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.

Okay, let’s take a look at some of Australia’s cities. I must make it clear that I have only listed the 8 capital cities from our states and territories here. If you want information about any other Australian city or town, please check out the relevant Australian State and look at the comments on those pages.

If you can’t find any information about the particular city or town you are interested in, ask about it in the comments, somebody who knows it well might see it and help you out.

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.

Update: Then in November 2012 I took a mini break in this city and literally saw The Other Side of Sydney. I also checked out The Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia.

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.

Update: I’ve since been to Melbourne for a second time, you can read about it here:

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.

Matt has been though, he’s lived there for 11 years. Click this link to see what Matt thinks of Perth. Elizabeth is also a fan, you can read her views here.

Update: I have now been to Perth, spending five days in the city and a further five days visiting the surrounding areas. If you want to know what I thought of it, have a look at these posts:

Adelaide

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; check out Labrador, for example.

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?

Update: But as I have said, I’ve never been to Canberra, so don’t listen to me. Maybe you should listen to Andrea who has made a comment below, she lives there and she thinks Canberra is one of the best cities in the world; well, her actual words were “when it comes to living and settling down, I cant think of anywhere else in the world!

I wouldn’t go that far, but having re-read my summary above, I can see I’ve been a bit harsh. To find out what Andrea thinks, click here.

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.

Update: I have now been to Darwin, went in the middle of winter, July 2013 and if you want to know what I thought about it, check out the following posts:

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.

Update: Well, yes I did go to Hobart and absolutely loved it and all of Tasmania. I could go on about it here, but it’s easier if you go to the following posts if you want to know more about this part of Australia:

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 (update: I have now) and not yet lived in Australia long enough and is not even an Australian citizen (update: I am now) 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.

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 youlike? 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

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{ 493 comments… add one }
  • Ludovica July 2, 2016, 8:53 pm |

    Hi Bob l am italian building architect and yacht designer. Please could you suggest me which australian city it could be good for my job profile?l would like to work in both fields, but it will good one field too.
    Thanks for your time.
    Have a nice day!
    Ludovica

    • David July 2, 2016, 9:03 pm |

      Oh, what would I know but surely it would have to be Sydney. Construction is booming in Sydney and no shortage of rich folk with their yachts on Sydney harbour 🙂

      • ludovica July 2, 2016, 11:05 pm |

        Thanks Davide!

  • Jennifer June 30, 2016, 4:57 pm |

    Hi Bob, I have lived in Sydney and Melbourne about 20 years. Now I’m getting really sick of this cold weather and thinking to move in Brisbane.
    As you know this is really big decision to make.

    I was always curious about the weather in Brisbane. I know most of the time the weather is beautiful but how about when cyclone or storm come.
    How often you get in during summer and how bad is it?
    I guess no one here complained about weather in Brisbane so perhaps I’m thinking too much or I don’t have to worry about.

    I look forward to hear from you.
    Thanks Bob!

  • Junaid Ali June 26, 2016, 12:54 pm |

    Hello bob thanks for the great post, me and my friends are planning to go Australia for working holidays but we’ve been told by many people that there’s alot of possibility you’ll have skin problems if you live in Australia is that true?

    • BobinOz June 26, 2016, 11:17 pm |

      I have been here eight years, I haven’t had any skin problems. I think what you are hearing is related to when people spend too much time out in the sun and get a suntan, or sunburnt, which leads to melanoma.

      Just be sensible when out in the sun, you know, hat, sunnies, covering up, you won’t have any problems.

  • Rozan Khanal May 23, 2016, 2:55 pm |

    Hey Bob.
    Thanks for the small description of the cities.
    But still I wonder which city would be great for affordable studies (Bachelor’s Degree). Could you please tell me about it? It’d be kind.

    • BobinOz May 23, 2016, 7:11 pm |

      Well, our most affordable cities are probably Adelaide and Hobart, but I have no idea what the universities are like.

  • Shreyas Chaurasia May 13, 2016, 1:05 am |

    Very Well Explained BOB. Especially about Melbourne! The city that turned me into a Man from a small boy. I remember the very first day when i arrived in Melbourne on 22nd Feb 2013 knowing nothing apart from the university arranged pickup transport. From my orientation week to making new friends, finding part-time/ casual work, find good place to stay and facing challenges all the time. The city gave me various experiences for which i’m thankful.

    One thing i miss about Melbourne is Hungry Jacks and its hot spicy sauce with fries, Nandos chicken and the Full cream Milk of Coles. :p

    Jokes apart, I remember I was working as Field Sales Rep during my University Study Break. I literally had a bad time when the Melbourne climate used to change within secs. Bad in regards to not completing my Sales Target and getting sick due to cold breeze.

    Anyways that just a small side, well my 2 years study experience in Melbourne was extremely good with all the good people around, good job opportunities for students, good places to hang around, good Indian restaurants, good clubs/ pubs, malls and most importantly reasonable accommodation prices. The city gave me everything to survive and be on my own. I just loved the place and I badly want to be back.

    • BobinOz May 13, 2016, 5:34 pm |

      Melbourne, if I’m not mistaken, is probably Australia’s top destination for international students coming here to study. Sounds like that’s what you did and had a great time with it as well.

      Lots of people get very nervous about coming from other countries around the world, landing here in Australia and needing to find their own way, especially if they have no friends or contacts when they get here.

      I’m sure your comments about your experiences will be very useful to anybody with those concerns and I’m sure it will give them encouragement to give it a go.

      Thanks for taking the time to let us know about your experiences, I hope you find a way to get back to the city you fell in love with sometime soon and on a more permanent basis.

      • Shreyas Chaurasia May 13, 2016, 9:55 pm |

        Hey BOB no problem at all! Thanks for giving such a wonderful reply. I would be very happy if someone gets inspired just by my comments on ur blog.

        Trust me it wasnt easy at all but not impossible. So i would suggest for the ones who wants to go Aus for studies, they should go for it. Expect least and never give up. After all life is all about experiences & challenges. And yes u have lot of people with whom u can be friends with. Also some good ladies from diff nationalities as a choice for making gfs…lol

        • BobinOz May 15, 2016, 9:28 pm |

          Yes, go for it, that’s what I always say as well. Otherwise you’ll never know and you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering ‘what if?’

  • Paneri March 26, 2016, 1:46 am |

    Hi Bob,

    I think you’ve really explained the cities very well and that too in brief. It was quiet useful, thank you.
    Well I live in Mumbai, India’s finanlcial capital. I had been to Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide. Stayed at my aunt’s place in Adelaide for a fortnight & at relative’s & family friend’s place in Sydney & Melbourne. Sydney (stayed for 2 weeks) yet another capital ! Honestly I am very outspoken & an extrovert. I need people to communicate to. So I am in love with Sydney-best railway & bus network so quiet convenient to travel anywhere in the city. I’d say Sydney is a busy metro city with traffic (at certain hours & days) but one does find a quiet place. Spend some time alone at the Darling harbor (my favorite spot), read a book at a garden, sip some coffee at the Sydney Opera House cafe by the bay, walk by the harbor, take a ride at the Luna park (yes, just by yourself – all one on a ride) or simply visit a tourist spot and meet more and more people. Oh how can I forget the best dance show at the Opera House, silence, serenity & self-contentedness at the Bondi beach & bridge climbing at Sydney bridge by the harbor. The residential houses are just as quiet just like any other developed city abroad where one can smile at pedestrian walking down the street. Sydney is a commercial city & a financial capital but one can live a lifestyle of their own provided you like the city atmosphere.

