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St Kilda is just 6 kilometres from Melbourne's CBD and home to the famous St Kilda Beach.

It is a very laidback seaside suburb, although traffic can be very busy at times.

It is home to many artists, musicians, writers and actors. The crowd is edgy and quite cool. The pubs are somewhat grungy and many of the cafes serve organic food. The stunning Sea Baths on the waterfront have a fantastic gym and also one of Melbourne's best vegetarian restaurants.

The area has a air of casual cool. It is a cruisy and relaxed spot to live, with an emphasis on laidback and earthy living. Quite a surprise really, given just how close it is to the CBD!

Popular with renters, the area has a huge number of flats, some looking a bit worse for wear, so you are likely to be able to find something to suit your budget here.

With a population of 15,000, Horsham is a very large country town situated 300 km to the north-west of Melbourne.

Horsham is close to the picturesque Grampians National Park, which is particularly beautiful when the wild flowers bloom in spring.

The town itself has all of the major facilities on offer, with schools, hospitals, banks and a number of shops. It is a busy town and also a country centre, as it is surrounded by a number of large farming properties. There is a strong sporting culture in this town, and lots of recreational activities on offer.

It is a great spot to raise a family, although note that many children in their late teens tend to head to the capital cities of Adelaide or Melbourne for further study.

Ballarat is Victoria's largest city after Melbourne. With a population nearing 90,000 and growing rapidly, Ballarat is going from strength to strength.

The city itself has a lot of heritage, stemming from its gold rush days. The streets are wide with many historic buildings and landmarks, with a lot of architecture from Australia's colonial days. There are a number of old homes which reflect this style. However it is now a large town with a number of subdivisions and more modern homes.

Ballarat is situated just over 100 km from Melbourne and offers a number of transport options, including bus and train.

With all of the major facilities, a strong focus on sport and many schools, this is a great spot to raise the family if you are looking for an alternative to the big city life in Melbourne.

Port Melbourne, like many other port areas around Australian capital cities, has undergone a major transformation over the last few years. Once an industrial area, the suburb now offers some really great living options quite close to the CBD.

Many modern apartment blocks have been built, offering dense but efficient living with all the mod-cons. This is a great spot for the professional couple, as the apartments are easy to maintain and close to the CBD. A number of cafes, restaurants and bars have popped up in the area, so lifestyle is good here too. Rental prices are on the high side, and reflect the growing popularity of this suburb.

East Melbourne is the suburb tucked in behind Melbourne's parklands and sporting arenas, including the MCB and Rod Laver Tennis Arena. It is just a casual stroll the CBD, or there are frequent trams if you need.

The streets of this suburb are lined with charming, heritage townhouses and larger homes, along with the occasional modern house. Some of the houses have sweeping views back across the parklands towards the CBD.

There are a number of hidden treasures in this area - some good wine shops, pastry stores and restaurants that are well off the tourist trail. Great for a quiet meal out, or to pick up an interesting bottle of red.

This area is very exclusive, so beware of the price tag!

Just 3 km from the Melbourne CBD, Albert Park is a good inner city suburb with lots to offer.

The suburb has some very major and busy streets, where a number of companies are based, so on a quick glance the suburb can have quite an impersonal feel.

However if you dig a bit deeper you will find some charming streets and cafe strips with heritage buildings and open air cafes. The suburb is centred around the huge Albert Park, which is a great location for jogging, cycling or taking a long walk. It is also home to a number of music festivals and concerts throughout the year, not to mention the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix, so there is often a great atmosphere.

On the topic of the Grand Prix, this is held some time in March/April every year, so you'll need to get your earplugs out and be aware of the restricted traffic.

Bridge Road is a bustling shopping and cafe strip situated just two suburbs away from Melbourne's CBD. It is a great location - the CBD can be reached by hopping on one of the frequent trams or otherwise it's just a casual 20 minute stroll.

There are some really good rental bargains in this area, with some slightly dated townhouses and apartment blocks (many of which are very well-maintained) in the surrounding streets for great prices. It is possible to get on-street parking, although it can be difficult at times.

The best thing about this area is the casual charm of Bridge Road. There are some interesting shops, good coffee bars and a number of interesting cafes offering good organic food.

Flinders Street forms the southern boundary of the Melbourne CBD.

It is a great spot for accessing all that Melbourne has to offer. All the shops, businesses and dining options of the CBD are a two second stroll away. The entertainment and leisure precinct of Southbank is just across the road. The huge Flinders Street Station is on your doorstep, so you can catch a train to wherever you would like in the whole of Melbourne. The recreational facilities along the Yarra and in the parklands are at your fingertips, and for sporting fans the Rod Laver Arena, Telstra Dome and MCG are all just moments away.

However I'm not sure I would like to live here. The accomodation is high density apartment style living. The area is always busy, and being near a train station can attract a few undesirable characters. Very convenient yes, but perhaps not Melbourne's nicest spot.

Stretching along the banks of the Yarra, Southbank is a bustling strip with a huge variety of cafés, restaurants and bars. Home to the Crown Casino, this is area maintains a continual stream of foot traffic and visitors year round.

This densely populated residential suburb offers inner city living in high apartment blocks. It is right in the thick of things, with the CBD just a short walk across the river, parklands ringing the area and all of the nightlife and entertainment along the leisure precinct on the edge of the Yarra.

A great spot to live if you like lots of people and a party atmosphere.

South Yarra is one of THE suburbs to live in. It is a prestigious address with a number of top dollar properties. However there are also quite a few well-priced rental options in neatly maintained townhouses and apartment blocks, so living here at an affordable price just might be possible.

The best thing about South Yarra for the young and trendy is the super-stylish Chapel Street. Lined with shops, cafes and bars, it is perfect for cosmpolitan living. Meet your girlfriends here for a long lunch and spot of shopping - you will love it!

