Melbourne has some of the best sand-belt golf courses in Australia and a couple are inthe top 100 in the world. Alas, I've never played any of them (from a struggling 19 handicapper who doesn't play as often as he would like!). Joining them might be a little more difficult and impossible to play golf without a car to carry your clubs!!

Social life...golly, Melbourne is the social capital of Australia - cosmopolitan, great bars and restaurants...I'd live there if it wasn't for the weather (when compared with Brisbane where I live!).