What is your least favourite city in Australia?

[Princess Fiona]

Toowoomba, Cessnock, Adelaide. Not sure which is worse but I think Toowoomba might be the winner. Spent 6 weeks there as an impoverished medical student many years ago and the most exciting thing about the town was Sizzler.

 

[JetLagged]

Bundaberg.

And the smell of the molasses that seems to hang over the place!

 

[Keith009]

Adelaide maybe. If the smaller regional centres count, then perhaps Mt Gambier or Busselton. But at least they're all in the middle of or near the wine regions of SA and WA.

I can't think of any Aussie city that I truly dislike, though have yet to visit TAS or NT. Melbourne is still number one of course, and I can't imagine settling down anywhere else in Oz. But as sacrilegious as it is, I actually do like Sydney - v fun city, has a fantastic laidback yet forward-looking vibe like LA. Perth is also nice, v pretty and looks almost as spotless as Singapore.

 

[drron]

Toowoomba, Cessnock, Adelaide. Not sure which is worse but I think Toowoomba might be the winner. Spent 6 weeks there as an impoverished medical student many years ago and the most exciting thing about the town was Sizzler.

Nicknock-you must be joking.With Pokolbin on its doorstep,a succession of good restaurants(even in town) and in spring fantastic displays of ground orchids.See we all really do have different perspectives on life.I lived and worked for 18 years in the Hunter Valley.

 

[laffer]

Adelaide. Hands down **** hole.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Nicknock-you must be joking.With Pokolbin on its doorstep,a succession of good restaurants(even in town) and in spring fantastic displays of ground orchids.See we all really do have different perspectives on life.I lived and worked for 18 years in the Hunter Valley.

Ok I admit Pokolbin and even Branxton/Greta are great. Must have missed Cessnock's orchids and restaurants, perhaps I will give it another go. Definitely not keen on seeing Toowoomba again though!

 

[notzac]

For me, Melbourne hits many spots for things to avoid - and that said, have been there many times, and even have family there. After visiting the place for decades, I see it as one huge flat, monotonous plain of bare existence - wishing it had a harbour, way too cold in winter, and dusty in summer. Sorry guys - Sydney might be unplanned, but it has a vibrancy (as well as a harbour)!

Melbourne is probably my favourite city - but you really have to "scratch the surface" to see some of the good stuff. The big things for me are the variety of restaurants and all the great little bars hidden down alleyways in the city; the weather (really) and the public transport (seeing as I don't own a car). I guess it's not really a touristy city, but that's fine by me.

Much the same as several other posters, for me the Gold Coast and Surfer's Paradise in particular is truly dreadful by day and gets even classier by night :!: If you want decent beaches and beach culture, the Sunshine Coast has that in spades.

 

[BVT]

Oh, I forgot about the Gold Coast as it’s where I live. Living away from the drag of the strip though, I don’t often visit it. So yeah, it is pretty tacky and about as bad as Sydney to me.

Agree, agree agree. The Gold Coast is truly and profoundly bad. It is a tourist town that offers nothing for a non family person unlucky enough to have to live there.

That's why I travel! To escape.

 

[BVT]

Melbourne is probably my favourite city - but you really have to "scratch the surface" to see some of the good stuff. The big things for me are the variety of restaurants and all the great little bars hidden down alleyways in the city; the weather (really) and the public transport (seeing as I don't own a car). I guess it's not really a touristy city, but that's fine by me.

Much the same as several other posters, for me the Gold Coast and Surfer's Paradise in particular is truly dreadful by day and gets even classier by night :!: If you want decent beaches and beach culture, the Sunshine Coast has that in spades.

Sigh.

Marvellous Melbourne we miss each other so much!

 

[tuapekastar]

Surfers Paradise was ghastly when I visited as a teenager in the 70s. It had changed, but not improved, upon a revisit a few years ago.

I cannot think of another place I actively dislike.

 

[11sjw]

Very much an atypical Sydneysiders response. We have a harbour...

Sorry guys - Sydney might be unplanned, but it has a vibrancy (as well as a harbour)!

Others perception of Sydney after they have stayed more than a week...

Sydney. After the harbour there's nothing.

 

[Groundfeeder]

Sounds like Bris is the non-champion with no mentions at all !!!!

Don't you people ever delve into the city and quickly go looking for the exits?

 

[dajop]

the weather (really)

I hear you. I really miss it since moving from Melb - I do pine for some nice variable weather. A fresh cold south wind. Aaah bliss...

 

[medhead]

I hear you. I really miss it since moving from Melb - I do pine for some nice variable weather. A fresh cold south wind. Aaah bliss...

Variable weather? In my experience Melbourne is cold! Well I suppose there is variation when it is cold and wet, which is about every second hour.
I'm sorry but there is something seriously wrong (for Australia) when there is white, slushy, cold stuff falling from the sky during the last week in January.

 

[Keith009]

I hear you. I really miss it since moving from Melb - I do pine for some nice variable weather. A fresh cold south wind. Aaah bliss...

Melbourne's winter is still comparatively weak IMO. I love chilly winters - winter fashion is my fave. If only it was a permanent winter or spring - summer is still far too hot for my liking (granted, it's a little better than the tropics) and is why I schedule my trips to the Northern hemisphere when it's summer in Melbourne.

 

[craven morehead]

Sydney & Gold Coast on par for me..........over rated :mrgreen:

 

[k_sheep]

Toowoomba - NOTHING to do! Terrible restaurants! No proper airport! No beach or decent waterhole! Cold! Arrrrrrrrrgh!

Sydney, as I said in the other thread. Also heat waves combined with frigid cold in winter.

Rockhamptom - urrrrrrrrghhh.

Derby - in the off season.

Darwin - saw 2 people in separate incidents shoplifting in broad daylight.

Gold coast (southport, surfers, hope island etc) - ghastly. The hinterland is nice though. And at least the weather is good.

Haven't been to TAS or ACT yet - will report back on both within the next 3 months

 

[markis10]

Poor old Rocky is getting hit hard, no wonder its the beef capital and luckily its next door to a lot of black stuff.

 

[dajop]

Melbourne's winter is still comparatively weak IMO.

Which is why some people who are raised in proper cold climates sometimes find Melbourne winter unbearably cold :!: - it's not really cold enough for anyone to bother properly insulating, sealing, double glazing or decently heating places, which people from proper cold climates are used to having to cope with their winters.

Whatever it's all good compared to 26-32 with afternoon thunderstorm year round, were variation comes in two forms: a morning thunderstorm and 25-31 or no rain at all and 26-34.

 

[Keith009]

Whatever it's all good compared to 26-32 with afternoon thunderstorm year round, were variation comes in two forms: a morning thunderstorm and 25-31 or no rain at all and 26-34.

You forget the 15 degree airconditioning....