess everyone has a view on it.

What is the price of diesel there just out of curiosity.
And do they have an aero club at the airport. Or can you self fly hire a plane any where around there. I have my pilots licence, but it is cheaper to hire planes than buy them.

Hi Jaster,

We moved from Gladstone 6 months ago to Kalgoorlie. I have heard many mixed reports on up north. The Rocky heat is nothing compared to the Far North WA humidity and heat.

We have not been to Kununurra as yet.....we have only been to Kalgoorlie and Esperance so far...so the below is only what we have noticed from Kalgoorlie.

It all depends on what you're looking for in life. One thing we learnt quick was that everything is far far away. Its a long drive to go to the nearest town. (Kalgoorlie is still only 6 hrs away from Perth so no big deal there)

Alot of people move closer to the south when they are planning families because of the lack of health services.

Cost of living is quite high up there - We have definantley noticed the cost of groceries and alcohol even in Kalgoorlie.

Meat - especially Beef is unbelievably more expensive - more than double Gladstone prices! So i can only imagine the cost up there. I know it seems small, but it flows accross all of your expenses. We eat a lot more Lamb because we just cant afford beef - and you certainly dont get a nice cut of beef for the $20-$35/kg. Chicken is about $17-$20/kg (i think we used to pay at most $12/kg)

Fruit and Veg isn't too bad price wise - but it is definaltely not quality goods.

Fuel is about 5c dearer per litre in Kalgoorlie compared to Gladstone/Rocky everyday price wise. I think it is currently 134c/L Diesel.

Electricity and Water is noticibly more expensive. So again, i can only imagine it up north.

Also everyone i have spoken to has said that Airconditioning is rediculously expensive to run - but you have to run it because of the relentless weather. It is not unusal to cop a $2500 Aircon bill each qarter. And that is just the airconditioning as most places have split meters.

Not trying to make it sound so negative....just telling you the facts and what we noticed most.

My partner and i would definantley move up there in a heart beat (we plan to once our contract finishes here), but i wouldn't be as keen with a little one.

Best bet - If you can afford it, come for a visit and check it out first hand before you make the comitment. We were lucky enough to be flown over by my partner's company for a visit prior.

We definanlty dont regret it - but family and friends are a long way away.

Tom Price, pick of the Pilbara towns, heaps of work, awesome 4wd'ing and everything inbetween.