    Melbourne! Woah beware of the dynamic weather change & all shall be fine. Jokes apart, more than the city its the outskirts of it that I admired the most. Like the The Great Ocean Road & the Penguin parade at the Philip island. I did enjoy feeding birds at the lake in a garden, peaceful time at the St. Kilda beach admiring the families as their kids play in the sand & the crooked yet classy building structure at the main heart of the city. Commuting in Melbourne is yet again convenient with the ease of railways & tram frequency is good.

    Bob is absolutely right about Adelaide. A peaceful & calm city with really caring people around. A complete stranger, a lady, literally gave me a ride in her car when I lost my way to my aunt’s house. My favourite of all is the Hahndorf outside of the city. What a place. Hahndorf is the oldest surviving German settlement. Its a hilly area about an hour and a half to two hours drive away. Best place to hangout with your family & old time pals, a good choice of food outlets, walk around & best place to shop for some unique paintings & other goods. Adelaide has some good universities to study & rest I completely agree with Bob.

    So yeah that’s pretty much it.

    Have a good time deciding & do a lot of research. Still you will fall in love with the place only once you are in it & give some time for the place to treat you well.

    Australia overall is a beautiful nation with warm-hearted & welcoming people, some of whom are straight forward (that leads to a clear communication which I always prefer) & aussies are pretty tough people, they have seen a lot.

    Love you Australia. You’ve given me your best. Thank You.

    😉

    • BobinOz March 28, 2016, 10:28 pm |

      That’s a pretty good roundup the places you have been to in Australia Paneri, thank you for taking the time to do it. I’m sure it will be very helpful to many people.

      Yes, I know my roundup was a little brief, but then I was writing a ‘quick guide’ :-).

      Sounds like you are having as much fun in this country as I am, long may it continue. Cheers, Bob

      • Sarah May 3, 2016, 8:33 am |

        Hello,

        Can I ask why you haven’t mentioned Cairns? We are looking at emigrating from the UK in the next few years and like the look of Palm cove in particular, is it purely a holiday destination? Or is there something we don’t know about that everyone else does,

        Thanks

        • BobinOz May 3, 2016, 6:54 pm |

          Good question, the only reason is that this page is purely about the eight major capitals in Australia, something I should have made clearer in the above article. I have now added information to that effect above the first review which is of Sydney.

          If you visit my page about Queensland, you will find some chatter about Cairns in the comments that you might find helpful. Feel free to ask any questions about Cairns in those comments and I’m sure some of my readers will help you out as I haven’t yet been. Will soon though. Cheers, Bob

  • Cheryl Mckinnis February 16, 2016, 11:46 am |

    Hi,
    I’m from Chicago Illinois and it has always been my dream to move to Australia. I’ve heard so much about a place named GLEN HAVEN. If you have any information on that suburb, please share. Also looking for a job at a television station. Pretty good with cameras and in the control room.
    Thanks,
    Cheryl Mckinnis

    • BobinOz February 16, 2016, 5:33 pm |

      Glenhaven, it’s just one word, is a suburb in West Sydney. I have no idea what it is like, I’ve never been. I would suggest you head over to my main page about Sydney and ask about it there Cheryl, maybe one of the locals will help you out.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Marina Cone February 16, 2016, 4:22 am |

    Hey Mr.Bob I can not wait to get my visa

  • Sunny February 11, 2016, 11:27 am |

    Hi Bob,

    I received my visa grant a couple of weeks ago and I am planning the first entry to either Melbourne/Sydney or Adelaide in the month along with my family (wife and one kid). I wish to stay there for 2 weeks. Can you suggest a good and a reasonable accommodation that is not too expensive for these two weeks?

    • BobinOz February 11, 2016, 6:01 pm |

      Google Stayz, they have loads.

  • Christine December 31, 2015, 10:32 am |

    Georgio, Australia has a very strict policy regarding foreigners purchasing property. You can only purchase new not an established property. Check with FIRB for further information.
    Christine

    • Giorgio December 31, 2015, 5:12 pm |

      Thanks Christine. I had a look into that.
      Funny thing is, we are likely to live there eventually.
      If I pay for the house outright with no debt, can I not have it registered in my wife’s name whi is an Australian national, keep it as a holiday home and then live there when we all eventually move (love London, hate London)

      • Christine December 31, 2015, 5:27 pm |

        Hi again Giorgio I believe it is okay for your wife to purchase a house if she is an Australian National

  • Giorgio December 31, 2015, 4:57 am |

    Hi Bob,
    Wonderful website!

    I’m from the UK and my wife and I are thinking of purchasing a property/holiday home in Australia. Having never been, I would really appreciate your advice on the following:

    What areas are reasonably close to Sydney, e.g. max an hour by car or train; have low crime rates; access to public transport especially trains; preferably near the coast or nature in general (sick of the city)?

    Much obliged.

    Kind regards, Giorgio

    • David December 31, 2015, 8:07 am |

      Geographically, Sydney is a big place, there are limited options that meet your requirements within an hour of the CBD. The costal areas of Sydney are not well serviced by the railway network and in real estate terms costal suburbs generally = $$$$$.

      Cronulla is the only beachside suburb with train services (and you won’t be out of the city and in nature).

      I would look into the costal towns on the South Coast line towards Wollongong but you may be a bit more than 1 hour from Sydney CBD by train.

      • Giorgio December 31, 2015, 5:07 pm |

        Thanks. What about places in Wyong Shire like The Entrance, Halekulani, Budgewoi.

        Are there any trains to Sydney from those places?

        Are house prices reasonable?

        • David December 31, 2015, 5:28 pm |

          Wyong is serviced by the Central Coast and Newcastle line with regular services, however the particular suburbs you mention may be a short drive from a station. For and idea of house prices you could check out listings at http://www.realestate.com.au

          • BobinOz January 3, 2016, 6:40 pm |

            For what it’s worth, friends of mine have just returned from a weeks holiday in Newcastle and they really liked it and the area all around it.

  • Josh Benedict December 24, 2015, 3:42 pm |

    Hi bob,
    I am currently studying banking and finance in Singapore. I plan to migrate to Australia to pursue my career due to better work life balance and higher salary. Can i migrate to Australia without any job experience? In addition, which city do you best recommend?

    • BobinOz December 30, 2015, 8:11 pm |

      You would have to speak to a MARA migration agent about your options to move here, only they can officially advise. As for which city, I’d go wherever you could get the best job but I don’t know where that might be.

  • Hitendra December 9, 2015, 1:34 pm |

    hi..
    i m from india. i m really confuse abt part time jobs in Australia.
    so which city is better for part time jobs Sydney or Wollongong??

