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I would consider Adelaide if you're looking for that smaller city vibe, still want niche beaches and a nice climate and less wind.
The way I see it Adelaide is half way between Melbourne and Perth geographically (sort of), but more importantly - culturally. It's not as busy as Melbourne, still feels kind of rural if you're further away from the city, but the city itself is very trendy and has the cafes and things that Melbourne does.
HTH
I second that. The only "problem" is that Adelaide can be extremely hot and dry in summer. Not every year - but often. Sydney has a milder climate than both Adelaide and Melbourne. Its winters aren't as cold as either city, and the summers generally aren't that hot unless you're out west. So I'd recommend Sydney or Adelaide. If you're happier with smaller (e.g. less than 700,000 people) there's Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Orange, Wagga Wagga or Darwin.
I second that. The only "problem" is that Adelaide can be extremely hot and dry in summer. Not every year - but often. Sydney has a milder climate than both Adelaide and Melbourne. Its winters aren't as cold as either city, and the summers generally aren't that hot unless you're out west. So I'd recommend Sydney or Adelaide. If you're happier with smaller (e.g. less than 700,000 people) there's Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Orange, Wagga Wagga or Darwin.
Those climates will not suit him; they are markedly squally during the cooler months—when the SW polar fronts rip through the Western NSW slopes and ranges. Much windier than Perth, and with plenty of thunderstorms during the warmer months, too.
I suspect localities like Byron Bay may suit more some of the OP's stated requirements. More transient population from around the world. Folk less connected to area more chance of being less reserved hence more open their surroundings and people in general.
I found Darwin somewhat like that as well. Cairns to a lesser extent perhaps but quite acceptable. Can't really think of many other places in Australia with a similar vibe.
Those climates will not suit him; they are markedly squally during the cooler months—when the SW polar fronts rip through the Western NSW slopes and ranges. Much windier than Perth, and with plenty of thunderstorms during the warmer months, too.
That's the reason I love these climates, however
If milder climates are your thing, then Wollongong, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Byron Bay, Toowoomba (maybe?)...mostly mild climates without the extremes of hot or cold like other Australian cities (though what is cold in Australia is more akin to "cool" or "chilly" for a European or North American). Our cities just do not get the plummeting record lows of North American cities in winter...
If milder climates are your thing, then Wollongong, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Byron Bay, Toowoomba (maybe?)...mostly mild climates without the extremes of hot or cold like other Australian cities (though what is cold in Australia is more akin to "cool" or "chilly" for a European or North American). Our cities just do not get the plummeting record lows of North American cities in winter...
Aye, but the original poster specified that he hates higher annual wind-speed, chiefly. Orange, NSW is much windier than Perth, and is likely windier than any city in the Lower 48 US.
Altitude of >900 m AMSL and South-Westerly exposure do wonders. I reside at 1,265-1,280 m AMSL (Anglers Reach, NSW), and I can very much confirm this notion; commonly in excess of >54 knots.
The wind in Perth is hardly an issue away from the beach and/or living directly on the coast. Hence, I gather the Op, refers to beaches without wind, which rules out inland locations like Orange and Toowoomba, as mentioned as alternative examples. Probably not likely to suit in other desired requirements along social lines either.
Perth, is pretty much a fair standard bearer as to how pretty much Australia functions, taking into account less population numbers than the few bigger cities and more diversity resulting.
My view would be Adelaide certainly, and I suspect Brisbane would not be very different, apart from the odd pro and con, here and there.
A lot will depend on age, status both marital and professional along with interests and personal expectations . Australia is not a particularly easy country to form relationships, hence any deeper emotional connections may well be very hard to find, best being contacts on a very superficial sort of basis.
Lol, being from Wellington you'd probably think that a gale is a light breeze.
NZ is windy on the whole - not just Wellington. Perth is far less windy than most of NZ, especially the coastal locations. I won't bore you with some maximum speed records from both coastal and inland locales ...
No idea the wind comparison with NZ. But the West Coast is windy. Geraldton classically a spot for such conditions. They aren't termed the wind surfing capital without reason.
Another thing, St Georges Terrace, the main business street of Perth, at times is like a wind tunnel, due to prevailing conditions, with the tall buildings on either side funnelling the wind.
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