Ive found heaps of rare Pokemon around the burbs. Just look for areas with lists of rustling grass. There is a creek near my house and it's reliably giving me something new every day. Yesterday was vulpix, the day before Charmander. I've also found bulbasaur, abra, magma, hitmonchan and ghastly around the burbs. Sure, there are a heap of common mons too. I've also spent some time in oakleigh which has 6 stops in range of each other reliably with lures and have found lots there too, but not anything crazy rare to often, mostly just bulk of good stuff (evolved my polywhirl to wrath last night).
For gyms I'd love prestige and levels not to drop. You have to beat every Pokemon there with you 6 in one go or try again. It's easy to take down 3 and then run, heal up and than use your 6 mons on whatever is left.