Originally Posted by psymann (Post 11358581)

We're moving out in a month, and we also narrowed the choices down to Perth or Brisbane originally. We visited Perth twice, and Brisbane once, all three times in February for two weeks.

We chose Perth, because:

- The beaches along the Perth coast are far better than Brisbane can offer
- Hot summer in Perth is much less humid. We were in Perth at 35-40 all week, and in Brisbane for 25-30 all week. Perth at 35-40 felt nice and warm. Brisbane at 25-30 felt horrid and sticky. The humidity really was the difference.
- Perth is more isolated and less good for backpackers, which is something we liked (we live in a rural village in the UK, so don't seek out busy places!).
- Perth is just a little closer to the UK when we want to take trips back to see family (17hrs with one stop flight compared to 21hrs with two stops flight for Brisbane).
- I had one friend in Perth and one in Brisbane at the time, and the one in Brisbane often complained about the year-round heat, whereas the one in Perth only occasionally complained it was cold. I reckoned it'd be nicer to have a few months of a bit cold than a few months of unbearably hot and sticky. I think it's that humidity thing again.
- My wife likes scuba diving and snorkelling, and while Brisbane is nearer the Great Barrier Reef, Perth is nearer Ningaloo, which is a pretty good alternative.
- Perth and WA in general have fewer of the nasty spiders and snakes and other things trying to eat you.
- My brother-in-law and my brother-almost-in-law both went on separate years out in Australia travelling. Both of them spent a few months going down the east coast, both then went to Perth, and both then stopped there for the whole of the rest of their year as they liked it there to live.
- We liked the feel of Perth city centre a little more than Brisbane city centre, and preferred Perth's river to Brisbane's to sit next to. All a bit subjective of course, and Brisbane does do a good line in motorways-on-stilts-in-the-river which was amusing.

- In Brisbane's favour, the countryside looked nicer in Brisbane. Perth city was more desert-y with few trees and mostly shrubs, from what we saw. Brisbane had far more trees and a much more lush feel. We preferred Brisbane for this but Perth won overall.
- Queensland has koalas which was another point in favour of Brisbane. Perth doesn't have any wild, but does have a few semi-captive, for example in Yanchep national park.

It wasn't an obvious choice, but a mixture of beach, low summer humidity and personal recommendations is what led us to that decision. Time will tell whether we chose well!

Originally Posted by psymann (Post 11358581)

We're moving out in a month, and we also narrowed the choices down to Perth or Brisbane originally. We visited Perth twice, and Brisbane once, all three times in February for two weeks.

We chose Perth, because:

- The beaches along the Perth coast are far better than Brisbane can offer
Agree

- Hot summer in Perth is much less humid. We were in Perth at 35-40 all week, and in Brisbane for 25-30 all week. Perth at 35-40 felt nice and warm. Brisbane at 25-30 felt horrid and sticky. The humidity really was the difference.
Yes to a degree. Perth has several days over 40 which is pretty unpleasant and also gets humid.

- Perth is more isolated and less good for backpackers, which is something we liked (we live in a rural village in the UK, so don't seek out busy places!).
Both are cities of comparable size and nothing like a rural village. I spend time in both and would suggest Brisbane has a far stronger community feel

- Perth is just a little closer to the UK when we want to take trips back to see family (17hrs with one stop flight compared to 21hrs with two stops flight for Brisbane).
One stop from Brissie too (Singapore, KL, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, LA)

- I had one friend in Perth and one in Brisbane at the time, and the one in Brisbane often complained about the year-round heat, whereas the one in Perth only occasionally complained it was cold. I reckoned it'd be nicer to have a few months of a bit cold than a few months of unbearably hot and sticky. I think it's that humidity thing again.

Each to their own but think the other way round, the "best" season in Brisbane is now whereas Perth is summer


- My wife likes scuba diving and snorkelling, and while Brisbane is nearer the Great Barrier Reef, Perth is nearer Ningaloo, which is a pretty good alternative.
Except Barrier reef is a very short flight, Ningaloo is 2 days drive


- Perth and WA in general have fewer of the nasty spiders and snakes and other things trying to eat you.
Except red backs everywhere, Dugites and of course the large number of sharks on those beaches you are looking forward to.

- My brother-in-law and my brother-almost-in-law both went on separate years out in Australia travelling. Both of them spent a few months going down the east coast, both then went to Perth, and both then stopped there for the whole of the rest of their year as they liked it there to live.

- We liked the feel of Perth city centre a little more than Brisbane city centre, and preferred Perth's river to Brisbane's to sit next to. All a bit subjective of course, and Brisbane does do a good line in motorways-on-stilts-in-the-river which was amusing.
Brisbane river is alive and part of the city, the Swan is about remote somehow (although Queen Elizabeth Quay might help)

- In Brisbane's favour, the countryside looked nicer in Brisbane. Perth city was more desert-y with few trees and mostly shrubs, from what we saw. Brisbane had far more trees and a much more lush feel. We preferred Brisbane for this but Perth won overall.
- Queensland has koalas which was another point in favour of Brisbane. Perth doesn't have any wild, but does have a few semi-captive, for example in Yanchep national park.

It wasn't an obvious choice, but a mixture of beach, low summer humidity and personal recommendations is what led us to that decision. Time will tell whether we chose well!

Originally Posted by EnglishLass (Post 11358666)

Also, regarding walking your dog, it is far different in Australia. I remember just pulling up anywhere in the forest in England with our dog and being able to go for long walks. Here, as someone said, there's no "forest" exactly, but lots of national parks where you can't generally take your dog due to wildlife protection which is fair enough. There are hardly any dog parks around. Most other parks require dogs to be on lead. Also there are hardly any dog beaches in Perth - the one closest to me in Hillarys is always packed.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 11359088)

:thumbup:

The whole dog keeping thing is different here. Most pEople in Brisbane seem to just have dogs as some kind of burglar alarm. They don't walk them, just stick them in the garden and leave them to roam around and bark at anything which moves within a three mile radius. My area used to be peaceful but we now have three within one street who bark all day, 8.30 till 5.30, and if their owners are out at the weekends - they bark then too. And no, none of them are ever seen being walked or taken anywhere in the car that could lead to a walk.

Originally Posted by Kim67 (Post 11358659)

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are hardly any redback spiders in Brisbane (not native to QLD) but you'll find hundreds of them in your house and garden in Perth.

Originally Posted by EnglishLass (Post 11359112)

That's awful - for you for the noise and for the dogs themselves as they must be bored out of their minds. :thumbdown: They're barking 'cause there's nothing else to do!

Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 11359225)

I know our climate here is slightly different from Brisbane but this winter has been the driest we've suffered in 9 years in terms of humidity. The humidity It's been so low I feel as though all the moisture in my body left a couple of months ago. I have no idea how people in Perth cope with it on a regular basis. Give me humidity any day of the week.

Originally Posted by chris955 (Post 11359194)

I'm not sure where you get the idea Redbacks arent native to Qld?

Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 11359225)

I know our climate here is slightly different from Brisbane but this winter has been the driest we've suffered in 9 years in terms of humidity. The humidity It's been so low I feel as though all the moisture in my body left a couple of months ago. I have no idea how people in Perth cope with it on a regular basis. Give me humidity any day of the week.

Originally Posted by Alfresco (Post 11359855)

Indeed! A few weeks ago I actually had :eek: to use moisturizing cream on the back of my hands, they were so dry.

Originally Posted by Kim67 (Post 11359628)

Native is probably the wrong word, they are not common in Queensland: