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Alexandra Headland is just a few k's out of the hustle and bustle of either Maroochydore or Mooloolaba. In fact, it is just between the two. The beach is great, there is a good park with facilities for children, a skate park for the older kids, a surf club and about a 30 min walk to shopping in Maroochydore or wining and dining in Mooloolaba.

There are plenty of highrises along Alexandra Pde and there are also two very well kept and popular caravan parks in the area.

With no shortage of things to do Alex it is a great place to holiday. Very laid back and a friendly place to be.

In Alex proper there are some restaurants and cafes which are very well supported by locals and holiday makers alike.

Mt Creek is a lovely estate only 10-15 mins drive north or south to everything that you could want. Situated inland a little from the coast it is within easy distance of both Maroochydore and Kawana, areas that have it all on offer.

It is only a 10 min drive to the University of Sunshine Coast and the area boasts a very good primary and high school.

There is a local shopping centre which caters well for everyday needs and there are many sporting facilities either in the area or nearby.

Alex Headland and Mooloolaba beaches are very popular and again, are only a short drive away.

One thing that is obvious in this area is that the size of the house blocks generally seem to be a little bigger and this is great for family living.

Kuluin is an area that has been going through some growth. It is about 10 min drive from Maroochydore and has been a very popular place for property investors to purchase as it was relatively cheaper than the coast. As the coast has grown Kuluin has had more commercial development and some new estates open up on the unused land.

It is near primary and high schools so it makes an ideal place for family living.

Kuluin is also very close to sports parks, the Maroochy River and the Sunshine Coast Highway that locals take to travel north and south around the coast.

There are local shops but no major shopping centre. The lovely Maroochydore shopping centre is only a short drive away.

Dickies, as the locals call it, is a very laid back beach suburb. It used to be a bit scruffy but now there are some great little cafes and takeaways that are well populated and supported by locals and holiday makers alike.

There are not too many high rise apartments in the area, but a lot of the homes in the area are let for holiday rental. Straight opposite the shopping area is a very popular caravan park.

Dicky Beach is really a super place to take the family for a holiday, so friendly and relaxing. It is only a 5 min drive into Caloundra proper, so really there is everything here that you need.

The beach hosts a lot of surf carnivals and the area just hums when they are on.

Primary schools and the high school is not too far away so children can be quite independent when they grow up in this area.

Battery Hill is a small residential area, a little elevated, giving some views from most areas out over the coastal strip. It is close to schools, beaches, cafés, new shopping centre, main road, good services and more. You can see that it is really quite a good place to live, especially if you have teenage children because it is close enough to everything for them to be independent.

It is a very safe area as it is away from the main stream of Caloundra city where there are sometimes a few problems. A lot of the children in this area hang out at the beach because within a 5 min bike ride there are 3 beaches for them to go to.

The high school is only a 10 min bike ride, but the primary school is a little further away.

The new shopping centre has a very good supermarket and a few supporting shops, but for most other shopping you would go to the Caloundra shopping centre or to Kawana shopping centre.

Currimundi used to be the forgotten beach of Caloundra but it has become very popular for two reasons: it is a safe swimming area for small children; the beach and park area have been upgraded.

When you go to Currimundi there is none of the glitz and glamour of other beaches in the Shire so it is a place that the locals like to hang out and not feel crowded out by the holiday makers.

The shopping area in Currimundi has also upgraded, although it is more for commercial purposes like car yards, than it is for clothing and cafés.

Real estate in this area used to be cheap by comparison and probably still is, but it has been creeping up as developments take place. Even so Curris, as the locals call it, is still very much a residential area.

The Unversity of Queensland is in Gatton and many a farmer has left the university to go out and improve the family property. It really is in the centre of some of the richest farming land in Australia.

It is a lovely sight to drive through this area and see the properties that are obviously being run to perfection. Crop rotation is strong and the crops are some of the best around and sought after by the top chefs in the area.

Even though other towns are not too far away Gatton has a strong community involvement.

To the west is Toowoomba and to the east is Brisbane and the Gold Coast, so Gatton is well situated for accessing all that south east Qld has to offer.

