The BobinOz Quick Guide to Choosing a City in Australia
Which city should I live in in Australia?
I love sentences with in in two places next each other. Anyway…
This is another question I am frequently asked, but like love, cities are also in the eye of the beholder. What do you like? Hot, not so hot or cold? Busy, bustling and crowded or laid-back, quiet with countryside? Beach or mountain? Wet or dry? Dust or rock?
Enough already!
Here’s the BobinOz quick guide to choosing a city in Australia.
But remember, it’s in the eye of the beholder, and this beholder, if he still lived in England, would probably choose Cornwall.
Sydney
Sydney is the biggest city in Australia and I have been there a couple of times, but it’s not for me. It’s very busy, verging on overcrowded and traffic is quite congested. Some people love it there but it reminds me too much of all the reasons why I wanted to get away from England. It’s also very expensive.
On the other hand, the people who live there and love it do so for the very reasons I’m not so keen. Some people love buzzing, bustling cities. There is no doubting it is the financial hub of Australia and for many people coming over for their work, Sydney is the only choice.
If I had to leave Australia or live in Sydney, I’d live in Sydney, so it’s not that bad. But I do have a choice, so I don’t.
Melbourne
Melbourne is a city I really like the look of, full of culture and history with a real good buzz around it. I’ve only been once when I stayed for three days. Not long enough. I loved the trams, the layout of the city with its grid like system, and the diversity of the culture.
There seemed to be a lot going on as well, musically and entertainment wise. Plenty of venues full of character, it has the vibe of a city full of creativity. And as a bonus, within an hours drive you could be at the start of the Great Ocean Road, a stunning six hour oceanfront drive covering some 240 kilometres. It’s one of Australia’s biggest attractions.
But Melbourne is also well-known for his cold winters and four seasons in one day. I prefer my winters warmer, so for that reason, as much as I like it, no, I don’t live there.
Perth
Perth, for me, is way too isolated. Apparently, 40% who emigrate here from the UK choose Perth. I’ve never been, but the people I have spoken to who have, say there is not actually much there. And it is very much separate from the rest of Australia. As I said, isolated.
Did I mention isolated? Let me put that into perspective. Brisbane to Perth is 4341 km.
Sydney is 3957 km away, Melbourne 3425 km and Adelaide 2696 km. It’s about as close to the rest of populated Australia as London is to Moscow. Perth has a wonderful climate and I’m sure the beaches are lovely, but it’s not for me. But what do I know? I’ve never been.
Adelaide
But I have been to Adelaide, once, and I thought it was fantastic! The people were really friendly and it’s a very compact, small city with great beaches close by. The weather is likened to that of the Mediterranean and it is a much quieter city than the others. Easy to get around, very little traffic congestion and not very expensive compared to the other cities. On the downside, many of the locals there also told me there’s really nothing to do.
One of my readers, who had lived in Adelaide for five years, commented “Honestly, you could fire a cannon down my street most of the day and not hit anyone – and I lived within ten mins of the CBD.” So he thought it was quiet too.
So I wouldn’t cross Adelaide off of your list, but if you’re keeping it on there, you’ll probably need to be the kind of person who enjoys a quiet life. I was there during the summer and loved that it didn’t get dark till about nine o’clock of an evening. But I hated that there were so many flies trying to bounce off of my face.
The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast, believe it or not, is a city. It is famous for Surfers Paradise, but that’s not the only beautiful beach in the area. Where Perth and Adelaide are quiet, the Gold Coast is bustling with things to do. Surfing aside, the area has who knows how many theme parks, including, Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet’n'Wild Water World, Warner Bros. Movie World, WhiteWater World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, David Fleay Wildlife Park, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country.
It’s also an area big on sport with the Gold Coast Indy 300, V8 Supercars and the Magic Millions carnival, a major horseracing event here in Australia. Yes, there’s a lot to do, its action town but it also has some glorious hinterland. The property there is quite expensive, but don’t let that put you off. It’s the place to go to live the dream! And if you get bored, you can drive to Brisbane. It’s only an hour and a quarter away.
