[SA1]

Hi All,

I'm heading to Australia in Dec 08 for about 6 months. I have no idea where exactly I want to end up yet.

The main thing that will influence where I end up is surfing. I want to live close to a beach where I can surf without a wetsuit. At the mo I live about an hour and a half drive from the beach and wear a winter wetsuit all year round.

I'm thinking of heading to the Gold Coast. Anyone know what it's like to get jobs there?

I have somewhere to stay in Melbourne but I heat that the surf isnt great there and I'd have to wear a wetsuit.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

Thank you!

Sarah

[Local Knowledge]

Hi Sarah,
Just off the coast of Brisbane is North Stradbroke Island, it is a beautiful place with great surf and a few employment options, particularly in hospitality. There is a great website that has all the info you could want about the island including live webcams of the surf and a job page. You will find it at www.straddieonline.com.au
Check it out and good luck!

[gregausti]

No doubt about Straddie being one of those gems not too far from civilisation but I reckon work opportunities will be somewhat limited and plenty of other like-minded possibly Australians queuing for them - couldn't see the job board there LK.

Gold Coast will certainly have more possibilities and anytime I've gone to a popular pub like Gilhooleys when passing through, there seem to always be some travellers working there, but even a fair few GC surfers use wetsuits in winter.

At furtherest north surf beach of Agnes Water about 500 km. north of Brisbane, surfers also use wetsuits in cooler months, this year all along east coast having been a bit colder than the last few.

Water temps should not be too bad down south by December, about 20C I'd expect and so that could be plenty warm enough for you if used to colder northern hemi water, so anywhere down south December to March ought to be OK, and you could consider heading north from March on to pick up warmer water temps, probably about tops of 23 at Agnes Water in March/April, cooling off to about 20 over next couple of months and you could expect 18-19 down south.

Even at a smaller place like Agnes Water you could pick up some casual work.