{"id":619251,"date":"2026-04-20T13:43:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/619251\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:43:13","slug":"expats-choose-australias-best-city-to-live-in-after-travelling-the-country-fell-in-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/619251\/","title":{"rendered":"Expats choose Australia’s ‘best city to live in’ after travelling the country: ‘Fell in love’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A British couple living in Australia<\/a> have shared the surprising place they would like to call home as more and more people ditch major cities for a simpler life<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cost-of-living pressures <\/a>have been the driving factor for hundreds of Aussies who are turning their backs on dense city living<\/a> in favour of smaller, regional areas.<\/p>\n

But for Lydia and Darryl Bugg, there’s another option for those who aren’t quite ready to give up city life entirely.<\/p>\n

The married couple spent the whole of 2022 travelling in Australia<\/a>, and spent roughly three months living in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.<\/p>\n

But when they returned this year, hoping to settle down and call Australia home once and for all,<\/a> they “accidentally” found themselves in Newcastle, a smaller coastal city roughly two hours north of Sydney.<\/p>\n

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. <\/a><\/p>\n

“We’ve been there for about two months, and we absolutely fell in love with it,” Lydia said.<\/p>\n

“We genuinely think it’s the best city to live in in Australia”.<\/p>\n

\"Aerial<\/p>\n

The UK couple think Newcastle is the best city in Australia. Source: Getty<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Just a two-hour drive from Sydney, the beachside city is also ideally located.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

Have you ditched a big city for a quieter life? We’d love to hear from you newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Lydia<\/p>\n

Lydia and Darryl Bugg say Newcastle beaches are much quieter than those in Sydney. Source: TikTok\/thetravelbuggs<\/p>\n

Couple ditch Sydney for a more laid-back lifestyle<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

The couple said it was “much harder” to connect with other people in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Aussies moving away from major cities<\/p>\n

The couple join the growing number of Aussies who are flocking to smaller towns or cities, <\/a>and while some are seeking more affordable options<\/a>, others are simply looking for a more laid-back lifestyle. <\/a><\/p>\n

According to the latest Regional Movers Index (RMI)<\/a>, Aussies continue to look towards the regions for a new life, with experts expecting this trend to continue.<\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n

Sydney and Melbourne are seeing the biggest exodus, accounting for 54 per cent and 38 per cent of net outflows respectively.<\/p>\n

Right now, the couple say they will continue house-sitting, but would one day love to find a place of their own.<\/p>\n

“It’s where we could see ourselves long term. Newcastle just ticked every single box for us,” Lydia said.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“I would say [to others] just research other places before you decide that big city life is for you”.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n