    • BobinOz December 9, 2015, 11:11 pm |

      My guess would be Sydney, but living in Wollongong would be cheaper. Check out my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship, you’ll be able to search for job opportunities to see what comes up and where.

  • praj November 4, 2015, 8:43 pm |

    hi,
    i am applying for an student visa in australia but i m confused to choose among brisbane and perth . can you guide me which place is better among these two for an international student in terms of cost of living and job opportunities.

    • BobinOz November 4, 2015, 9:23 pm |

      It’s very close, not much between both cities. The cost of living is probably cheaper in Brisbane but I don’t know enough about both to compare job opportunities. Good luck, Bob

  • J.P. October 27, 2015, 11:29 pm |

    Hi Bob

    I’m interested what you think of Hunters Valley in Australia. You see I live in Cape Town South Africa Where there is major wine routes and vineyards. The culinary culture blooms here and I absolutely love it. I heard Hunters Valley is also big on wine farms and so thought its very similar to Cape Town. Whats your opinion?

    Trust that everything goes well.
    Thanks

    • BobinOz October 28, 2015, 9:36 pm |

      Well, I have been to the Hunter Valley once, stayed there for a few days back in January 2006. New South Wales was having a bit of a heatwave at the time, temperatures were about 45°C, it was incredibly hot.

      It’s not usually that hot, I can assure you.

      Certainly there were plenty of vineyards, or wineries as they are called here, but I actually can’t remember anything much else being there at all. I don’t remember there being any large towns, but that’s not to say there aren’t any.

      But then, Sydney is not too far away. That’s a bit of a town.

      Whether it is much like Cape Town in South Africa, I don’t know, but it may be worth you asking a similar question to this over on my page about New South Wales, someone who knows the area better may be able to help you out.

      Cheers, Bob

  • Manish October 25, 2015, 9:10 pm |

    Hey Bob,

    So I’m starting uni in Australia this February. I got admission in UniSA, UTAS (Launceston campus), Charles Darwin University and University of Canberra. I’m however, waiting for a response from UTS.

    I would be studying a Bachelor degree in architecture/design. In this regard, I was wondering which university would be the best option.

    I want to study in a university that is really good in rankings, offers a good quality of education, and moreover land me in a good job after I graduate.

    Based on this, could you give me an advice on what is the best option ? I’m from Qatar, so I’d prefer to live in a city that is cold most of the time because I hate summer.

    I also want to live in a city that has a low cost of living. I’m not the kind of person who loves to go out, instead I prefer a quiet environment.

    Please let me know.

    • BobinOz October 26, 2015, 11:59 pm |

      Well, I have no idea which university would have the best rankings, offer you the best education or give you the best chance of of landing a job. But if you want cold, low cost of living and a quiet environment, then you must definitely go to Launceston in Tasmania.

      You live in Qatar and you hate the heat? Gosh!

      Good luck, Bob

    • David November 24, 2015, 4:35 pm |

      Hi Manish,

      I would suggest that most universities in Australia offer good education and employment prospects.

      If you hate the heat, Southern Australia is the best option. Although it does get hot in summer, SA, Victoria and Tasmania have dry summers, so you may find the heat not as uncomfortable as you’d expect.

      UTS is in Sydney – ain’t no more expensive place to live in Australia than Sydney.

      Always hot and horrible in Darwin. Very isolated, tiny city thousands of kms away from the rest of populated Australia. Most products are subject to the Darwin Tax – higher prices due to transport costs.

      Launceston is cold, cheap and quiet but you may well get the feeling you stepped back in time by 30 years (I’ve heard Perth can be a bit like this too). And you may also go round the twist out of boredom.

      Canberra is expensive but you’ll like the climate – one of the coldest cities in Australia, particularly in Winter.

      Cost of living in Adelaide is pretty cheap. Accommodation and transport is cheap but utilities tend to be more expensive. Cold in Winter, hot in Summer and nice in between. It’s easy going but more people around than Darwin or Launceston.

  • ida October 21, 2015, 5:12 pm |

    Dear Bob,
    Thanks for providing such a fruitful site about immigration.
    I have submitted my EOI about on 30th of September of 2015 from Iran. I reached score 60 and looking for 189 visa. I would be truly honored if you could tell your expert point of view about how long will it approximately take until getting the invitation and generally the chance for getting the invitation. In case of having the invitation how long will it take after that until visa comes.
    thanks for your time and consideration,
    Ida

    • BobinOz October 22, 2015, 5:31 pm |

      Well you’re on the wrong page for this kind of question, this page is about choosing a city in Australia.

      I can’t answer your question, but you’ll find lots of information about this sort of thing, especially if you read the comments from others, on my page about EOI.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Sam September 14, 2015, 3:12 am |

    Hi Bob,
    Love the site! I have a slightly ridiculous question for you but hope you will humour me and offer any advice you think suitable.
    My family and I we’re granted and validated our visa for Victoria back in 2012 (yes I know we should be there by now!) despite being granted the visa on my profession, specialist Public Health Nurse, when it came to sourcing a job in Victoria employers wanted additional qualifications I didn’t have. This put us on the back foot and put us off a bit to be honest and we’ve dawdled about since then with taking the plunge.
    We have now, a few weeks ago, been told that we are no longer tied to Victoria as a result of the job issues which is great but we now find ourselves in a new set of dilemmas. Now we can go anywhere we’re not sure where to go! I have family in NSW but we really like Melbourne, our children are now 14, starting GCSEs and 11, just started secondary school and we only have 18 months left to arrive!
    So my question is, where do we start with the decision making and have we left it too late to move the children? I know it will seem like we’ve wasted lots of time and our hearts can’t really be in moving, but at the same time the wish to migrate has never left us and niggles away all the time!
    Thanks for reading, hope you can help us see the wood through the trees!!

    • BobinOz September 15, 2015, 12:47 am |

      Two really tricky questions Sam, garnished with a hint of fear, I think 🙂

      Firstly, your children, these are good ages to be moving to Australia. One hasn’t started secondary school yet, the other is a fair way off of doing those exams. You have left it to the last minute, three years ago would have been better, but now is still good. Leave it a couple of more years or so, then it won’t be so good.

      Where to live though, that’s a question only you can answer. I have the information here to help you decide, but I can’t decide for you. Have a good read of the many comments on each of my main city pages, they may help.

      Good luck, I hope wherever you decide to go if you do come here that you get to love it as much as I love where I live. Good luck, Bob

  • Dave September 4, 2015, 10:36 pm |

    Hi we are thinking of emigrating to Australia.

