AJ

Montauk is a very beautiful serene place, with not a lot to do except relax, have a few drinks by the water, and enjoy life. The fresh air is what will hit you first - especially is you live in NYC where the air is noticeably bad. The people were very friendly and in general happy to have visitors. The best time of year to go is in summer, but I have found the winter cooler months to be just as nice, for a wintery getaway.

There isn't much shopping or nightlife, however you are a very close drive to Sag Harbor or East Hampton, where there is more shopping and things to do. If you are looking for a relaxing weekend away, Montauk is the place to go!

Noho is a great neighborhood to live in downtown Manhattan that is just north of the very touristy Soho. The name Noho stands for North of Houston (as does Soho which is South of Houston), as Houston St is the southern street that borders Noho. There are a lot of NYU students living in Noho but don't let that turn you off, it really is one of the perfect areas to live as it has great access to subways, is very close to the East Village and Soho, and there are some great restaurants in the area.

The only downside I can think of is that it can be quite a noisy neighborhood, especially if you live right on Broadway. But it's NYC, most of the areas are noisy.

Highly recommended.

Balwyn is a fantastic suburb, especially for those who cannot afford the extreme luxury of Canterbury. Great amenities, even better schools and a vibrant culture especially on weekends.

Only downside is that some streets can get very busy around around the school hours. It's a blessing and curse I suppose. Very close to schools, but you also get the traffic associated with parents dropping off their kids.

Overall a fantastic suburb, and I highly recommend it to young families looking for proximity to the city, cheaper house prices than Canterbury and a great community atmosphere. You can't go wrong in Balwyn.

AJ

I went for a drive just this morning down Medbury Avenue to see why it's been so highly rated. As it turns out, it is a very pleasant street. Some of the houses look a little run down though, so I can't say it is perfect. There is also a large section of Medbury Avenue that backs onto a car park, so again, that's not great. BUT on the whole a very pleasant street.

AJ

One the main streets in Port Melbourne, Beaconsfield Parade connects the suburbs with Albert Park and St Kilda. In summer, this street is ALIVE with people walking along the beaches with their dogs and families.

Only downside it that is can be a little noisy. While generally free flowing, there are always a number of motorcycles hooning up and down.

Other than that, it's a great street with beach views in Port Melbourne.

I've been in Port Melbourne for a while now, and I can honestly say that Johnston Street is a rare gem in the area. Why? Because it ticks all the right boxes for a place to live by the bay, without many of the drawbacks of some of the other streets in the area.

So here are some of the great aspects:

The street itself has been completely developed. There won't be any new buildings going up, so you don't have to worry about loud constructions noises or large trucks blocking the street. Unlike some of the other streets on the west side of Bay Street (Rouse), you will have peace and quiet.

No noise whatsoever. Some parts of Port Melbourne can be a bit of a thoroughfare with lots of noise - eg Beach St\Bay St. But there is absolutely no noise AT ALL along this road. Dead quiet.

Close to the Beach, yet not too close. I personally wouldn't want to live on Beach St as it's right on the beach. Johnston street runs just off the beach, and walking down there in 2 minutes is great, but it's secluded enough not to draw the noise or crowds from the beach on a summer day.

Everyone is very friendly in the street as well. As it is high density living, some people can have neighbour problems. I don't at all. I think there is very little turnover in the street as well. I never see "Auction" signs outside any of the homes. So if a house comes up, I would jump on it.

The only downside? The houses\apartments can be a little expensive, but I guess that's Port Melbourne for you.

So If you are looking for an amazing place to live in Port Melbourne, Johnston Street should be on the top of your list. Quiet, friendly and close to the beach, you just can't go wrong.

Camberwell is a great suburb right in the heart of the Eastern suburbs. Nestled in between Hawthorn, Canterbury and Kew, it is the suburb of choice for many people living in Melbourne. Not quite as expensive as Canterbury, Camberwell offers a great lifestyle for growing families and many single renters.

Shopping is surprisingly good for a suburb in the location, with the Burke Rd shops being redeveloped recently with a JB-HiFi, Borders books and many more. There are also some fantastic restaurants in the area, especially in Camberwell Junction.

