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Such a personal issue - one never sees the same place as others do. I am from California and am living with my family (husband and three kids) on the Sunshine Coast. Areas like Noosa really remind me of high-end, small towns in Northern CA, very Calistoga to me.
I love Byron Bay, not sure I would want to live there...but I am raising three kids and that takes a part in all my decisions. Personally, I am not at all into the bigger areas. I love the Sunshine Coast and all it offers for raising a family in a safe area. My kids have freedoms here they would never have in the US.
My family is very into hiking, biking and kayaking. We have even started camping since we moved to AU and are loving that as well. Overall, I love where I live so much and have no desire to return to the US.
I am very familiar with the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz lifestyle and am not sure how that equates to the cities here. Have you considered Sydney? It is more your San Francisco on steroids - except cleaner in my opinion. If you are looking for the quirky, beachy thing Byron might just fit the bill. Still think you should look into Noosa; it is very California sheek in a laid-back AU sort of way.
I have lived in San Jose (Los Gatos) and my Mum lived in Santa Cruz (my sisters went to UCSC) so I know that area of California quite well. I always equate Melbourne with SF and Sydney with LA. Climate wise, Melbourne is more Northern California and LA is more Sydney. So beach town, with a northern California climate would point you towards Victoria. You can substitute (sort of) Big Sur with the Great Ocean road. This is why I suggested Warambool; better yet, live in Melbourne and live in a beach town within commuting distance to the city. Melbourne has hills, trams, coffee culture; more SF/Seattle.
Such a personal issue - one never sees the same place as others do. I am from California and am living with my family (husband and three kids) on the Sunshine Coast. Areas like Noosa really remind me of high-end, small towns in Northern CA, very Calistoga to me.
I love Byron Bay, not sure I would want to live there...but I am raising three kids and that takes a part in all my decisions. Personally, I am not at all into the bigger areas. I love the Sunshine Coast and all it offers for raising a family in a safe area. My kids have freedoms here they would never have in the US.
My family is very into hiking, biking and kayaking. We have even started camping since we moved to AU and are loving that as well. Overall, I love where I live so much and have no desire to return to the US.
I am very familiar with the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz lifestyle and am not sure how that equates to the cities here. Have you considered Sydney? It is more your San Francisco on steroids - except cleaner in my opinion. If you are looking for the quirky, beachy thing Byron might just fit the bill. Still think you should look into Noosa; it is very California sheek in a laid-back AU sort of way.
Good luck in your decisions.
Hi, thanks for your response. I like Sydney but would not want to live there (too crowded, reminds me too much of NYC). I too am interested in a safe, small, family-friendly town on the beach to raise my daughter. I've read Noosa is beautiful, this definitely sounds like a great option. What's your opinion on other areas of the Sunshine Coast (caloundra, etc)? Sunshine coast sounds more and more like a place I'd like to live.
I like Caloundra - haven't spent much time there though. The good thing about the Sunshine Coast is that there are so many living options within a relatively short distance. Buderim, Mudjimba, Coolum are all places I would live in a heartbeat - and nearly do. Then, within those areas there are still living choices. There are some really great school options in this area as well. We moved to the coast specifically for the school our kids attend and we are very, very pleased. Good luck.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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I've been to Noosa - it does feeling like a holiday resort first, town second. Maroochydore has a bit more character to it, but with more high-rise (it's beginning to feel like the Gold Coast).
Dunedin in NZ springs to mind. 110,000 people, walkable except a few suburbs, has a certain charm (and gorgeous architecture), wonderful scenery, NZ's main university town, not much crime, something like 12 beaches and great surroundings, 3 hours from skifields, lots of culture, low humidity. Cooler climate though, and snows in winter.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard7666
Dunedin in NZ springs to mind. Walkable, has a certain charm (and gorgeous architecture), wonderful scenery, university town, not much crime, something like 12 beaches, 3 hours from skifields, lots of culture, low humidity. Cooler climate though.
Yeah I don't know if I could stand the gloom (1600 hours a year, which is on par with parts of England) and the cold summers (an average high of 18.6 in January even lower than Invercargill!).
I've been and I really like the town though. Reminds me of Scotland.
It has a comparatively high amount of sunlight though; in summer it gets dark at about 11pm (basing that off Invercargill here but it's only a few k's further north so would be similar).
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