Desperately seeking advice Sender: daisydauI am hoping that someone can provide some advice for our immigration dilemma. My boyfriend has just completed a year's study here in Australia (under a student visa) and has returned home to...
People are way too quick to say negative things about Canberra. I have been living here for about 4 months now and I certainly don't think it is a boring place. We live in a suburb on the south side. It takes about 25 minutes by car to drive into the centre of the city. The roads are excellent and the traffic is generally very free flowing (no nasty traffic jams to sit in). Public transport is easy to use but the timetables leave a lot to be desired if you live in the suburbs. In saying that, I travel to work each day by bus because we don't have a second car yet. It does take a lot longer by bus because they tend to travel through several suburbs before you reach your destination. It costs $2.50 to travel anywhere in Canberra one way. I know people who live further out in the country and it takes them about 40 minutes to drive into Canberra. I would say you definitely need a car if you are living outwith Canberra.
Housing ranges from very affordable units or townhouses up to brand new modern houses. We currently rent an older 3 bedroom detached house with 2 bathrooms, a garage and large garden for $285 AUD per week. The suburbs do tend to be very quiet but I find that compared to the busy streets of Glasgow this is a good thing !!! I feel very safe living here. I am often at home alone because my partner is a truck driver and I am quite happy being at home on my own. I couldn't say the same thing when I lived in Glasgow.
There are plenty of things to do in Canberra. It is very family oriented and there are lots of events and things to do (many of which are free or very cheap). You have so many open spaces and parks it is definitely not like living in a city! Canberra is surrounded by hills and open countryside. We also have many lakes for boating, fishing, etc. You can drive for an hour or so and be either at the mountains (for skiing, etc) or at the coast (for beaches, fishing, etc). There are plenty of shopping centres and fresh food markets. Cinemas, cafes, clubs, and restaurants are all available for entertainment at night.
The weather so far has been excellent...it was 33 yesterday. I have yet to experience Winter in Canberra but I am told it can get cold and sometimes frosty in the mornings but after months of sunshine and heat I think that will be a welcome change !!
The people are very friendly and cannot do enough to help you. There are lots of job opportunities...especially if you qualify for a government job (I am a temporary resident for the first 2 years of my Spouse Visa so I don't qualify - I think you have to be a Permanant resident or an Australian citizen).
I could go on and on about Canberra but it is all down to personal preference. I can understand why some people find Canberra boring but I certainly don't....not quite sure if that says something about me....lol. Some people want to live by the beach and have scorching weather all of the time. Others want to be in a big city with trendy bars and lots of nightlife. Canberra is definitely not for these people.
I hope this helps a little bit and if you want any more specific information just PM me.
Wendy
-- Wendy
