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treesea · 22-11-2008, 09:43 AM

Why train travel? The best way to travel in Melbourne, imho, is tram. They run a lot more often. Though it is also good to be close to both, for instance, South Yarra (good shopping and eating around Chapel Street) . If you like the beach, St Kilda is a good place to live. On a light rail route to the city, so quick. There are cycle paths here and there, though they aren't all that connected. The north side is good to live, up to about Coburg. i wouldn't go beyond Bell Street though. No so keen on the train route. They have one, but it isn't as good as the sourthern routes. The whole of the area on the south side, inner city, along the beach, extending from St Kilda (on the east side) to Port Melbourne on the west side of the bay would probably appeal to you, if you like wandering along the beach. I always lived to the north of the city, but if I were moving back to Melbourne, I would live on the south side. Just to be close to the sea.

Even so, I would still recommend checking out places like Carlton, and Fitzroy on the north side. Moving a bit away from the city, but not too far Camberwell, is a pretty nice place to live. Good shopping, library etc. Though on the topic of libraries, I have nver seen libraries as good as the ones here in Edinburgh. Even the suburban ones have big foreign language sections. And the main one covers buildings, not just floors in a building. Australia's libraries can be a bit basic in comparison. Carlton, St Kilda and Camberwell all have cinemas. South Yarra and Carlton have very good fringe theatre places. La Mama in Carlton puts on some pretty good stuff, as does Chapel off Chapel in South Yarra. Windsor, Prahran, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne are nice.

Williamstown is beautiful but I would probably not choose to live that side ,i.e. to the west of the city and close as the crow flies, but over the west gate bridge and definitely not walking distance to the city because yo have to go on a long convoluted route.

As to weather, compared to here it is relatively extreme. Adelaide and Perth are shockers for the heat in Summer. 40 degrees plus. Melbourne can be just as bad. the way to defeat that heat is to live on or near the bay. And winters definitely do have their freezing, "snow in the foothills" moments. We don't have central heating here in Edinburgh and are still wandering around the house in bare feet, but we had it, and used it, in Melbourne.

22-11-2008, 09:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
treesea has no status. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 582 Thanks: 231 Thanked 321 Times in 201 Posts	Why train travel? The best way to travel in Melbourne, imho, is tram. They run a lot more often. Though it is also good to be close to both, for instance, South Yarra (good shopping and eating around Chapel Street) . If you like the beach, St Kilda is a good place to live. On a light rail route to the city, so quick. There are cycle paths here and there, though they aren't all that connected. The north side is good to live, up to about Coburg. i wouldn't go beyond Bell Street though. No so keen on the train route. They have one, but it isn't as good as the sourthern routes. The whole of the area on the south side, inner city, along the beach, extending from St Kilda (on the east side) to Port Melbourne on the west side of the bay would probably appeal to you, if you like wandering along the beach. I always lived to the north of the city, but if I were moving back to Melbourne, I would live on the south side. Just to be close to the sea. Even so, I would still recommend checking out places like Carlton, and Fitzroy on the north side. Moving a bit away from the city, but not too far Camberwell, is a pretty nice place to live. Good shopping, library etc. Though on the topic of libraries, I have nver seen libraries as good as the ones here in Edinburgh. Even the suburban ones have big foreign language sections. And the main one covers buildings, not just floors in a building. Australia's libraries can be a bit basic in comparison. Carlton, St Kilda and Camberwell all have cinemas. South Yarra and Carlton have very good fringe theatre places. La Mama in Carlton puts on some pretty good stuff, as does Chapel off Chapel in South Yarra. Windsor, Prahran, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne are nice. Williamstown is beautiful but I would probably not choose to live that side ,i.e. to the west of the city and close as the crow flies, but over the west gate bridge and definitely not walking distance to the city because yo have to go on a long convoluted route. As to weather, compared to here it is relatively extreme. Adelaide and Perth are shockers for the heat in Summer. 40 degrees plus. Melbourne can be just as bad. the way to defeat that heat is to live on or near the bay. And winters definitely do have their freezing, "snow in the foothills" moments. We don't have central heating here in Edinburgh and are still wandering around the house in bare feet, but we had it, and used it, in Melbourne.