What's your favourite city in Australia and why?

[luna moth]

I have lived in Sydney, Melbs and Brissie.

Melbourne was my favourite - it's got so much going on, it's so bike friendly, and flat. And I married a nice boy from there.

Brissie is fast catching up though - I love the weather, I love love love the friendly communities that exist here, and I love Queensland Health, and a few other Govt initiatives that are making this a brilliant place.

I would need some VERY compelling reasons to ever move back to Sydney.

[~Hestia~]

That's a tough one! We love travelling around the country, everywhere we go we decide we're retiring there LOL!

[LimeSlice]

Melbourne.
By a mile.

No explanation needed - Melbourne isn't filthy and rude like Sydney, it isn't backward and ignorant like Perth and is smarter and more cultured than Brisbane.
How could you go anywhere else once you have had the joy of living in Melbourne?

[dusty]

Canberra! Its not for everyone but it is a great place to raise a family and being a government town has good employment prospects, flexibility and salary level. A big country town with access to some of the best little disturbed coastline in Australia only 2 hours away (we love to surf). Great bike path system a lot of it off road. While its a conservative town in many ways we also had the biggest Green vote in Australia. Also Sydney is only 3 hours away if you want the breath of arts and culture that may not come as far as Canberra.
I left Brisbane 10 years ago and now find it very busy/road centric and hard to get across town. Also too sticky for me, I like drier heat these days. The sprawl is incredible too.
Sydney I wouldn't ever consider, Adelaide, Darwin and Perth are too far away from our families.
Melbourne I do like although I find it dirty (sorry Lime) compared to Canberra and Brisbane. But with the climate changing over the next couple of decades Melbourne is less likely to be as drizzly and grey and would be my second choice for a city to live in as long as it wasn't too far out from town. The sprawl goes on and on in all directions.

[Jellyfish]

Melbourne.
By a mile.

No explanation needed - Melbourne isn't filthy and rude like Sydney, it isn't backward and ignorant like Perth and is smarter and more cultured than Brisbane.
How could you go anywhere else once you have had the joy of living in Melbourne?

Hey! I think you'll find QLD is the "smart state"

[AnyDream]

Radelaide, all the comforts of a large town without the downsides of a large city.

[Olive]

Melbourne for sure!! we rock!

[Elocin]

and I love Queensland Health, and a few other Govt initiatives that are making this a brilliant place.

I have to agree with Audax, Brisbane weather is awesome. It's close enough to the coast that it's an easy drive to spend a couple of hours at the beach. It's not crowded, but the community feel rocks. My friends and parents who live in country towns comment on the lack of noise and traffic whenever they visit.

I grew up in Northern NSW, and the long term plan is to move back there one day. The small towns, the beaches... Anywhere between Ballina and Coffs Harbour is gorgeous.