Where is the best place in Australia for a family to live?

[slipperandpjsmum]

Where would you suggest the best place for a family to live? I am worried about the heat. Where do you get the most for your money in terms of property? We would like to live somewhere rural near the sea but think that may be out of our budget.

That's a bit like "how long is a piece of string" I'm afraid. Australia is a big place and the best place for one family wouldn't necessarily be the best for another. Have you looked at the Britishexpats website? There is lots of useful info on there. I'm in Sydney so can't help you with rural I'm afraid. Good luck.

If you don't like the heat, Tasmania is your only choice, really.

It's 43'C in Adelaide today but not that much far behind anywhere else on the mainland.

rural near the sea is quite rare - the coastline is the most populated part of Aus

im thinking that you may need to come for a visit? My Dh was woried about the heat but you will aclimatise. we are in brissy and yes it get hot and 100% humidity! but when its bad everyone suffers and finds air con! so the heat / or lack of it maybe isnt the reason to choose a part of aus?

Tasmania. Nowhere near a river or a beach. Fewer risks. I wish DH had come from there.

Forget Cairns - just about to experience a Category 5 cyclone
Queensland has just been under the worst floods for 36 years, 3/4 of the state was flooded
NSW is just having a run of bush fires, as did WA while Queensland was flooding

We had 41 deg heat here (NSW) yesterday and the load on the electricity supply was so great that we had 2 power cuts last night. NOT amusing.

Chloeb

What sort of weather can we expect in Briz in mid April? I feel like an idiot asking as I LIVED there for 8 years but, as it was 11 years ago, I can't recall if by mid April you were back in long cotton trousers early in the day and later in the evening, or not? I know we can expect pleasant middle of the day (24 degrees? More?) but I do recall camping in the Bunya Mts once at Easter and freezing to death!

I need to see what to pack! We are visiting Sydney, Briz and Cairns.

OP, before I moved here (South Australia) I also worried about the heat, being a typical Brit I thought 24 degrees was pretty warm. But honestly, chloe is quite right. You fairly quickly acclimatise and now cope quite happily with temps up to about 36 degrees. I d0 find the 43 degree days a bit of a trial but then so does everyone else. And we just stay indoors with the aircon on so it's no real bother.

Tbh I find the cold winters more of a trial. Very poor heating and insulation and it does get quite cold here in July/August.

I think South Australia is a good pick for a family, property prices are definately more affordable than in other cities. But then jobs are less well paid here than elsewhere AND it is quite dull at times.

Look at this website for an insight into property prices. It'll give you some idea for bang per buck.

New Zealand :)

I would also recommend South Australia. Adelaide is a wonderful place to bring up a family. Agree with Titsandteeth that the cold houses in winter can be a pain though. I didn't find it dull at all when I lived there but perhaps that says more about me than Adelaide