Many countries and cities are aesthetically appealing, but the reality of living there and breathing in the daily air can sour positive first impressions.
Australia is one of the few countries which can successfully satisfy both criteria. Yes, it is visually spectacular! But its residents also enjoy a high quality of life, a superb education and health system, a stable economic and political environment, clean and safe surroundings, freedom of cultural and religious expression, and technologically advanced infrastructure and transport systems
This is objectively confirmed in the World Competitiveness Handbook 2002 and by the Economist Intelligence Unit in London which recently evaluated 130 cities worldwide, in terms of their "liveability". Five of Australia's state capitals appeared in the top 10, with Melbourne occupying first position