Best towns in Perth and Melbourne

[Pietnaude]

Hi everybody. Can anyone tell me which small towns are the most popular for Saffers. We wouldnt like to live too close to the big cities so anything in a 50km radius would be great. Also not the expensive ones please....... We looked at Port Kennedy which is quite nice and also basically on the beach which is a bonus. Are ther any of them we SHOULDNT considder?

[SurferMan]

Take a look at Yanchep in north Perth, stunning and quiet, away from the big smoke.

[Mara]

Well if you are looking at Melbourne, then check out Sunbury, north west of the city, but far from the sea.

[Dirkz]

Bunbury has many saffers, including family and friends of ours. It's South of Perth

[Bigvan07]

Heading there ourselves Dirkz,

My brother in law has been there for 3 years now and loving it!

[Bosch x 2]

Piet, ok so it will depend on where you work on where you will live. Maybe you'll work in Rockingham and then you won't be able to live in Yanchep - unless you have a helicopter. Bunbury is not part of Perth so you can't live in Bunbury and travel to Perth each day - it's also not within a 50km radius. Also, say if you do work in the Perth CBD you'll probably want to catch the train to the city and back. Suburbs like Yanchep and Port Kennedy are far from the train station and will make the commuting each day a bit hard.

Edited October 30, 2014 by Bosch x 2

[Search]

Hi Piet,

We live in Port Kennedy and I work in the CBD. I drive to warnbro station and catch the train in, about a one hour commute door to door. If you want more info about the surroundings feel free to send me a message.

-Search

[Nev]

Im more of a fan of closer to the city but there are groups of RSA peeps around Melbourne at:

Sunbury (North West) as mara said,

lots in Pakenham & Berwick (East) and

Point Cook (South West)

Good value for money accommodation and not as crazy as closer to th city, but you have to be prepared to spend more time traveling to work

Edited October 31, 2014 by Nev

[KarinWise]

I live in Torquay, on the Great Ocean Road, 100 Klms outside Melbourne.

I am opening a business in Berwick, and the more time I spend here, the more I am starting to like it here.

It just feels more like home- (I am from Randburg ) Berwick has a lot of beautiful old trees. And it's really green at the moment.I did not realize how much I missed trees until I spent time in Berwick.

It is not a alien to me as Torquay, which is very "scrubby" and reminds me of the west coast in SA. Berwick just feels familiar , and I think that's the secret to the whole re-location thing. Choose a place that at least feels a little familiar.

We made a big mistake moving to a place so alien to what we were used to. Torquay, although pretty, as it is right on the ocean, is so small and remote. It's really hard to make friends, and we have been terribly lonely there.

Berwick just " vibes" It has malls and loads of shopping, but also magnificent outdoor spaces, and Harkaway ( if you are looking for space and sheer beauty and acreage) and the Cardinia Dam are right here.

I really think my transition would have been so much easier if we had settled somewhere in this area.

So, please be careful where you settle, it will make all the difference to you experience.

[yolred]

We currently live in Secret Harbour. Love it.

Here also lives a lot of South Africans. In our street there is about 4 families we know of.

We wil be moving to Baldivis it is a bit closer to Perth.

[KCT]

_{If you working in Fremantle, what are the good, decent areas to live in?}

[Sibella]

The Mornington Peninsula is beautiful and about an hour's drive from Melbourne. Then the little towns of Olinda and Sassasfras but you are on a small mountain range in the forest so not sure if that's your thing?

Or otherwise out our way, maybe further out towards Healesville or Yarra Glen inbetween the wineries? Warrandyte is also lovely, in the bush right next to the river with quaint little shops.

Oh sorry didn't see the popular with South Africans bit as this wasn't a consideration for us!

[Nev]

Agree with Sibella on the Sasafras area, we have driven out there for the day a couple of times, it is the Dandenong ranges (Specifically on the Dandenong tourist drive), really nice, bit far out though unless you working in the area.

That area / direction is really beautiful and green

[ccsn]

I will be working in Melbourne CBD, Southbank, closest station is Flinders Street. I come from Ballito so not used the the city life and like to be close to the ocean. I also need an area that is affordable as i will be the only income earner until my husband finds work, does anyone have any suggestions. My husband is also a keen surfer. Does anyone know what Werribee is like?

[KarinWise]

Hi Ccdn,

Although Werribee is not too far from the city center, it is not near the ocean.

The areas of Werribee, Hoppers Crossing/Point Cook is quite flat - loads of new builds, and it should not be too hard to get a reasonable rental in that area.They will be hard to get used to coming from Ballito. If you were from JHB it would not be such a big problem, but it's not all that attractive.

The pretty Bayside areas close to the ocean and close to the city are mighty pricey.

Port Melbourne, Brighton , St. Kilda etc., are the " in" places to live, but accomodation is expensive and small. Rental market highly competitive.

It comes down to this-close to the city-very pricey. Further out-more affordable.

If you do not mind travelling the whole Mornington Peninsular is very pretty, close to the ocean, but be prepared to spend a long time on the train/tram. You can get some reasonable rentals there.

