Our home is literally just south of the Yarra River. A 30 second walk down the adjoining stairs and you are at the River. There are walking and cycling tracks along the river. Our neighboring properties are of a similar age (1920/30s) and the quiet cul-de-sac is a unique area of South Yarra.

There is an extensive public transport network. From the house it is a 5 minute walk to the tram stop where you can ride the tram all the way to the City of Melbourne (15-20 mins) or swap to a train at the South Yarra Station for a 5 mins train ride to the City. Melbourne has a rich array of cultural activities to offer.

There are a number of unique shopping areas to explore in the close vicinity of South Yarra,where we live.

Chapel Street (8 mins walk to the West from our home) is a vibrant fashion and food strip. Here, designer labels go hand in hand with fancy bistros. The street gets crowded on weekends as cafes compete with boutiques for passing trade. The Jam Factory is a focal point. An actual jam factory at one time, it is now a modern shopping complex with cinemas.

Toorak Village (12 minutes walk to the East from our home)has high quality fashion boutiques, book and homeware stores,sunny street cafes, food and flower shops as well as beauty parlors and pharmacies. These are all in a friendly village environment.

Hawksburn Village on Malvern Road (20 minute walk, east then south to the area between Williams and Mathoura Roads) has specialty meat, fish, bread and vegetable stores. It also has boutiques with goodies for the home, the garden, the wardrobe and an abundance of beautiful children's wear. There is a collection of trendy restaurants, friendly cafes and takeaway shops.

High Street, Prahran East (between Airlie Avenue and Victoria Gardens) is renowned for its suppliers of international fabrics and it is also a street of styles, with a fusion of East and West. From Oriental vases, Russian crystal chandeliers, American, Italian and antique furniture through to Afghan traditional rugs or the most desirable and stylish homewares, gifts and specialty shops, Prahran East Village is definitely a place to visit.

My husband and I have been together for 20 years and are now both in our 50s. We do not have children. We do have a Cairn Terrier and a West Highland Terrier. I was a teacher for 10 years and I now work in HR/OD in Government. My husband has a property maintenance business. We live in Melbourne (South Yarra) and love spending time at our beach house on the Mornington Peninsula on weekends with our friends and family. We are looking for opportunities to exchange time at our South Yarra home for overseas locations. In particular we are looking to visit Italy in September 2013. As part of this trip we would like to spend up to a week in different locations such as the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Umbria, Liguria. We are happy to do non-sequential times to assist with matching your needs and also to provide you with support while you visit. We can also offer time at our home in Sorrento/Blairgowrie, as part of your visit.