Toogoolawah is a real country town. It is only small and it services the local farming commuity.

If you are wanting to drive to Toowoomba from the Sunshine Coast you either have to go south through Brisbane and then through Ipswich, or you take the inland road and pass through Toogoolawah. For this reason the little town has good food takeaway places, probably better than one would expect for the size of the town.

Lake Wivenhoe and Lake Somerset are not too far away and they are very popular fishing spots for the locals.

Many coast people head in this direction if they want a country style holiday and a 'get away from it all' break.

I remember getting on the ferry in the late afternoon in Melbourne, leaving a brown dried state behind and waking up in the morning to the most brilliant green trees and pastures as we neared Tasmania. I could not believe my eyes.

We docked in Devonport, drove off the ferry and decided to have a good look around the area.

North west Tasmania has a very strong forrestry industry and I can see why, the growth there is something you don't often see on the mainland unless you head into the hills further north in the sub-tropical areas.

The region has been developing its wine growing and there are some superb vineyards to visit and wine to be tasted in the local area.

There is a lot of farming all along the north of Tasmania and the area survives quite well.

Historically you will find all sorts of intriguing information as much of its hereitage has been saved.

Being isolated from the mainland of Australia one could be forgiven for thinking that Hobart would be a bit behind the times, but it is not. Sure, there are still many heritage buildings around as there are in all cities, but Hobart has mixed the old and the new well.

Hobart is actually the second oldest city in Australia and armed with that knowledge you start thinking about the history that is in the area. They say that in Hobart you say you will do something, then you think about it, then you say again that you will do something about it, and then you do. They call that the laid back Australian way. I guess with no pressure from other areas you can afford to be so laid back.

As one would expect with an island city, fishing is a very strong industry here and Tasmanian hardwoods are another export from Tasmania. The hardwoods are very sought after for their quality and attractiveness.

The city lets rip at the end of every year being the end of the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, bringing hundreds into the city and a good time is had by all.

Eagle Farm is very much one of the transport and commercial centres of Brisbane. It is next to the Brisbane River on the south and the Brisbane airport on the north-east. As well as that, the Pacific Highway access is right there for all the transporting companies.

Another feature of Eagle Farm is the horse racing and it is known world wide for the horse racing in the area.

From the port, goods are unloaded and are stored in the large storage sheds running along the river front.

Eagle Farm is not a particular pretty place and it is rather noisy with all the activity that goes on.

Bondi has a name that has grown in stature over the years. One of Sydney's best surf beaches and most definitely one of the most popular. People visit Bondi Beach in their droves, especially the New Zealanders.

Real estate in Bondi is now very expensive and it attracts the rich and wealthy. There are no end of eateries, cafés, fine dining restaurants and bars along the front and up the streets of Bondi.

The beach is spectacular, not overly long by northern coast standards, but the beach area is wide and even on a busy day you can find a spot to sit. Very much the beach for the body beautifuls.

Both ends of the beach have a protected pool and at the northern end there is a children's wading pool.

There are highrise apartments along the front and on the hills at either end of the beach. From these apartments you would get fabulous views across the beach and beyond.

Bondi is the desired spot for locals and holiday makers alike. People from the west of Sydney will make the trip across to Bondi for the day, that is how popular it is.

Clovelly does have a beach to its name but it is only hankerchief size. The Clovelly inlet is very narrow and not even surf gets in, more a swell if anything.

Clovelly is really more a residential suburb and if people from here want to go to the beach they would probably go to Bondi Beach or Coogee. Both places are within walking distance, although Bondi is really a bit of a stretch.

Very much a rental area with young people and beach lovers living in the area. It really has quite a transient population.

Clovelly itself does not have much in the way of shopping or eateries and the like, and even for these people would gravitate to other area.

There are some stunning views to be had though from around the headland walkways and from some of the apartment buildings.

Coogee is a great place to live. The beach is not very large but that is part of its beauty. There is a lot of rental properties around this area and is a popular place for singles to hang out. There are good park areas near the beach and a range of eateries available.

There are 3 main entertainment places; the Coogee Bay Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach and the Coogii Palace bars.