The Sunshine Coast
But north of Brisbane, about an hour and a half drive, is the Sunshine Coast. More stunning beaches and fantastic hinterland, but this time in more quiet surroundings. Dare I say it, a bit classier than the Gold Coast? No, perhaps not, that would be asking for trouble.
Maybe a better way to put it would be that where the Gold Coast is very commercialised, the Sunshine Coast is much quieter and understated. Of the two, my vote would go to the Sunshine Coast, in particular Mooloolaba and Maroochydore for their great beaches and rivers.
I love the Sunshine Coast but I have heard that it can be quite difficult to find work out that way and the commute into Brisbane is too much.
Canberra
I’ve never been, but this is what I have discovered/been told. No beach, full of politicians, cold and boring. My best Aussie mate was born there and lived there until he was 18, when he joined the Army. At that age, I think he would have joined anything to escape Canberra.
He left the Army years ago, but never went back to Canberra. Well, he does occasionally to see his mum. So the obvious question to any of you considering Canberra is….. why?
Darwin
Darwin is supposed to be like paradise, but of course, very hot and humid and home to the crocodiles. Not for the faint of heart. It’s another place I’ve not yet been to, but I’m really looking forward to visiting.
But the emphasis is on the word visiting, I don’t think I could live there. You just about can’t swim anywhere, other than a swimming pool. Sharks, killer jellyfish and crocodiles on the other hand, swim where they like. Who is to stop them? Probably too hot for most people, but you won’t be moaning about the traffic.
Hobart
Tasmania is an island off of Australia’s mainland with Hobart as its capital, but I haven’t been yet. I’m going in July, so I will know more after that visit and I’ll come back and update this page. What I’ve seen of it, it looks as quiet as Cornwall, but with the remoteness of deepest Scotland.
It would be very cold and quite isolated compared to the rest of Australia, so if you’re going to give it a go, be sure to take a coat. You’ll also need to like boats, fishing and country walks. Not for me, but for some of you I’m sure it would be your slice of paradise.
Brisbane
That leaves Brisbane, where I live. I do think Brisbane has it all; fantastic climate, a modern look and access to glorious beaches an hour or so drive north and south. It has a suburb to suit everyone. If you like busy, choose one of the inner suburbs. If you like the coast, go Bayside or one of the eastern suburbs. If you like big wide open spaces, go western suburbs and yet still enjoy 35 to 40 minutes drive to the city. I think it’s a great place to bring up children too.
Brisbane is my choice, that’s why I live here. But where YOU live in Australia is a big decision to make and only you can make it for yourself.
So there you have it, my (completely worthless) roundup of the cities of Australia. How can one man who hasn’t been to half of these places and not yet lived in Australia long enough to even qualify for citizenship even have an opinion? I am sure many seasoned Aussies, including my mates mum living in Canberra, would greatly disagree with me.
To those who do, please leave a comment here or on any of the other city specific pages of this website and let me know your opinion. The more opinions we have, the more we are helping others to decide.
But Australia is more than just major cities; there are hundreds more large towns and even more smaller ones to choose from. So I will leave the last word with one of my regular readers AND more seasoned Aussie, Gordon, who said “For me, comparing big cities is like comparing turnips with cow pats regarding which one tastes better.”
Needless to say, Gordon doesn’t live in a big city, and you don’t have to either. Check out my list of towns by state and you’ll see just how much choice you really have.
More useful links:
I have written a couple of posts following surveys about which are the best cities to live in. Be sure to read the comments below each of these posts, they are full of some great additional information …..
I also have a more comprehensive roundup, which includes annual weather charts and more, for each of the following cities. Please click on a link below to read more.
like? Hot, not so hot or cold? Busy, bustling and crowded or laid-back, quiet with countryside? Beach or mountain? Wet
or dry? Dust or rock?
Enough already!
Here’s the BobinOz quick guide to choosing a city in Australia.
But remember, it’s in the eye of the beholder, and this beholder if he still lived in England would probably choose
Cornwall.