I live in Torquay on the Great Ocean Road, and this is really Beach living. Bells Beach is on our doorstep. You can walk to the beach from any house in Torquay. And what a beach-if you love long walks and dogs-this is the place to live.

Rentals are -+ $ 400.00 per week for a four bedroom , two lounges/double garage home. Not too much competition for a rental.

It's an hour by car into the Melbourne city center.

If you love the ocean, please make sure that you stay within close proximity to the sea, as this journey you are about to undertake is really life-changing, so a little familiarity is essential.

Werribee would be such a culture shock to you if you love the ocean. Sometimes the adjustment to a new country can be hard, so the comfort of the ocean on your doorstep will make all the difference to you. Specially since you can walk for miles along the beachfront here, day and night, without any fear. You can really enjoy it, absorb it and let your guard down. Great feeling!!!

[ccsn]

Thank you, Torquay would be so ideal for us but my concern is being able to get back from work on time for my kids etc. This is really playing on my mind and making me feel rather anxious about this move, especially affordability. We have it so simple here in Ballito :/

What are your thoughts on Mentone, i know the bay is flat but at least it looks pretty?

[KarinWise]

I really do not know Mentone.

I know the Mornington Peninsular quite well from Frankston onwards.

That whole area right down to Sorrento is really stunning.

Anybody out there know Mentone well?

Of course you are anxious about the move-it would not be natural if you were not.

You do sound like the type of person that would really like Torquay. Very small, relaxed and quiet.

Any chance of getting work in Geelong? It is the satellite city of Melbourne-25 Klms from Torquay, and 65 Klms from Melbourne.

[Nev]

We have some RSA friends who stay in Mentone, it is really nice there, there kids are in the lifesaving club...etc. and you will be on a train line into town, it is quite a bit more $$$ than inland though.

[ccsn]

HI Karin,

I think eventually we will end up in Torquay, as soon as we have PR, it will make things a bit easier. When you say more dollars than Inland, do you mean it is more than areas like Ashburton which are closer to the city.

[Pietnaude]

Thanks to everyone who posted all these nice places. I've looked at most places and houses that are advertised in and around the suggested towns but I must be hones, the houses are really just too expensive. Even the ones far away from the city seems unaffordable. Im now even more sceptical about the move..... I soooo want to live there but i wonder everyday more and more if I'd be able to afford it.

[KarinWise]

House prices are really expensive everywhere in Australia.

R 4-6 million gets you a place further out of the city, and close to the city you are looking at R 8-10 million.

This sounds ridiculous in SA terms, but you cannot compare it to SA Rands.

Also, the mortgages here are normally 30 years, and if you buy a house, you can take the first 5 years interest only, until you get on your feet.

The housing market is also quite stable here, in that you will not really loose money on your investment in the long term.You can also rent out your house easily, and there are checks and balances to insure that your renters are taking care of your place.

The agents go around to the property at certain intervals, take pictures and let you know if your house is not being looked after.

The renters also have the lights- gas- electricity in their own name, so you will never be liable for it.

It is cheaper to rent, as property rates etc. do not apply to rentals.

But, let's face it, who wants to rent forever?

All in all, Australia is a great place to invest in property, and it has done really well for most people. In Sydney last year house prices rose by an average of 15%.

It is not easy to get into the market, you will need a 20% deposit on average ( it can be done for 10% in certain cases) , but once you have that property, it comes with peace of mind, and none of the fear that you have in SA . ( Will my property be worth anything in the future? Will some political party say it was stolen, and try and take it away? Will my renters wreck the place, and I have no rights? )

You know all the fears (besides the crime) you have in SA? Just not worth it.

So, scary as it sounds-if you get here, try and get into the property market ASAP.

It's do-able , and really worth it.

[JDJoubert]

Hi Piet

When you think of Perth...... then also think of Gordons Bay, Strand, Langebaan.

I know its tempting to go live next to the beach. But trust me...... DONT DO IT.

The wind kills you in summer. 3 to 5 km inland and the wind dies down a lot.

You also pay a premium on houses closer to the beach as most pommies and tronsvoolers will flock there and are willing to pay the higher rate.

We currently stay 50m from the beach. We have friends who live 6km away from the beach. When we go to their place for a braai, we are always amazed how much less the wind blows in their area. (we are in Quinns Rocks north of Perth)

Use it ..... dont use it.....

[Nev]

Hey Piet

Basically it boils down to a 3 bedroom house a couple of blocks from the beach in Mentone will cost to $2800 per month and a 3 bedroom house in Heidelberg heights (Nice middle class area), the same distance from town but north-east instead of south-east will cost you $1700 per month

If you can afford the extra $1000 a month to live close to the beach Mentone is great, we couldn't justify the cost though

If you can find areas close to the beach for cheaper it is normally due to the area not being great, the distance from town, or lack of public transport

Lots of people want to stay near the coast and be close enough to town to work there so the prices are just crazy

Edited November 5, 2014 by Nev

[KCT]

Anyone lives in Mellville ?