Brisbane has a very good triathlon culture but 80% of the local races are in summer. So you need to be good with racing in the heat and humidity. Open water swim opportunities are quite good(Ennogera Dam, Redcliffe) . Bike riding opportunities are great but there are some bad apples amongst the car drivers so be careful.
Its the most isolated city in the world but Perth is fantastic location for training. Bike paths everywhere, 100’s of olympic length pools (beaches too but plenty of sharks) and the best weather in Australia.
Totally disagree having lived there for 6 months. Swimming facilities are great but cycling is terrible: the bike paths are poorly maintained (or at least they were when I was there) and you can’t ride at speed, and the city is so sprawling that if you want to get out you either have to drive with your bike or ride for ages down some hideous main road. I used to go for a Sunday group ride with one of the main bike shops in the city and it consisted of riding out to an industrial estate or a housing estate in Fremantle and doing laps. Awful. Running is OK but you really have to do it in parks and because the weather is so terrible in summer (phenomenally hot) it’s really hard to get a good run in. Add the astonishingly high cost of living (and that’s from someone who lives in London), the widespread racism, the generally massive levels of parochialism and the really poor public transport and you really don’t have a great place to live, plus there are only about 3 races a year.
I didn’t like Perth much, in case you can’t tell.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. We have one of the best climates in the world. We didn’t have a day over 40 last summer and this year perhaps one or two. Even on hot days the temps drop right off in the evenings, so you run after work or in the morning. You came to Perth, which has some amazing riding and did laps around an industrial estate? That’s beyond moronic… 3 races a year? WTF? Have you actually been to Perth? This season there were 49 races listed on Triathlon WAs calendar plus another 10+ community races. 2009 was no different. You sound like a typical Englishman and a very negative individual, come to Perth and moan that the beaches are shit, because there are no pubs there… And BTW I lived in the UK for 7/8 years so more than happy to compare the two places 
Well said, I was thinking the same thing.
Perth has one of the best climates in the world. Yes, in summer it can get hot but never got in the way of training as I just train early in the morning and are home before the heat is too bad.
There is a reason we are ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world…
A few perthites in here… who’s doing busso ?
Unless you like it hot, steer clear of Queensland.
It’s nice in winter for training but in summer you have to be done training by about 6am as it just gets too dag hot.
A better question is what will you be doing for work? How long are you planning on staying.
Geelong just south 45mins of Melbourne is excellent but winter gets cold. Not snow but cold. 6c-13c however summer autumn and spring are spectacular and there are a few awesome tri groups there and also good cycling groups and races. You can ride for 200km without a traffic light along the great ocean road. google that.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. We have one of the best climates in the world. We didn’t have a day over 40 last summer and this year perhaps one or two. Even on hot days the temps drop right off in the evenings, so you run after work or in the morning.
OK, perhaps I was there on an exceptional year, but the time I was there it was ferociously hot for long periods of time. Maybe that’s not normal, but I assumed that it was.
You came to Perth, which has some amazing riding and did laps around an industrial estate? That’s beyond moronic…
This was the Sunday morning ride from one of the main bike shops in the centre of town. I thought it was moronic as well but that’s what they did.
3 races a year? WTF? Have you actually been to Perth? This season there were 49 races listed on Triathlon WAs calendar plus another 10+ community races. 2009 was no different.
Sorry, I recall there being very few. Maybe I’m just spoiled by the number there are here. Pleased to see that you’re sufficiently annoyed that you counted them though.
You sound like a typical Englishman and a very negative individual, come to Perth and moan that the beaches are shit, because there are no pubs there… And BTW I lived in the UK for 7/8 years so more than happy to compare the two places
Nothing like going for the ad-hominem to make your argument sound more convincing. Well done mate.
London is better than Perth for triathlon training… where are these “excellent open water swimming options” you refer to?
There are plenty. I’m not going to count them for you.
And you also recommend Johannsburg, one of the most dangerous cities in the world…
I just commented that it has perfect weather and excellent riding, both of which are true. Of course another advantage it has over London is that it’s not full of whining Aussies
I have no idea what you’re talking about. We have one of the best climates in the world. We didn’t have a day over 40 last summer and this year perhaps one or two. Even on hot days the temps drop right off in the evenings, so you run after work or in the morning.
OK, perhaps I was there on an exceptional year, but the time I was there it was ferociously hot for long periods of time. Maybe that’s not normal, but I assumed that it was.