Houses can be very expensive in certain parts however, and therefore the demographic is generally wealthier people. As I mentioned previously it is great for raising a young family as it is also so close to some of the best schools in Melbourne.

You can't go wrong here...if you can afford it!

Highly recommended.

One of the very best streets in Canterbury, Alexandra Avenue offers high class living, with access to Bourke Road shops, the best schools in Melbourne, and property prices that keep on rising year in year out. If you can afford to buy here, it makes an amazing home, and an ever better investment. Highly recommend!!

Serpells Road in Templestowe has a great feel to it, great neighbours, people walking their dogs all the time, and best of all, the house prices have gone up significantly along here. Mostly due to the high quality of new houses that have gone up over the past few years. Can't go wrong here.

One of the main cities in Melbourne CBD, Collin Street connects one end of the city to the other. With shops, restaurants and more, this iconic strip is more of a business district than anything else. Great for people watching as well, hard to miss if you are visiting town.

Sydney is one of those cities that many people have a love\hate relationship with. Most of those people tend to come from Melbourne (as the two cities have an intense rivalry) and complain about how rude, busy, go go go Sydney is.

I on the other hand love Sydney for what it is...a busy persons city. If you don't like the 'glitzy' in your face attitude that Sydney has, then probably best to stay away. But if you like a city that's alive and up front about it, then Sydney is for you.

The good things about Sydney? I love the bustling nature of sydney, similar to New York (on a much smaller scale). It's a little pretentious, but that's part of it's charm. The food is great, and the nightlife is great as well. The people are friendly enough as well from my experience.

Of course there is the touristy nature of the city as well that has to be taken into account, but then again all great cities have this aspect. The lifestyle in Sydney is more expensive than most, but a city by the harbour is always bound to cost a bit of cash.

Overall I love Sydney, and recommend it highly!

(Disclosure - I live in Melbourne)

A small shopping area with all the must have's when it comes to weekend groceries. Brendan the butcher is the best meat in town too, so if you need some meat for the weekend BBQ, look no further!

One of the most desirable suburbs to live in Victoria, Brighton has long been a family orientated area, but mostly for the wealthy. Proximity to great schools, CBD, public transport and most of all the beach make this suburb one of the very best!

Chapel Street in one of those iconic streets in Melbourne that has many faces. In the middle of the day it's a great 'people watching' scene as some of the Melbourne's beauties come out and shop in the sunny street. You'll also find many people having an afternoon wine at one of the many bars here, it's quite pleasant.

Later in the day, people head out to dinner which is where Chapel street shines. My fav is a cute little Mexican restaurant called Amigos (http://www.amigos.com.au/) that always pleases. After a night out for dinner, many migrate to the funky bars and clubs along the strip, another fav of mine is Mother's Milk or even Tryst Bar just behind Chapel.

But past 2:00am the street takes a nose dive into drunk and disorderly's. It can become quite unpleasant with many of the drunk party goers flocking to the nearest KFC or Souvlaki place. A mention has to go to the traffic issue here, as it is always very busy, especially when you get young teens driving their souped up cars doing "chap laps" to try n show off their new rides.

Overall though it's mostly pleasant, and I think it's one of those places where the saying "It is what you make it" really applies. Shop till you drop and eat till you pop, just don't stay out too late or you'll really start to hate :)

I lived in NYC for a short time, and it really is hard to say anything bad about it. While my time in NYC was extremely short, and I hope to get back there very soon...that's how much I enjoyed it. From the big city feel of Broadway to the cosy back alleys, cosy bars and pubs of Soho and Little Italy, this is one place in the world I would love to live in for a good amount of time.

For anyone questioning the move to NYC, don't Some people may say it's too busy, or that crime is through the roof - but don't listen to them. NYC is a great place to live, especially if you are young and single.

Chapel Street in St Kilda is one of the most iconic and well known streets in all of Melbourne. With its amazing fashion boutiques, cinemas, restaurants and much more, it's hard to think of Melbourne without it.

I've known a few people who have lived here, and most have loved it. It's great for younger people seeking a great lifestyle, however it is a little cramped for some.

Overall, it's a great street. I would just avoid it at night times if you are sober, it can get a little hairy at 3:00am!

Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn has been the place to go for shopping and socializing for years. With a wide range of shopping from fashion to bikes stores, Glenferrie Road has most of what you could want. There are some good eateries, my favourite being the Grilld burger shop. There is definitely a younger feel to the area, most likely due to all the schools being just around the corner in Kew (actually MLC is on Glenferrie!).

There is also the Glenferrie Road Festival that happens once a year at the end of summer, and is a great day for the whole family with rides, stalls and of course sausages on a BBQ. I have posted some pics from the 2009 Glenferrie Road Festival, so be sure to check them out in my profile, or in the photo section.

There are also a few good bars and clubs in the area such as Room and Casey's. Both are more of a younger crowd, but still good for a night out.

Overall a great street that has been an institution for years in the area, and worth the stroll for shopping or just a coffee and cake.

AJ

Hosier Lane in Melbourne has undergone quite a transformation over the past few years. What used to be a run down dirty laneway has now been transformed into a piece of art in itself.

Thanks to one of the most famous restaurants in all of Melbourne, Movida Tapas Bar, Hosier Lane is now home to some fantastic bars, and smaller restaurants. It's most notable features are however the graffiti covered walls, which in fact add to the lovable and almost romantic feel of the cobble paved lane way.

It's just a short walk, and I think it's a classic example of how Melbourne has something unique around every corner. Also be sure to check out Degraves St as well, especially if you want a good taste of what Melbourne streets have to offer.

San Francisco has been my home away from home for over two years now and I have never looked back. Since falling in love with SF I really can't think of a better place with more rolled into one little city. I was a little unsure about SF at first, especially with so many people talking about the home less problem, but after a few months, you learn there is so much to offer:

Cultural experience - I've never really been big into things like this as I am more technically minded, but after spending so much time around Chinatown (especially for dinners) I have come to love and appreciate what the experience of other cultures gives you. In fact I have a much greater desire to travel the world because of it.

The People - ARE SO NICE HERE!! I think they are all on happy pills or something.

The Opportunities - Being the 'tech' center of the universe, I have had some amazing opportunities...not to mention some of the people I have met in the tech field.

The Weather - Sure it can be sucky, but those glorious mornings looking into the bay as the fog rolls in, and then is broken up by the sun blasting the water is priceless.

The Social Scene - Well, it's amazing. So many like minded people are here in San Francisco, and I've never had so many parties, so many picnics with friends, so many great nights.

So if you are looking for a great city to live, these are my experiences from someone who has only been around for about 2 years, but I can't think of a better place to call home!!

AJ

I've spent quite a bit of time in Chicago on business and I must say it is a city I could easily live in. The first time I visited, i thought it going to be quite a dirty, scummy city, but as it turns out I was completely wrong. Very clean streets, and very friendly people. I've spent a bit of time in the absolutely adorable Gold Coast \ Lincoln Park neighborhoods and I could move there in a heartbeat.

Lake Michigan really makes this city complete though, especially in the summer months. The bottom line is that this is a very liveable city, and I think most people would be lucky to live here!

Kew has long been regarded as a very well off suburb in Melbourne and associated with some of the best schools in the entire state. For this reason alone, Kew is home to a lot of families. Being so close to the city has also driven up house prices considerably, and the advent of Kew Junction (some good shopping options), the suburb has become even more popular.

A great suburb for people looking to raise a family, if you can afford it.

I've lived in the Melbourne for a very long time, and whether you are talking about just the CBD or the extended Melbourne, it's amazing either way.

First of all, I've been to many cities worldwide, and Melbourne hand's down it the best city out there. Sure I've called Melbourne my home for all my life, but i am extremely open to other cities and if you compare all the features of a city that makes it desirable, Melbourne just about tops all of them.

Here's why:

Melbourne has a restaurant, bar, or club on just about every alleyway...and they are all fantastic. Most people are extremely friendly unlike some Sydney places. Also, I've never felt unsafe in Melbourne. In major cities like San Francisco, Rome, Barcelona, Chicago or New York I have always felt a little unsafe in certain place...but not in Melbourne.

Overall Melbourne is a very safe, welcoming city with a booming social scene and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. If you are looking to move to Melbourne, I highly recommend it!!

