Lizzie47

Lizzie47

1 Review1 Question8 Answers

Reviews

Macleay Island

"Perfect retirement spot"

I'm a recently retired female and used to live on Straddie but after returning from a few years in rural Tasmania I chose Macleay over Straddie and I'm really glad I did - I just love it here.
For those who like a simple, quiet and relaxed lifestyle near the water and don't mind commuting or can work from home, then Macleay Island is perfect, and for age-pensioners like me it really is an affordable paradise. My transition to island living 10 years ago was an easy one as I'd been a country girl all my life, used to limited facilities and expensive and lengthy travel, but that's not the case for many people. Anyone contemplating a move to any of the bay islands needs to do thorough research via the Internet first and take a tour with Google Street View and Satellite - look at the condition of the roads, houses and surrounding bush, plot the distances with Google Maps to the shops, ferry and water and do a terrain check to make sure it's not somewhere requiring webbed feet. Finally, do your sums regarding how much it's actually going to cost you to live there, especially if you have to work, then come for a visit . If you're still keen, find somewhere to rent for 12 months - there's always heaps to choose from but even after doing all this you may find the reality of living on Macleay does not meet your expectations - it definitely has its Pros and Cons. I hope the following information assists you in taking that next step...or not.

THE PROS OF LIVING ON MACLEAY
- Properties for sale and rent are very cheap given its proximity to Brisbane and probably the main reason people choose to live here
- Water taxis run late enough to have a night out in Brisbane and still be able to get back home. It's a 15 minute trip and they run pretty much every half hour. Buses from and to Brisbane meet each boat at Redlands ferry terminal. Vehicle barges run almost every hour until the late afternoon but they're very expensive.
- There are good basic-necessity shops spread over 3 small centres (emphasis on small), located in the southern half of the island. Woolworths or the local carriers will deliver anything that can't be sourced on the island. Macleay has a primary school and early learning centre, various medical, community and emergency services along with several small businesses
- People are friendly and most neighbourhoods are very safe and quiet. There are very few holiday renters and no 'schoolies'
- From anywhere on the island, the water is within easy walking distance and although it is pretty much surrounded by mangroves there are a few small sandy beaches (no surf), some with BBQ facilities and one with a jetty. Surrounding waters are very shallow for some distance out so it's important to check tide times to ensure the water is high enough for a swim or to launch/land watercraft, or low enough to go for a walk
- For a night out with live basic entertainment there's a variety of venues on both Macleay and Russell . The islands are just a short ferry trip apart so it's easy to island-hop and pub/club courtesy buses pick up from home or the jetty, plus there's taxi services on both islands. Lamb Island often has something on offer too - transport not required.
- For other things to do there's a great cafe, a pub, golf club and bowls club (with wonderful bay views) - each with bistros, and a boat club with fortnightly Friday meals - anyone can join any of these clubs. Macleay is artists' heaven, has it's own Arts Complex and is very supportive of those who are creative. There's an organic market on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. For the more active there's cycling and walking - Macleay has a shared pathway which runs the full length of the island and cool leafy roads lead off this on either side. The school tennis courts are available for hire outside school hours- enquire at Foodworks. Moreton Bay is a kayaking, boating, fishing dream with a multitude of islands to navigate or pull up to. Macleay has two concrete boat ramps and several other vehicle access points at mid to high tide. On Russell there's an RSL and bowls club, a cafe, gym and swimming pool. Yoga, Dance, Fitness, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Pilates, Tai Chi and more are conducted at the Macleay Island Community Centre
- There are primary schools on both Macleay and Russell but no secondary schools. However, most secondary students can be home pretty much within an hour of leaving school whether it be a state school or one of many good private schools.
- Macleay enjoys a wonderful sub-tropical climate, sheltered from the ocean swells by Straddie, and because the island is so small everyone benefits from the cooling bay breezes