    We have 2 boys and a very nice future daughter in law.
    I am a data engineer (unfortunately years of experience but no certificate to prove I can do my job extremely well..)
    My wife is a qualified Accountant Technician.
    My oldest is 22 years and a qualified electrician. The other is 13 years old (yr 9 in school)
    My future daughter in law is a qualified hairdresser.
    Is it better to wait for the youngest to finish school here at 16years or best to move now before the GCSE’s start?
    My wife and I are aged 45years. What are the chances of us all being able to emigrate?
    We would love the sun, beaches and outdoor things..
    Thanks

  • Tony July 29, 2015, 1:40 am |

    Hi Bob
    We are looking to move to Australia next year with our 3 children, I keen to be between Sydney and Coffs Harbour as I guess Sydney will probably be a big attraction for the kids employment when they get older, I would like someone fairly close to the see but has a more residential feel rather than a seaside town like we have here in cornwall, dead in the winter and full of tourists in the summer!

    I am keen to live somewhere which doesn’t get to many weather extremes (fires and floods) and somewhere where the crime is quite low, I like the idea of the Central coast but the statistics are that drug use has risen by 40%.
    Thank you
    Tony

    • BobinOz July 29, 2015, 8:59 pm |

      Hi Tony

      I really liked the look of The Entrance, Budgewoi and Swansea area, but I was just driving through really, so it’s impossible for me to really know what it’s like to live there. Hopefully somebody reading this will help you out with some meaningful information, if not it may be worth you asking a similar question on my page about New South Wales, your find a link to it underneath the Australian States tab in the above main menu.

      Not sure where you got those drugs stats from, but maybe Ozzy Osbourne has been down that way for a holiday 🙂

      Good luck with your search, hope you find what you’re looking for. Cheers, Bob

  • Stefany July 15, 2015, 12:54 am |

    Hi Bob. I live in Georgia, USA & we are thinking about visiting Australia & possibly trying to move there. We’ve never been before so of course, I think it would be wise to visit first. My husband owns and operates his own farm. It’s always been his dream to go to Australia and participate in the huge wheat harvest. Although, that’s not very family friendly. It’s typically just the man that goes for a few months. I don’t want to stay behind. I want my daughter & I to come along and visit. I guess my question is what is a good town full of farm life for a small family ??

    • BobinOz July 15, 2015, 9:29 pm |

      Gosh! That’s an impossible question for me, Australia is a big place, I may as well stick a pin in the map 🙂

      I really don’t know Stefany, I couldn’t even take a wild guess. All I do know is that we have plenty of farming towns in this country. Hopefully someone who does know about this sort of thing will see this and help you out. Good luck, Bob

      • Stefany Franklin July 16, 2015, 4:19 am |

        Thanks! I knew that would probably be pretty difficult to answer 😛
        Hopefully someone can name off a few towns for us…as we don’t even know where to begin. Ha ha!

        • BobinOz July 16, 2015, 5:35 pm |

          Okay, thanks Stefany, let’s hope someone turns up to help you out. Good luck, Bob

    • David November 24, 2015, 4:48 pm |

      Hi Stefany,

      Wheat farming is ubiquitous throughout Australia. Some areas are more consistently reliable than others, drought is common. My parents live in a small town wheat and barley farming community. Progressive is not a word that comes to mind. They find themselves frustrated by the “fixed in their ways” attitudes and hostility to change.

  • Sarah July 5, 2015, 7:29 pm |

    I am planning to study a course in Australia..Financially that will be extremely difficult for me, so i would like to know regions in Australia that are considered affordable for international students and still good places to live in.
    Where do international students most often apply?
    Do you have an idea about scholarships in the fitness industry where international students trigger often?
    Thank you so much 🙂

    • BobinOz July 6, 2015, 8:18 pm |

      Well I know nothing about scholarships Sarah, and at a guess I would think the Melbourne is the most popular destination for international students. It’s not the cheapest place though, guessing again I would think that might be Adelaide.

      Good luck, I hope you find the right place for you.

  • Mauro June 30, 2015, 10:00 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    First of all thanks for the excellent website, it really has been of enormous help to us.
    We are currently looking to move to Australia from South Africa and we have been researching where to move to. Brisbane was on our list, but upon further research we have become a little nervous about it due to all the floods etc that seem to happen there. We come from a place where we never really have any natural disasters so this just worries us a bit.

    I would just like to hear your thoughts around this.

    Thanks
    Mauro

  • Emanuele June 8, 2015, 4:27 am |

    Hi bob! I’m Emanuele from Milano Italy. Great blog!
    I’m loving every page of it. Lots of interesting information. I’m considering to move to australia and i’m pretty interested in the Queensland region. I’ll get a WHV and that will be my starting point,hoping to get a sponsorship for my italian cusine skills… all of this while my wife and two kids wait for the right moment to come. She’s a early childhood teacher trying to get assessed and get a permanent visa. Anyway,I just wanted to thank you for your work and the experiences you share,it makes a lot easier for us still here to understand what is like down under. Hope you are enjoying yourself! Talk to u soon
    emanuele

    • BobinOz June 8, 2015, 8:39 pm |

      Hi Emanuele

      Thanks for your kind words, they are appreciated. Good luck with your plans to move to Australia, I hope it all goes well. And yes, I am enjoying myself 🙂

      Hope to see you and your family here soon, Bob

  • Paula May 7, 2015, 7:00 pm |

    Hi Bob!

    Im Paula, from Barcelona. Me and my boyfriend are moving to Australia in October. We havent planned anything yet, but what we know is that we want to work there while we travel. We would join some online course just to try to get our students visas…

    I would love to know your opinion about all this idea… and if you met somebody doing something similar.

    Thank you for all your richfull information!

    • BobinOz May 8, 2015, 8:55 pm |

      Plenty of people do it Paula, but most come here on a Working Holiday Visas. I don’t think that option is available to you if you are actually Spanish.

      So I think your bigger problem is what kind of visa you and your boyfriend will come here on, or have you already sorted that out?

      Looks like you are hoping to get some kind of student visa and if that’s the case, yes, plenty people come here to study and also work part-time to help support that.

      Good luck, Bob

  • BDuke April 5, 2015, 9:34 pm |

    Hello Bob!

    This is a fantastic site with full of information regarding Australia. I have been considering to study for my Masters degree in Australia together with my wife recently, and your website has been a great place to absorb the information regarding Australia.

    I have a question regarding the cities; which city has the best chance for international masters student to work part-time to earn some money to live?

    Thank you again for your time.
    Best regards,
    Duke

    • BobinOz May 8, 2015, 8:49 pm |

      Sorry BDuke, seems I didn’t get a notification of your comment when it came through so I missed it.

      Work is probably hardest to find in South Australia and Tasmania at the moment, and probably Sydney and Melbourne offer the most opportunities. But then the places with fewer job opportunities are ones that are cheaper to live in and of course, Sydney and Melbourne are both quite expensive cities.

      The more work available in a city seems to equal more expensive accommodation.

      When it comes to student jobs though, i.e. part-time casual, you’d probably have a good chance of getting some kind of work in most of our cities But obviously that is not guaranteed.

      If I were to name one city where I’m told it is quite easy to get a job and give you a one-word answer to your question, it would be Darwin.

      But not everybody wants to go to Darwin.

  • sara April 1, 2015, 11:34 pm |

    Hello Bob,

    I wanted to ask you about a place called Beaconsfield in Australia…you didn’t mention it in the cities above. Any idea about this place? I searched online and found a page mentioning its a suburb of Perth and another page saying its a suburb of Melbourne…so its related to which part of Australia exactly 😀 . And it is a good place to settle and work in?