Coogee is such a great place to visit and there is a wide variety of accommodation from backpackers through to luxury accommodation overlooking the bay.

At the southern end of the beach there is a saltwater pool for those who prefer to swim in an enclosed area. One visit to the beach and you will just love it.

Beach activities are popular and sand volley ball is regularly held here.

To the north over the headland is Clovelly and to the south is Maroubra, both popular in their own right.

Manly has a great beach, a very trendy area for relaxing and enjoying the beach lifestyle. Many people live here and work in Sydney and commute by sea. The boat service is excellent with large boats that can travel in nearly all weathers.

Tourism is very strong in Manly and many visitors to Sydney will catch the ferry around to Manly as a chance to view the Sydney harbour and also to visit the sights offered at Manly. Oceanworld is very popular with tourists and locals alike with regular shows during the day.

Manly beach is a top surfing beach and swimming beach as well. Near the wharf there is calmer water for the littlies to swim and enjoy the bay.

Being on the ocean front, Manly has some great eateries and there are many sporting activities to get involved in. For the locals there are the usual support services and many sporting clubs that get a huge following from the area.

Terrigal is a major coastal suburb of the Central Coast of NSW, very popular as a holiday destination for Sydneysiders and also for rural holiday makers. There has always been a strong attraction to this area for holidays. The beaches are superb and the town is very laid back and a very relaxed lifestyle for those living here.

It used to be a smallish area but has grown into quite a large fairly densly populated area, mostly along the coastal strip. As Sydney has grown so too has this area attracted more permanent living.

The beach and coastal lifestyle is the main reason for people coming here. Only 12km away is the city of Gosford which has all the conveniences that are needed.

Gosford was always a popular holiday destination on the north of Sydney, but as Sydney has expanded Gosford has become a popular place for bringing up a family.

There are lots of little holiday hideaways and the city of Gosford has a lot to offer for lifestyle living. Terrigal on the coast is only a short drive away and a very sought after destination for the surfing crowd.

This whole area of Broken Bay is very popular for boating of all sorts. There are many bays and inlets for all types of water sports. Leading up to Gosford is a large bay and there are also wet lands nearby that harbors much in the way of bird life.

It really is such a safe place to bring up a family with many interests on offer for family activities. The weather is also very mild.

Armidale is often referred to as the university and cathedral city, but it is also referred to as the city of four seasons. Located in the Great Dividing Range, Armidale experiences all four seasons which so many coastal cities do not.

The University of New England, as it is now called (used to University of Sydney), was founded in 1938 and is well established. In fact, Armidale has a very strong educational background, partly because many of the farming familes tend to support the schooling in this area.

This factor makes Armidale a very attractive city all year round. There are many historical sites to see and there are half and full day tours out of town to various pastoral homesteads and historical areas. There are beautiful drives into the National Parks and bush walks suitable for all. All up this area is a very interesting place to visit.

Winter is very cold and the area is lovely as the autumn leaves turn colour.

For the locals there is a wide range of interests to keep the family occupied. As long as the weather does not bother you, this is a lovely place to live.

Coffs, as it is called by the locals, is a mixture of flat and hilly areas. This creates an interest and also gives rise to various activities around the area.

It is a great family area, big enough to keep the kids interested but does not have all the problems that some of the larger cities do.

Activities available are: surfing, mountain bike riding, whitewater rafting, bush walking, scuba diving, yachting, bowling, golf, and more.

There really is no need to be bored in Coffs.

The fishing and banana growing industries are very strong in this area and support the area very well.

Tourism is quite strong, but the area is not reliant on it as some coastal cityies are.

Maitland is a cultural area and very much a rural area where horseriding, heritage walks, markets, festivals, wine tastings and vineyard visiting are the main attractions.

The wine region of the Hunter Valley attracts tourists from all over the world, and especially Australians. There are many areas where people can stay over for the weekend, and airlines are cashing in on the industry by creating cheap flights into Newcastle.

There are some annual festivals held in the area and these draw the crowds.
But then again, the vineyards are really the biggest draw card.

Maitland is not that far from Newcastle and many people who live on acreage also work in the city. Maitland is ideal for grazing the family horses.