You came to Perth, which has some amazing riding and did laps around an industrial estate? That’s beyond moronic…
This was the Sunday morning ride from one of the main bike shops in the centre of town. I thought it was moronic as well but that’s what they did.
3 races a year? WTF? Have you actually been to Perth? This season there were 49 races listed on Triathlon WAs calendar plus another 10+ community races. 2009 was no different.
Sorry, I recall there being very few. Maybe I’m just spoiled by the number there are here. Pleased to see that you’re sufficiently annoyed that you counted them though.
You sound like a typical Englishman and a very negative individual, come to Perth and moan that the beaches are shit, because there are no pubs there… And BTW I lived in the UK for 7/8 years so more than happy to compare the two places
Nothing like going for the ad-hominem to make your argument sound more convincing. Well done mate.
London is better than Perth for triathlon training… where are these “excellent open water swimming options” you refer to?
There are plenty. I’m not going to count them for you.
And you also recommend Johannsburg, one of the most dangerous cities in the world…
I just commented that it has perfect weather and excellent riding, both of which are true. Of course another advantage it has over London is that it’s not full of whining Aussies
Sorry was a bit harsh, but I get defensive when people attack my home town
Don’t rule out Sydney. Fantastic riding in the south with great TT training by Kurnell and climbing around the Royal National Park and down to Wollongong. The climate is also great, without the miserable winters that Melbourne has or the sweltering summers in Brisbane.
A few perthites in here… who’s doing busso ?
I will be flying from one of the worst locations in the world to do Triathlon, Mongolia, back to the best Tri location in the world for Busso in two weeks.
Don’t rule out Sydney. Fantastic riding in the south with great TT training by Kurnell and climbing around the Royal National Park and down to Wollongong. The climate is also great, without the miserable winters that Melbourne has or the sweltering summers in Brisbane.
Come on. There are hardly any races in Sydney compared to melbourne Brisbane Gold Coast and Perth.
Sydney can be fantastic if you live in the right area. I’d highly recommend the north. Hornsby and the suburbs a little further south, extending east to St Ives and Terrey Hills.
You would have easy access to excellent cycling with plenty of scenic hilly rides (often through national parks) with 10 climbs of 3 to 5km on popular cycling routes.
You’re also spoiled for choice with trail running in the national parks of the northern suburbs, (Ku-Ring-gai Chase, Lane Cove, Garigal, Berowra Valley National Parks) and can even follow the Great North Walk for 250km all the way to Newcastle.
There’s an abundance of 50 metre pools open all round.
Also the northern beaches are not too far away for ocean swimming, with Sydney’s most popular swim group swimming every day of the year at Manly. The Bold & Beautiful swim even attracts at least 50 swimmers on wettest weekday is the middle of winter and over 400 on some weekends. It’s popular because it’s friendly, free and you swim in a marine reserve with abundant marine life. On days when the visibility is good, it’s like swimming in an aquarium with beautifully coloured fish, rays, sharks (friendly ones), giant cuttlefish and occasionally turtles. Water temp only drops to about 15 or 16 C in late winter, maxing around 23C in summer.
It may or may not compare favourably with the swimming south of London.
The northern beaches is also a popular area among triathletes, though there are not as many riding options as the northern suburbs.
I don’t know suburban Perth as well as Sydney, but again the amenity of the city depends on where you live.
The hills east of the Perth attract a number of cyclists on the weekends, though I’m yet to cycle there as it’s a crappy ride from where I live close to the city. Perth’s freeway bike path heading south is safe but is monotonously flat and not an overly inspiring ride if it’s usual training option.
If you’re living in the right suburb in Sydney, I’d rate Sydney as far superior to Perth for cycling (and trail running). However, there are many heavily congested areas of Sydney where you would drive to a safer, more pleasant place to ride.
If you don’t like hot weather and intense sun, Perth isn’t for you. Compared to Sydney, there is a harshness to the sun in Perth, and a high frequency and consistency of days over 35C. Perth is also the windiest city in Australia. Depending on where you live, your small chain-ring may get more use in headwinds than on climbs.
(Perth has)… one of the best climates in the world. We didn’t have a day over 40 last summer and this year perhaps one or two.
I’m guessing you work in a air conditioned office? That wasn’t my memory of the past summer.
Please sell that “best climate in the world” line to my partner. Perth’s summer is a major reason why she refuses to move here.
Have you actually been to Perth? This season there were 49 races listed on Triathlon WAs calendar plus another 10+ community races.
To be fair, of those 49, 17 are kids races, a few are women only, one is for emergency services personnel and the vast majority are sprint of shorter.