    Thanks 🙂

    • BobinOz April 2, 2015, 2:34 pm |

      We’ve actually got loads of Beaconsfields, the two you mention above although the one in Western Australia is closer to Fremantle than Perth, and then we’ve got one close to Launceston in Tasmania and another that is a suburb of Sydney.

      They are not mentioned on this page because none of them are major cities. I’m pretty sure I’ve driven through three of these places, but I can’t tell you what they are like to work and settle down in. If you check out my page called Which Suburb? you will find out how you can research them to see what they’re like.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Powa March 28, 2015, 4:31 am |

    Hey Bob,

    I was wondering, what, in your opinion, would be the best city to live in or near, that you could get out into the outback and/or forest, without suffering cold winters?

  • Megan Conley March 17, 2015, 12:29 am |

    opinions on Newcastle/ Port Stephens area? Thinking about being an au pair!

  • Irene March 10, 2015, 7:42 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    First of all, great blog!

    I am planning on volunteering in Australia for 1-2 months starting in the very beginning of May. I am having a hard (and also fun) time deciding where to go. I would like it to be a zone with impressive landscapes (I will volunteer at national parks and such) but also a cool city to stay for a while after I’m done volunteering.

    My idea was going to Brisbane but turns out it’s not available as a starting point for volunteering in May. I thought about Cairns (which is available) and going to Brisbane from there but maybe it’s too far. I’ve thought about Perth but I’ve read the winters are not as good.

    Do you have any recommendations? I would really appreciate them.

    Thank you for all the useful information!

    Best,

    Irene

  • Austin McLaughlin March 10, 2015, 5:07 am |

    I am an American student looking to transfer to Australia to complete my schooling. I am deciding between Wollongong University in a city near Sydney(as I understand) or to attend The University of Adelaide. I have a ton of research to still do but I happened upon this great website and see if I could get any feedback so let me know what you guys think!!

    • BobinOz March 10, 2015, 7:47 pm |

      That’s a tough one, a real tough one. Wollongong will give you better access to other places including Sydney, Adelaide though is a bigger city in its own right.

      If you read the comments on my page about Adelaide you will see that most are saying it’s going through a very poor economic time at the moment, all I know about Wollongong is what’s on this post…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/13112/wollongong-australias-eighth-most-liveable-city/

      That’s all I know, the decision will have to be yours. Good luck, Bob

  • Brett March 3, 2015, 10:48 am |

    Hey Bob, and everyone else!

    My Girlfriend and I are moving to Australia on a working Holiday Visa, April 5th of this year. We’re hoping you or anyone else from Australia can help give us some guidance for some areas we should be researching. Originally we had been looking at Surfers Paradise but there seems to be so many interesting places – and quite honestly I don’t like too much congestion. I’m 19 years old and I have a degree in Mixology ( a fancy word for bar-tending) and I was hoping that would help me land a job down there fairly fast. We like smaller cities where we wont feel like we’re in Toronto here in Canada. We currently live in a small town with a population of 30,000 and feel that its a bit too small. anything between 75,000 and 300,000 population wise is a nice number. We love the beach, we love art, and we love to socialize. Most importantly we are looking for somewhere it is safe. I hope to hear back from someone soon. Thank you so much for reading 🙂

    – Brett Hale 🙂

    • BobinOz March 3, 2015, 11:06 pm |

      Hi Brett, firstly, it’s all pretty safe around here, so that’s not really a concern. A few cities and places have their ‘dodgy’ areas, but you’ll know where they are, accommodation will be far too cheap.

      Surfers Paradise might not actually be a bad option for you, there are plenty of bars so you’ll probably find work. Great beaches, lots going on, you could do worse. Byron Bay may be worth a look as well, smaller, quieter, but still touristy with lots of bars and possible work opportunities. Great beaches and surfing as well.

      Cairns might be worth a look if you like your weather really hot and a little humid, but is a bit off the beaten track up there, so it might not be for you.

      Other than that you have the major cities, like Sydney and Melbourne, maybe not so much Brisbane, not good for beaches. So you have plenty of options, I’d move around a bit, see as much of Australia as you can while you’re here.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Nicole March 2, 2015, 6:02 pm |

    My partner and I are coming to Oz (Gold Coast) from Canada to live for 6-12 months but are unsure where would be a good fit for us. We’re in our late 20’s and want to live near the ocean and somewhere that’s warm year round (above 15 degrees) but not too touristy, we want to be with locals. My partner is a plumber so if he can get a good paying job we’ll go anywhere really, but aren’t sure which cities might suit us best to start looking into, any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

    • BobinOz March 2, 2015, 9:21 pm |

      Most of the Gold Coast is quite touristy Nicole, but you might find Coolangatta to your liking, it’s as far south as you can go on the Gold Coast before you hit the New South Wales border.

      That means you have easy access to the Tweed Coast as well, we went there last month for a long weekend and were very impressed. Have a look at my post about it here and also checkout the two posts previous of those.

      But if you are going to be here for 6 to 12 months though, I’d be tempted to move around a bit and see more of Australia, certainly up and down the east coast.

      • Nicole March 5, 2015, 8:06 am |

        Thanks Bob! I will look into Coolangatta. 🙂

  • Benjamin February 21, 2015, 7:05 am |

    Hello Bob & others!..

    My name is Benjamin and I am from Hershey, Pennsylvania (yes, same as Hershey chocolate). I’m 26 years old and soon to be finished with a Masters degree in athletic administration come May. I’m looking to move to Australia by myself later this year and was wondering two things. First, will it be of any benefit to have my Masters degree from the U.S. in athletics or will that not amount to much? How much weight will my degree actually carry in Australia?

    Secondly, what are some specific options of mine concerning recreation/fitness center jobs? I’m interested in working near somewhere inviting for young adults as well. I’m currently working as an adult recreation program director at a large indoor sports complex. My passions are specifically in rugby and soccer, but health, fitness and recreational sports are what I’ve gone to school for.

    Advice from both you Bob and/or anyone else is welcomed! Thx…

    • Timothy Cole February 21, 2015, 11:39 am |

      Hi Benjamin,
      There’s plenty of people in Australia who have international degrees. There are various organisations that assess qualifications from other countries. I think if you asked the Dept of Immigration, they could point you in the right direction. Masters degrees are definitely valued here.

      I’m not sure about the number of jobs available for your qualifications though. But Australia is a very sporty nation, I don’t think you should have much trouble. There are a lot of recreation/fitness centres around. Rugby is most popular in New South Wales and Queensland.

      Good luck,
      Tim

      • Benjamin February 22, 2015, 5:14 am |

        Timothy,

        Thank you for your advice. I think I’ll take you up on reaching out to the immigration office and see if they can point me in the right direction, as you said. Do you, Bob or any others who are possibly reading this have specific locations and/or names for any recreation centers? It would help narrow down my research greatly. Thx!