I've been down Madison Avenue many many times, and while I do agree it's quite the spectacle in terms of shopping and someone what of a tourist trap, i think once you have done it once, you really get over it. Too much traffic hinders how nice it is as well.

Burke Road in Camberwell would have to be considered the lifeline of the suburb containing most of the shops that Camerbwell has to offer such as JB-HiFi, Safeway, EBGames, Borders etc. Burke Road in Camerbwell has something for everyone, with great restauratns like Georges, Sophia's Pizza and Pasta as well as number of Indian, Chinese and other Italian restaurants.

In a nutshell, great for shopping, not so great for traffic, so if you are after a coffee or a feed, then it's great, but traffic on the way home can be a nightmare. Avoid at all costs if driving as trams make it incredibly slow.

Sorrento is just over 1 hour from Melbourne's CBD and a popular holiday destination for many people living in Melbourne. It has some of the best beach spots in all of the Victoria, namely Sorrento front beach, and people flock to the coastal town in the Summer months.

Just one suburb short of Portsea, Sorrento is home to some of the nicest people in Melbourne. There is a real historical culture in Sorrento (and portsea) as a lot of the families have grown up together sailing boats down at the Sorrento Surf Club or playing a round of golf at the Sorrento Golf course (or The Dunes course which is my favourite). Many of the families here know each other and are for the most part extremely friendly. Be prepared to get social with your neighbors down here, it what's Sorrento is all about.

On the main stretch of Sorrento (Ocean Beach Road I think) is the Sorrento Shops. During the weekends, this is really the hub of activity in the whole suburb. Pubs such as the Continental Hotel (The Conty) or the Sorrento Hotel are always busy on weekends as well as people likke them as alternatives to the Portsea Pub. Fish n Chips, Pizza (was once called Joe's Pizza, not sure what it is now) and great ice creameries are all here. There also a few surf shops and ladies clothing shops...but I have to give a good mention to Shell's cafe. It serves the best coffee up there, and I'm always there on a Saturday afternoon having a good brekky. Oh, and you shoudn't miss Buckley's Chance! The best pancakes in the whole of Victoria! My choice is the Buckley's Big Breakfast with a side of Ice Cream. The staff are always very friendly here as well, so well worth the visit.

Overall Sorrento is an amazing place. Fine cafe's, good beaches, good golf, good neighbors. The only downside is the price...it's getting very expensive because Portsea has become ridiculously expensive, and as Sorrento is the next in line, it too has inflated prices. Also, I remember having a lot of NYE down there when i was a lot younger, and while it was fun then, there can be occasionally young hooligans now.

BUT you really can't go wrong in Sorrento. It's one of the most desirable place in all of Victoria to have a holiday house. The only other comparables I would think are Portsea (of course) but also you might like to try Anglesea on the other side of the bay. It's a bit cheaper, and it's quieter as well.

How to describe Richmond...business district? eating district? crime district? I think a little of everything to be honest.

Bridge Road, Swan Street and Victoria Street are the main shopping\restaurant areas of Richmond, all of which are wonderful. Bridge Road has some of the best retails shopping outlets in the area, and is second only to Chapel Street. Swan Street has some funky little bars and pubs, while Victoria Street is like Little Vietnam, with it's superb restaurants, all very cheap. Victoria Gardens is also on Victoria and Burnley Street and has Hoyts Cinemas, Kingpin Bowling and lots of retail shops. Richmond is hard to beat on the eating and shopping front.

Living in Richmond is complemented by this shopping aspect, but moreso by the fact that a lot of young people live here. There are many townhouses and smaller apartment complexes that offer great close to city living. Some cheap, some not so cheap, but needless to say there a lot of students living in Richmond. If you are young and single, then you really can't go wrong with Richmond, especially with the social scene at bars such as Public House, Holiava and The Terminus Hotel.

Also, Richmond as a suburb is likely to boom in terms of property prices in the next 5 years. If you take into account the relative prices at the moment, combined with Victoria Gardens Shopping center and the proximity to the city...this is one suburb to watch out for. One other aspect is there is such scarcity of land in Richmond. With another three or more large commercial office buildings being built in the area, people often want to live near work, and as such will want to live in Richmond....watch the demand for the area shoot up in the next 5 years.