Sydney.
Sydney is the biggest city in Australia and I have been there a couple of times, but it’s not for me. It’s very busy,
verging on overcrowded and traffic is quite congested. Some people love it there but it reminds me too much of all the
reasons why I wanted to get away from England. It’s also very expensive.
On the other hand, the people who live there and love it do so for the very reasons I’m not so keen. Some people love
buzzing, bustling cities. There is no doubting it is the financial hub of Australia and for many people coming over for
their work, Sydney is the only choice.
If I had to leave Australia or live in Sydney, I live in Sydney, so it’s not that bad. But I do have a choice, so I
don’t.
Melbourne.
Melbourne is a city I really like the look of, full of culture and history with a real good buzz around it. I’ve only
been once when I stayed for three days. Not long enough. I loved the trams, the layout of the city with its grid like
system, and the diversity of the culture.
There seemed to be a lot going on as well, musically and entertainment wise. Plenty of venues full of character, it has
the vibe of a city full of creativity. And as a bonus, within an hours drive you could be at the start of the Great
Ocean Road, a stunning six hour oceanfront drive covering some 240 kilometres. It’s one of Australia’s biggest
attractions.
But Melbourne is also well-known for his cold winters and four seasons in one day. I prefer my winters warmer, so for
that reason, as much as I like and no, I don’t live there.
Perth
Perth, for me, is way too isolated. Apparently, 40% who emigrate here from the UK choose Perth. I’ve never been but the
people I have spoken to who have been there say there is not actually much there. And it is very much separate from the
rest of Australia. As I said, isolated.
Did I mention isolated? Let me put that into perspective. Brisbane to Perth is 4341 km.
Sydney is 3957 km away, Melbourne 3425 km and Adelaide 2696 km. It’s about as close to the rest of populated Australia
as London is to Moscow. Perth has a wonderful climate and I’m sure the beaches are lovely, but it’s not for me. But what
do I know? I’ve never been.
Adelaide.
But I have been to Adelaide, once, and I thought it was fantastic! The people were really friendly and it’s a very
compact, small city with great beaches close by. The weather is likened to that of the Mediterranean and it is a much
quieter city than the others. Easy to get around, very little traffic congestion and not very expensive compared to the
other cities. On the downside, many of the locals there also told me there’s really nothing to do.
One of my readers, who had lived in Adelaide for five years, commented “Honestly, you could fire a cannon down my street
most of the day and not hit anyone – and I live within ten mins of the CBD.” So he thought it was quite too.
So I wouldn’t cross Adelaide off of your list, but if you’re keeping it on there, you’ll probably need to be the kind of
person who enjoys a quiet life. I was there during the summer and loved that it didn’t get dark till about nine o’clock
of leaving. But I hated that there were so many flies trying to bounce off of my face.
The Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast, believe it or not, is a city. It is famous for Surfers Paradise, but that’s not the only beautiful beach
in the area. Where Perth and Adelaide are quiet, the Gold Coast is bustling with things to do. Surfing aside, the area
has who knows how many theme parks, including, Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet’n'Wild Water World, Warner Bros. Movie World,
WhiteWater World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, David Fleay Wildlife Park, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise
Country.
It’s also an area big on sport with the Gold Coast Indy 300, V8 Supercars and the Magic Millions carnival, a major
horseracing event here in Australia. Yes, there’s a lot to do, its action town but it also has some glorious hinterland.
The property there is quite expensive, but don’t let that put you off. It’s the place to go to live the dream! And if
you get bored, you can drive to Brisbane. It’s only an hour and a quarter away.
The Sunshine Coast.
But north of Brisbane, about an hour and a half drive, is the Sunshine Coast. More stunning beaches and fantastic
hinterland, but this time in more quiet surroundings. Dare I say it, a bit classier than the Gold Coast? No, perhaps
not, that would be asking for trouble.
Maybe a better way to put it would be that where the Gold Coast is very commercialised, the Sunshine Coast is much
quieter and understated. Of the two, my vote would go to the Sunshine Coast, in particular Mooloolaba and Maroochydore
for their great beaches and rivers.
