Good city for year stay in Australia?

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Ozmaniac

I guess you'll be coming fairly soon, so if you want the weather to be warm to hot, you'll need to go to Queensland or the northern half of Western Australia - it's a bit cool elsewhere at this time of the year.

In most cases, it's the cost of accomodation that produces the high cost of living so that's where you should be looking for the cheapest alternatives. The cost of food, beer and other things will be much the same everywhere as long as you stay away from up market bars and nightclubs.

Backpacker hostels will be your best bet for low cost accomodation and they're usually a good place to pick up info on casual jobs like fruitpicking and good places to go.
You won't have any trouble finding pubs anywhere along the coast, there's no shortage of laid back people and there's plenty of work around if you're not too picky.

Why not head for the Sunshine Coast just north of Brisbane and take it from there? The beaches on the SC are great, so are the pubs and people. Public transport is OK (but not marvellous) and there will be plenty of hospitality and other work around. There are backpacker hostels right along the coast and they're all in great locations. It's a little cool there right now but still t-shirt weather during the day.
You could also try the Gold Coast (1 hr south of Brisbane) but that will be fairly expensive though well worth seeing. It may be better to see if you can accumulate some cash and then head there. ATM in winter, it's a little bit like Florida with hordes of oldies from the southern states chasing the sun.

Nowhere and nothing in Sydney is inexpensive but save your pennies and make sure you have at least a couple of weeks there during your trip.

If you haven't already done so, apply for your Working Holiday visas ASAP. They don't usually take very long but I think there's a quota on them so best get in as quickly as you can.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/index.htm

Amy

personally i wouldnt stay in sydney as you really wont get the aussie experience and it is VERY expensive (i live there). i would say check out darwin in the north or somewhere in queensland where you can prob get a job fruit picking and be close to the beach. you dont have to stay in the one place for the whole time and try and check out some of the towns rather than the big cities.

good luck and have fun

lill_blooderfly

Definitely Queensland, however I would not choose Brisbane even though it's cheaper, I just find it a bit boring and it's not actually right at the sea, you'd have about an hour drive there! I think Surfer's Paradise (near Brisbane one the Gold Coast) would suit you very well (as the name indicates:)). I don't know about living costs there, but it's very near to the beach and you'd definitely have a great time there! And since Sydney really IS expensive, I think this is a great alternative, also you're just a stone's throw away from the great themeparks!

Lisa

Brisbane
Approx an hour from the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast (depending on traffic). Also only just over an hour flight to Sydney.
We have sailing, fishing, swimming with dolphins. Pubs Clubs, and great some great places to eat. Dreamworld, Seaworld, Movie World (Gold Coast) Australia Zoo and Noosa(Sunshine Coast)
At the moment we are at the start of winter and it sunny and 25'C. Cold for us is under 20'C.

I think you can get expensive in any city. You could always go to backpackers hostels. There are some really nice ones around.
If you get food from the grocery shops it should save you money.

Then again there are so many great places in this country maybe you should travel while you are here.

Have a great holiday

fruitsalad

How about Adelaide - relatively cheap, very nice beaches (but no real waves - not for surfing), hot and dry in summer and cool and wetter in winter, pretty good public transport (buses, trains, trams) and easy to get around as a smaller city. Not quite as much fun as Sydney though.

Everywhere in Oz has plenty of pubs and laid back. You can find jobs anywhere.

tuppenybitz

Sydney is great but expensive, Wollongong is and hour and a bit south of Sydney and would suit your needs
great beaches shopping dining pubs and all within an easy electric train ride to Sydney

good transport too

Aussie

Wollongong would be your best bet. It is right by the coast and it is very nice and warm. Australia is a pritty expencive place to live but it is beautiful.

Elizabeth P

I would check out your Visa status. If you do not have a scheduled job, or a sponsor - you can only stay 3 months in Australia - hate to be a spoilsport, but it's best to know in advance. Otherwise, Brisbane is the best place to live and play I know of. Its close to the Coast, the beaches are the cleanest I've ever seen. City life is great, neighborhoods are a lot of fun to explore, and the people are wonderful. Good luck, and have a great time.

kat

come to Sydney, its not that expensive. probably the northern surburbs are expensive but some other places are okay.

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