Thunderduck

The other consideration is that we're planning on having children in the next few years, and we'd like a city that's reasonably child friendly.

Perthine

All Australian Citys are child friendly, the Australians love kids and have lots of, everywhere you go

Thunderduck

I'm going to be shallow here, but which city would be considered the most beautiful?

Kooky.

Sydney harbour is stunning; city centre is IMHO ugly. Sydney is all about the water.

Don't know Melbourne well enough to comment; haven't been to any other cities (Uluru and Palm Cove don't count, I guess ).

You have to consider that you may not end up living in the city itself - it can be very expensive - so have to consider the suburbs, too.

This photo taken 5 mins from my house (with apologies to those that have seen it umpteen times already!). This is my idea of Sydney; this is why I'm here.

Thunderduck

We'd be happy with the suburbs, perhaps even more so than in the city.

Thunderduck

Great pic. I have to say until dp suggested the move, and I began to research, inbetween whinging, that I never realised how stunningly beautiful Australia is.

Not the type of beauty I'm used to, but just as stunning in it's own way.

hevs

Sydney harbour is breath taking, but the city isn't. (IMHO)

Melbourne doesn't have the wow factor, but its a beautiful mix of old and new (except fed square which needs burning!) and everytime I go into it I find something else that makes me go "oh wow, look! I haven't noticed that before" I have lived here for 5 years.

Melbournes WINTERS are cooler than elsewhere in Aus, but we don't get much rain and humidity is very rarely high. Summers can be scorching, but theres heaps to do in all seasons here...

Perthine

Perth
It's the best city for us, nice Mediterranean climate, lots of great beaches along the coastline, laidback lifestyle, not busy as Melbourne and Sydney, but has everything you need for life. Public transport is pretty good, jobs etc.

hevs

MELBOURNE!!!

Kooky.

Absolutely - my point is that we can tell you about cities but the centres may be very different from the 'burbs, and obviously you won't be able to ask specifics yet.

Just in and around Sydney you could live in a little terrace in a bohemian/studenty/gay area (e.g., Newtown), at the beach (Bondi/Coogee type, or the very different Northern Beaches), a historic terrace or cottage on the Lower North Shore (where I am), in a house on the river accessible only by boat (Berowra), in a cottage in the Blue Mountains, on a brand new estate (e.g., Kellyville)...you get the idea?

Australia is a humungous country, and very diverse. I'd been here three times before we moved here in May and have only seen a tiny fraction of it. Looking forward to seeing much more.

Actually, if you go to the Blue Mountains you might think you're in Scotland.

Thunderduck

I don't know what dp has done to me, but I'm almost excited about the thought of going to Australia, now that I'm over the initial shock. I'm hoping it's due to temporary insanity on my part.

Great Melbourne pics btw.

DP wants somewhere where he can watch the wildlife. We're in the country at the moment,and he's at his happiest when watching the birds and deer here. He's a fussy bugger.

hevs

You can't get wildlife in the cities though, well not deers anyway

Thunderduck

That's partly why the suburbs appeal more to us than the centre of a city.

hevs

In Melbourne going east you would need to be at least 40 ks from the city to get any real countryside. If you had to work in the CBD you would be looking at an hour on the train or an hour and a half (ish) on the freeway..

Thunderduck

I'm used to long commutes so that part wouldn't bother me, but I think I'd be more comfortable in the suburbs, than right out in the country. DP is used to the country but I'm a city girl, and find that the suburbs suited us both.