        • Timothy Cole February 22, 2015, 11:47 am |

          For sure Benjamin. Here’s a link to some rec centres in Melbourne: https://www.google.com.au/maps/search/. You can click through the results there. You can change the search to Sydney, Brisbane, or any other city.

          • BobinOz February 22, 2015, 8:49 pm |

            Looks like Timothy (thanks Timothy) has taken good care of you here Benjamin. Timothy is also quite right, we are very sporting nation here and there are lots of sports clubs around as the link to that map search shows. All I can add is that my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship may also help you search for opportunities that would suit you.

            • Benjamin February 23, 2015, 9:49 am |

              Timothy & Bob,

              You have both been very helpful in your advice and direction. Reading through this blog and its many different tabs has been very helpful and insightful. I’ll be continuing my research and perhaps in the near future, be waiting to see what doors are opened up to me! Thank you both!

              ~Benjamin

              • BobinOz February 23, 2015, 6:13 pm |

                Thanks Benjamin and good luck. Bob

  • Kumi February 15, 2015, 11:31 pm |

    Hello. I found your page and so happy that I can get so much information. Thanks very much.
    I have a 7-year-old kid and I want to move to Australia with him. I have almost no work skill currently, so I’m thinking that first I go to TAFE and get some skill, then I may have job opportunity there.
    The problem is the school fee your my son. If we both need to pay international student fee, it must be over our budget. So I want to know if there is a way my son can go to elementary school for the same price as domestic students. I once heard that in some cities that can be possible if the parent of the kid take some diploma or certificate course, full-time and more than 1 year. Do you know anything about relationship between school fees of parent and that of her kids?

    • BobinOz February 16, 2015, 3:28 pm |

      This isn’t something I can help you with I’m afraid, I am not a MARA migration agent and I don’t know all of the rules. I suggest you speak to an agent about this, do make sure they are MARA registered.

      Good luck, Bob

      • Kumi February 16, 2015, 11:39 pm |

        Thank you for your quick reply.
        I think I will ask MARA agent about these questions as you recommended.

      • Kumi February 16, 2015, 11:53 pm |

        Oh, sorry, let me ask one question here. About asking MARA migration agent about possibilities of my migration. I don’t have any skill right now, so it seems no use to ask about my current visa option… Can I ask him only about my future possibility? I need help for finding some breakthrough.

        • BobinOz February 17, 2015, 12:31 am |

          It’s very difficult to talk about future situations because what might be grounds for a successful application today isn’t guaranteed to be successful in three or four years time. Australia’s skills lists change every year, sometimes more often than that, and the rules are also subject to change.

          Basically what any MARA agent tells you today could well be out of date by the time you are ready to lodge an application. It is okay to talk to MARA agents about the future, but you must be aware that you could spend three or four years training in a certain profession and by the time you’re qualified, that profession is no longer on any of the skills lists.

          • Kumi February 17, 2015, 12:35 am |

            Thank you. Then, I’ll ask his help after my plan gets more solid and ready to go.

  • Anna February 4, 2015, 2:42 am |

    Thank you so much for your helpful tips! Bob, I apologize as I did indeed check out your recommended page shortly after posting. Very informative for sure! I guess where there is a will, there is a way! Thanks again!

    • BobinOz February 4, 2015, 5:03 pm |

      Thanks Anna and good luck, Bob

  • Navjot sing February 4, 2015, 1:13 am |

    Hi bob i very thankful you for great information i will move Brisbane ,i think its very good for me because many Indian live there , i respectively told you sir i have not offer latter ,sponsorship the Australia . i will get Mara agent for me move to Australia , so i think you understand my problem ,please take me good advice . my no is
    +919417735594 please send me your no and Mara agent . Thanks.

    • BobinOz February 4, 2015, 4:58 pm |

      Once you have gone through my visa assessment service you will get the telephone number of my MARA agent and you will be able to speak to him. You can’t just call him and talk to him, he would not be able to advise you as he would know nothing about you.

      So you need to complete the forms that you get after you have paid for this service, more details are my page about it, see Visa Assessment Service.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Anna February 3, 2015, 2:05 pm |

    Hi there! What a fantastic site this is! I’m sure I’m not the only person you’ve inspired to make the bold move! My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to Oz within a few short months, and we are deliriously excited to be leaving the harsh Canadian winters far behind for good. My boyfriend is qualified to work as an ICT Business Analyst, and we were wondering if you believe certain parts of Oz are more receptive to overseas workers, or if there is a job boom in select areas. We are having trouble narrowing our focus in resettling, as neither of us has yet secured a position anywhere (although of course we are applying to jobs from overseas). I have extensive customer service experience, and am hoping to find work in retail, although I have nightmares that everything will go wrong! Brisbane sounds quite incredible; do you have any recommendations for us?

    • BobinOz February 3, 2015, 9:32 pm |

      Thanks Anna, glad to hear you like my website. Looks like you’ll be coming to Australia sometime soon, hope you get to love it as much as I do.

      It’s always hard for me to suggest places where you have the best chance to find work, I can’t possibly keep up to date with all the latest trends for each profession. All I can suggest is you check out my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship and follow the advice I give there.

      Brisbane is a great place to live, I love it here, but I think for you the most important thing would be to go where the work is for now, so just use those links to try and find out which city or cities might offer you the most opportunities. Good luck with your move, Bob

    • Bala February 3, 2015, 9:43 pm |

      Hi Anna,

      I am an ICT Business Analyst as well. In my view, chances of finding an ICT Business Analyst job are brighter in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in that order. I am not sure of the job boom though as the current state of the market does not quite indicate which way it is headed. From what I have observed, your boyfriend needs to be willing to initially compromise either the pay, role, designation, domain loyalty etc. to get a job first, if need be. My suggestion would be to get whatever job he can lay his hands on and come here. Once he breaks into the local job market, he will be better placed to make his demands.

      Good luck to your move and keep us posted on how it goes!

  • Brent Smith January 30, 2015, 12:33 am |

    One last question, Do you recommend any particular section of Brisbane for my particular situation or can you not really go wrong living in any part?

    • BobinOz January 30, 2015, 9:46 pm |

      It really depends what you want Brent, countryside or city? Busy or quiet? Etc..

      May I suggest you go over to my page about Brisbane and read the comments there, you will find quite a lot of information about this cities suburbs.

      Cheers, Bob

  • Brent Smith January 29, 2015, 7:48 am |

    I think you and your website are awesome! I’m very much interested in moving to Australia from the U.S. and I’ve found your information to be the best available! It would be great to cross paths one day as I feel that we are very like minded.

    Cheers and keep up the good work!

    Brent

    • Brent Smith January 29, 2015, 8:37 am |

      To add to my comment, I think we have pinned it down to the Gold coast area for the fun, excitement, and adventure. We have three kids and I feel this would be great to keep them entertained and have enjoyment everyday. Everything I have read so far sounds great. Do you believe there would be any big downsides to having small children or being family oriented, living in this location?

      • BobinOz January 29, 2015, 7:51 pm |

        Brent, firstly, thanks for the kind compliments. As for the Gold Coast and kids, yes it is a very good area, plenty of entertainment and theme parks, the place is a lot of fun.

