dferri2000 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I see a lot on here about where to settle with kids for schools but where are the best places if schools are not an issue? My OH and I would like to be near decent restaurants etc but also not right in the city centre and we'd be happy to commute to work - any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Do you want a house or an apartment? How much money will you have????? Where will you be working? If you are looking at apartments then the area around the Kingston foreshore is really nice but there are also some nice apartments in Barton and Kingston. However they are all quite $$ There are also some nice apartments in Civic - the ones closer to the Lake are probably better than the ones up Northborne Ave which seem to be largely inhabited by Asian students (the eyeball test). If you want houses then Yarralumla is gorgeous and very $$$ In between there are townhouse complexes and it seems that there are townhouse complexes often built on the lakes - Greenway is one that springs to mind down in Tuggeranong and there is one on Lake Ginninderra as well. If you are after a bit of buzz without being totally city centre (bear in mind that the city centre of Canberra is nothing like any other city centre you will have ever seen and you may not be averse to it) then the inner suburbs are really going to offer you more. Inner north or south is really up to you, just a matter of preference and finances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dferri2000 Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Thanks for the info, we're not looking for anything too big and we only have a budget of around $350-$400k. No jobs yet but happy to commute. We're thinking it may need to be a new house in one of the newer suburbs a bit further out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 we are a young enlgish couple without kids, 24 and 25, just married, we are living north side, so edge of gungahlin, its pricey but nice suburbs, yeah they are family oriented, but we dont mind, there are lots of familys etc, but that alsways mean good public transport. google... Forde (postcode is 2914) thats where we are at the mo but bit pricey to stay, but then there is Bonner, Amaroo, Casey and Franklin, some nice houses and always developing, not far from airport, city or local shops. we are enjoying it so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dferri2000 Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 we are a young enlgish couple without kids, 24 and 25, just married, we are living north side, so edge of gungahlin, its pricey but nice suburbs, yeah they are family oriented, but we dont mind, there are lots of familys etc, but that alsways mean good public transport. google... Forde (postcode is 2914) thats where we are at the mo but bit pricey to stay, but then there is Bonner, Amaroo, Casey and Franklin, some nice houses and always developing, not far from airport, city or local shops. we are enjoying it so far Thanks Carla, I'll make sure I google that :biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Hi, just after reading this thread. Looking for any updates since original posts for a young couple (no kids) moving to Canberra - would you still recommend the same areas four years on? Ideally be looking for nice area, not city centre but easily accessible, good community (social clubs?), good buzz/atmosphere/character locally with cafes/restaurants/bars etc., easy access to parks/outdoors. No definite budget in mind at the moment, so just looking to figure out the best area and will figure it out from there. Cheers, Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) Hi, just after reading this thread. Looking for any updates since original posts for a young couple (no kids) moving to Canberra - would you still recommend the same areas four years on? Ideally be looking for nice area, not city centre but easily accessible, good community (social clubs?), good buzz/atmosphere/character locally with cafes/restaurants/bars etc., easy access to parks/outdoors. No definite budget in mind at the moment, so just looking to figure out the best area and will figure it out from there. Cheers, Barry I would still say the same as I did back then. Inner suburbs are going to have more character than out in the boondocks. The city centre/s aren't like city centres you've met before, they're more like big suburb centres. Personally I would head for Kingston, Manuka, Yarralumla, Acton if you want apartment living or Watson, Downer, Hackett, Ainslie if you want a house but I am prejudiced towards the Northside! Edited December 2, 2015 by Quoll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Thanks. Much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Hi, just after reading this thread. Looking for any updates since original posts for a young couple (no kids) moving to Canberra - would you still recommend the same areas four years on? Ideally be looking for nice area, not city centre but easily accessible, good community (social clubs?), good buzz/atmosphere/character locally with cafes/restaurants/bars etc., easy access to parks/outdoors. The great thing about Canberra is that driving is so easy. Even if you end up in the outer suburbs, it's less than half an hour to get right into the centre of town (outside peak hour). Canberrans do complain about peak hour traffic but compared to traffic jams in Sydney or in any UK city, it hardly qualifies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinedine Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I would still say the same as I did back then. Inner suburbs are going to have more character than out in the boondocks. The city centre/s aren't like city centres you've met before, they're more like big suburb centres. Personally I would head for Kingston, Manuka, Yarralumla, Acton if you want apartment living or Watson, Downer, Hackett, Ainslie if you want a house but I am prejudiced towards the Northside! I'd agree with all of this but would add in Braddon and Turner for good measure. In my opinion I'm not sure if the higher house/rental prices are worth paying for living in these "trendy" areas. You can get a 4 bedroom house in a northern suburb for the same price as a 2 bedroom apartment in Kingston. Personally I don't see the value in it when most places only seem to be a 20 minute drive away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Yup Braddon and Turner have become a bit more upmarket of late. In the olden days of the Northbourne Flats they were a bit dire. Lots of new stuff now of course. I think the lure of the inner suburbs for the non child type is more the swingingness of them - the outer suburbs can be drearily dull especially in the evenings whereas if you are trendily central it's only a short walk to all sorts of activities. That 20 minute drive after a nice night out can be a real pain in the bum. Quite like the lake views from Kingston too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinedine Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Yup Braddon and Turner have become a bit more upmarket of late. In the olden days of the Northbourne Flats they were a bit dire. Lots of new stuff now of course. I think the lure of the inner suburbs for the non child type is more the swingingness of them - the outer suburbs can be drearily dull especially in the evenings whereas if you are trendily central it's only a short walk to all sorts of activities. That 20 minute drive after a nice night out can be a real pain in the bum. Quite like the lake views from Kingston too. Yes I'd agree with that, the outer suburbs are very quiet. Also for anyone that doesn't drive I should imagine it's a bit of an ordeal to commute to and from the 'burbs especially after a night out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABL275 Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 Hi, just after reading this thread. Looking for any updates since original posts for a young couple (no kids) moving to Canberra - would you still recommend the same areas four years on? Ideally be looking for nice area, not city centre but easily accessible, good community (social clubs?), good buzz/atmosphere/character locally with cafes/restaurants/bars etc., easy access to parks/outdoors. No definite budget in mind at the moment, so just looking to figure out the best area and will figure it out from there. Cheers, Barry Hi Barry - just moved back to Canberra after a year away and Kingston Foreshore/Marina is definitely coming on in leaps and bounds (although there's still a lot of building work going on). Lots of bars/restaurants, lots of apartments overlooking the water, close to the bus depot markets and a really good buzz about the place. As others have said, Manuka (good cafes & restaurants, close to the cricket and cinema) and Yarralumla (close to the lake, old and leafy) remain the good old favourites. Braddon is also starting to develop a bit of a bohemian feel. Can't really think of anywhere comparable on the south side although the Southland local shopping complex in Mawson is about to undergo extensive refurbishment so may be worth looking at in a year or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.