I love the Sunshine Coast but I have heard that it can be quite difficult to find work out that way and the commute into
Brisbane is too much.
Canberra.
I’ve never been, but this is what I have discovered/been told. No beach, full of politicians, cold and boring. My best
Aussie mate was born there and lived there until he was 18, when he joined the Army. At that age, I think he would have
joined anything to escape Canberra.
He left the Army years ago, but never went back to Canberra. Well, does occasionally to see his mum. I rest my case.
Darwin
Darwin is supposed to be like paradise, but of course, very hot and humid and home to the crocodiles. Not for the faint
of heart. It’s another place I’ve not yet been to, but I’m really looking forward to visiting.
But the emphasis is on the word visiting, I don’t think I could live there. You just about can’t swim anywhere, other
than a swimming pool. Sharks, killer jellyfish and crocodiles on the other hand, swim where they like. Who is to stop
them? Probably too hot for most people, but you won’t be moaning about the traffic.
Hobart.
Tasmania is an island off of Australia’s mainland with Hobart as its capital, but I haven’t been yet. I’m going in July,
so I will know more after that visit and I’ll come back and update this page. What I’ve seen of it, it looks as quite as
Cornwall but with the remoteness of deepest Scotland.
It would be very cold and quite isolated compared to the rest of Australia, so if you’re going to give it a go, be sure
that you like boats, fishing and country walks. Not for me, but for some of you I’m sure it would be your slice of
paradise.
Brisbane.
That leaves Brisbane, where I live. I do think Brisbane has it all, fantastic climate, a modern look and access to
glorious beaches an hour or so drive north and south. It has a suburb to suit everyone, if you like busy, choose one of
the inner suburbs. If you like the coast, go Bayside or one of the eastern suburbs. If you like big wide open spaces, go
western suburbs and yet still enjoy 35 to 40 minutes drive to the city. I think it’s a great place to bring up children
too.
Brisbane is my choice, that’s why I live here. But it is a big decision to make and only you can make it for yourself.
So there you have it, my roundup of the cities of Australia. But one man’s poison is another’s pleasure, so try to read
between the lines to give yourself an idea of which city you would like to live in.
But Australia is more than just major cities; there are hundreds more large towns and even more smaller ones to choose
from. I’ll leave the last word with one of my regular readers, Gordon, who said “For me, comparing big cities is like
comparing turnips with cow pats regarding which one tastes better.”
More useful links:
I have a more comprehensive roundup which includes annual weather charts and more for each of the following cities.
Please click on the links to read more.
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Perth
Adelaide
Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast
Canberra
Hobart
Darwin
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Nothing to do in Adelaide…
How about…?
A walk along the beach
Clipsal 500
The gardens, the zoo’s/wildlife parks, museums,
A trip to one of the worlds MOST famous wine region the Barossa(only 1 hr out of Adelaide) or even McClaren vale(30 mins out of CBD)!!! and freeeeee
Its the festival state!! …. The Adelaide Fringe, Womadelaide
Sorry but your local didnt know what he was talking about, There is plenty to do if you want to
Hi Lisa
Sounds like a vote for Adelaide then?
As I said, when I went I really loved it, I’m just quoting a local who had lived there for about five years, if I remember correctly.
By comparison though, there must be more to do in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane? Maybe that’s what she (it was a young mother) meant.
Excellent browse there Bob. Looks like I’ll be in Perth for a number of months for work and complete my pilot license at Jandokot airport. Keep up the good work. Marvelous.
Cheers,
Ed, Jakarta
Thanks Ed, hope you enjoy Perth. Let me know how it goes.
Do you come from Cornwall Bob?
No, I don’t. Why do you ask?
I am with you in Brisbane Bob. And THANKS for the awesome information, I have an offer to move from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada…to somewhere around Brisbane. We have two girls 12 & 11, and a dog….I am going to read more of your work now, thanks again.
