Usually, it’s Sydney and Melbourne that are hailed as the residential hot spots of Australia, but that could quickly be changing.

A British couple who have spent months travelling around the country say they’ve found ‘the best’ place to live – and it’s a coastal city that many people overlook.

The UK teachers, who regularly document their adventures online, revealed that Newcastle is where they’ve decided to call home, and thousands agree.

‘We’ve lived in most major cities across Australia, and people are always surprised to learn where we’ve decided to settle down for a while,’ they said.

After spending the past month in the New South Wales city, the couple said they have become convinced it’s one of the most liveable places in the country.

Their endorsement quickly sparked a wave of agreement online, with locals, former residents and fellow expats flooding the comments to declare the coastal city one of Australia’s most underrated places.

The couple said that Newcastle offered many benefits of a major city while retaining the relaxed atmosphere of a much smaller coastal town.

‘First and foremost, the beaches are incredible, [and] they’re not overcrowded like they can be in Sydney,’ they said.

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A British couple (pictured) who have spent months travelling around the country say the ‘best’ place to live in Australia is the coastal city of Newcastle, NSW

‘The water is crystal clear, and there are so many places for safe swimming with the ocean baths too.

‘Even though it’s a smaller city, it’s got everything you could need and want from a bigger city. You’d never get bored here.’

Another major selling point was its location, which gives residents easy access to some of New South Wales’ most popular destinations.

‘It’s only a two hour drive from Sydney, so you could always go down if you were wanting a weekend in the big city, [and] there’s Hunter Valley, forty minutes away,’ they said.

‘There are so many day trip options from here, which makes it such a great place to explore the rest of Australia.’

However, it was Newcastle’s strong sense of community that ultimately sealed the deal.

‘We’ve only been here for about a month, but we already feel like we’ve built quite a big network of people which is so important to us, given we’re so far from everyone else we know.’

Their glowing review resonated with hundreds of people who said they had come to the same conclusion after living in the city themselves.

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Their endorsement quickly sparked a wave of agreement online, with thousands of locals, former residents and fellow expats flooding the comments to declare the coastal city one of Australia’s most underrated places to call home

One British expat wrote: ‘We moved from Bamber Bridge in the UK 21 years ago live near Newcastle. We love it here and NOT going back ever.’

‘I’ve lived in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane and I was lucky enough to meet my wife who lived in Newcastle and this is by far the best place I’ve ever lived in my life,’ another said.

A former local who relocated interstate admitted they still miss the city years later.

‘Newie born & bred- sadly moved to Brisbane for work three years ago and oh how I miss Newcastle! Enjoy,’ they commented.

‘You are so right! Newy doesn’t feel like a big city, it feels like a giant coastal village,’ one person wrote.

What’s more important when choosing where to live?

Beaches and lifestyle

Career opportunities

Affordability

Family and community

‘I was lucky enough to spend just under two months living in Newcastle, and the biggest thing that stuck with me is the unbelievable sense of community.’

‘We love Newy. Lived here for over 25 years. We travelled round Australia in 2019 open to staying somewhere else for a while, but nothing had everything that Newy does,’ another long-time resident added.

A migrant who arrived by chance three years ago shared a similar sentiment.

‘I might be the luckiest person I know! I landed in Australia and, by coincidence, went straight to Newcastle three years ago. It has since become my home town,’ they said.

‘Been here all my life, been many countries and Newcastle is up there with the best! Welcome I hope you love it!’ a fellow local wrote.

Newcastle is Australia’s second-oldest city and the gateway to the Hunter Region.

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Popular attractions include the Newcastle Ocean Baths and the historic Bogey Hole ocean pool (pictured), which was carved into the coastline by convicts more than two hundred years ago, and it’s close proximity to the Hunter Valley wine region within an hour’s drive away

While historically known for its industrial harbour and coal exports, the city has transformed itself into one of the state’s most desirable lifestyle destinations, combining a thriving food and café scene with world-class beaches and easy access to nature.

Popular attractions include the Newcastle Ocean Baths and the historic Bogey Hole ocean pool, which was carved into the coastline by convicts more than two hundred years ago.

Visitors can also take in sweeping ocean views along the Bathers Way coastal walk, explore the city’s military history at Fort Scratchley, or spend an afternoon browsing the boutiques, cafés and restaurants that line Darby Street in Cooks Hill.

For nature lovers, nearby highlights include Blackbutt Reserve, Glenrock State Conservation Area and the aforementioned Hunter Valley wine region, which sits dangerously close.

And if the reaction to the couple’s viral video is anything to go by, Newcastle’s reputation as one of Australia’s most liveable cities may not remain a secret for much longer.

SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/lifestyle/article-15902681/British-couple-reveals-BEST-place-live-Australia-newcastle.html