Best Non-Capital City in Australia?

Question

I want to know from anyone which of the following is the best to live and why: Cairns, Townsville, Darwin, mid-coast NSW or Canberra. Basically I don't want to live in one of the big 5 cities. I want somewhere to relax, warm climate, decent job opportunities and local economy, things to do and scenery etc. Which one of those do you think is the best, or do you reccomend one of the other provincial centres? Thanks.

Answer 1

In NSW, Wollongong, a city south of Sydney is a great place. Lots of Sydneysiders in recent years (and now) have been moving out of Sydney into a more relaxed place to start a new life, raise families and work. Many people from Wollongong will drive to Sydney to work everyday (drive time is between an hour and an hour and a half).

The weather in Wollongong is very similar to Sydney's - the average temperatures will be around 1-2 degrees lower.

This region also features some of the best beaches and scenery in NSW. It really is a place you should consider.

Answer 2

Forget Canberra if you want a warm place.

Darwin isn't warm, it's hot - very hot and steamy.

Cairns is also pretty hot but it's a nice place. Most job opportunities will be in the tourist industry as there's not much else else up there but it depends on what work you would be looking for.

I haven't been to Townsville for years so can't say anything useful about there.

The Gold Coast could be worthy of investigation. I don't like it myself, but millions of other people think it's marvellous. There is plenty of work there and it fits the bill on your other points. The climate and lifestyle are great and it's close to Brisbane if you need something from a big city.

Answer 3

Adelaide is the best as it is considered to be a big small town.  Average commute time is 15 minutes.  It's officially known as the city with "easy traffic".  Plenty of beautiful beaches and lots of space.  Housing is the cheapest in Australia as compared to it's 5 larger cities.  Adelaide is Australia's 6th city so to speak.

Answer 4

Not Canberra - it's freezing in winter.

Coastal NSW wins on the scenery question, but not necessarily as many job opportunities.  I think Darwin might suit best - very relaxed, certainly warm, buzzing economy.

Answer 5

I would say the area around Lismore/Ballina/Byron Bay is the best.   The weather is pretty good year round, and there is access to a Major city (Brisbane or Gold Coast) should you need it.    The place looks like England even during the worst droughts.   Just remember to get a house on a hill (it floods now and then).   The beaches are pretty good, and you can spend new years at Byron if you like to party.  Plenty of places to go bush walking or outdoors stuff.

Places like Darwin and Cairns are great if you can handle the hot climate.    Both are very tropical, and you will have to deal with all kinds of extremes -  wet vs dry seasons, Cyclones etc.   Even so the lifestyle makes it well worth it for many people.

Answer 6

Geelong is great. It's not too far from Melbourne and it is just a stone's throw away from the coastal towns which have great beaches. Down the great ocean road is a great place for scenery and the otway ranges have great scenery as well. all over Victoria is great. So check out Geelong.

Answer 7

Firstly, Darwin and Canberra are BOTH capital cities, and let me dispel some myths, Darwin's temperatures rarely change, but the humidity certainly does, comfortable in the winter, and almost intolerable in the Summer. Canberra is a beautiful city, well planned, easy to get around, and compared to all the other major cities, probably the best value for money, less than 2 hours to the beach in Summer, and less than 2 hours to the snow in Winter.

Wollongong and Newcastle are both within 2 hours from Sydney, good sized cities within easy driving distances to all the amenities of a big city. Likewise Geelong is the same for Melbourne, Gawler is the same for Adelaide, Fremantle is the same for Perth, Sunshine Coast ( mega-expensive) or Toowoomba is to Brisbane.

My honest opinion....Canberra is probably the best city (even though it is a Capital city) to live in, because of it's location, it's cost of living, it's scenery and it's population falls into what you were looking for.

Answer 8

hi there i would defiantly recommend cairns it has to be the most beautiful place in Australia that i have seen so far close the great barrier reef and daintree forest and river witch is absolutely amazing also when u wanna get away all you have to do is jump in your car and drive a couple of hours up north for beautiful Port Douglas or Mossman witch has a beautiful gorge for you to swin in fresh beautiful water with a gorgeous water fall Right next to it. Also Cairns is just the best to live in it is so calm and peaceful you get decent rain unlike everywhere else.

Also you could get away for Little holiday to Cape tribulation witch is absolutely beautiful the fresh and beautiful rainfoest up there is to die for! the weather there is quite warm but not as bad as Darwin.

I would defiantly recommend Cairns. That's where I'm going when i retire.

Answer 9

Nimbin!!! naaah

Bright, victoria.

it kicks  a.s.s

Answer 10

go with Darwin

Answer 11

Not Canberra-it's bloody boring!

I'd say mid-coast NSW. It's a nice place. Darwin gets a bit too hot, and so does Cairns. Good luck!

Answer 12

Cairns is a warm beautiful place and its close to the great barrier reef and the daintree rainforest. There are plenty of job opportunities in the tourism industry and the place isn't too crowded but has almost everything that Brisbane has. I have been there on holidays about 8 times I love it. It also rains alot there.

Answer 13

The only two places I have been to from that list were Cairns and Canberra. Cairns is absolutely beautiful and certainly warm, I personally wouldn't live there (too warm for me, crocodiles) but I would certainly go again for a holiday. Canberra is good, the whole city was designed before it was built so it is easy to get around.

Personally, and I am biased, I think the best town is where I live, Geelong. ;)

Answer 14

Canberra is the pride of the nation.  Our country's capital.

If you are looking for a non capital city, Wollongong would be a good place to look at.  Nice and quiet, nice beaches, nice restaurants.

Avoid mid coast NSW.  It's a hole full of boring inbreds.  I've seen cobwebs smarter than some of their residents

Answer 15

Out of your choices I would probably say Cairns (though the tropical weather and constant heat turns me off) or mid-coast NSW based around Newcastle.

Personally I like Wollongong or more specifically Shellharbour or Kiama. Located on the south coast 1-1.5hrs south of Sydney if close enough to the city when you need to go there yet far enough away at the same time.

Kiama is a very touristy village and Shellharbour a tourist town. Located on the coast with gorgeous beaches, bush and the escarpment on the inland side. Typical Sydney weather though we miss alot of the rain the northern suburbs receive. Winter is mild to cool with only the nights being cold. Summer is warm to hot with occasional humidity.

Being a tourist based economy we have continuous growing and the economy is booming. There are plenty of jobs if your willing to get off your *** and look for them. (People whinge about our high youth unemployment rate but its all due to laziness and not wanting to work). We have business, customer service, retail, hospitality, specialist, industrial and construction industries.

The scenery is beautiful, moutains, bushland and beaches. Lots of things to do as with any tourism town, from relaxing on the beach or a picnic to a leisurly drive or the action at Jamberoo recreation park to the new Illawarra Fly observation deck, to local sports and shopping.