my advice if going private is to put your unborns name down now with a estimated return date at all the nurseries. Then when closer to the time, just keep ringing all of them, on a daily basis if need be until you get a confirmed spot.

There are waiting lists but they are not generally run a first come first served basis as getting in depends on which room the availability comes in, how the children shift rooms when spaces become available, whether your needs, ie part time/ full time, fit with their availability etc.

My understanding is that baby spaces are the hardest to get due to ratios of staff to children.

Good luck.

As to cost, it appears that most of the private nurseries in the area are about the same. So visit as many as you can and see which ones you like the feel off.