A few negative aspects of the suburb are the crime and the traffic. Often you will see "smack heads" walking in the back streets, and while it's not considered to be a major issue, it is present. Also, traffic can be a bit annoying at peak hour, especially on the major roads with Tram lines.

BUT overall, Richmond is a fantastic suburb, especially if you are looking to buy an investment property in. Consider yourself lucky if you live here!!

Canterbury is considered to be one of the best suburbs in all of Victoria. Home to some very expensive homes, Canterbury holds some of the most beautiful homes in Melbourne, mostly situated in Alexandra Avenue, Monomeath Avenue and Victoria Avenue...The golden mile of Canterbury.

Most of the people living in Canterbury are large families, or elderly retired folk as it is such an expensive suburb. The reason for it's pricey nature is quite simply location. It's very close to Melbourne CBD, close to schools in Kew (Xavier College and Trinity College) and Burke Road is just around the corner which has some fantastic shopping, restaurants and cafe's. Safeway is on Burke Road and is quite handy...in fact I think it is the most lucrative Safeway in all of Victoria.

The only problem with Canterbury that I can think or are the nosy neighbors. As a lot of the people in the area are elderly, so expect to get a lot letters complaining about noise, car parks on the nature strips etc.

Apart from that however, it's a great family friendly suburb, and with house prices increasing every year and not looking to go down, it's one of the best suburbs in all of Victoria.

Lynwood Parade in Templestowe is a VERY steep and VERY hilly road that connects Lower Templestowe to Templestowe.

It comprises mostly medium sized houses with both brick and rendered frontages. There is a high proportion of Italians and Greek families living here, and virtually everyone here keeps their front yards in check which is great. It is also home to Lynwood Parade Reserve which is a nice park for the kids to play in on a Sunday afternoon.

It also is very close to shopping, with the Macedon Square shops being just down the road. There is also the Manningham road shops just around the corner with McDonald's, Red Rooster, Golden Dragon Chinese and Doctors surgery.

There are two major issues with this street however.

1. It is a big-time thoroughfare! It connects two main roads essentially, and at peak hour, there is always a steady flow of traffic. To top it all off though, as it is quite a steep and hilly road, people tend to speed a lot.

2. This street is also prone to flooding. A few years back it was flooded very badly because it's so steep. I'm not sure if the problem has been fixed, but it's something I would take into account.

Overall though, not too bad.

High Street in Doncaster connects the Eastern Freeway to Templestowe and Lower Templestowe. It's a main road, 4 lanes across...and based on that description, you might think it to be incredibly undesirable....NOT TRUE!

Upon closer inspection, this would have to be one of the best in it's class. Visually, it's very appealing. The houses over the past couple of years have really been done up and "modernised" and most if not all keep their yards very well maintained. Also, the road itself was repaved recently, and it makes a huge difference. Drive down it and you will see...although don't get stung by the speed cameras...they are always parked on this street.

The location of the street is hard to beat as well. It connects directly to the eastern freeway so it's a breeze to get into the city. It also connects to Doncaster road which leads directly up to the new and improved Doncaster Shoppingtown, which now has a JB Hi-Fi (im soooo happy about that), an Apple Store and soon to have massive cinemas!

Directly on High street is The Village Shops which has a nice cafe\restaurant called Brunelli. It's not a major shopping village, but is very convenient for bread and milk etc. Finally, just up the road on Manningham Road you have great access to Safeway, Baker's Delight, McDonald's, Red Rooster and Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant...THE BEST CHINESE IN THE AREA!

And to top it all off, if you are hurt (touch wood) you are within walking distance to Manningham Medical and Doctors Surgery.

The only negatives would be that it can be a little noisy, but the houses are set back a little bit on their blocks, so it's not a problem for most. While it is a main road, traffic does flow pretty well.

Overall, taking into account it's a major road, it's very good. I would live here, and I would not be deterred by the fact that it is a main road because it has so much going for it!!

Doncaster Road in Balwyn North is the main heartline that connects Kew to Doncaster and the Eastern Freeway.

