If you've never visited Australia before and are looking for in-your-face classic tourist activities and Instagrammable heaven, then Sydney might be the best choice. But if you're looking for a destination where you have to scratch the surface a little to discover some rich culture, give Melbourne a try.
1. Adelaide. Adelaide is often described as Australia's most underrated and beautiful city, and it is not hard to see why once you have visited this gorgeous place. It is a cultural hub, home to an excellent dining culture, several museums and art galleries, as well as gorgeous scenery wherever you look.
Sydney has more fun-filled, family-friendly and renowned attractions. Melbourne does win when it comes to cultural attractions. However, its Federation Square and Flinders Street Station can't compete with Sydney's world-renowned landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Melbourne is considered by some to be the best city to live in Australia, and has even been ranked as the world's most livable city more than once. It's home to a thriving live music scene, late-night bars and laneways dotted with cafés and coffee shops.
Queensland claimed the title of the country's happiest state. Savings aspirations among Australians remain very high, with the number of people trying to save rising to 76% overall (73% in Q2), and to 96% among 18 to 29-year-old women. Pets continue to be the biggest contributor to a person's wellbeing.
And it turns out Perth has the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the country. Residents of Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove in the Western Australian capital boast an average taxable income of $325,343 apiece.
Diverse culture
The Victorian capital has people from across 140 nations living harmoniously together. Whereas Sydney is all about business, Melbourne is all about community. Study shows that the people of Melbourne are friendlier than those of Sydney.
However, the city has generally played second fiddle to Melbourne in terms of culture. If there's a new play, show or musical coming to Australia, it will most probably have a run in Melbourne before Sydney (if it makes it there at all).
Canberra is the happiest capital of Australia, according to research.
Oodnadatta, South Australia
Of course we Aussies don't have to travel far to feel the heat, especially during the Australian summer months. The record for the highest official temperature ever recorded in Australia belongs to the remote outback town of Oodnadatta in South Australia.
But the list was mostly dominated by affluent areas of Sydney. The 2027 postcode, which includes Darling Point, Edgecliff and Point Piper, came in second with $205,957. This was followed by the 2023 postcode, which includes Bellevue Hill, with an average income of $195,204.
Melbourne was ranked the world's friendliest city by UK insurance company William Russell, which analysed data on the top 23 most visited cities in the world, considering resident happiness, safety, LGBTQI inclusivity, top attractions and highest rated hotels.
The 2016 ABS 'Victims of Crime' survey suggests Victoria has the highest incidence of crimes against the person, including robberies, assaults and car jackings, and Melbourne's violent crime rates are the highest in Australia.
Sydney outranks Melbourne by far when it comes to the weather. This could be attributed to its coastal location - the climate is temperate with warm summers and cool winters.
The Kiwirrkurra Community is known as the most remote in the country and is located in the Gibson Desert, nearly 530 miles west of Alice Springs and over 745 miles west of Port Hedland.
Melbourne is known for its abundance of entertainment, its unique nightlife, as well as it is gorgeous scenery and stunning architecture.
Australia crime rates: Canberra
This city has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Australia. Canberra is also one of the safest cities globally, and the crime rate here is below the national average. According to data, the crime experienced by the city is very low.
Canberra is Australia's leading 'smart city', providing its residents with top ratings for a range of quality indicators, including housing affordability, public transport, employment, and community participation, according to new Victoria University research.
Between 2011 and 2021, Melbourne had the largest growth (up by 806,800 people), followed by Sydney (650,800) and Brisbane (421,500). Canberra had the highest growth rate (23%), followed by Brisbane and Perth (both 20%).
Looking for the easiest place in Australia to find a job? As of October 2022, the answer is Canberra! That's according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which releases its figures for vacancy rates around Australia every quarter.
The worst performing states are Tasmania, with incomes 26% below the national income and wealth average, as well as South Australia which is 19% below the average household income and 20% below the national net wealth.