Moving to Melbourne- maybe

Phillip Island might be a little far to commute each day 😄 (Sorry Couldn't resist !)

Seriously though St Kilda would be ideal, some where along beach RD which is a cycling meca, but also pricey.

Good luck with the move, just be aware Melbourne winters can be cold and wet!

Rayzor said:

Good luck with the move, just be aware Melbourne winters can be cold and wet!

Good news most houses have heating 😄. Seriously though it depends what you want or can afford, buy a Melways and get a Age newspaper classified section. The melways shows cycle paths and commute distances, then decide on house or apartment. Burnley has bike paths on the riverbank to keep you away from traffic which can be an issue in peak hours and Pt Melb has the beach path to keep you out of truck movements to the port.

Thanks Guys for the advise, We are really looking forward to it, That said the transfer has to be approved for us both but it is feeling positive at this point. 🙂 🙂 . We have been looking on realestate and domain online and have found some nice places in South Yarra, Pahran and Richmond.

My wife is really not worried about the cold she pretty well dislikes the long hot summers in QLD particularly in the outer west where it is often 4-6 deg hotter than in brissy. I guess I will just have to get some long bike pants and some arm warmers to keep Jack Frost at bay. 🙁

In all seriousness, Melbourne ain't that cold. It doesn't get seriously cold like it does in Europe or parts of America. Dress for the occasion definately, but it isn't super cold.

My favourite real estate web site for vic is http://www.realestateview.com.au/ the layout and information is far nicer than the otherse in my opinion.

Oh and WELCOME TO MELBOURNE! 🙂

I am really greatful for the feedback. 😄 😄 , I ride currently 27klm to work 54 round trip, so some of these suburbs in our price range are going to be really easy. Plus, correct me if I am wrong Melbourne is pretty flat and the ride I have at the moment has a couple of 8 and 9 % grades so I'd be pretty happy with 15 k's and no hills. 🙂 🙂

mjs4300 said:

I am really greatful for the feedback. 😄 😄 , I ride currently 27klm to work 54 round trip, so some of these suburbs in our price range are going to be really easy. Plus, correct me if I am wrong Melbourne is pretty flat and the ride I have at the moment has a couple of 8 and 9 % grades so I'd be pretty happy with 15 k's and no hills. 🙂 🙂

Yup, a lot of inner Melbourne is flat.
I always suggest living north of where you work here, just so that on some warm days you can get a tail wind in the morning, a change can come through during the day, and then you get a tail wind home!
So, in a 10km radius you could look at North Fitzroy, Northcote, Brunswick, Thornbury... A bit cheaper than some of the closer in suburbs, though being up and coming suburbs, possibly not by much.

Quoted post said:

I am really greatful for the feedback. , I ride currently 27klm to work 54 round trip, so some of these suburbs in our price range are going to be really easy. Plus, correct me if I am wrong Melbourne is pretty flat and the ride I have at the moment has a couple of 8 and 9 % grades so I'd be pretty happy with 15 k's and no hills.

Correct, Melbourne is pretty flat. And if you had to do 54km round trip riding pretty direct then you would be so far out of the CBD it wouldn't be funny. Melbourne is a 'small' town by comparison to others around the world. I commute every day from Thornbury which is just under 7km north "as the crow flies" from the CBD where I work. The most direct route is 9.4km each way.

However I want some extra exercise for this, and I take a trail which goes around the city, and it far nicer than riding with the cars and this is 14.8km each way - which makes for a good ride.

The CBD itself is sort of in a basin, as it is set effectively on the water front. So you will climb a small hill out of the CBD in almost any direction apart from South.

Although it is a small place, supposedly there is something like 700km of trails, bike paths and bike lanes around Victoria - so it is a very cycle friendly place.

slaw said:

Yup, a lot of inner Melbourne is flat.
I always suggest living north of where you work here, just so that on some warm days you can get a tail wind in the morning, a change can come through during the day, and then you get a tail wind home!
So, in a 10km radius you could look at North Fitzroy, Northcote, Brunswick, Thornbury... A bit cheaper than some of the closer in suburbs, though being up and coming suburbs, possibly not by much.

Spot on - I love Thornbury, as it has that 'quiet' suburb feel, while still being close to the CBD, has excellent public transport facilities and access to major arterials as well.

