Hi,

I'm considering moving to aus for a year, and am trying to find the best choice of city.

My priorities are, I must be close to the beach (walking distance at least 20-30mins). I'm looking to also be close to a big, vibrant city as I plan to be going out around 3 times a week and pretty much never cook, but eat out mainly. So I'm looking for somewhere with a lively atmosphere and good nightlife.

So far I have considered Cairns and the gold coast, but I wonder if they may be too small of a place to have good nightlife and the city vibe etc. Also I have already been to the gold coast, so guess I would want something different ideally.
Also Melbourne, which ticks the city boxes but seems too far from the beach.

So far Perth seems to be topping the list, can anyone give me there thoughts on this place?
Some more information on Brisbane would be great too.

Any other places I should be considering?

Thanks

So you want to live within 30 mins WALKING distance to a beach???

Brisbane & Cairns you can rule out straight away as neither have beaches. Brisbane is approx an hour DRIVE to a decent one & Cairns northern suburbs probably 20 mins drive.

IMO, if you're looking for 'city vibe' and nightlife you can also rule out the Gold Coast (& Brisbane!).

Sounds to me a like Sydney's or Melbourne's beaches would suit you, but don't expect beach weather all year round!

Sydney is the real beach city... but you need a minimum of 400,000 quid.

Or the same amount around the more desirable beach city areas of Melbourne..... Brighton down to Sandringham.

If you lived in South Melbourne, St Kilda, Elwood, Brighton, you would be close to the beaches and close to the city in Melbourne. Expensive areas though as beach costs.

Melbourne has the night life and my adult children would not live anywhere else.

Would it be possible to scuba dive in cairns without a boat trip?

Also what about perth for nightlife and beaches?

Depends how much you like looking at mud.

No idea about Perth really, I think there are some great beaches, but I dont think you're going to get the 'city vibe'.

Not if you are only going for a year and would presumably be renting.....

In any case, we've got a 2 bed flat... sorry, unit.... opposite the Opera House and it cost less than that last year.

How much would the rent be on a flat like that ? Is it a flat or a Unit... the unit being usually a ground floor dwelling and flats multi story ? ... got to admit different states use different terms

Down around Docklands in Melbourne, they are circa 600 - 800 bucks per week ?

http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin...at=&p=10&o=def

A large proportion of Melbourne is right on the beach



Buzzy

Think scenic towns and cities can mean less permanent employment opportunities and less pay. Large cities more likely to be able to work to pay to enjoy your free time more fully.

Have you considered Adelaide at all? Lot's of beach suburbs, good variety of places to eat out, and a good nightlife (according to my OH at any rate!).

It is a bit of a backwater though.

Well you learn something every day. No-one seems to use the term flat in Sydney. It's ground floor of a six storey/eighteen 'unit' block and is rented out for $1,625 per month - with an unimpeded view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and the PM as a near neighbour!

Ridiculously low, but we acquired the reliable tenants when we bought it and it is tatty. We'd do it up and let it for more if they left. That said, I'm not sure we'd get that much more. It amazes me how low rental returns are generally in Sydney, much much lower than in the UK, presumably because of the tax treatment. Amazes me also how much people moan how high rents are......