So, we are looking to move to Melbourne! Just wanted some advice on where to look to live. We are both 30 do not have kids, love to socialise (restaurant bars etc) and would love to live near the sea and not too far from the city!!
We were looking at bonbeach/Chelsea/seaford areas and just wanted to ask for any advice on these areas or if other areas might be more suited to what we are looking for! Any help/advice will be much appreciated! Thanks,

You don't say if you are renting or buying and what sort of rental/property price you can afford which makes giving advice difficult. The areas you quote are approximately 45 minutes from the CBD but they are affordable, close to the sea, not a lot of restaurants and bars. Near the sea, near the CBD, vibrancy and affordable is very, very difficult if not impossible. Have a look at Williamstown which ticks all the boxes you mention, do a property search and see if its in your league. Beacon Cove is popular for all these things too.

Thank you for your response! We would be looking to rent, probably looking around $500-$600 per week.
Will have a look at the two you have mentioned thank you!!

St Kilda í ½í¸ƒ

Hi, Bonbeach, Chelsea and Seaford are not areas that spring to mind when thinking of restaurants and bars galore, there are some, but maybe not what you are looking for.

With your budget you could afford Mentone which has a lot of restaurants and bars, and Mordialloc which also does. Parkdale is in between those two and is now starting to get more and more places too.

Hope that helps.

BB

Probably doesn't tick the 'close to CBD, vibrant social life' box?

Not beachside but not far from the beach, close to CBD and very vibrant, have a look at Yarraville and Seddon area.

Thanks all! Much appreciated :-)

Problem is the most vibrant areas are away from the sea for the most part..... So at best you'll only be getting 25pct of the vibrancy and activity you would in other parts.

I'd start of directly in the CBD temporarily if I were you and work it out from there. Give yourself at least 6 months perhaps a year.... I reckon it could take that long to work out what "you" want from Melbourne.... Because it has one hell of a lot to offer.

Ouch, very expensive now. Usual auction turnout is 15+ bidding, street blocked with lookers on and house (dump) about 200k over guide price.

Nice though, love the old art deco cinema there, so much character.

Yes, I like Yarraville/Seddon area a lot. Yarraville is where my first tennis club is and where I met Mrs OzT. Each year when we are out we still play there and socialise with our friends. We always have lunch in Seddon afterwards and you are spoilt for choice in Victoria, Charles and Gamon Streets. We tend to frequent Seddon's Deadly Sins most often. OP suggested looking to rent and $500 to $600 p.w. and a search suggests that is well possible in Yarraville/Seddon:

http://www.domain.com.au/rent/yarrav...-3013/?ssubs=1

15 minutes max to CBD by train, less along Footsray Rd (Docklands Hwy) by car most times, 10 mins to Williamstown beach.

Thank you

AVOID. Full of crack heads and backpackers.

As one poster mentioned, Williamstown. Very nice and has its own community feel, close to the beach and close to the CBD. Better than the areas you have listed but more than likely pricer. One thing to note is the further you get out, while you get better value for your property you will find less to do on your doorstep. Yes the sea might be closer, but social wise not as much. Also one thing I note, the further you get out the more appealing the sea becomes. Areas like St Kilda I would not venture into the sea.

Other than that SE Melbourne, Caulfield area and surroundings is nice close to the city and beach and close to vibrant areas. Elsternwick and Ormond are also nice areas with lots of cafes within walking distance and close to the beach.

If you are going to live North of the CBD(lots of very nice and affordable areas), getting to beach on the weekends be prepared for traffic.

Was in st kilda few saturdays back, early, still light, within minutes young fella came up pretending to be confused about area, but saw him give sly wink to his mate, few metres back down road. Obviously after the little backpack I had over my shoulder, quickly jumped into the 7/11 knowing they all have security cameras.

Couple hours later down chapel street with my son, young guy very clean, well dressed, not the typical homeless/junkie type slips his hand into sons pocket small scuffle but he backs off, at next traffic light he slips hand into old mans jacket pocket, son steps in, our third scuffle of the night, in just a few hours.

Found a great fish and chip shop though Indian couple running a chippie, but do a Brit style fish and chips with a big salad for ten bucks, malt vinegar on the tables you dont even have to ask. Thought that was pretty good for main shopping area in St Kilda, Think it was called the pink? something, but right near the RSL.

Depends on where you are from if you'll be able to cop this place right now.....But Footscray keeps on promising to be one of the very best places you could ever find to live in Melbourne. It's not there yet .... will it ever get there is the question.... I would have thought it would have easily done it by now.... hence i'm not going to recommend it....

One of my kids is bound to end up buying there I'd say. Youngest daughter when she comes back from the UK I reckon.

Best analogy.... waiting for Bermondsey to become Gentrified.....

I would tend to say you are looking for a bit of contradiction breaking. Although more suburban areas have restaurants/bars etc., you are going to be looking in towards the CBD for the most vibrant scene. Beachside is obviously not going to be near the CBD, and for the best value in decent housing you aren't likely to be near either.

And you haven't mentioned work yet, or where that would likely be.

If you are happy with only a small space, I might look to renting an apartment in Docklands. Easy walking distance to the CBD, and particular types of work, but not much in the way of beach, and expensive for what it is. However, they have been overbuilding in that market, and you might find prices moderating as people try to find renters to recoup something of their investment.

Williamstown is another possibility. There's some level of nightlife, but its still a stupidly long time into the CBD by train, even if you can see it across just across the bay. However you do get ... well sea at least.

Finally, in the west, you could look at a house out towards Point Cook. Not much in the way of beach, or nightlife, but the time into the CBD isn't too bad and you would get a LOT more for your money.

eg contrast this 2 Verbena Drive Point Cook Vic 3030 - House for Rent #418966042 - realestate.com.au

in Point Cook

and this 1104/55 Merchant Street Docklands Vic 3008 - Apartment for Rent #413916591 - realestate.com.au

in Docklands.

It's a question of what is more important to you, and how you can use transport to break those contradictions. Luckily if you are renting, you can always make good on a mistake.