Expert: Ian Smith - 2/12/2007

Question
Thx for your response. Some more info... We are both 30 years old. Will both need employment. At the moment we are both working in the financial industry as broker consultants. Basically marketing insurance and investment products to brokers. By nature I mean, open space, trees, rivers, the sea. We like horses, mountain biking, hiking, camping etc. We dont mind living near a city, as long as its on the outskirts and with a bit of nature around. Please let me know if you need more info?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi. My wife and I would like to move to Australia but have no idea where we should move to. We heard Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world. We also heard the North Coast of NSW is great. We are out doors people. We want lots of trees and nature. We would prefer to live about 20 minutes outside of a city. Could you recomend where we should live. Thx Simon
-----Answer-----
Unfortunately, I suspect you've only given me some of the information I need to help you.  For instance, do you need employment?  Are you retired?  When you say nature, does that include things like horses?
If it's trees and rural lifestyle you want, then the Dandenongs in Melbourne is about the only place that fits your bill there.
Having said that, you're probably not aware that the survey that rated Melbourne so highly was repeated throughout all Australian cities and, guess what, my hometown romped in ahead of all others, including Melbourne.
In the area around Lake Macquarie you can certainly find a tree type environment.
If it's smaller rural centres you seek, you should consider Forster, Port Macquarie, South West Rocks, north of Coffs Harbour, south of Yamba, the hinterland of Byron Bay, to name but a few.
The rap on the North Coast is well deserved.
It so much depends on what other factors are involved in your decision so I'll await your reply and then be better positioned to narrow it down a little.
Cheers, Ian Smith

Answer
Thanks for the extra info.  In addition to those places already listed, you should consider Surfers Paradise or the Sunshine Coast if you don't mind the heat.
Of the capital cities, Sydney has really sprawled too much for me but Canberra, Perth, Adelaide and the aforementioned Melbourne would be worthwhile considering.  The problem with smaller rural centres would be getting satisfactory employment.
Of the states, W.A. has the best unemployment figures (flow on from the mining boom) but housing prices can be off putting.
The only problem with Melbourne is the weather.  If you don't like it now, don't worry, it will change soon!
As for mountain biking and camping, just about anywhere you go in Oz you'll be in paradise.  You might consider bushwalking when you come over here also.
If you want more details on some of the places I've listed here, you could try my site at virtualtourist.com.  Go up to the right hand top where it says "destinations", arrow that down to "members" and type in iandsmith and you scroll up heaps of info.
If you have any more direct queries, please do not hesitate to contact me further.
Cheers, Ian Smith