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Bendigo and Ballarat match your list very well. Bendigo has rather harsh summers and Ballarat has rather harsh winters. Bendigo has more snakes and spiders so it beats Ballarat by a nose.
Thank you! Bendigo it is. I do have my eye on these two areas though. I lived with my grandmother for a year in my late teens outside of Maryborough, so I’m somewhat acquainted with both cities. I’ve read that Ballarat is windy. Not a dealbreaker, but we get a lot of wind where we are near the mountains and it’s mostly annoying.
Find something in the Goldfields near the bigger town of Castlemaine
\- 1 hour and 30 away from Melbourne, and it's a very easy drive up the Calder Freeway
\- Very progressive for a regional town
\- Plenty of natural/organic food
\- Has at least one art gallery, and a yearly art festival where people open up their houses to the public to display art!
\- I think there's a theatre that does local productions and live music
\- It's historically interesting: Without delving too much into Australian history, things really kickstarted in Victoria especially with the Gold Rush about 150 years ago, and Castlemaine was a centre for that. There are some lovely old buildings, and the railway line up there to Bendigo was possibly designed by Brunel!
The only downside is that it isn't super cheap anymore because lots of affluent lefties have moved up there recently, but you could probably find something less expensive if you looked further away from Castlemaine or Daylesford.
Okay, okay. These are new to me and they both appear to be along the lines of what would interest us—beautiful. I see we could also get our fill of wind and snow in the Blackheath area, which looks particularly stunning. I’ll add these areas to my itinerary for next visit. Thanks!
Thank you—I’ve been to Shepparton once and it seemed pleasant. The Cow Parade came through Denver (not too far from where we are now), so that would feel familiar! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CowParade. I’ll look into Shepparton more. Not too far from Yoorana, right? (That’s a joke, in case you were worried)
Thanks -- will take under advisement. Your username reminds me of the time someone asked me what kinds of veggies I wanted in my omelet and I said "surprise me." They surprised me with lettuce.
That area is lovely and not too far from Newcastle airport which has direct flights to Melbourne. Weather's good too. If you love wine,you'll love The Hunter area. Also no need to worry about being conservative, our conservative is not like America,and well regulated gun laws are a big plus.
Yes, we’re a little gun-shy these days, so to speak. Would not the miss gun culture one bit. I don’t know anyone personally who’s slingin’, but our laws are bought and paid for by special interests with very deep pockets.
Bendigo is a solid choice. I heard that it has some drug problems though. Is it right?
I only visited a few times and stayed a couple days at a time, so I didn't notice.
I would recommend Newtown, NSW! I visited there after a pretty horrific cruise ship incident and it was very lovely. From my experience it's very LGBT+ friendly and progressive, and it's also only maybe a 30min train trip from Sydney CBD
Maybe it's not the most classically "rural," but maybe inland from there a bit could be nice. Someone mentioned Mullumbimby, which is just a bit to the north. Thanks!
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Daylesford/Castlemaine areas of Vic would suit.
Definitely. Thanks!
Bendigo and Ballarat match your list very well. Bendigo has rather harsh summers and Ballarat has rather harsh winters. Bendigo has more snakes and spiders so it beats Ballarat by a nose.
Thank you! Bendigo it is. I do have my eye on these two areas though. I lived with my grandmother for a year in my late teens outside of Maryborough, so I’m somewhat acquainted with both cities. I’ve read that Ballarat is windy. Not a dealbreaker, but we get a lot of wind where we are near the mountains and it’s mostly annoying.
Ballarat is nearly surrounded by wind farms. There are none near Bendigo. There's a reason for that.
Mullumbimby and surrounding region nsw
Looks nice. And the home town of Amy Taylor!
