Where’s the best place to live in Australia?
The secret of successfully emigrating, retiring or buying a home in Australia (or anywhere else for that matter) is research, research and more research, preferably before you even set foot there. You may be fortunate and choose a city or state and buy the first property you see without doing any homework and live happily ever after. However, a successful relocation is much more likely if you thoroughly investigate the various states and cities on your shortlist. It’s a lucky person who makes the right choice first time and many people move to another area, city or even state before settling down.
Australia is a huge country with a wide range of landscapes, including desert, semi-desert, scrub, temperate and tropical forest, farmland, wetland and even the odd mountain range. It also has several climatic zones as well as numerous micro-climates, making your choice of location less than straightforward. Unlike most developed countries, Australia has vast areas that are still largely uninhabited.
Many people’s choice of location is based on holiday experiences, friends’ recommendations or simply an area’s reputation. However, if you’re likely to be spending the rest of your life there or even just part of the year, it’s worthwhile taking the time and trouble to consider every aspect of a location first hand. When choosing a permanent home, don’t be too influenced by where you’ve spent an enjoyable holiday or two; a place that was acceptable for a few weeks’ holiday may be far from suitable for year-round living, to say nothing of job and business prospects.
If you intend to look for employment or start a business, you must live in an area that allows you the maximum opportunities. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, you’d be foolish to rely on finding employment in a particular area. If, on the other hand, you’re seeking a holiday or retirement home, you’ll have the whole of Australia to choose from.
If you have little idea about where you want to live, read as much as you can about the different cities and regions of Australia and spend some time investigating your areas of interest. Note that the climate, lifestyle and cost of living can vary considerably from region to region (and even within a particular region). For example, many newcomers head for the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne, but these are also the most expensive places to live – property is particularly expensive in Sydney, where rents are also very high, and even finding a suitable home to rent can be a problem.
For more information see Living and Working in Australia by David Hampshire
