Our cherishied and only offspring has got a scientific posting in Tasmania, Australia which is expected to last at least 5 years and DH and I would like to move over there for the duration and provide the housing etc when junior is home. The job will be in Kingston for the most part with quite a lot of time away.
We all went to Australia last year and loved Tasmania and spent about 10 days there. However we would like some ideas of where it would be nice to buy a place in the longer term but also where to stay while we look around.
My husband loves fishing and nice country and we loved the Huon region and Channel areas very much as it provides most of what we like and also it would be a nice change from here in Phoenix.
Could those experts on these areas please give us an idea of where it would be nice to locate and we would welcome suggestions as well on places to live etc. Hobart is a lovely city but I think we would like to take this opportunity to be in the countryside for a while

You might get a better response asking this question on http://britishexpats.com/, you might even be able to find the answers that you want with a search of that site. Best of luck, Tasmania is a nice place.

We had a great time in Tasmania last year. We live in California so I can understand that you would enjoy the outdoor life of the area you are asking about with plenty of water sports and hiking.
My thoughts were that if I were living there I would prefer places like Kettering, Margate, Woodbridge. Even though the Huon River is very nice and pretty the only town near there is Huonville which did not inspire me.
We stayed at Franklin for a few days and then in Margate for another 4 days, spent time fishing, sailing, hiking and just sitting on the beaches and it was really wonderful time. I am in envy of you.

Thank you NigelWaring I have just had a look at the ex pat site but there is nothing on Tasmania at all that I could find. Still it is an interesting site and will check back there for other things later.

As you're quite possibly aware Mary, the Huon region is sparsely populated and one of its attractions no doubt for you if you visited previously.
I have not been to Tasmania often enough but the other region near Hobart I found to my liking was the Upper Derwent Valley, around New Norfolk.

There're a number of web sites where you could get an idea of what may be on the market at any given time, www.domain.com.au and also www.realestate.com.au where they often have mapping and satellite images so you can get a good feel for surrounding countryside and actual locations/sites by zooming in.

A few issues you need to deal with first though and possibly you have already:
. immigration - though there are parent visas under the family migration stream, it'll depend on what sort of visa your son is getting that will determine what is available for you and/or eligibility - certainly not just a case of saying we're moving to tasmania and so here we are! - check it out on www.immi.gov.au and you can get help on any issues right here on this site or www.australiaforum.com gets a lot of immigration questions traffic.

. Likewise with purchasing real estate, there are foreigner investment regulations to be met via the FIRB
. http://www.apm.com.au/osbuyers/buying.htm will help with general info.
. http://www.apm.com.au/osbuyers/legals.htm more specicifically for the O/S buyer
. FIRB - http://www.firb.gov.au/content/Publi...ing_a_Home.pdf

Climate and Fire Danger.
I'd expect you'll be finding the southern Tasmanian climate quite a bit cooler than Pheonix, particularly the winters and any property you want to look at should be soundly insulated and with safe efficient heating - many Australian houses burn down in winters as a result of poor wood fired heater installation/maintenance!

Far better to if possible seek a home with concrete slab having inbuilt heating coils, either water or electric or use reverse cycle air-conditioning, that being by far the most efficient form of electric heating though limited in its capacity with colder outside temps.

And then of course with the Victorian tragedy, bushfores there still burning, you should be aware that Tasmania is also not immune from bushfire dangers and so once you get over the hurdles you have to, any rural purchase should take bushfire hazard potential into account.

I would think that once you have the legalities sorted, you ought to consider going to Tasmania and renting a holiday cottage or whatever first, for even a couple of months so you can get a feel for the area and what the local market is.
One thing for sure is that you'll find Australian home prices generally higher relative to the American market.

Residency is not a problem B and is all sorted out. I was born in Australia and married my husband in the "olden days" when it made him an Australian citizen by default.
We would like to be near where DS will be working so that would cross out New Norfolk and anyway we want water etc. Thank you though for your other suggestions I will take them on board.

Mary, I agree with Bushranger about renting for a few months first, you really never know how you will feel about an area until you live there (because you live differently than you holiday, obviously). Both the channel and the Huon Valley are popular nowadays - for my money the Huon Valley is much nicer. Someone mentioned Huonville being a little uninteresting (yes, definitely) but it is a convenient centre and it has the advantage of not having gone the way of Kingston township (shopping centres, McDonalds et al) and is very accessable. You wouldn't have to live in Huonville by any means - Franklin has been mentioned and is beautiful although not a lot of property to choose from on the water side of the road. Anywhere south of Franklin may put you further than you want to be in terms of driving time as the river is the big divider of the Huon. Grove, Lucaston and Crabtree all just out of Huonville the other way, with small
streams snaking through many properties there (trout fishing) and the rural aspect and rows of poplars make this part of the Huon particularly pretty. Of course, the Huon river is still only a few kilometres away.
Some nice small place like Woodbridge is lovely too
(very pretty, lots of rural and water as well - Woodbridge has it all really) and not as far out as it feels when you are there. If you do like the channel, Margate is popular too. The channel has far lower rainfall than the valley and this may be something you want to keep in mind as rainfall is an issue in Australia. For example, near Geeveston (south of Huonville on the Huon Highway) the annual rainfall comes in at around 40 inches per year. Not too far away but on the other side of the river at GLaziers Bay will see you get a mere 16 inches. The distance as the crow flies is not large but these differences are important I think and once again you will probably gain far more insight actually being in an area before you make a permanent decision. Being at the channel will have you much handier to Kingston though (but that is only if a difference of 10-20 minutes driving time is a problem)
Take into account also how you prefer your own climate to be when you decide on a house - sounds silly but if you dislike the cold then you don't want a house in the shade in an area that is frosty until lunch time and shrouded in fog for the whole morning - many microclimates exist in southeren Tasmania and this is something worth thinking about. It is amazing how you can see a house in summer and think it has a lovely aspect, not too hot and lots of nice shade. Then you see it in winter and the interior walls are wet, the grass is slush and you can't see for the fog. The same goes the other way - no point buying a west facing or even north facing house with loads of glass if you dislike being hot because it will turn into a heat trap in the summer. Tasmanian summers are mild by mainland standards but it feels very hot when the sun belts in all day and the sun is definitely more severe here. This all sounds obvious I am sure but I am often suprised at how many people don't think about the change of seasons, often because people from states like Queensland have very little change in their seasons - so they are shocked at Tasmanian winters.
Best of luck, it sounds like a very exciting time.

I should be tucked up in bed and asleep but I am so excited about this move that I just had to read what you kind folk have written for me.
Blackjack you have given me much to think about and I believe that your suggestions are very sound. Have you got any thought on realtors in Huonville for me because I have had some bad times with them in my life and if you know of some reputable ones I would be very glad to hear about them. I could look up their websites and contact them with a view to renting while waiting to see exactly where we want to be and like you said taking into account the climatic conditions. I think that you are right about needing more rainfall because I am pretty sure that there are lots of areas that rely on self water storage systems. If you feel you don't want to write anything here which can be seen then my email address is: [email protected] and that way you cannot step on anyone's toes.
Many thanks to you all. Mary

I did have a slight laugh at your post Mary (the stepping on toes part, something I cannot seem to help doing), but I can risk a real estate recommendation - I think...
For anything in the Huon Valley, I would contact Peter Clark at "Realty Link". He is a long term resident (generations) and well known and well liked by anyone who has been here a long time and a good many who haven't. For other agents properties, I would ask him to recommend you to someone as he is honest and trustworthy.
For the Channel, I would try Jolen Van Santon (I think that is the correct spelling!) at "Fruit". He is a very nice young man and has a good reputation. I am sorry I don't have contact details for either (real estate isn't exactly my area) but a Google search should turn them up for you.
Best of luck, I hope that is helpful

Oh thank you so much Blackjack. I have found and written to Mr Clark but I cannot find the other gentleman at all. What is "Fruit" is it a place? I googled his name and only got your fodors post. I will write to Mr Santon is you can narrow things down for me please.