Chris Hansen
Hi Chris
So glad you found my information useful and may I be the first to welcome you to Brisbane, even though you’re not here yet. I hope your two daughters are looking forward to it, they are at a tricky age for a big move. But once they’ve made a few friends, I’m sure they will love it.
Check out my page about Exporting Your Dog to Australia, and my wife’s website where she has an excellent dog walking service for dogs in quarantine, it’s called DogWalks. Take a look at the Dog Gallery, it’s marvellous!
Cheers
Bob
You left off Dubbo and Griffith. I liked both places when I visited. They remind me of rural western Canada.
Well, I’ve only done the “biggies” in my roundup. I’ve been to Dubbo though, but just the zoo. Didn’t really get the time to have a good look around.
Thanks AGAIN Bob;
I am landing in Brissie on the 19th of January, than I search for a home, after more research, it looks like I may be leaning to the Sunshine Coast, Monica and the girls will be arriving in March. Hope all is well w/ you and yours, and have a fantastic MERRY Christmas!
Chris Hansen,
Hope you have a good Christmas too, looking forward to seeing you here in Australia soon.
Cheers
Bob
Dont forget to tell them about Toowoomba Bob. One and Half hours up the mountain inland from Brisbane, with 4 seasons and log fires. Not to mention Montville. The English would love this place, i know my English wife does, and we now live in Toowoomba. Cheers Bob.
First time we went to Toowoomba, we drove from Brisbane in the car and didn’t realise how cold it was until we got out at the end of their journey. I was wearing shorts and T-shirt, people on the street were wearing coats and furry hats! I think my legs turned blue and we actually went into a shop to buy some long trousers for Mrs BobinOz.
Montville is great too, stunning views across the hills.
\That is helpful, we are looking for one season of tropical hot weather, we have done the four season thing for over forty years, time for some fun in the sun. The beach would be fantastic!
Happy Holidays
Chris h
Glad you found it helpful, sounds like anywhere on the coast from Surfers Paradise upwards will do you fine. Happy holidays to you too.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob,
this is a great website. I am very happy to have found it.
I live in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and I have just applied for a research scientist job with the Government in Canberra. I have an interview soon. So, if it goes well, I will have to make a decision on the move or not.
I work for the gov here doing pretty much the same thing as I would do there. Now, I am wondering if the move is worth it! I unfortunately know nothing about Australia except what I am reading on your blog, which make it difficult to figure out. I am not particularly unhappy here, but I guess the feel for new adventure is making me curious. My partner and I are very outdoorsy and active. We’ve been northern climate type of people for our whole life. We’re also at the stage where we are thinking about having kids. I don’t know how the australian system/lifestyle compares to the canadian for family and health care…
With the few details I gave you, what would be your opinion on the move? I’m just seeking opinions and the why yes or why no kind of answers.
thanks a lot and I appreciate any comments.
Kim
Hi Kim
How are you? Glad you are enjoying my site.
This is a tricky one for me, but only because your chosen destination appears to be Canberra.
I’ve never been to Canberra, so I can’t talk with authority, but I can’t believe it offers the true “Australian” experience. Canberra came to be because Melbourne and Sydney were fighting it out to be the capital Australia, so to be fair, they decided to put the capital somewhere between the two. Canberra.
So, the nearest beach is about an hour and a half drive, it is kind of in the middle of nowhere and it’s where lots of people who work for the government live.
I’ve heard (dare I say it) is quite boring.
But, as I said, I’ve never been. Plenty of people who read my blog have been there or do live there. So maybe one of them can help you out better than I can.
Anybody?
PS. Australia is a great place to bring up kids though, that’s for sure.
Hi Kim,
I’ve lived in Australia for quite a while now, including both in Brisbane and Canberra. Canberra for work, Brisbane by choice…. That said, Canberra may suit you. It is rather cold in winter (by Australian, but not Canadian standards). It is also not wildly exciting – but does have excellent public facilities (schools, sports, health care etc) and is an easy place to live, especially for families. A bit like an Aussie version of Ottawa. It is also arguably the most outdoorsy place in Australia (outside of Tasmania).
