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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Author
Moving to Australia
ssa0003
4-Jan-2019
3:35:11 PM
Hi there!

My boyfriend and I are moving to Australia this April for our working holiday visas and are looking for a bit of advice on where might be a good spot to move to.

We are both carpenters, and the original thought was to head to Melbourne since it ought to have a good few job opportunities and isn't too far from crags. However, we're a bit concerned if we're primarily there April-September that it isn't the best season for Arapiles, etc. Do y'all reckon there's a better option for that time period? Brisbane? Sydney?

I know this is a Victoria based forum, so I may be asking this question in the wrong place, but I figured I'd give it a go! Hope I'm not stepping on any toes...

We're not particularly partial to big cities, so smaller towns would be options as well if we could find jobs.

Any advice?

Thanks!


IdratherbeclimbingM9
4-Jan-2019
3:54:29 PM
On 4-Jan-2019 ssa0003 wrote:
>Hi there!
>
Welcome to Chockstone.

>My boyfriend and I are moving to Australia this April for our working
>holiday visas and are looking for a bit of advice on where might be a good
>spot to move to.
>
>We are both carpenters, and the original thought was to head to Melbourne
>since it ought to have a good few job opportunities and isn't too far from
>crags. However, we're a bit concerned if we're primarily there April-September
>that it isn't the best season for Arapiles, etc. Do y'all reckon there's
>a better option for that time period? Brisbane? Sydney?
>
Melbourne is further from ‘good’ climbing than Sydney, but if you want jobs and climbing proximity plus cheaper rent then I’d consider satellite towns like Horsham ( much closer to Arapiles / Grampians), or Katoomba to Lithgow/Bathurst (on the western side of the Blue Mtns).

Housing market in Australian capital cities is now on the downturn... but regional centres are holding their own quite well.

>I know this is a Victoria based forum, so I may be asking this question
>in the wrong place, but I figured I'd give it a go! Hope I'm not stepping
>on any toes...

Chockstone is head and shoulders above any other climbing site in Australia, however if warmer climate is your thing for our winter, put a post up on qurank (Queensland / Brisbane centric).
>
>We're not particularly partial to big cities, so smaller towns would be
>options as well if we could find jobs.
>
>Any advice?
>
>Thanks!
>
You could refine responses further if you indicate your preference of trad vs sport, sandstone (Blueys) vs harder rock (Arapiles)!...
:-)
Stugang
4-Jan-2019
4:05:30 PM
I wouldn’t turn your nose up at Adelaide either. If you are there for a shortish time there are loads of local classics within half an hour from town. Araps and the Grampians are still an option for weekends and you get the bonus of moonarie only 5 hours away.
White Trash
4-Jan-2019
4:23:08 PM
What? Not Singapore?

To OP, Stuies right about 5 hour drives to climbing, induced by either traffic or distance.
Oz roads are ordinary compared to USofA.

If Radelaide (quietest city in Oz) is valid, then Hobart must surely also be on your radar because it is more like a large country town and close to some of the best (particularly trad) climbing in Australia. Don’t let its southern latitude put you off for winter fun, as it’s on the good side of Tasmania weather wise.
kieranl
4-Jan-2019
4:37:06 PM
April-September is pretty good for Arapiles. Late June and through July can be wet and cold but there are usually enough good days.

If you're both carpenters Horsham could be a good base for Arapiles and Grampians.

salty crag
4-Jan-2019
7:30:46 PM
Great time for climbing at Araps and Gramps. Try Horsham for work or any small towns/cities within the area.
One Day Hero
4-Jan-2019
7:51:24 PM
On 4-Jan-2019 salty crag wrote:
>Great time for climbing at Araps and Gramps. Try Horsham for work or any
>small towns/cities within the area.

April and May, yes. June-September, really? If you're locked into work all week and can only get out on the weekends? I call bullshit.