It is as you would expect a main 4 laneway road to be, very busy at peak hours of the day. Visually, nothing special. Most of the houses along here are all brick facades, although some have been renovated\torn down. It still has a long way to go in terms up competing with some of the more secluded streets in Balwyn North. It is however very close to the entrance of the Eastern Freeway, a big plus for commuters.

Doncaster Road in Balwyn North does have some other benefits though, the obvious being so close to Greythorn Shops. Surprisingly, Greythorn shops has quite a lot...dry cleaners, hair dressers, wine and beer cellars. I'm still devastated that Nick's Chicken Shop isn't there anymore though, I always loved NIck's Chips after school on the bus.

As it is a main road, living here would be slightly annoying. It's very noisy, and parking and reversing onto a main road from your driveway is always difficult. More often than not you can always see people waiting in their cars, trying to reverse out of their own driveway...something I would not like to do.

NOTE: THERE ARE ALWAYS SPEED CAMERAS ALONG THIS ROAD, so slow down!

This is a gorgeous Street. The first thing you will notice is the tree canopy overhead. The next thing you notice are the old style MASSIVE homes. I could go on and on about the great architecture in this street, but you must visit to see for yourself. One of the great things about Tennyson St though is that there are a few "pulldowns". I get the feeling there is a bit of money to be made in this street over the next 10-15 years through reno's and redevelopment.

On street parking is not a problem, and one of the best parts about this street is its proximity to the always amazing St Kilda Public Gardens. This is primarily the reason why there are such stunning homes here, as St Kilda Public Gardens makes your lifestyle that much better.

If you can afford it, then buy in this street!

Deakin St is one of the better streets in the area. It's just far enough away from all the hub-ub of Fitzroy Street so you don't get all the young hooligans walking and parking in the street, yet close enough to Fitzroy street to enjoy all it has to offer as well such as the restaurants, bars and clubs. It's also very close to the beach, and has a nice park that you can visit with the kids on the weekends.

King Street in Templestowe extends from Williamsons Rd to Tuckers road, and is a little bit of a speedway. While the speed limit is 70 in some places, I often see people speed down the hill from Williamsons Rd to ramp up for the hill leading up past Ruffey Lake Park. While this is not the ideal place to live (I actually don't think there are many houses in the Templestowe end), it has great greenery being right next to Ruffey Lake Park, and is close to schools.

HOWEVER, there are a number of BEAUTIFUL streets surrounding. Like many major roads, this one is in a great area, but just not the best to live on.

AJ

I stayed here on the weekend at Cottages by the Sea on Flinders Street, and it was fantastic! The location was right next to the beach, literally 3 minutes walk, and the street is wide enough not be bothered by neighbors on the other side of the road. It is also the main street leading into town, and is also good in terms of location for walking to the shops. Overall for a street that leads in the main queenscliff town, it has a relatively welcome environment. Great ocean breeze as well!

There do seem to be a lot of elderly people living in the street as well, so I don't recommend this for your people, but if you are looking for a quiet street in a great sleep town, Flinders street is quite nice.

AJ

Most people in Melbourne will have a love hate relationship with Chapel St. The reason being is because everyone in Melbourne at some stage has been shopping on Chapel, and for that reason alone, it can be great. On the other hand, every person in Melbourne has had at least one seedy night out at a dodgy nightclub in Chapel St...and had the pleasure of walking it at 3:00am when every drunk man and drunk dog is out on the streets looking for food and fights. It can be really nasty.

But, the reason I'm giving it 4/5 is because of the good memories I have of Chapel St. Sure it can be dirty and disgusting, but on the other side it can glamorous, fun and sexy. There is the Jam Factory cinemas, complete with Borders Books (I love Borders Books!), and there is also Amigos Mexican restaurant which I highly recommend, and TGI Fridays. There ARE a few good nightspots on Chapel St, mostly up toward the Windsor end like Mother's Milk and Blue Bar...and there is always Tryst Bar(just off Chapel St). Tryst is one of my favorite nightspots in Melbourne. Not pretentious, and always fun.

So, if you are visiting Melbourne, come to Chapel St. It's an icon of Melbourne, and won't disappoint.

AJ

Ever driven down a certain street and thought to yourself "I'd really like to live here on day"? Well this is the best way I can describe this little hidden gem in the heart of Templestowe. As soon as I drove down this little secluded street, I thought what a beautiful place to live.

