Hi, my boyfriend and I are trying to decide between Canberra and Melbourne as potential places to live (we've decided Sydney would be too big/expensive, Perth too remote and for some unspecified reason he won't entertain Adelaide or Brisbane). I'm an accountant and he works in IT, we're both 28, no kids and live near Manchester at the moment.
Canberra is winning on the salary stakes, the weather (Melbourne looks like it gets as much rain as Manchester - big no no!), the commuting, house prices in relation to proximity to the CBD but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of going out/eating out/things to do in the same way as Melbourne. Is there a decent nightlife, lots of places to go see etc? What does your average Canberran do on the weekend? Our ideal day (when its not bl*&%y raining!) is a bike ride out, followed by leisurely late lunch in town watching the world go by, then a night out with friends at a restaurant or club.
I've been on a working holiday to Australia for a year & from my experience visiting both Melbourne & Canberra I haven't even considered Canberra as somewhere to live.
Canberra was nice to visit, the suburbs looked lovely - all tree lined streets - but it seemed VERY quiet & there really didn't seem to be much there in the way of nightlife - just a few pubs. My boyfriend & I are a similar age to you -27 & 25 - & much prefer Melbourne as it is more vibrant, has much more of a restaurant and bar scene, & the "cafe culture" you seem to be looking for. There are a lot more shops & more in general for young(ish) people!
Obviously this is just my personal preference, no offence meant to anyone living in Canberra. I am biased as I'm moving to Melbourne in a few weeks - !! x
Hi, my boyfriend and I are trying to decide between Canberra and Melbourne as potential places to live (we've decided Sydney would be too big/expensive, Perth too remote and for some unspecified reason he won't entertain Adelaide or Brisbane). I'm an accountant and he works in IT, we're both 28, no kids and live near Manchester at the moment.
Canberra is winning on the salary stakes, the weather (Melbourne looks like it gets as much rain as Manchester - big no no!), the commuting, house prices in relation to proximity to the CBD but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of going out/eating out/things to do in the same way as Melbourne. Is there a decent nightlife, lots of places to go see etc? What does your average Canberran do on the weekend? Our ideal day (when its not bl*&%y raining!) is a bike ride out, followed by leisurely late lunch in town watching the world go by, then a night out with friends at a restaurant or club.
Which city would suit us better?
MELBOURNE.
If Melbourne got as much rain as Manchester it would not be in drought!!!!
i'll give you a week in Canberra before your car is packed and your heading down the Hume Hwy to Melbourne (thats giving you 6 more days than you need to figure out you had made a mistake).
Im sure Quoll will come on and paint a wonderful picture of Canberra, but don't listen........... Go to see both then move to Melbourne I'm sure you wont be disapointed.
Geoffrey
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Kind Regards
Geoffrey (32, an aussie!!), Tracy (35), Jake (7), Jessica (2) & Joseph (1)
Hi what a good thread, me and my family are looking into melbourne 2 live and from the sounds of it it could be just what we are looking for, More threads about melbourne and what to do there for kids and adults would be geat.
thanks for the input melba/tracy 123 although we do enjoy walks/bike rides/days doing nothing but chilling out I enjoy the city life that Manchester has to offer - and I'm not entirely sure Canberra would give us that. Sydney isn't that far away for a big night out (we often stay away for the weekend in B'ham/Leeds/London/Sheffield over here) but its not an option for mid-week/every weekend.
Nightlife isn't our biggest priority but its in the top 5 ;)
p.s what is the weather really like in melbourne? there are so many conflicting stories - all i want is somewhere where it will stay sunny and warm for at least a week at a time - instead of raining at least part/all of every day.
Melbourne weather = changeable. '4 seasons in 1 day' is often a phase used to describe the Melbourne weather.
Yep, seen that one a lot on various websites/books etc.
If anyone can give me a comparison between Manchester weather and Melbourne weather that would be good - the stats on weather websites just show that they have comparable amounts of rainfall and Melbourne is about 5 degrees warmer. Manchester it rains pretty much every other day - its the middle of summer now and its rained every day for the past month I think!
thanks for the input melba/tracy 123 although we do enjoy walks/bike rides/days doing nothing but chilling out I enjoy the city life that Manchester has to offer - and I'm not entirely sure Canberra would give us that. Sydney isn't that far away for a big night out (we often stay away for the weekend in B'ham/Leeds/London/Sheffield over here) but its not an option for mid-week/every weekend.
Nightlife isn't our biggest priority but its in the top 5 ;)
p.s what is the weather really like in melbourne? there are so many conflicting stories - all i want is somewhere where it will stay sunny and warm for at least a week at a time - instead of raining at least part/all of every day.
As Pinhead said 4 seasons in on day. Of course you can go for weeks without rain, I think however this is the wrong time of year to ask as it's winter even people in Brisbane are saying its cold 20+
It's up to you Melbourne isn't everyone cup of tea but its alot larger than canberra with alot more things to do and see etc.
You can have great days out in Victoria or weekends! Country Victoria has some great towns and are well worth the drive, you don't need to travel far for wine tasting.
Its up to you night life however is not just clubs as you are aware, going out for meals we have some wonderful restaurants in and around Melbourne and just wondering around these areas at night are great.
Geoffrey
__________________
Kind Regards
Geoffrey (32, an aussie!!), Tracy (35), Jake (7), Jessica (2) & Joseph (1)
As Pinhead said 4 seasons in on day. Of course you can go for weeks without rain, I think however this is the wrong time of year to ask as it's winter even people in Brisbane are saying its cold 20+
It's up to you Melbourne isn't everyone cup of tea but its alot larger than canberra with alot more things to do and see etc.
You can have great days out in Victoria or weekends! Country Victoria has some great towns and are well worth the drive, you don't need to travel far for wine tasting.
Its up to you night life however is not just clubs as you are aware, going out for meals we have some wonderful restaurants in and around Melbourne and just wondering around these areas at night are great.
Geoffrey
Lol, i was reading 'The Age' the other day and saw the headline 'Sydneysiders brave the cold to get their hands on the new iPhone' Cold? It was about 6 degrees - its only been 9 degrees here some nights and its summer!
Definitely be doing some wine-tasting - my parents live in the south of france so I'm going to miss nipping over and visiting the vineyards there, no doubt the Aussie vineyards will make up for it.
The consensus so far appears to be Melbourne then....
although we do enjoy walks/bike rides/days doing nothing but chilling out I enjoy the city life that Manchester has to offer - and I'm not entirely sure Canberra would give us that. Sydney isn't that far away for a big night out (we often stay away for the weekend in B'ham/Leeds/London/Sheffield over here) but its not an option for mid-week/every weekend. 
