philipb

Move away from the main roads that make Manunda's location so convenient and you discover a warm and friendly community living in solid houses on large, flat blocks of land along broad, straight roads.

Historically blighted by low rent and social housing, Manunda is increasingly a home-owner/rennovators dream with low (though increasing) prices for manageable, easily improved homes.

The location is perfect: minutes (by car) from The Esplanade, the city, the airport, Cairns Hospital, the Bruce Highway and the Western Arterial; and positioned brilliantly for shopping, whether at DFO or Raintrees, Cairns Central, Stocklands or the IGA.

Manunda is the home of the excellent (and expanding) Trinity Bay State School, TAFE, Cairns West State School, Francis Xavier and is also close to Edge Hill State and Whitfield State Schools.

Whilst nightlife is not really a big thing in the suburbs, Manunda does boast Brothers Leagues Club, a couple of pubs and is in walking distance to Cazaleys. Plus there is the Apex milk bar and a selection of small takeaways and other food outlets. And, and we love this, a taxi back from a night in the city costs about the same as a pair of CBD drinks.

We moved to Manunda from Redlynch and before that Whitfield. In truth, we were uncertain about buying here (who hasn't heard the negativity towards the Ms?) but really there was nothing to be concerned about. Our 2 years in Manunda have been friendlier than anything we experienced in Redlynch and no more intimidating than Whitfield. Sure there are criminal elements (not that we've experienced any issues), but there was in our previous locations too. We're very happy here. It really is a great location.

The real stars of Manunda, however, are the people. Warm, friendly, welcoming (check out that M suburb song on You Tube), funny, honest (mostly), multicultural, pet-friendly and pretty smart - we must be. Whilst the rest of Cairns sits in the traffic on their commute from hot houses on shrinking blocks to the north and south, looking down on the inner city, we get to have an extra cappuccino before our short trip to work and, ultimately, the last laugh too. Marvelous.