It’s time to return to my series about Australia’s most liveable cities after the interruption of Darwin week which became Darwin fortnight.
Darwin came stone last in this 11 city poll, but I allowed it to push in when I wrote about the it in my post called Australia’s Least Most Liveable City a couple of weeks ago. Time to get back on track with the fifth city in the poll.
Geelong, Victoria
I’ve driven through Geelong during my Australian road trip after leaving Melbourne and making my way to the Great Ocean Road…
Great Ocean Road
I can tell you, any place that is close to both Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road is worth a look and that’s what we’re doing today with Geelong.
Geelong, in case you didn’t know, is about 75 kilometres south-west from Melbourne and, just for the record, 3,731 kilometres south of Darwin.
Geelong
What Geelong residents like about Geelong:
- It’s affordable allowing for a good standard of living;
- It has a good range of quality affordable housing;
- It has good roads and very little traffic congestion.
Geelong residents were not so keen on:
- The employment and economic opportunities;
- The weather;
- The entertainment scene.
Now it’s time for my YouTube pick of the videos available about Geelong. Searching YouTube for Geelong brings up more AFL videos and you can shake a stick at. My guess then is that Geelong has an AFL team.
This one is a shameless but good promotional video designed only to entice you to move to Geelong…
Unfortunately, the video I originally posted next has since been taken down from YouTube. So instead, here is a rather wonderful timelapse replacement…
Finally, if you’re not all Geelonged out, this is a stunning visual video of the area. I enjoyed watching it so much it had me searching for the instructions for my camera so I can work out how I can make movies like this as well.
This is pure art, and as Filip Laureys the creator says, please watch with full-screen and sound…
Geelong; doesn’t look too bad, does it?
We stayed in Geelong for a week on our recce trip in 2009 and I must admit it was probably our least favourite place that we stayed. It has some really nice bits (the waterfront is great for example) but the city was nowhere near as nice as others in our opinion. Now that the Ford factory is closing it may depress Geelong for a bit – although it may also diversify the economy a bit too which would be good.
Pontus, I moved to Hobart in 2011 and absolutely love it. Looking at your comment I would say that Hobart would be very close to what you’re looking for. Launceston too for that matter.
There certainly is a very large healthy food contingent in Tasmania. Where I work for example, I get organic meat from two different co-workers. And I work in IT! There are also a lot of farmers markets and food events. Have a look at Taste of Tasmania for example.
The Discover Tasmania site you mention is one that we looked at a lot when deciding to move. I can confirm that if anything Tasmania is even more beautiful in the flesh! We’ve also only just scratched the surface of the state!
I’ve also got a blog about our move to Hobart (I hope you don’t mind me mentioning that Bob), just click my name above the comment to have a look.
Thanks for your input, mate!
I can not wait until I am done with my studies and I surely will check out your blog.
No, I don’t mind you mentioning it at all Tim, and as for Geelong, yes the Ford factory shutting down will not do it any favours. Whether that situation remains or not, well, that might depend on the results of the election.
Hello Bob, and everyone else reading!
First I would like to compliment you, Bob, for your dedication and enthusiasm which pervades through to us as readers! And all the helpful viewers.
Now, I am a nineteen year old Swede, with a huge interest in training (bodybuilding) and nature. Come autumn I will pursue a bachelore’s degree in “Biomedicine, Athletic training”, which I most likely will follow up with a master’s and maybe even a PhD – time will tell for the latter.
Once I am done with them studies I would love moving to Australia, I will then have about 60-70 points (for the visa), so I figure my chances are good.
I have been googling, researching and been reading here about the various aspects of Australia and what is has to offer, which seemingly is a lot.
I would like a little hotter climate than what we have here in Sweden, but not by a lot. Cities, such as Launceston and Hobart are very tempting – it has the environment, and I also read through some comments mentioning the different food choices (I always eat healthy), so that is a must.
But I am a little more picky than that, unfortunately. My dream would be to live close to a big city (100k to few million inhabitants), in a house, while still being remote (10 to 1 hour drive to the city/work).
Lastly, since I will pursue and hopefully work within the category of health/training/diet, I wonder how easy it would be for me to get employed, or even start my own business in Tasmania?
If you have any other state/city (close to a city that is :)) that you would recommend to my personal liking, please do! I know it is still a few year’s away, but I can not think about anything else than working with my dream job, in my dream country, under dream conditions!
So Bob, or anyone reading, what would you say/think?
Have been reading on a very interesting site for some hours now…:
http://www.discovertasmania.com/about_tasmania Some great information about Tasmania.
Though I would still appreciate your thoughts on my more specific aforementioned questions. 🙂
Hi Pontus
I went to Tasmania for a holiday a couple of years ago, I absolutely loved the place. And Hobart was actually voted the third most liveable city in Australia, you can read about that here.
If you do choose Tasmania, I highly recommend you go to Hobart rather than Launceston, nothing against the latter but Hobart seem to have so much going for it. Highly recommended.
Not sure how easy or hard you would find it to get work there, but I do know work is not so easy to find generally down that way. But starting up your own business, yes, that is a big possibility.
Good luck, whatever you decide, Bob
Appreciate the answer!