The Best Places to Live in Australia

The Best Places to Live in Australia

 

 

Australia is made up of six states and two territories: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The total population of Australia is about 22 million in fall 2009 and is mainly concentrated along the coast. Because of its hot summers, mild winters and miles of beaches, Australia is commonly perceived as one of the best places in the world to live.

Related Searches:

1. Big Cities

   • Chinese New Year in Melbourne, Victoria

     In Mercer Consulting's annual Quality of Living survey, Australian cities consistently rank in the top 30. This survey is based on a number of factors, including life expectancy, safety, Gross Domestic Product and international relations.
     Despite its notoriety, Sydney is not the capital of Australia. That title belongs to Canberra, which rarely appears on "best of" lists when it comes to Australian cities. However, there's no denying that Sydney is the superstar of Australia, ranking 10th in Mercer's 2009 Quality of Living survey. With a population in 2009 of more than 4 million, nearly 1/5th of Australians call Sydney home. Besides being a hub for business and tourism, Sydney is famous for its beautiful beaches, such as Bondi, Coogee and Manly.
     Threatening to eclipse Sydney's fame is Melbourne, which ranked 18th in the Mercer survey. As the capital of Victoria, Melbourne's 2009 population is nearly as large as Sydney's, at 3.9 million. Melbourne is known for its cafe culture, boutique shops and vibrant arts scene. It is considered by some to be the nation's sporting capital and has experienced significant growth in population and employment.
     The coastal city of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, lies 1,700 miles west. Perth ranked 21st in the survey and is the hub for business and government for the whole western side of the continent. In 2009, Perth had a population of 1.5 million. As a result of its location in the isolated west coast, it has more jobs on offer than other cities in the area.
     The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2009 Liveability survey also issues an annual list of the world's best cities; the EIU ranked Melbourne 3rd, Perth tied for 5th, and Sydney tied for 9th.

   Small Towns

   • Esperance, Western Australia

     "Australian Traveller" magazine conducted a survey to find the 100 best towns in Australia. A short list of 300 towns, all with a population of less than 45,000 as of 2009, was whittled down to the top 100. The final results were chosen by a panel of 12 people, all with different preferences, all having seen most of Australia.
     When it comes to small towns, Yamba, New South Wales, is representative of what the Australian coast has to offer. Contrary to the beaches of Sydney, where you have to arrive early to claim your bit of sand, the 11 beaches of Yamba are uncrowded. Perhaps this is why Yamba was chosen as number one. According to Yamba's official website, it has a wide selection of local businesses and arts events and prides itself on its "village feel."
     The "Australian Traveller" number two pick is Esperance, Western Australia, described by the magazine as being "insanely beautiful." It has arguably the most spectacular coastline in all of Australia and a Mediterranean-type climate to boot, as stated by the Visit Esperance website.
     Rounding up the magazine's top three is Port Douglas, in tropical north Queensland. One hour north of major city Cairns, Port Douglas is well-situated for access to the Great Barrier Reef, with a marina, rain forest habitat and plenty of beaches to choose from