Places to Stay in Austraila?

I am looking to stay in Australia from about December to March. I want
to experience typical Austalian living and do not want to be around
lots of tourists. I need to be in bicycling distance to supermarkets
and restaurants and I prefer to be close (20 km) to the beach. Can
anyone recommend a low cost (under AUS$1000 per month for an apartment
or bungalow) area anywhere in eastern Australia? Of course the area
moust be low crime too.

<cenorthamericam> wrote in message
news:1154882972.211775.23170@75g2000cwc. ps.com...
>I am looking to stay in Australia from about December to March. I want
> to experience typical Austalian living and do not want to be around
> lots of tourists. I need to be in bicycling distance to supermarkets
> and restaurants and I prefer to be close (20 km) to the beach. Can
> anyone recommend a low cost (under AUS$1000 per month for an apartment
> or bungalow) area anywhere in eastern Australia? Of course the area
> moust be low crime too.

Close to beach + December to March = lots of tourists. However I'll let
you into a little secret - you'll find most OVERSEAS tourists haunt the
areas around SE Queensland, particularly the Surfers Paradise strip.
I'd suggest that you look around the coast of NSW to the south of Sydney
rather than north. It's still busy there, and towns do fill up,
particularly Batemans Bay which is popular with Canberrans, and
Merimbula/Pambula which is popular with our holidaymakers from Victoria.

Regards

David Bennetts

I'd recomend Kuranda (Atherton Tableland/Cairns area) and Coffs Harbour.

As others have pointed out, December until mid January is super peak holiday
time, the long summer school vacation, and high summer. Accommodation is
booked well in advance, and expensive!



<cenorthamericam> wrote in message
news:1154882972.211775.23170@75g2000cwc. ps.com...
>I am looking to stay in Australia from about December to March. I want
> to experience typical Austalian living and do not want to be around
> lots of tourists. I need to be in bicycling distance to supermarkets
> and restaurants and I prefer to be close (20 km) to the beach. Can
> anyone recommend a low cost (under AUS$1000 per month for an apartment
> or bungalow) area anywhere in eastern Australia? Of course the area
> moust be low crime too.
>

<cenorthamericam> wrote in message
news:1154894521.530554.317680@b28g2000cwb. o...
> The stupid person who does not know what is what and what is not
> (probably does not even know what I'm describing). I meant ANYWHERE in
> east Austalia. That's ANYWHERE. I'm just looking for a low cost,
> typical Austalian town. I don't care if it's located in the far south
> of the continent (I know Austalia is a large continent) or up near New
> Guinea. This is what I prefer though: Anywhere from just south of
> Sydney to just north of Brisbane. Any recommendations?
>

Is there any real reason why it has to be Eastern Australia?
Western Australia also has towns that fit your other criteria.

Gerrit - Perth

BTW - Atherton Tableland is not near the coast.

<cenorthamericam> wrote in message
news:1154882972.211775.23170@75g2000cwc. ps.com...
>I am looking to stay in Australia from about December to March. I want
> to experience typical Austalian living and do not want to be around
> lots of tourists. I need to be in bicycling distance to supermarkets
> and restaurants and I prefer to be close (20 km) to the beach. Can
> anyone recommend a low cost (under AUS$1000 per month for an apartment
> or bungalow) area anywhere in eastern Australia? Of course the area
> moust be low crime too.
>

To be free of tourists you may have to go a little further inland than just
20 kms. Also to be able to cycle to restaurants and large supermarkets
you'll need to stay in a reasonably large town.

Two places which come to mind which I think would suit your liking would be
Lismore and Grafton. Both of these towns are regional centers in the state
of NSW. Both have all the services that ask you for, without the tourists.

You should easily be able to find something for the price range you're
looking for. Both towns are one hours drive from beaches and both low in
crime. Either town would be a great place to experience typical Australian
living.

Hope that helps.

Kerry

Thank you for the recommendation.

I thought about Perth. It's hot and dry that time of the year which is
good but my educated guess is that becuase of the distance and
isolation food and services are not as diverse as they are in the east.
Also, travelling to the west is another expense in money in time for
me. If you can convince me that I'll find diverse restauants,
reasonable food and accomodations maybe I'll go to the Perth area.

"cenorthamericam" <cenorthamericam> wrote in
news:1154921441.612133.17170@h48g2000cwc. :

> I thought about Perth. It's hot and dry that time of the year which is
> good but my educated guess is that becuase of the distance and
> isolation food and services are not as diverse as they are in the east.
> Also, travelling to the west is another expense in money in time for
> me. If you can convince me that I'll find diverse restauants,
> reasonable food and accomodations maybe I'll go to the Perth area.
>
>

Fresh food is more expensive and lower quality than the east coast, and
there is less variety as well. Restaurants are more expensive as well, and
probably less diverse.

Of course, if all you want to do is sit on the beach and drink beer, and
your idea of a classy restaurant meal is 'surf and turf' then Perth might
be for you.

That's my experience, anyway

R.