A fine place to live (Melbourne)

Member Name: alistair

Product:	Melbourne
Date:	02/07/00 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, fun, friendly

Disadvantages: cant think of any

I lived in Melbourne for a year on an exchange placement. The culture is diverse and has a range of expats. and nationals from european countries. There is a constant wash of travellers / year outers through the city.
If you are looking to stay for a month + there are regular cards for house shares in shop windows and the universities also some short stay ads in the paper. If you are looking to rent for 6 months + there is a regular accommodation slot in the local paper. Look to pay about 1/2 London prices for somewhere quite reasonable. Most accommodation is unfurnished however so be prepared to buy some secondhand junk (hence house shares a reasonable option)
Places to live outside the centre - look for somewhere on the tram network, heading South gets you to St.Kilda which has a sandy beach and public barbecue areas, a rickety old amusement park and a bar called The Esplanade (s-bend) which has good live bands (however has a reputation amoungst locals as being a bit rough / red light)Nothing really if you are used to London or any largish city.
If you are looking for lively bars and other travelers / expats. head South West towards Torak, on the tram net again and has a whole range of bars in one street including the black match.
If you like dinghy sailing Black Rock sailing club has a fine bunch of people, however past the tram network so get a bicycle or hire a car.
Reasonable easy to get work as long as you have got the correct visas. Employers tend to like Europeans as they have a fair reputation as hard workers. Line up some contacts at home who would be able to fax a reference.
Climate warm European, seems to rain more that the Northern states / cities but for some obscure reason mainly at night time.

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