A British couple living in Australia have shared the surprising place they would like to call home as more and more people ditch major cities for a simpler life.
Cost-of-living pressures have been the driving factor for hundreds of Aussies who are turning their backs on dense city living in favour of smaller, regional areas.
But for Lydia and Darryl Bugg, there’s another option for those who aren’t quite ready to give up city life entirely.
The married couple spent the whole of 2022 travelling in Australia, and spent roughly three months living in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
But when they returned this year, hoping to settle down and call Australia home once and for all, they “accidentally” found themselves in Newcastle, a smaller coastal city roughly two hours north of Sydney.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Lydia, 27, and Darryl, 29, said they accepted a housesit on a whim at The Hill, an inner-city, residential suburb of Newcastle. Housesitting allows them to live rent-free in Australia.
“We’ve been there for about two months, and we absolutely fell in love with it,” Lydia said.
“We genuinely think it’s the best city to live in in Australia”.
The UK couple think Newcastle is the best city in Australia. Source: Getty
The beaches are “incredible” and not as busy as those in Sydney. And for a smaller city, Newcastle has “everything you could need and want from a bigger city,” they said.
Just a two-hour drive from Sydney, the beachside city is also ideally located.
“There are so many daytrip options from here, which make it a great place to explore the rest of Australia,” they said in a video on TikTok, where they’ve been sharing their travels.
Have you ditched a big city for a quieter life? We’d love to hear from you newsroomau@yahoonews.com
Lydia and Darryl Bugg say Newcastle beaches are much quieter than those in Sydney. Source: TikTok/thetravelbuggs
Couple ditch Sydney for a more laid-back lifestyle
The couple said that while they “absolutely love Sydney”, they didn’t get the “sense of community” they feel Newcastle offers. And with plans to start a family, they felt this was important.
“I think for us it’s just that laid-back lifestyle of having the beaches, and having everything you need without it being a major city,” Lydia said.
“Every morning we will go for a walk, and see the same faces every day. Whereas if you go for a walk in Sydney, you would see different people every single day, every single minute.”
The couple said it was “much harder” to connect with other people in Sydney.
Aussies moving away from major cities
The couple join the growing number of Aussies who are flocking to smaller towns or cities, and while some are seeking more affordable options, others are simply looking for a more laid-back lifestyle.
According to the latest Regional Movers Index (RMI), Aussies continue to look towards the regions for a new life, with experts expecting this trend to continue.
The report, powered by Commonwealth Bank data and produced in partnership with the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), revealed the top five destinations for net internal migration included:
Sydney and Melbourne are seeing the biggest exodus, accounting for 54 per cent and 38 per cent of net outflows respectively.
Right now, the couple say they will continue house-sitting, but would one day love to find a place of their own.
“It’s where we could see ourselves long term. Newcastle just ticked every single box for us,” Lydia said.
“While bigger cities obviously have so much to offer, I think it’s just really important that some of these smaller cities get the recognition that they deserve for having this community aspect,” she added.
“I would say [to others] just research other places before you decide that big city life is for you”.
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