        If you’re going to live down that way, I would avoid being too close to the centre which is Surfers Paradise. It’s very commercialised, very much a holiday destination and with kids, you’re best staying away a bit. I can’t specifically advise where, but I’m saying not there.

        Personally I would live in Brisbane (well, I do) and travel down to the Gold Coast when you want to have fun with your kids. It’s only an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half drive, so it is not far, and I think it’s just better to live closer to a major city, it just gives you more options for entertainment, shopping, work and schooling.

        That’s just my personal view though, good luck with your plans. Cheers, Bob

        • Brent Smith January 30, 2015, 12:28 am |

          Thank you for the reply and great advice! I will definitely put it to good use.

  • Naomi January 29, 2015, 3:09 am |

    Hi Bob , here’s a random one for you! We moved to Australia originally from UK , we lived there for 8 years and got home sick for family so decided to come back to Europe for a bit and reside in Cyprus where my husbands family live. But we know we will go back to Australia not the UK as it is the best place for the two children . We have lived in Yamba, Port Macquarie for five years, blue mountains and Ballina near Bryon Bay for a year! We have thought of Sunshine Coast , or Perth for a real change want to start afresh but really can’t decide where! My husband is a tree climber arborist with the powerlines , so he would have to get work back in that field any help! The place would have to have good schools , beach and not too hot oh and shops thanks Bob

    • BobinOz January 29, 2015, 7:34 pm |

      Well, my view is that it can be a bit quiet on the Sunshine Coast, it has a reputation of being a kind of retirement area and there’s not much work. Not sure it’s the greatest place to bring up kids just because there isn’t much to do.

      I’ve not been to Perth yet, but I’m going in a couple of months. Again, that appears to be a love it or hate it place, but most agree it’s a great city to bring up kids. It can be quite a hot place though.

      I’d suggest you take a look at my page about Perth and especially all the comments and maybe ask some questions about the area there. Do also be sure to read the comments that have already been made, you’ll find lots of information. You can also do the same on my page about the Sunshine Coast.

      Good luck in your search, I hope you find somewhere suitable.

      Cheers, Bob

    • Perth January 25, 2016, 8:20 pm |

      Perth is very family friendly, and there are so many immigrants from the UK who have made this city home.

  • Surjith January 19, 2015, 11:57 pm |

    Dear Bob,
    My wife and I have been following this website ever since we decided to try for an Australian PR. I am glad that we have been granted PR couple of weeks back. The content and comments in this website helped us a lot in getting through the process.

    Our immediate aim is to plan for a trip to Australia before August second week, this year, as that is the deadline for our first entry. We aren’t ready for a move yet, so we are thinking of taking a trip for a week or so by May end or June begining(That’s all the time our current jobs and finacial status would allow us now). Obvious question is where in Australia for a week’s trip.

    I was looking at Brisbane as after reading through your blog and a few other sites, I have it in my mind that Brisbane may be the best place for us to try and get settled initially. We seem to have career opportunities there and the weather might suit us there. So, I was thinking that we could take this as an opportunity to go there and explore it a bit.

    I was going through the following website.
    http://www.budgetyourtrip.com/australia/Cities

    In that website, they have a split up given for “Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps”. Interestingly, this is 0$ for all cities except Sydney and Brisbane. It gives an impression that these two cities are less safe compared to other places in Australia. Is it something to be worried about?

    • BobinOz January 21, 2015, 7:02 pm |

      No, it isn’t anything to worry about, I’ve had a look at the website you’ve mentioned and I have no idea what they mean by “Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps”. They don’t even explain it anywhere that I could see and the $106.25 ‘per item’ allowance for Sydney for these kind of things seems a joke.

      Brisbane is a very safe city, I wouldn’t worry about it and I agree with you that it probably is a very good place to get settled into initially. I hope your trip goes well.

      Cheers, Bob

      • Surjith January 28, 2015, 11:53 pm |

        Dear Bob,
        Thanks for the reply. It helps us very much. My wife’s currently trying through her organization to get some opportunity in Australia. Sidney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the ones that are having opportunities. Dearly hoping something works out soon.

        Thanks again
        Surjith

        • BobinOz January 29, 2015, 5:37 pm |

          Brisbane would be your least expensive option, and I would say probably the safest city of the three, although each of those cities can be regarded as ‘safe’. Good luck.

          • Surjith January 29, 2015, 7:55 pm |

            Thanks Bob…
            Will keep you posted through this website… Also I think every experience adds to the knowledge base here. 🙂

  • Charli January 9, 2015, 8:22 pm |

    Thanks Bob, just had a look at these pages and is helpful 🙂
    Will try and check out a few places when we come back later this year, can’t wait!

  • Charli January 5, 2015, 1:09 am |

    Hi Bob!
    Firstly can I say your website is great, been reading through a lot of it as myself and my partner of nearly 6 years are looking to make the move Down Under hopefully within the next 5 years (we’re in the UK) and have found it very helpful. We did visit Australia in 2013 and actually coming back for holiday this september 🙂 he has been here before when he did a working holiday visa many years ago, and we both fell in love with the country and the lifestyle and want a better life for us and if we wish to start a family one day.

    Only few questions is about location and work, ideally we would like to live in Queensland but it depends on work. He’s a media administrator (does photography and graphic design as well as helping on the website at his work) and I am looking at starting training to become a vet nurse (I work in ecommerce and my Degree is not what I now want to pursue further). How easy do you think it would be for him to find work in his area, and for myself if I complete my vet nurse training? If you can’t answer that question that’s fine 🙂

    Also location, we’re both in our mid to late 20’s but still love to socialise with friends as well as dining out when we can 🙂 as well as hitting the beach would be a bonus, so we are thinking the Brisbane/Gold Coast area. Transport is not an issue as we both can drive. We are also looking to bring our cats over if we can and wish to know how safe these places are for 2 very outdoorsy cats if possible.

    Thanks Bob and keep up the good work 🙂

    • BobinOz January 5, 2015, 6:40 pm |

      Hi Charli

      Of course you can say my website is great 🙂 I love it when that happens.

      As for the best location for your line of work this is a question I’m asked quite often and it’s really difficult for me to give an accurate answer. I do have some helpful information on my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship though, if you check it out I’m sure you’ll be able to get a good idea of where you should head for the best opportunities.

      As you probably know, I live in Brisbane, it gives me great access to the beaches of both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. I think what you need to also consider is that there is far more to do in Brisbane City in terms of nightlife, restaurants and bars than there can ever be down the Gold Coast, so you need to decide just how often you want to go to the beach. My preference is to live in Brisbane and then go to the beach at the weekend if I want to, it’s about an hour or so’s drive, maybe an hour and a half at most depending on where you live in Brisbane.

      The Gold Coast is okay, but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, so I would try and check out both Brisbane and the Gold Coast thoroughly first when you visit in September before you make your final decision.

