Australia is a large country with a relatively small population of about 20 million. The safe environment and comfortable climate provide many opportunities to enjoy both the beauty of the countryside and beaches, and the amenities of the modern cosmopolitan cities.

Brisbane
Brisbane has a reputation for being a relaxed and friendly city. Average temperatures are 24°C in summer and 16°C in winter. The city has grown rapidly in recent years, especially since the hosting of the 1988 World Expo. With a population of 1.25 million it offers all the conveniences of a large city. Brisbane is located on the south-east coast of the state of Queensland and is a handy base for touring the famous Gold and Sunshine coasts.

Visit the Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority website for more information about living in Brisbane.

Sydney
Sydney has a population of more than 4 million, and is the largest city in Australia. World renowned for its beautiful harbour, Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Sydney also has a host of entertainment and sporting activities. The climate is comfortable, with average temperatures being 23°C in summer, and 13°C in winter. The University has two campuses in Sydney.

Melbourne
Melbourne, with a population of more than 3 million, is a busy financial centre renowned for its parks, gardens and historic buildings. It is a major sporting, commercial and cultural centre of Australia. With its many ethnic restaurants (30% of the population was born overseas) and user-friendly trams, the city has been voted internationally as "the world's most liveable city". The climate of Melbourne is moderate with summer and winter temperatures being 27°C and 14°C, respectively.

Canberra
Canberra, the national capital, is considered one of the most convenient and safest places to live in Australia. It is an international city with more than 70 diplomatic missions. For students, Canberra provides excellent facilities for study including access to the National Library, the largest in Australia. For bicycling enthusiasts Canberra's well-planned bike paths make this a great way to get around. Average winter temperatures are 6°C and summers are 25°C.

Ballarat
A picturesque rural town of 80,000 people, Ballarat is a living museum of the goldrush period in Australia. With many fine buildings, attractive gardens, fountains, monuments and sculptures enhance the wide tree-lined streets. Features of "small town" living in Australia are the relative safety, lack of traffic congestion and friendly people. Ballarat has a similar climate to Melbourne with slightly cooler temperatures in winter.