I’m moving to the world’s most liveable city this week and I have a lot to be excited about…

1. Culture & Creativity

One of only seven UNESCO Cities of Literature and part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network, Melbourne has earned an international reputation has a city of culture where creativity can be found around every corner.

 

Art spills out all over the streets in Melbourne’s colourful lane ways and there are galleries, boutiques and festivals to encourage arts and culture across the spectrum from the theatre, opera and ballet to experimental art installations and fashion exhibitions.

2. Tastebud Travel

Melbourne has the most exciting dining scene in Australia. A voracious reader of virtually any food-related media, I think Melbourne takes the culinary cake for creative new openings, cool bars and food from around the world. Croatian, Sicilian, Peruvian, Korean, Venetian, Cretan and Burmese are just a few of the exciting cuisines around town, not to mention more authentic Italian and Greek food than you can poke a fork at. My tastebuds will travel on a gastronomic tour of the world, without the astronomical airfare.

3. What’s on? Everything. Who’s coming? Everyone.

There is always something on in Melbourne, whether it’s a John Paul Gaultier Retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria, the Royal Croquet Club summer festival, a one-day chocolate festival, free outdoor ballet performances, Shakespeare plays in the Botanic Gardens, Paris photography exhibitions, the Nikon Walkey Press Photo exhibition and a Richard Avedon Retrospective. And that’ just in the first few weeks of living there. Sadly, I’ll miss the Australian Open this year, but there will be plenty of opportunities for me to attend my first ever sporting event in the sporting capital of Australia. Can’t wait for the Comedy Festival either!

When I was looking for apartments in Melbourne, our relocation manager enthused with us about all of her favourite events she’s attended over the years. Melbourne has a highly participatory culture, and while that might mean more crowds it also means that it’s a city full of people who like to get outside and live life to the fullest.

I went to the free Ballet in Bowl a few years ago, and I was so impressed by the diversity of the audience. This free ballet concert wasn’t just for the arts crowd – there were groups of friends in their twenties, couples in their teens to their sixties and young families. People of literally all ages showed up to have a picnic in the park and watch the ballet, which I thought was really cool.

4. The South Melbourne Markets

I can’t think of a better start to my Saturday then wandering around fresh food markets. I’ve visited the South Melbourne Markets before and loved them – I can’t wait to be able to do most of my grocery shopping there! Certainly beats shuffling around a supermarket. Hopefully, like in Brisbane, the market produce in Melbourne will be fresher, tastier and even a little cheaper than the shops.

5. Australia’s fashion capital

Melbourne is the undisputed fashion capital of Australia (sorry, Sydney). Last time I visited, I couldn’t believe how many cool little boutiques there were all over town and how genuinely useful the staff were. They knew about all of the local designers they stocked and it was clear they were passionate about their clothes, not just about hitting their sales target. I can’t wait for the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival this year!

 

6. Living in a big city

I love Brisbane and will happily return one day. But for now, I’m excited to live in a really big city.

7. New neighbourhoods to explore

Melbourne is full of diverse neighbourhoods that are worth a visit in their own right. Fitzroy, Carlton, South Melbourne, Prahran, Richmond and Windsor are just a few of the many neighbourhoods I can’t wait to explore.

8. New regions of Victoria to explore & wineries galore

Did you know that there are 100 wineries within 100 kilometres of Melbourne? The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s best wine regions, but I’m also really keen to try some Pinot Noirs in the Mornington Peninsula and sparkling wines from the Macedon Ranges.

Victoria is a tiny state, but it’s packed with beautiful, diverse regions. The Goldfields are home to Bendigo and Ballarat, two gold rush cities dripping with old world charm. The Mornington Peninsula is lined with sweet coastal towns and villages and the Dandenong Ranges is full of quirky villages set in lush rainforest. I can’t wait to indulge in the Peninsula Hot Springs on a day trip, take to the Great Ocean Road, see the penguins on Phillip Island and explore the rugged beauty of the Grampians. As you can see, I’ll be a busy bee.

9. Proximity to South Australia & Tasmania

For the second year running, I am making a big effort to see more of Australia. Living in Melbourne, I’ll be hundreds of dollars closer to Adelaide and Tasmania, two destinations that are very high on my list. I’d really love to do a road trip around beautiful, green Tasmania and see Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, not to mention all the other natural beauty Tassie keeps under wraps at the very bottom of our nation.

10. Lots of green spaces

Melbourne is a phenomenally well-planned city. How the city’s founders had the foresight to build so many sprawling green spaces for such a small original population is beyond me – but I’m so glad they did, because even today with a population of 4 million today, there are still plenty of places to escape in the heart of the city.

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What’s the best thing about living in your city?