Depends on what your prefered climbing styles and temps are, and what other activities interest you. If you're into surfing, I'd seriously think about Wollongong as an autumn-winter destination. Has good access to warmer drier crags.
ssa0003
14-Jan-2019
2:37:49 PM
Thanks so much for the response! We are climbing mostly moderate trad at the moment trending towards multipitch/adventure trad when we can find it.

For whatever reason I think we're still leaning towards Melbourne (probably just because it's been the city that we've been talking about the longest) Also I think we're both hoping that we can find work with some higher end builders/joiners in a larger market. Although I've heard a fair bit about the housing downturn and it isn't confidence inducing...

If Melbourne is farther away from "good" climbing does that mean there is decent climbing somewhere closer into the city?
kieranl
15-Jan-2019
6:31:37 AM
On 14-Jan-2019 ssa0003 wrote:

>If Melbourne is farther away from "good" climbing does that mean there
>is decent climbing somewhere closer into the city?

There are a few climbing spots around Melbourne generallly an hour or more from the city centre. The climbs are mostly short and wouldn't get a lot of attention if they weren't the only easy day-trip option.

If you're moving to Melbourne see if you can base in the western suburbs. That can shorten your commute time to Arapiles and Grampians. That'll help to take advantage of one-day weather windows in winter.

MisterGribble
15-Jan-2019
9:25:43 AM
Agree with Kieran, to be honest the day climbing round Melbourne is not too flash but if you base yourselves in the Western Suburbs you're 3 hours from the Gramps, 30 mins from YouYang - granite tors but fun Mountain Biking and seconds from the Cliffhanger climbing gym in Altona

Despite the housing downturn, there is a lot of construction working going on in Melb, if you have decent skills you won;t have a problem finding employment.

Pat
16-Jan-2019
1:35:38 PM
On the other hand, if you're in Eastern or outer eastern melbourne Cathedral Range is an hour and a half away. Some short low grade trad and several moderate mid to high teen multi pitch up to 100m quite slabby. It also has mid grade single pitch crags.

but as others have posted - western melb is 3 hours from the gramps etc.

housing downturn is still mostly in prices, not in construction - especially in quality builders. Melb is still growing and will soon be bigger than Sydney - plenty of good work around.

pedro.c
17-Jan-2019
6:36:00 PM
What are your priorities? Quality carpentry or quality climbing nearby? If you're after high end work then you'll find it all over the place. Downturn? Not for good chippies. You'll find high end work in Sydney and Melbourne but not near any inspiring climbing. I don't know about Horsham in regards to funky joinery but if you go to the Blue mountains you'll find high end work and there'll be climbing at the edge of the property you're working on. It'll be fresh through winter. If the cold bothers you then One Day Hero had good advice.
f_abe
17-Jan-2019
6:45:52 PM
Try Mount Gambier. This has nothing to do with the fact that a town of 30 thousand people has a climbing population of me and I'm desperate for partners. Under 2 hours to araps or the gramps, no end of jobs in the building industry, cheap living, no traffic jams, and no temptation to climb the horrible sh!t that living in Melbourne would invariably lead you to. If you're even vaguely serious PM me and I'll put you in contact with local job agencies. If not PM me anyways!

cheers Alex
Martym
20-Jan-2019
3:38:26 PM
Where are you from? If you're from California, Melbourne might be a bit chilly. But if you're from the northern states - you'll find it mild and won't have any problems climbing.
Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia, that said - there is a small scene in Horsham if you meet the right people - you may fall in love with Natimuk, maybe head out there before you get a job?
As someone said above - what's your priority - work or climbing? That will dictate where to live.
patto
20-Jan-2019
7:49:56 PM
On 20-Jan-2019 Martym wrote:
>Where are you from? If you're from California, Melbourne might be a bit
>chilly.
Melbourne? Cold? You have got to be kidding..

As far as comparisons with California climate go, LA is in many was similar to Sydney and San Fran is more similar to Melbourne. Their latitude match up pretty well too. San Fran has milder summers and milder winters due to the warmer ocean influence., but overall it is similar.

Move inland to Sacramento and you are probably even more similar to Melbourne.

There are 15 messages in this topic.

 

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