bayside

Elwood is really nice near the beach and is within the distance you are wanting. It is really accessible and plenty of apartments.

The Mornington Peninsula combines the best beaches with the best semi-rural scenery within commuting distance. The area gives you the sense of space away from Melbourne yet it is still accessible. 

VIC – Top 6 areas outside Melbourne for income

1.     Mornington Peninsula $54,055

2.     Geelong $53,849

3.     Latrobe-Gippsland $51,633

4.     Bendigo $50,352

5.     Ballarat $50,008

6.     Hume (Wodonga, Wangaratta, Seymour) $47,998 

The best schools are located in predominately the east and south-east of Melbourne. There area also a couple of other great performing schools on the Mornington Peninsula and Werribee.

Great post!

The Mornington Peninsula is a stunning place to live and meets all your requirements. Mt Martha and Mt Eliza are likely the best options for you. The area is also set to become easier for commuters into the city with the new Mordialloc Freeway, Dingley Bypass and extension of the Frankston train line to Baxter. Otherwise, it is worth considering other bayside suburbs in the south-east and even Williamstown in the west. The leafy eastern inner ring suburbs are also very nice however may be a lot pricier. The Mornington Peninsula also has the highest proportion of Poms living in the area in all of Melbourne.

The yacht clubs are great and it has a very popular shopping village. The commute to the area is also improving with new infrastructure between the city and the Mornington Peninsula.   

Mt Eliza's private schools are the best in the area

The Mornington Peninsula is definitely are great option. The new Moridalloc Freeway and extension of the Frankston line to the area will also improve the commute. The Mornington Peninsula is renowned for its beaches, scenery and best wineries. Mornington and Mt Eliza also boast some of the best schools in the state and the area also has high proportion of poms already living down there. The area has the highest concentration of poms in Melbourne at 12% of the total population.  

Mt Eliza really is a beautiful suburb with the best beaches, schools and expansive houses.

The Mornington Peninsula is definitely an ideal location. Key areas such as Mt Eliza and Mornington have excellent schools and it really offers everything you need. The Frankston Line is also being extended to Baxter which will make the Mornington Peninsula an easy commute via train or car. The new Mordialloc Freeway is set to speed up the commute via car as well. The main drawcard is the beaches and semi-rural scenic feel of the area unlike anywhere else in Melbourne. 

In Victoria the Mornington Peninsula is the 3rd top tourist destination. Wineries in Red hill, exploring Point Nepean and the best beaches in Sorrento, Mt Eliza and Flinders. The back beaches are also popular in Blairgowrie and Sorrento. Mornington is the central hub of the area and offers popular shops and everything you need. The Pillars at Mt Martha is also a very popular sight to see. Even the quieter areas such as Somers and Shoreham have become really popular as of late and are really cute. The esplanade and Nepean highway are the most ideal routes to take along the area. However, the Mornington Peninsula Link can get you there faster. Here are some pictures. 

The Mornington Peninsula provides the most ideal semi-regional lifestyle with easy access to the city and some of Australia's best costal beaches. Just look at the pictures of Mornington below.

You may also like the Mornington Peninsula if you are looking for greenery and coastal lifestyle near the city 

Frankston South is also nice and is nearby or even the Mornington Peninsula