I am from Aus, and know all the major cities from having lived there.
Hello to California.
Anyway.......
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Perth
If car free public transport is the life style you are looking for than only Melbourne qualifies. It is like San Fran. Absolultey beautiful and full of culture.
Sydney is more for your stock broker types. It is a rat race and a big city with some difficult terrain (i.e. millions of habours and beaches) to navigate by PT so you are best with a car. Traffic there is a killer. But it is the most beautiful city to look at - you most go there, no excuses.
Brisbane is sleepy. Not sure why you would want to go there.
Adelaide is the same as Brisbane but at a even slower pace.