Hi there.. we live in Sanctuary Lakes with direct frontage to the 4th tee. Golf isn't my thing but my husband loves it! We also have use of a gym, the clubhouse (Point Cook people take note - this is open to the general public and is as near to a pub as you are likely to get!), swimming pool, 24 hour security. It may be prudent to mention that since Sanctuary Lakes was created about 8 years ago, there has not been a single break in. There are electric barbies at the lakeside, which is glorious and patronised with amazing birdlife. There is an 8.01 am and 10.01 am express train into the city as well as numerous services stopping all stations. Point Cook is just as nice and is growing by the day. Hoppers Crossing is more established, whilst Werribee is known to be a bit dodgy. Having said that, The schools in Werribee are second to none. Werribee Secondary College has just been named as one of the best schools in the western suburbs and is a State school. MacKillop High School (Sorry, not sure of spelling) is also very well respected and Westbourne Grammar has a good reputation also. Value for money, Hoppers Crossing is excellent whilst Point Cook and Sanctuary Lakes tend to be more expensive. Schools are springing up all over the place in Point Cook to cater for the massive influx of people. All of them are excellent. The downside of the west is, perhaps, the bland landscape but being fantasticly close, access to the Great Ocean Road makes up a lot.
Narre Warren is on the opposite side of the bay about 50 mins down the Pakenham line. It is very densley populated (by Aussie standards!) there is a very large Indian community (Narre Warren, Springvale, Noble Park). I have a lot of Indian friends and colleagues who live there and love it but it wasn't our cup of tea. It has a much nicer backdrop as it is much more hilly that the west, which is completely flat out Point Cook, Hoppers etc.
The Pakenham line is the most crammed in the mornings and only has one train an hour late at night. If you drive into town, the Monash is extremely busy.
There is still a bit of an attitude amongst Melburnians that the East is the only place to live and they think of the west as 'down at heel'. All I can say is, if the life I'm living now is down at heel, then God help me!
What I suggest you consider doing when you get here is to drive from the City out over the Westgate Bridge right down through Geeloong to Queenscliffe, take the ferry to Sorento and drive back up to the city on the East side. It will give you a valuable insight in a very short space of time and cost you very little too!
Let me know if there is anything else you want to know.