      We have plenty of outdoor cats living here in Australia, I have 2 of my own, they seem pretty safe, although I don’t know precisely how many lives my two have left 🙂

      Hope that helps, cheers, Bob

      • Charli January 6, 2015, 6:45 am |

        Hi Bob.

        That’s good to know will read more onto that page 🙂 we’re staying for a bit longer in Brisbane this time as we didn’t get much time to explore the city last time we visited as we were only there for a few days. We did go to the Gold Coast for the day and found it pretty nice, well only went to Surfers Paradise so again didn’t see much of it. The other half lived in Brisbane for a short while when he did his working holiday and said it was a nice city and not too busy like Sydney is. We do like our nightlife when we can, as well as we have a love of live music.

        So far think we’re veering towards Brisbane at the moment 🙂 think my cats will be ok if I bring them, just hope they can fight off spiders although even with a harvest spider over here they’re pretty useless haha!

        Thanks again keep up the good work!

        • BobinOz January 7, 2015, 1:03 am |

          If you like live music and a good night life, I really do think that Brisbane should be your choice. Over the last few years we’ve had quite a few excellent live music venues pop-up, small places, intimate, hip and good fun.

          I saw a great band not so long ago, I think it was $5 or $10 to get in. Check out my post Live Music in the West End.

        • Timothy Cole January 12, 2015, 12:32 pm |

          Hi Charli,

          I think your cats will be ok if you bring them. It’s true, there are a variety of different spiders in Australia, but you don’t encounter them very often.

          I run a web design business, and also do some graphic design and photography. I can tell you that there are a lot of us doing it here in Australia, but there’s also a lot of work in this area, with so many businesses needing it. – it’s considered one of the main sectors experiencing growth here. If your partner has enough experience and presents well he shouldn’t have much trouble finding work I imagine.

          Brisbane does sound like a good fit for you, but maybe when you come back for a holiday check out a few other cities, just to make sure.

          Hope it all goes well 🙂
          Tim

          • Charli January 12, 2015, 6:35 pm |

            Thank you Tim that’s good to know 🙂 I will let him know, he has been doing photography for about 6-7 years and has a great knowledge of graphic design and has done for years alongside his job.

            We will have a look around when we come back in September 🙂

  • Bala December 4, 2014, 9:10 pm |

    Hi Bhoomika,

    There is something to learn and something to earn in every city. The question is what you want to learn and how you want to earn!

    Cheers
    Bala

    • BobinOz December 5, 2014, 10:10 pm |

      Good answer Bala 🙂

  • bhoomika patel December 4, 2014, 8:49 pm |

    Hi I have got 6.5 band in ielts and I want to move Australia along with my husband Plz suggest me which city is the best for us in Australia for learning and earning.

  • Kat December 1, 2014, 8:55 pm |

    This is the most negetive thing I’ve ever read.
    There is something great and negative about all cities in Australia.
    If anyone if reading this the Gold Coast is one of the only horrible places in Australia and this guy gives it a wrap. It’s sky scrapers right on the beach, like a tacky LA with really bad food, no culture and it’s full of bogans and strip clubs. The rest of Australia is great – discover for yourself.

    • BobinOz December 1, 2014, 11:52 pm |

      You obviously don’t do much reading then Kat, do you?

      I appreciate that your eyes were probably getting tired after reading my write-up on the Gold Coast, but had you managed a few more words and started to read my description of the Sunshine Coast you will have seen that of the two, I prefer the latter and I do give a heavy hint that the Gold Coast does lack a bit of class.

      The problem with your comment is that you have based it entirely on Surfers Paradise and the Glitter Strip, but the Gold Coast is much bigger than that. You won’t see any skyscrapers in Tambourine Mountain or in any of the nearby rainforests.

      By the way, some people do like the Gold Coast for what it is, otherwise property wouldn’t be so expensive there, everybody is different. And everybody is entitled to their opinion, you included, but you really should not deliver yours with such arrogance and rudeness.

  • Courtney October 17, 2014, 4:12 pm |

    Hi there! I’m 18 years old and currently live in America. After college, i hope to move to Australia. I’m majoring in wildlife sciences at my university so I definitely hope to work for a national park or something along those lines! Anything that has to do with wildlife conservation/ecology.

    Would the Gold Coast be the best option for me to live since it’s surrounded by multiple parks?? Or are there better options..? Canberra would be an appropriate fit as well because of the surrounding parks and wildlife, although I do love the beach so I assume I would like Gold Coast better…

    Any advice or input on where you think I should look more into would help me out a lot! Thank you so much for this guide, it’s definitely been a huge help as well.

    • BobinOz October 17, 2014, 7:33 pm |

      Well I’d go where ever it is you can secure employment in the line of work that you want to do, pretty much the whole of Australia has wildlife parks and state national parks.

      If you are lucky enough to get more than one opportunity, then you will have the luxury of choosing. If I were you I would go for wherever you get offered the job that excites you the most, providing you feel happy to live in that location.

      If you like popular beaches though, I can see why the Gold Coast would be an attraction and if you do get the chance to work around there, then yes, go for it!

      Good luck, Bob

  • Kris Stone-Tolcher October 8, 2014, 8:20 pm |

    Hi
    I am an Australian and live in Redcliffe outside of Brisbane. Redcliffe is seaside peninsula with nice beaches, a English coastal feel and is a great place for commuters (and is also has the highest per capita population of English people in Queensland). I work in the Brisbane CBD and drive an hour to work – the railway to Redcliffe opens early 2016 – but lots of people catch the train from Sandgate (35 minute commute) a bayside suburb in Northern Brisbane. Redcliffe, because it’s not on any rivers, has coastal beaches not mudflats and safe beaches for little kids. We have suburbs called Margate and Scarborough so I think it reminded the early settlers of home. Other comments: Cairns is getting better all the time (its damn hot though); Townsville is the government hub for the North and James Cook Uni is renowned for its marine sciences; Uni of Queensland is a “sandstone” uni, old (for Aus) good reputation for all sciences and professionals. My sister in law is a doctor from UK and had to work in a place of designated need for I think 5 years (she is at Petrie, still well within the Brisbane suburban reach). Hope this is useful

    • BobinOz October 9, 2014, 12:40 am |

      Yes, this is very useful Kris, I’m sure it will help quite a few people. Thanks for taking the time to do it. I have to agree it’s quite nice over that side of town, and when Redcliffe gets that train station it’ll be a real boom to the area.

      I’ve really taken a shine to Sandgate, I think it’s a great suburb, loads of character. I’ve written about it a few times on this website and recently did a post about its Housing Architecture.

      Thanks again, Bob

  • Victoria Nandan August 31, 2014, 6:56 pm |

    Hi Iam from India. Have plans to move to Australia. Any advice for the best place in Australia for Chartered Accountants. Although I would love to go to Tassie but heard that its not good for employment…any advice would be of great help 🙂

    • BobinOz September 1, 2014, 7:12 pm |

      I couldn’t specifically say where would be best for Chartered Accountants, all I can suggest is that you use the links on my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship and use the links to the online employment agencies there to search for what it is that you do and see which city comes up with the most opportunities.

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