South Yarra is in a very convenient locations, just minutes to the CBD by tram or a comfortable 30 minute walk.

Toorak is a blue ribbon suburb. The homes are grand, the gardens are large and perfectly maintained, and prices to live here are very high.

Just 5 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, it is an exclusive inner city suburb. There are a number of cafes and shops in the Toorak Village, plus you are just a short drive or walk from many other shopping strips in Melbourne. There is a range of private schools in the surrounding suburbs.

A great spot for Melbourne's elite, but well outside of the price range of most people.

The Docklands is quite a new area of Melbourne. It has undergone a major facelift in recent times, with a huge number of apartment blocks and waterside townhouses being built. A number of cafes, restaurants and bars have also popped up.

The area is home to a number of young professionals who work in the area, after many of the large businesses have relocated their offices here.

The area is all very convenient, and really quite nice. However the major downside is the wind!! This place seems to funnel huge gusts from the sea, so brace yourself every time you set outside.

Bairnsdale is located on the Princes Highway about 280 kilometres from Melbourne.

Sadly Bairnsdale is in the heart of the region that was devastated by bushfires earlier this year, and so the community is rebuilding itself and many of the buildings in the surrounding region, and the vegetation is growing again.

The sense of community here is very strong. Its population is close to 12,000, and the town is home to a number of families, and offers a number of facilities, with many schools and recreational activities.

Bairnsdale is a commercial hub, providing many services to the Gippsland region.

Hotham Heights is an alpine village set at the summit of Mt Hotham in the Victorian Alps. It is about 380 kilometres from Melbourne, and can be accessed by a very windy drive along the Great Alpine Road.

Mt Hotham is a thriving ski resort, and is absolutely packed with thrillseekers in winter. The resort area is also a popular mountain-biking, bushwalking and hiking area in summer.

Hotham Heights offers the bare basics - a small convenience store, a ski resort, a couple of cafes and lots of tourist accommodation in the form of ski chalets and hotels. You will need to travel to the larger towns nearby for most of your needs. It is a peaceful and quiet spot during the warmer months, but very busy (and cold!) in winter. A great place to visit, perhaps not the best place to live.

Bendigo is Victoria's 4th largest city, and has a population of close to 90,000 and continues to grow. It is a provincial hub and commercial centre, situated 130 km from Melbourne.

It is a great spot for raising a family. The town has all of the essential services, a number of schools, lots of shops and restaurants and cafes. There are a number of recreational activities, with a number of sports facilities, ovals and sporting teams.

Housing options are numerous. There are lots of typical suburban brick homes in the town streets. Many locals choose to live in some of the smaller nearby towns or on farming properties, and commute to the town for work.

Central to the town's growth and success is Bendigo Bank, Australia's 5th largest bank, which is headquartered in the town centre.

Port Fairy is a delightful spot, nestled on the coast of western Victoria about 300 km from Melbourne. It is a country town with a population of around 3,000, that swells with the influx of tourists in the summer months.

The town itself has all of the key facilities, plus a number of shops, pubs and restaurants. The larger town of Warnambool is only a 20 minute drive away.

It is a great spot for relaxed country living. Fishing and boating is popular with the locals, and many live on farms in the surrounding areas.

The true charm of Port Fairy lies in its location, with rugged coastlines and beautiful beaches. The only real downside is the weather - often cold and rainy, and the water can be freezing!

Collins Street is often called Little Paris - a reference to the charming buildings, leafy streets and ground floor cafés. There are a number of apartments here, many in the upper floors of the high rise buildings above buildings and hotels.

This is a great spot to live, particularly if you are looking for super-convenient inner city living in the heart of the CBD. Your office would be two seconds away, and you can easily hop on a tram to any Melbourne locations. The shops are nearby, and there are a range of gyms. The Melbourne CBD is flanked by a number of large parklands, so you can definitely spend some time outdoors even if your apartment doesn't have a courtyard or balcony.

The obvious downside is the traffic and the lack of packing. It can also be noisy at nightime due to the number of trendy nightspots in the area.

Flinders Lane is a narrow and charming lane, with one way traffic and lots of pedestrians. There are a number of high rise apartment blocks here, set in between hotels and other businesses.

The location is perfect if you like apartment living. It is right in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. The main business areas are just minutes away, as are the many tram stops so you can hop on a tram to wherever you need. Melbourne's main shopping area is in the next block, so you have everything you need at your fingertips.

However there are some downsides to this street. Parking is impossible - you will need to ensure that your apartment has parking on offer if you have a car. The street can be busy and noisy at night, as locals skip between bars. Certain spots are noisy in the morning too, as the local cafes and bars empty their bins. Triple glazing is definitely required!

Coolangatta is the southern-most town of Queensland's Gold Coast, which is the sprawling stretch of beaches and high rises to the south of Brisbane.

One of Australia's most famous tourist attractions, this place is busy at the best of times and visitors flock to the region to make the most of the beaches, atmosphere and nightlife.

Living in Coolangatta can be quite cruisy, if you can find a spot away from the crowds. The homes are large on reasonably sized blocks, there are a number of schools and various transport options (including an airport with frequent flights around Australia).

The climate and the beaches are the true stand-out points for this spot.

Maroochydore is the commercial hub of the Sunshine Coast. Offering a large number of businesses, shops, schools and other services, this coastal town is a good spot for families to be based.

The major drawcard for Maroochydore, like many other spots along the Sunshine Coast, is the balmy weather and rolling surf beaches. It is a pristine coastline, and many of the locals hit the sand before and after school or work.

The town has a major airport and a number of other transport links, and is only 120 km north of Brisbane.