Also, WA is a big place. No one is going to drive a round trip of 1000 miles from Perth to Kalgoorlie for a 30 minute triathlon.
What are the 10 “community races”? I’m interested, but I couldn’t see them. I only managed two ODT this summer, largely due to injury and work roster.
Lived in Brisbane, gold coast and currently Port Macquarie (ironman australia)
Brisbane was crap for cycling but really good for running. Lots of groups to train with.
Gold coast has some amazing rides, hinterland just behind the coast makes for some awesome climbing as well as plenty of flat country roads for uninterrupted tt efforts.
Running was ok but I found to be kinda boring vs Brisbane.
Lots of groups to train with here too.
Port while being the home of ironman is crap all round. Good for a holiday to train on the course though.
Port while being the home of ironman is crap all round. Good for a holiday to train on the course though.
Plenty of good cycling from Port Macq if you head west of the Pacific Highway. Miles of quiet country roads and a sweet climb up to Comboyne.
Port while being the home of ironman is crap all round. Good for a holiday to train on the course though.
Plenty of good cycling from Port Macq if you head west of the Pacific Highway. Miles of quiet country roads and a sweet climb up to Comboyne.
Yeah but road quality and width of road + quality of drivers mean you want to limit time out there especially solo.
The running around town if you want flat limits you to basically doing loops of settlement point and canals.
One pool that’s 6 lanes and full 90% of the time really limits swim enjoyment.
Don’t get me wrong I love living here but for tri training the gold coast was awesome compared to this place.
(Perth has)… one of the best climates in the world. We didn’t have a day over 40 last summer and this year perhaps one or two.
I’m guessing you work in a air conditioned office? That wasn’t my memory of the past summer.
Please sell that “best climate in the world” line to my partner. Perth’s summer is a major reason why she refuses to move here.
your partner is soft. This summer just gone was really mild.
As for races, my local club puts on 10 per calender month. Other than that you have Karri Valley in pemberton which is basically an oly+, shoalwater another oly, bunbury another. Mullalloo has an oly, coogee is an oly. Mandurah has state interclub sprint, Allbarnone has several sprint races as a series. IMWA and 2 70.3’s. Heaps of running events. Your not really short on races here.
Port while being the home of ironman is crap all round. Good for a holiday to train on the course though.
Plenty of good cycling from Port Macq if you head west of the Pacific Highway. Miles of quiet country roads and a sweet climb up to Comboyne.
Yeah but road quality and width of road + quality of drivers mean you want to limit time out there especially solo.
The running around town if you want flat limits you to basically doing loops of settlement point and canals.
One pool that’s 6 lanes and full 90% of the time really limits swim enjoyment.
Don’t get me wrong I love living here but for tri training the gold coast was awesome compared to this place.
Sounds like the traffic has become significantly worse since I used to training weeks in Port.
The roads out through Beechwood through Pappinbarra or winding back to Telegraph Point used to be near deserted. Yes, they were narrow in places, granular and you had to turn around when they became unsealed, but you pretty much had them to yourself. Way safer than riding the IM course.
(Perth has)… one of the best climates in the world. We didn’t have a day over 40 last summer and this year perhaps one or two.
I’m guessing you work in a air conditioned office? That wasn’t my memory of the past summer.
Please sell that “best climate in the world” line to my partner. Perth’s summer is a major reason why she refuses to move here.
your partner is soft. This summer just gone was really mild.
As for races, my local club puts on 10 per calender month. Other than that you have Karri Valley in pemberton which is basically an oly+, shoalwater another oly, bunbury another. Mullalloo has an oly, coogee is an oly. Mandurah has state interclub sprint, Allbarnone has several sprint races as a series. IMWA and 2 70.3’s. Heaps of running events. Your not really short on races here.
Which is the point. Even a “really mild” Perth summer is consistently hotter than many other capital cities considered in this thread, (certainly Adelaide excepted). And that type of weather doesn’t suit everyone.
While you may enjoy it, there’s little value to the OP if we don’t at least try to put aside parochialism and offer some objectivity.
And yes, my partner doesn’t cope well with the heat.
BTW, 10 races per month? What club are you with? That’s certainly sparked my interest.
And yes, there’s certainly no shortage of running events around Perth with a healthy choice of events every weekend, from track and field, right up to 350km of ultra goodness at the Delirious WEST 200 Mile.
It doesn’t really matter. He will move to Brisbane. Hate the heat and them move south.
That’s clear from the first post.