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Most liveable City (for climbers)


brat

18-Jul-2006
8:27:40 AM

My Girlfriends 4yo nephew was recently diagnosed with Lukemia (AAL) and it looks like we are moving to Sydney so she can assist/support her sister where-ever possible.

Having just moved from Brisbane (Qld) to Kew (Vic) and previously Hobart (Tas) I'm finding the different climbing options quality/access/variety extreme. Any thoughts on which capital city you'd live/work and the climbing options given a free choice?

armyiain

18-Jul-2006
8:32:10 AM

NOT CANBERRA

Either Syndey or Melb would be excellent

dalai

18-Jul-2006
9:10:03 AM

Brat - sorry to hear about your Girlfriends nephew. Best of luck with their treatment.

From a climbing only point of view, Sydney would have to be my pick of the Capital cities for good year round climbing.

-Quality Bouldering in the Suburbs.
-Reasonable routes including the atmospheric sea cliffs.
-Okay Gyms.
-Nowra ~2 hrs South. Winter Sport and Summer trad at nearby Point Perp.
-Blue Mountains ~2 hrs West Mainly Summer Sport and Trad, though the locals will climb most of the year up there.

Negatives - Most expensive city to live in and shocking traffic...

jonorock

18-Jul-2006
9:41:26 AM

Canberra for me. 45-60min to huge amounts of granite. River crags only 20 min drive from city. 2.5hrs to Nowra, 3hrs to Point Perp, 3.5hrs to Blue Mtns, 1.5hrs to Bungonia. And no traffic etc etc etc.

armyiain

18-Jul-2006
10:04:23 AM

Ok I revise. If you can climb 20+ Canberra might not be too bad. Still prefer Syd/Melb


kerroxapithecus

18-Jul-2006
10:06:57 AM

What a beautiful thing to do. That's what I was talking about in the Everest Hero Slams Modern Climbers thread about giving things up to help others. There's not a lot of people who would do that even for family in our every woman for herself society. IMO the support can greatly increase the child's chance of survival. Well, I heard about a research study into women with breast cancer and those who had a good support network had a greater chance of survival.
Sydney is liveable but it's getting crowded. Everythings on tap though and it's pleasant enough. Excellent work opportunities. Gets a bit tough if you have to drive long distances in traffic. You didn't say where you'd be living but there are gyms in the north, north west, northern beaches, city, and west. Good freeway access to Blue Mtns and plenty of people climb at locations in the metro area. I imagine the child may be treated at one of the childrens' hospitals either Randwick in the eastern suburbs or Northmead in the north west. The crowds are mainly in the city, inner west and east. I'm on the North Shore. If you need any help let us know. Hope all goes well for the little boy and family.

Kerrin


rodw

18-Jul-2006
10:11:36 AM

Its got to be Sydney, no matter were ya live in Sydney you will have climbing or bouldering somewhere within 20 minutes. The climbing might not be world class but you can find some clasics in the burbs and no other city in Australia has this many crags within its limits.

Sydney Climbing

Plenty of climbing gyms to choose from for training during the week as well.


brat

18-Jul-2006
10:20:39 AM

Thanks for the support and kind words.

Nat (Natalie) is the sweetest person I've met and I'm lucky she's with me.

By chance???? her sister lives in Randwick, the hospital is very close, I'm hoping to get a place near Coogee, there seems to be a few distractions there that may help keep her sane.


kerroxapithecus

18-Jul-2006
10:32:30 AM

Yes, hang on to that one Brat.

The eastern suburbs is a great place to be. Although I live in the north I go over there every week day to drive my daughter to school. (long story). Coogee is lovely and yes, lots of distractions with beach and cafe/restaurant scene. Lovely people and community. You'll really enjoy it.


BigMike

18-Jul-2006
10:46:47 AM

On 18/07/2006 kerroxapithecus wrote:

>
>Coogee is lovely and yes, lots of distractions with beach and cafe/restaurant
>scene. Lovely people and community. You'll really enjoy it.

And in no time you'll have a lilting Irish accent like all your neighbours! :-0


tnd

18-Jul-2006
11:00:18 AM

On 18/07/2006 kerroxapithecus wrote:
>Lovely people and community. You'll really enjoy it.
Except for the bloody backpackers.


BigMike

18-Jul-2006
11:15:16 AM

On 18/07/2006 tnd wrote:

>Except for the bloody backpackers.

And speaking of lilting Irish accents ....


tnd

18-Jul-2006
11:27:17 AM

On 18/07/2006 BigMike wrote:
>On 18/07/2006 tnd wrote:
>
>>Except for the bloody backpackers.
>
>And speaking of lilting Irish accents ....
At least oi'm not a backpacker fer feck's sake.

Ronny

18-Jul-2006
11:29:26 AM

I too am sorry to hear about your g/f's nephew - I hope things go ok.

I was thinking about similar issues a few months back and started a thread which is here: http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=Display&ForumID=1&MessageID=29192&Replies=39

I came to the conclusion that Sydney was probably the best for 'daytrippable' climbing. The Gramps may be close to Melbourne, but I get the feeling that its still quit a drive for a day.

I'm now moving to Sydney in December.


billk

18-Jul-2006
12:12:44 PM

Hi Brat

Sorry to hear about your GF's nephew.

It's great that you can be there to help out.

You can be confident it will all turn out OK. Treatment for childhood leukaemia is now highly successful (around 95%). Things have improved dramatically in childhood leukaemia treatment over the past two decades.


HM33

18-Jul-2006
12:45:35 PM

how could sydney be beaten for climbing convenience?

the traffic is only really bad if you decide to drive your car into the city.


Richard

18-Jul-2006
1:10:11 PM

>the traffic is only really bad if you decide to drive your car into the city.

or try and cycle...


belayslave

18-Jul-2006
5:59:43 PM

I can't believe no one has put there hand up for Hobart.
and Tassie in general.
Hobart:
- numerous local crags of note worthy training and fun after work type stuff 5-15minutes from city
- Organ Pipes 20 mins from city. 100's of great routes (not to mention all the other crags on the mountain.
- hell you can drive one end of the state to the other in 2 hours and there's 1000's of great routes
everywhere inbetween in some of the most beautiful settings.

Darrren

18-Jul-2006
7:22:29 PM

Hobart sux no crags for winter you have to drive to fare to climb

Launceston the way forward you can live in a house above the crags and there are lots of them

Where else can you do that

Ask anyone they will tell you that natimuk is the capital of australia


Diablo

18-Jul-2006
7:36:27 PM

Damn straight, i vote Natimuk for the Countries Capital, who needs Canberra!

There are 31 messages in this topic.