We started a thread a few days ago "Where is the Australian Whangarei?" as we are (were?) looking or a family-friendly place to spend the next cyclone season between
Brisbane and
Sydney, with the following parameters in mind:
-
security (risk of theft, unsafe to swim because of sharks, crocodiles, etc)
- if on the hook or buoy, possibility to leave the
boat for a couple of weeks without worrying too much
- local cost of life (food, transportation, etc...)
- convenience (presence of a
dinghy dock, shops within walking distance)
- possible local nuisances (mosquitoes, pollution,
noise from traffic...)
- privacy (not too close to shore / urbanized areas)
- ease of access from land (bus lines or car rental)
- good and safe schools nearby
Thanks to the responses we received, after a few hours on line reading about the places CF readers suggested, and perusing through the
Customs, Biosecurity, Immigration and NSW Dept of Education websites, we are starting to reconsider our plans. We hadn't realized how complicated and expensive
Australia could be for a sailing
family with 3 school-age
kids. That's why we are now looking into Northern alternatives to
Australia and
New Zealand, above latitude 5 degrees South. In particular, do any of you have recent information on the Solomon Islands (Choiseul, Bougainville), and in PNG New Britain and New
Ireland? Of course, it would be a very different experience than Australia, in many ways. A few years ago I remember reading that sailors were not welcome. Many complained of pestering, stealing, and generally speaking a rather unfriendly attitude in the Southern Solomons (if I remember correctly), but not in the Northern Solomons nor in the islands of PNG.
We look forward to hearing if these islands, or others just North of the Equator (Carolines, Marshall) could be reasonable alternatives to Australia and
New Zealand to spend the cyclone season.
Thanks for your feedback