The reason I call it a hidden gem is because it really is hidden, and i suspect that is the way the residents want it kept...hidden. It's a little street off the main "Forest Court" and you would drive straight past it if you didn't know it was there. The houses are all quite large, and the street is amazingly clean.

If you live in Templestowe, I urge you to go for a drive down "Forest Place". It's one of the most loveable little streets around...and while the photos look nice, it really doesn't do it justice.

This is a great street located in the best part of Templestowe. The houses here are extremely secluded and anyone living here would be extremely lucky. Houses are normally quite expensive in this area anyways, and Robhill Rise would be one of the more expensive streets, purely because of how secluded it is.

I have been here a couple of times during the summer months and I think it is absolutely amazing! I had a few casual beers down at the sea baths, took a stroll up past luna park, and it was simply gorgeous. I highly recommend this strip to all visitors, especially in the summer months. It would be fantastic to live around this area as well.

Swanston Street in Melbourne, like any street in the Melbourne CBD, has it's good parts, and not so good parts.

During the day, walking from Flinders Street Station at one end, right down to Latrobe Street, can give you a fantastic taste of Melbourne city life. From beautiful architecture, to fantastic shopping and more, Swanston St in Melbourne has many highlights. You will often see street acts in between Little Collins Street and Bourke Street which are always entertaining, and all too often you will find some amazing chinese\vietnamese cuisine up around chinatown. Also keep an eye out for the Horse and Carriage that frequent Swanston St, as they can be quite romantic :)

On the flip side, Swanston Street in Melbourne at night goes downhill. There are a lot of homeless people hanging around between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane. Late at night all the revelers from the clubs, seem to congregate around the McDonalds, KFC and Hungry Jacks, and as such can be quite dangerous and rowdy from midnight to 5 am. Something to avoid if you don't need the late night feed.

Overall, Swanston Street is the pinnacle of the Melbourne CBD, and I guess that is why is has become Swanston "Walk". It's a must for tourists, shoppers and those who want a taste of Melbourne city life...just try and avoid it at 3:00am in the morning :)

Bourke Street in Melbourne spans the good portion of the Melbourne CBD, and has many faces. On one hand, it can feel a little dingy and dirty from Exhibition Street to Swanston Street with what seems like "gangs" hanging around the corner at Hungry Jacks, but from swanston down to King Street where it turns from Shopping beautiful architectural buildings.

The shopping in Myer and David Jones is fantastic, and we recently just had the christmas parade, and the christmad windows which were fantastic this year.

I would love to give this street a better rating, but to be honest, some areas (around the Hungry Jack's) really let it down.

Beach Street in Port Melbourne seems to have it all. Great beach lifestyle, amazing views of the ocean, popular culture, eateries, bars, clubs etc etc. I suspect Beach Street may be a little noisy to live on, but to be honest, i think it would be worth it to live so close to the beach. I have a some great pics to upload, which i think will sell you on just how great it is :)

I highly recommend this street to anyone living in Melbourne.

AJ

This really is a beautiful street. It's located just off Meredith Avenue in Templestowe, and is a hidden little gem. There are some moderate sized houses here as well. I have uploaded some pictures to give you an idea of what it is like. Great schools such as St Charles are just around the corner, and it is very close to The Pines shopping center, not to mention how clean and green the street is.

Some of the other reviews however have given it 5 out 5 for nightlife, and clearly there are no pubs or bars in the vicinity, so it isn't perfect...however I really do not think you could go wrong buying in Tatterson Court in Templestowe.

If you have any questions about the street, just ask away!

AJ

Anderson Street in Templestowe is a great little street to get your coffee fix before work, or have a relaxing dinner on the weekends. I really love anderson street. It has great cafe's such as Degani's on the corner (and the staff are really nice) and also there is Carlucci's which has great Italian food and amazing deserts as well.

Overall, I love going to Anderson Street in Templestowe because it feels like one those "Local" streets where everyone knows everyone else! I also managed to take a few happy snaps for everyone to have a look at!

Highly recommended!!

AJ

I don't mind the Eastern Freeway. I think overall, it's a great freeway to get to work on. It's free, and the bottom line it, is has a "transit lane" for people who want to take advantage of car pooling!