Plus the City of Darebin Council is one of the more pro-active about cycling. From Thornbury you have easy as access to Merri Creek Trail, Capital City Trail, or get on the train to pick up any of the rail trails going North.

Almost a cyclists heaven - about the only issue is that if you want to partake in the bay rides on the weekend - you have about a 10 - 15km ride to get warmed up 🙂

To every one who has replied, thanks for your comments and suggestions. Well I have made it to the final round of interviews. I will know on Friday if we are to make the 2300klm trek to Melbourne. How cool would that be to be able to come by bike! Not the way it is going to happen though. (Can’t get panniers big enough for a queen size bed)

I need some more help though. We have been looking at rentals in the Williamstown, Newport and Kingsville area. I will be riding to Burnley each day. Can I use the Westgate? Does it have a cycle path? The cycle VIC maps on line shade it in the colour of off road path but I just want to be sure. We will be selling my car here in QLD so two wheels will be my only individual transportation so location will be a pretty big consideration. Any suggestions would be welcome. Hope to let you all know on Friday if we are Melbourne bound.

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🙂 😄 🙂 😄 🙂

mjs4300 said:

I need some more help though. We have been looking at rentals in the Williamstown, Newport and Kingsville area. I will be riding to Burnley each day. Can I use the Westgate? Does it have a cycle path? The cycle VIC maps on line shade it in the colour of off road path but I just want to be sure. We will be selling my car here in QLD so two wheels will be my only individual transportation so location will be a pretty big consideration. Any suggestions would be welcome. Hope to let you all know on Friday if we are Melbourne bound.
🙂

Williamstown to Burnley is a fair commute! Unfortunately you cannot take the Westgate - it is cars only. There is a punt (think small but solid raft) which crosses the yarra river at that point to take you to Port Melbourne.

From there you would ride on the yarra to burnley I figure is one of the more direct/offroad routes. But it would take some time each way (a hour maybe more?). If you are sure you are working in Burnley, then I would suggest other suburbs unfortunately, as nice as those you have mentioned are.

hmmmmm.....sounds like a commute I'd be a little scared of, but I'm a wimp 🙂

you can't get a place on the other side of town?

parawolf said:

Williamstown to Burnley is a fair commute! Unfortunately you cannot take the Westgate - it is cars only. There is a punt (think small but solid raft) which crosses the yarra river at that point to take you to Port Melbourne.

From there you would ride on the yarra to burnley I figure is one of the more direct/offroad routes. But it would take some time each way (a hour maybe more?). If you are sure you are working in Burnley, then I would suggest other suburbs unfortunately, as nice as those you have mentioned are.

You cant use the Westgate. Options are the punt to cross the river for a fee or cycle up to Footscray Rd via the Docklands to Flinders St then straight through to Burnley. About 20-25 km I think.

steve46au said:

You cant use the Westgate. Options are the punt to cross the river for a fee or cycle up to Footscray Rd via the Docklands to Flinders St then straight through to Burnley. About 20-25 km I think.

Does the punt still run weekdays? I thought funding for it had been withdrawn?

Well I guess those suburbs might be a little difficult. It is a pity cause my wife will be working in Port Melbourne and I could ride with her to there and on to Burnley. Oh well Thanks for the heads up though it could have been an expensive mistake. Although I do about 27klm at the moment to work. I would like to reduce that if I can. So we'll just keep on looking.

SomeGuy said:

Does the punt still run weekdays? I thought funding for it had been withdrawn?

Punt trial has been extended for a bit.

mjs4300 said:

I need some more help though. We have been looking at rentals in the Williamstown, Newport and Kingsville area

🙂 😄 🙂 😄 🙂

mjs,
I live in Seddon, near Footscray. its less than 15km (approx) to Burnley (less than 40mins, which is faster than public transport, and about the same as a car in peak traffic) Port Melbounre is about 25-30mins(guessing)
in Foostcray/Seddon you can rent a 2-3 bedroom house for 200-300$/week, or unit/flat 2 bed for less than $200

or else look at Kensington, Flemington, Acsot Vale, North Melbourne(closer), or Yarraville all within 20mins (7km radius) of the CBD