Which suburbs are best to live in Canberra for someone who doesn't have a car?

Question

Will be moving to Canberra next year but don't have a car. This means that I will be reliant on public transport to travel into the city each day. Would like to live close to the city centre but it is a bit pricey. So which suburbs can you recomment for someone without a car?

Answer 1

I live in Canberra and the Action bus service provides a good service to all suburbs. Here is their website http://www.action.act.gov.au/

I live in Holt which is in Belconnen and close to Kippax where there is a Woolworths and Aldi supermarket among other things. I have a choice of around four bus services to the City.

I don't know if you are buying or rent a home but this site gives you a good idea of prices for both and a good idea of which suburbs are closest to the city - http://allhomes.com.au/c/ah?a=frmadvmap&sfs=y&sfr=y. Tuggeranong is the furthest away from the city.

PS I have thought more about this and you will probably find the suburbs of Page or Scullin (Belconnen Area) good location wise. They are close to Belconnen Mall and have good bus access to the City. Woden and Weston Creek are also reasonably close but the housing prices are higher. http://www.suburbs.canberra.net.au/html/fsregion.htm

Answer 2

Where are you going to be working? What do you mean the "city"? There are large employment centres in "Civic" which is the old commercial centre, Woden, Belconnen and Tuggeranong. Most of the health department for instance is in Woden, while the industry dept. is partly in Woden and partly in Civic. Suburbs close to these centres tend to be more expensive than those further away.

Express buses run between these centres, so it you happen to live in one it does not take long to get to the next. But you have to get to the bus depot first.

I have been here a good few years and found that if you happen to live within a short distance of work the fastest way to get there is a bicycle. Some cyclists here whine about the cycle paths but they are far better than in most Australian cities. You do not need to wear the clown clothes to ride a bicycle.

Get a street map of Canberra and have a good look at it.

Answer 3

Ok, in the north stay away from, Charnwood, the back side of Ngunnawal, and Emu Ridge. South, stay away from Kambah, Richardson near the local shops and Erindale around the shops. Those areas tend to have a lot of units, and can have more crime. The best and most expensive are Forrest, Red Hill, Yarralumla, Harcourt Hill, Kingston, Manuka and Turner. There are parks all over Canberra, but the newer areas of Gungahlin have quite a lot of land reserved for parks and bike tracks. There are lots of familys there, they have a brand new, big shopping centre, and lots of nice, new schools. You should get reasonable rent in Palmerston, Amaroo, Harrison and the front side of Ngunnawal. In Tuggeranong (south) you'll probably get something nice in Bonython, Calwell, Gordon or Monash Ridge. They all have local shops, but are also close to The Hyperdome, where there is a big lake surrounded by parkland. The closer to the city you go, obviously the more rent you'll pay, but you should have plenty to choose from for $350. Good luck, its a lovely place to live!!

Answer 4

I lived in Belconnen near the centre, where it was a five minute walk to the bus station, then a twenty five minute trip to the city.

Canberra is pricey. Only come if you have a good job or are going to the ANU.