What more can I day? As freeways go, I think its great!!

Bridge road in Richmond is the kind of street you have a love hate relationship with. Similar to Chapel Street and Brunswick Street, Bridge Road in Richmond offers so much for everyone!

It has great shopping, great eating, and great atmosphere. There are a few gyms here as well, and a good food market. I highly recommend the Japenese Ramen Restaurant, and all night maccas :)

There are a few bars on Bridge Rd as well, my personal favorite is The Collection (i think there is a photo posted), and has many pubs to keep everyone happy. There is also a 24hour florist that has come in handy on many occasions!

On the downside, it has terrible traffic, is only 40kmph at certain times of the day (which is a good thing I suppose, but somehow just annoys me) and can feel a little dirty.

But at the end of the day, I fell like Bridge Road is an old friend. I've had alot of fun here, and would recommend it to anyone!

Jacov Gardens in Templestowe is a gorgeous little street situated just off Sarah Crescent. The whole street is located on a downward sloped hill, and is home to some beautiful houses. I do think some of the houses are little underdeveloped and old, and would be great for someone to buy and do up and return a tidy profit on sale. On the flip side there are a number of rather large new houses that are very impressive, especially one located at the bottom of the hill.

It's a PERFECT street to raise a familiy as there are a number of families who live in the area. It's very quiet and virtually no traffic at as it is a dead end street.

I HIGHLY recommend this street for anyone looking for peace and tranquility in the best part of Templestowe!!

Fitzroy Street in St Kilda is a great street to have a fun night out with friends after a hard days work on Friday or Saturday. There are so many clubs and pubs on Fitzroy Street that you will always find a cool place that suits everyone.

On a Saturday night, White Bar is a great drinking hole to get the night started, and then you can move on to The Saint across the road. Robarta Bar is just down the road as well, as is Prince of Wales and Mink Bar. There are just too many places to mention.

While this is a great street to have an energetic night out on, it really is in the thick of Melbourne's nightlife, and as such im not sure i would want to live here. There are a number of homeless people living here, and you will always get the rowdy crowds on Friday\Saturday nights.

It is close to the beach and I think there is a large shopping center going in just around the corner.

Overall, it's a great street for singles\young couples and tourists! It's something you really should visit at the very least and get a good tast of what Melbourne is all about!

I drive up the street most mornings on the way to work, and to be honest, its a really annoying street. The traffic is shocking at peak hour, and all the traffic leads to either Kew Junction, or the Freeway, both of which are heavy bottlenecks.

I can't imagine living on this street would be a joy either with such heavy traffic at most times of the day.

On the flip side, being so close to Kew Junction and the Freeway does have its benefits, such as close to shops, and close to the city.

I spent a lot of time in this street a while back, and I still think it a beautiful little street. There really is only a couple of apartment blocks here, but everyone in the apartment blocks seems friendly enough. Being in the heart of Richmond, there are a lot of places to eat out, especially with Victoria Street and Bridge Road nearby.

Nightlife is quite good in the area, with the Terminus pub just up the road, and Chapel street just a tram ride away. Retail therapy has to get 5 out of 5, as Victoria Gardens is just next door, and attached is a Fitness First gym (which can get a little busy if you ask me). The street also runs down to the Yarra river, so walking\running tracks are right at your doorstep.

You really cannot go wrong in Elaine Court, it's the perfect place for singles\couples\young families to rent or buy and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone!!

Burnley Street in Richmond is mostly a very busy road that people commute on. It is not a street you would want to directly live on as it is quite noisy and has very heavy traffic at peak hour times. It is close to Victoria Garners shopping center, which is a big plus if you need some retail therapy, but on the whole, it's a street I generally try to avoid if I can.

This is a great street get your favourite (and cheap) vietnamese, chinese or any asian cuisine you like! I wouldn't want to live on Victoria Street, but if you want food at very cheap prices, and great food as well, then look no further.

Traffic is hell at peak hour times, and it's best to go the back streets if you want to avoid. The street doesn't smell the best either, but most of the shops are open air, and at the very least it's a great cultural experience.

Overall, I recommend visiting Victoria Street for dinner with partner, or the family!!