THE CONS OF LIVING ON MACLEAY
- There is very little employment on the island so the majority of permanent residents commute to the mainland which is expensive at almost $70 a week for the water taxi leg alone plus for some islanders there is the additional cost of buying and keeping a second car there. For anyone contemplating a move to the islands it's important to do the sums first, then weigh them up against the lifestyle of island living including the inconveniences
- There is no bus service on Macleay but there is a mini-bus taxi which meets the ferries - best to book ahead. To get around the island people use scooters, push-bikes or motorbikes, but most have an island car unless they live close to the ferry terminal.
- Macleay probably isn't for new families with teens who have been used to having all the conveniences and facilities of mainland living. There's very little for them in the way of entertainment or recreation and no surf either
- Parking spaces near the island jetty fill up very early in the day but just up the hill there's usually plenty of spots. At Redland Bay parking facilities are in very short supply and this has been an issue for many years for those who need to keep a car there. Parking on the nearby streets is time limited so beware - cars can be clamped or trashed. There's a long waiting list for paid secure parking.
- Midges are a fact of life on the islands because of the mangroves and waterlogged blocks that can't be built on. The first two weeks after I arrived I was nearly eaten alive and it took a month of lotions and antihistamines for the itching and sores to heal. But I soon got into a routine of never going out mornings or evenings without putting on repellent and giving a quick spray over my head too. I read about Vitamin B1 being useful to deter midges and while it doesn't work for some people, it does seem to be working for me but it doesn't stop mosquitoes which fortunately, are less of a nuisance.
- After the last ferry has gone the islands are completely cut off and although there is a small medical centre there is no hospital, If there are potentially serious health issues in the family then island living would not be advisable. There is an ambulance service to get people off the island by water and in extreme cases by helicopter. During the severe storms earlier this year the ferries couldn't operate and the islands were without power for several days - something to consider/plan for even if there are no health issues. Unlike the mainland, you can't just get in the car and drive to where ever you fancy - everything done off the island requires money, a degree of planning and good time management. A night out on the mainland can have its problems if the last ferry is missed - where to spend the night.
- Mobile and Internet reception in some areas are very poor even with Telstra. Coverage maps on the Internet should not be relied upon so if you're likely to be highly dependent on these communications, do a physical check of each area you're interested in before committing to rent or buy. Between 4pm and 8pm demand is high and reception often at it's worst.

IN SUMMARY
Good luck - Macleay really is a wonderful place .... but only for some of us....

Great for

  • Low crime rate, cost of housing
  • Peaceful, community spirit
  • Fantastic for boating, sailing, fishing, kyaking and jetski
  • Very conducive to maintaining a level of fitness
  • Cool breezes and lots of trees
  • Water is within walking distance of everywhere
  • Lots of bird life, great for nature lovers

Not great for

  • Isolated at night when ferry services stop
  • Housing savings often lost after ferry fares and 2nd car costs
  • Mobile reception very poor in some areas
  • No bus service

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Hipsters
  • Country Lovers
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TracyWilton
TracyWilton

Yes I totally agree with you. My partner and I work full time. And we come over during the holidays..As we own a house on the island which we rent out. To wonderful tenant. Also in the process of building our dream home on waterfront. I'm hoping in the next 5 yrs to move over there free hold. And just commute back forward to work. Hopefully by then they storted out the car parking on the mainland. Would be nice to have a bridge..but ruin the lifestyle..One thing I love about the place..even one seens to help each other out. See you on the island soon,.

ABBA
ABBA

helpful tips, thanks!

Chris3105
Chris3105

were planning on possibly moving to the island so this has helps alot

maidm

The other islands can be accessed without charge. The only Pilates on the SMBI is on Russell, 3 minutes' walk from the RI jetty: PilatesYogaFusion 6 classes 3 days a week, 0412 22 55 88. Excellent for all ages genders expertise

freeshia
freeshia

Well I can say..it's change now. Overcrowding..carparks nightmare. infrastructure needs to keep up . Supply and demand.

The opinions expressed within this review are those of the individual and not those of Homely.com.au.
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