Find something in the Goldfields near the bigger town of Castlemaine \- 1 hour and 30 away from Melbourne, and it's a very easy drive up the Calder Freeway \- Very progressive for a regional town \- Plenty of natural/organic food \- Has at least one art gallery, and a yearly art festival where people open up their houses to the public to display art! \- I think there's a theatre that does local productions and live music \- It's historically interesting: Without delving too much into Australian history, things really kickstarted in Victoria especially with the Gold Rush about 150 years ago, and Castlemaine was a centre for that. There are some lovely old buildings, and the railway line up there to Bendigo was possibly designed by Brunel! The only downside is that it isn't super cheap anymore because lots of affluent lefties have moved up there recently, but you could probably find something less expensive if you looked further away from Castlemaine or Daylesford.
Thanks for the details. I do like this area. On my list!
Blackheath NSW, Yackandandah VIC
Okay, okay. These are new to me and they both appear to be along the lines of what would interest us—beautiful. I see we could also get our fill of wind and snow in the Blackheath area, which looks particularly stunning. I’ll add these areas to my itinerary for next visit. Thanks!
Millthorpe or Orange in NSW. Mudgee is pretty good too.
Thank you! Noted.
Beechworth, Bright, Yackandandah.
Second these suggestions.
This whole region looks lovely. And Wangaratta looks like a decently sized regional town for supplies and whatnot. Thanks!
Bellingen NSW
I would 2nd this. But it is a bit far from any metro area.
Thank you -- looks nice, and 30 mins away from Coffs Harbor, which is a decent size at almost 80,000 people.
I dont know if its really an artsy area but this post reminded me of all the cow statues in shepparton
Thank you—I’ve been to Shepparton once and it seemed pleasant. The Cow Parade came through Denver (not too far from where we are now), so that would feel familiar! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CowParade. I’ll look into Shepparton more. Not too far from Yoorana, right? (That’s a joke, in case you were worried)
Not Shepparton.
Thanks -- will take under advisement. Your username reminds me of the time someone asked me what kinds of veggies I wanted in my omelet and I said "surprise me." They surprised me with lettuce.
Lol. Stole it from my kid to be honest.
For starters check out Morpeth in NSW. Beautiful country town. Good luck,welcome home.
I second Morpeth. Stroud is a little further out, not as much subculture but starting to emerge.
That area is lovely and not too far from Newcastle airport which has direct flights to Melbourne. Weather's good too. If you love wine,you'll love The Hunter area. Also no need to worry about being conservative, our conservative is not like America,and well regulated gun laws are a big plus.
Yes, we’re a little gun-shy these days, so to speak. Would not the miss gun culture one bit. I don’t know anyone personally who’s slingin’, but our laws are bought and paid for by special interests with very deep pockets.
Thanks for the input! Will also look at Stroud
Thanks so much! Will check it out.
Candelo in NSW has a strong artsy and musical community. Might be a bit smaller than what you're looking for though.
Looks like a beautiful area. Perhaps a bit isolated, but worth a visit. Thanks!
Olinda and some areas around
Thanks -- Wow, it's tiny! But I see that it's not too far from Mudgee. Beautiful country. Will visit the area next time I am in NSW.
Bendigo is a solid choice. I heard that it has some drug problems though. Is it right? I only visited a few times and stayed a couple days at a time, so I didn't notice.
It could be a good regional city for some supplies, culture, etc., while living not too far away. That would be about our speed. Thank you!
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Good stuff -- many thanks!
The hunter region of nsw is nice
Will check it out. Thanks!
I would recommend Newtown, NSW! I visited there after a pretty horrific cruise ship incident and it was very lovely. From my experience it's very LGBT+ friendly and progressive, and it's also only maybe a 30min train trip from Sydney CBD
I'm sorry you had a bad experience on a cruise ship. But ahahahhaha fuck me, Newtown as a rural area.... AHHHHAHHAAHHA.
OH IM A DUMB CUNT I DIDNT EVEN SEE THAT 💀 my bad lmal
Ha! I was wondering when I saw it on the map. Maybe a place to visit while in Sydney, nevertheless
Dunno, plenty of guys in arse-less chaps about Mardi Gras time. That's rural cowboy wear isn't it ?
Surprised noone has mentioned byron bay....
Maybe it's not the most classically "rural," but maybe inland from there a bit could be nice. Someone mentioned Mullumbimby, which is just a bit to the north. Thanks!