Paul
Thank you for your input Bob, Paul and Les.
I am very much debating now what to do as I am about to get the official offer for the job. I will most likely be flying down to Canberra with my partner in the next couple week to check it out. So, I hope to find my answer once I see the town and the area.
thanks again and I very much appreciate all opinions.
I agree with Paul that Canberra has some charms for people who are used to living in capital cities.
Canberra is close to some great winter recreation opportunities that are not available elsewhere in Australia.
We’re a family of 6, with 4 children under 7years and currently living in the UK.Hubby is a director for a large accountancy firm that has offered him 2 jobs…one in Brisbane & one in Adelaide.Never been to Oz before & no time for a reccie, as we will be coming over in the next couple of months…..help, which one to choose.We’re a young family & want to live the dream….to us its beautiful beaches, warm weather, a more laid back lifestyle with lots to see & do.Dont want to offend anyone but have done some research which seems to suggest that Adelaide hasnt got much to do,which may be a problem with 4 small children to entertain.Can you or anyone else give anymore insight into life with a young family in Brissy or Adelaide?
Brisbane: close to the Gold Coast and all of these attractions; Dreamworld, Sea World, WhiteWater World, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, David Fleay Wildlife Park.
Then there is the Sunshine Coast with Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Aussie World and more spectacular beaches.
Adelaide has beaches, hills, and once each year a comedy festival and a bike race.
Where do you think your kids would rather live?
Ha yes, I guess thats a vote for Brissy then
Are there any votes out there for Adelaide?
Dear Bob,
I was doing some browsing on Australia and I came across your website. Its really fantastic! I can’t get enough of it. Well done. I am planning to move to Oz in the next four or so years. I have applied to a University here in UK to retrain as a nurse ( was an accountant in my previous life) which will make it probably easier to move and also the kids will be abit big then. Any particular best city/state for nurses you would advise.
Hi Doris
Even if I knew which was currently the best city (I don’t), it will have changed in four years time. I’d be more inclined to decide where you want to live and then see if you can get a sponsorship for that area when you are ready for the move.
One word of warning, I believe you will need some postgraduate experience in the job in order to get a sponsorship.
Hi Bob,
Congratulation on a great blog. It’s all I need at the moment to help me decide soooo many things that involve migrating to another country. I am Brazilian and so is my husband, we have a 7 year old girl. We are planning on going to Australia in about 2 years. My husband is a vet and we are hoping to qualify for the independent skilled migration program. He is now taking the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons membership exam to allow him to practice in the UK. Our biggest concern at the moment is where to live, because I can’t be messing my daughter about moving here and there. She is already a bit behind at school and the move needs to be very smooth not to affect her so much. We live in Bournemouth, Dorset, we love living in the coast, but hate the fact that there isn’t much to do. So, ideal it would be a bigger city in the seaside, but not as busy as London. I was tempted to Brisbane, but I can’t live that far from the sea. Also, very important is the weather, I can’t stand the cold and that is why we are moving. Another thing to consider is schools, I want to live somewhere where the public schools are good as well. With so much to consider and no time to go all around Australia to find out, I thought you might help us out on this one.
Andrea
If hot weather is important, as well as being close to the sea, then I would think your choices are Perth, or somewhere in the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast. Some people love Perth, I think it’s a bit too isolated, although I’ve never been.
My preference would be somewhere around the Sunshine Coast, may be Mooloolaba or Maroochydore, both are fantastic! The big downside of the Sunshine Coast is, apparently, there’s not much work. But if your husband can secure work there, it would be my best recommendation.
I’m so glad to have found this blog. My husband and I have been talking about moving to australia. Do you know of a good place to live where he could get a job in the coal mines? He has worked underground for 4 years now in Virginia.
I think Gladstone on the East Coast of Queensland is the place where most of the coalmining goes on, but it’s not the only place. I would check out my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship, search for coal mining vacancies and see where most of the opportunities are.
Australia has lots of other mines as well, not just coal, maybe you should look into that too.