Sorry Mary, I have been out of the office for a bit. I think I may have spelt his name wrong, the correct spelling wuld be Jolon van Santen. "Fruit Property" is the name of the agency, and if my memory is right his email address should be [email protected] or something like that (I remember the agents emails were just their name and then company name). If this doesnt work, perhaps trying www.fruitproperty.com will turn him up - if he no longer works there maybe they can tell you where he went. The agency itself has a good reputation anyway but he was particularly approachable and honest.
Best of luck, hope you are able to find lots of food for thought.

I live for the day when someone offers me a home exchange in Tasmania. It is sort of one my dream destinations. I did go to Australia for the first time last summer and did the area from Sydney to Fraser Island (two home exchanges involved).

Sorry Mary, I suspect there is a problem with their search facility. I found http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...light=Tasmania but it may not be of much help. Incidentally it must be a popular place , even with the present state of the economy we cannot get on an escorted coach tour until April.

Hello again Blackjack and thank you for giving me the email address of Mr Van Santen. I have written to him and to Mr Clark and I have already had an email back from Mr Clark who sounds like a very nice man. Mr Clark was saying though that there are very few houses to rent on a short-term basis so I think we would just find some local accommodation. He thought that perhaps you would be able to point me in the right direction for that as well.
I have been looking on the websites and getting very excited. Although the prices are about the same as here you get a lot more for your money it seems to me and I believe that the taxes etc are very much less than we pay here so that will make a nice change.
Hoping that I will meet up with you soon
Regards and thanks
Mary

Hi Blackjack4 & MaryD2
I now have found the forum where you chat and have found it quite amazing. Thankyou Blackjack4 for passing my information onto MaryD2. I have been in touch with her and hopefully I can help them when they arrive here in paradise. I would like to thank you face to face so when you are passing thru town pop in and say hello. Just a note also Jolen no longer works for Fruit Property.Thank you again. Peter

Hello Blackjack and huonapple aka Mr Clark Yes I found out that Jolen no longer works at "Fruit" ( I do find that name very amusing) so it will be up to huonapple to find me a nice home I think. See ya'all

Hello MaryD2 See I am now a member. This is an awsome site.

Hello again Mary and Peter it is good to see you are here too. It is good to see someone with an interest in the Huon Valley participating in these discussions about the region (many read them but don't respond - often wisely I think!).
Mary, I am not too sure about short term accommodation for you - if you are thinking around 6 months for renting then a standard lease should be fine and Peter can advise you on this. Shorter terms than that however, and you are looking at the more expensive options of more holiday focused accommodation. I will do some asking today and tommorrow regarding what is around but nothing comes to mind instantly for long term viability. Depending on what time of year you will be arriving too - if you are coming sometime into winter or late autumn then maybe one of the holiday house owners may offer a good deal on a long term stay (I mean a good deal compared to their holiday nightly rate). This way you get a furnished house or cottage with most of what you need - but you will still pay more per week than normal rented accommodation, the advantage being you don't have to take it for as long. Remember also that 6 months flies by and it may take at least that long to settle on an area and then a property that you are happy with. Even if you bought something right away you have a month or two for it to go through so allow yourself enough time to not be committed to rushing into anything.
Hope that helps a little. My attendance in the office will be very irregular over the next few days but will check in when I can and ask around where possible.

Sounds fantastic Blackjack
Thanks

Determined to get to Tasmania but reluctant to pay the cost of an all in coach tour we jumped at a recent offer on the Sun Princess. Seven from Sydney, Melbourne first then Tasmania, Burnie, Port Arthur and Hobart returning to Sydney all for $899 each, this was on the lowest deck but we've since been upgraded to deck eleven. We've also spent just under $600 on shore excursions. A really good deal for us, we get all our food, accommodation and entertainment included. We' fly back sometime for two or three days to catch up with the places that we've missed but still want to see.