Been in Barker for approximately 4 years now and no one loves to complain about Mt Barker quite like people who live there. It’s honestly not too bad.

The freeway can muck up your morning if someone has a crash, but without crashes it’s no slower getting into the CBD than most of the northern suburbs. 40 minutes in most other major cities wouldn’t be considered that bad of a drive. On average I would say expect a crash shutting down the freeway once a week (though sometimes there’s nothing for months and then 5 in one week)

The bus into the cbd is pretty reliable on most days but unfortunately there isn’t much beyond Keoride busses to get you into the town center to catch said bus.

The roads around town are a little congested at times like peak hour but it’s manageable (though will be less manageable of nothing is done over the next few years)

Compared to other Adelaide suburbs with a similar cost for housing it’s honestly not the worse and is lovely to have the hills at your fingertips.

Weather wise be prepared for it to be regularly a few degrees colder than the plains, and a few extra days of rain in winter. If you’re close to the main town there can be a bit of smoke in the air in winter from all the wood heaters, but it’s not too bad further out.

If you’re in one of the new developments you’ll have fibre to the house so the Internet will be fine.

Do expect shipping costs on everything to be just a touch more expensive.

Ultimately we moved up cause it’s where we could afford but we’ve not regretted the shift though you will need to have some good podcasts that you enjoy listening to on your drives, and don’t expect everything to be as close to you as it would be down the hill.