Ricky

I have really disliked living in North Lakes - more so than anywhere else I have lived before! The place is charmless, characterless with street after street that looks identical. There is nothing within walking distance - and there are so many roundabouts! There is a claustrophobic feeling about the place and there is no sense of community whatsoever. I would recommend to anyone to think twice before moving here - I liken it to a prison. I breathe a sigh of relief when I drive out of North Lakes and my heart sinks when I return. Yuck. Bad bad move!

Somewhere between Ricky and Smorgasboard, DOWNSIDE: we are empty nestors, hard to get out of the place, difficult trip into Brisbane CBD in peak hour, very poor parking at closest railway station Petrie, $30 in a taxi if choose to leave car at home. Local bus but last bus home is 4.55pm Sat & Sunday. If you miss it you have a long walk home, not best option if you are a lady on her own I would imagine. Yes a bit soul less. For us not sense of community either we have found POSITIVES: If you worked nearby, on that note, lots of big companies are building warehouses at North Lakes, Costco, Office Works, IKEA, Bunnings. If you had kids at local schools, and had social connections there, I can see it would be a lovely place to raise your kids, very safe place to live, many lovely parks, plus a man made lake to walk or cycle around or picnic by - 20 minute drive back to Redcliffe/nicest beach. We will move back to the beach we have decided

Interesting. I wrote that comment almost exactly a year ago to the day before we moved out of North Lakes. I've now had a year living on the Redcliffe Peninsula and there is no comparison - it's lovely to be by the sea and meet nice friendly people. It's good to have North Lakes nearby as a place to shop but to live? No way!

Good to hear Smorgasboard, funny we came from Redcliffe and will be returning there also, isn't that funny we lived there for 4.5 years before we moved to North Lakes

Add a comment... I've just moved to North Lakes from Sydney and is a really nice place to live. I'm in the process of building a fantastic house on a 640 sqm block, backing onto the golf course for only $1.1 mil....in Sydney it would be three times the price !
It's become a nice established area with tree lined streets, parks, lakes, cycle tracks and the beautiful Sunshine Coast mountains and beaches are a pleasant short drive away up the freeway. You have Westfield Shopping centre, along with a multitude of other shopping areas, including largest Bunnings in Southern Hemisphere and Cosco etc etc. Good new schools. Train station to Brisbane city opens up next year and it's either a 50 min drive during peak hour or 35 min out of peak to the city. It's a middle class area with in general nice neighbours. Redcliffe ocean front is 15/20 min drive and is quite pleasant - Redcliffe in general is a working class area and certainly not a place you'd want to live in (old houses and rough people), but is well away from North Lakes so not a problem.

Hi LeighC, Glad to hear you are happy you have found North Lakes, I am sure it is an improvement to similar developments in Sydney which would be even further away from the city etc and we always felt safe there and with the new train coming it should also be an improvement. I think it is simply a case of different courses for different horses. We have ended up now living at the water on Brisbane's south bayside and are happier here. Personally we like an eclectic mix of people and we found, when we lived at Redcliffe, there was no more crime in Redcliffe, than any other place, I think you have to live there to know that and not listen to the usual "people putting other areas down" syndrome when they have not even lived there. Some people like new areas/developments and others like older areas, just as some people prefer to be at the beach. Wish you the best with you new life at North Lakes.

Hi guys, I am currently looking at moving to qld (preferably North of Brisbane) from nsw (blue mountains/central western area) within the next 12 months.. I have read a lot of different reviews both good and bad about the north lakes area.. I am looking to move to an area that would be ideal for a young family (safe for my children to roam about). I am in the construction industry and my partner would like to open a hair salon, we would like to find somewhere close to shops, restaurants and beaches but also not to far away from a fresh water lake/dam in which we can still go water skiing.. Look forward to hearing some suggestions. Thanks..

Hi all, we are planning to move to North lakes from Sydney with a young family. I can see the last comment above is a year ago. How is the area now?

We are from Sydney and we moved a week ago from St George. We like the area. We have a young daughter. The area is a little far out but affordable for young families. Go for it!

no good schools, the place may be good for a handyman. long distance to CBD. I don't recommend North Lakes. Good for stock land and property builder. bad for people.

What types of people live in north lakes? Currently living in eastern suburbs in Sydney but looking to move to Brisbane or nearby....
Want an area with all amenities, parks, good schools, safe and happy young families with good vibes!

North lakes looks great on paper but haven't visited yet so it's hard to know what kind of feel the area has.
Thanks!

Hi RosieV, this comment is very late and you may have moved already, but I would compare NL to some of the newer housing developments out near Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Glenmore Park, Harrington Park. It is a world away from the Eastern suburbs of Sydney - and I grew up in Newtown in the 80s and 90s!

Decided to move to Australia in 2011 with my family fully qualified carpenter and a degree in construction management , could not get a job, cost of living really expensive, Australians an unwelcoming nation and very unhelpful, rented an house in little England ie North lakes rent was extortionate, The worst experience of me and my family's life couldn't wait to get back home to a normal life, if there any expats inAustralia go home, like wise if you are considering moving there dont, its not for social free living people strange way of life strange people rip off nation .