How to explore your new neighbourhood

The boxes are unpacked, clothes hung up and keys sorted. The next step is to discover your neighbourhood. But where do you begin?

When you first move to a new area, feeling like a tourist is more than understandable. So, leave the car at home and take a walk.

Rafael Canto, director of Australian Digital, moved 270 kilometres north from Sydney’s northern beaches to Smiths Lake. He decided to discover his local area first on foot.

“It gives you an opportunity to get acquainted with your neighbourhood, its streets and its inhabitants, human, furry – we love bumping into dogs,” Canto says.

Walking is also a great way for kids to get excited about an area. If their new school or a park is within walking distance, make that your first outing.

“Explore your neighbourhood’s hidden corners and make an adventure out of it,” he says.

If you start taking regular walks, you’re more likely to bump into neighbours who’ll eagerly tell you more about the area and point out interesting places to see.

Venture a bit further

Mykal Hoare not only recently moved from Sydney to the Blue Mountains but also opened an indoor plant shop, Bring the Jungle in Katoomba.

“It’s important to get to know the sections of your community and neighbourhood that make you feel at home,” he says.

On your first few days out, discover what is essential to your way of life. Where is the nearest supermarket, grocer and baker? When are they open and what’s the best way to get there? What is the best route for your kids to get to school?

“I work from home, and I need my coffee in the mornings. So, figuring out where to get a decent coffee has been really important to me,” Canto says.

The local cafe in Smiths Lake didn’t open until 9am, but luckily he found a gardening supply shop that served excellent coffee at the perfect time of day.

Establish a routine

Enjoying a regular jog, cycle or walk before work helps you feel like a local. People see you, and you’ll become part of the community quicker.

“You’ll soon start to recognise the faces you see out. Then, before you know it, you’ll be stopping to chat and making friends,” Hoare says.

Get to know the community

“By nature, humans are pack animals. We aren’t supposed to live a life in solitude,” says Rachael Scharrer, a life-change counsellor.

Neighbours support one another, so they have an interest in each other. This means feeling connected to the surroundings and the people within them.

Hoare joined a local gardening group that maintains the streets where his shop is located.

“As a 29-year-old, you can imagine I’m by far the youngest. But that doesn’t matter,” he says. “I thoroughly enjoy my time with the group, and it gives me a chance to chat and catch up on the local happenings and gossip.”

Why settling quickly into your new neighbourhood is important

Getting to know the neighbourhood is good not only from a practical point of view but also for mental health.

Feeling connected with the environment reduces the sense of isolation and loneliness, which in turn reduces stress levels and depression. Your resilience is stronger because you have a sense of support.

Hoare says, “I truly believe the more you put into your neighbourhood and community, the more you receive back.”