Quote:
Originally Posted by wietske
Hi all,
We're moving to Sydney in about 2 weeks time - VERY exiciting - but haven't got a clue as to where to live yet. Boyfriend has a job in CBD so ideally somewhere relatively close to there but what are the nice areas? (I'm a freelance journalist and therefore somewhat more flexible but I dont want him to commute for hours just so that I can live somewhere nice). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, we'll have about 3 weeks to find a place and get settled before he starts his job!
thanks in advance!
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Hi...Just got back from two weeks reccie in Sydney...IMO, these are my impressions:
1) Stay away from the West (apart from the Blue mountains area). Firstly, crime is high in areas like Paramatta (I did hear of two crimes there in my stay!! -
)
Paramatta is an up and coming area but has still some bad reputation. If you did decide to go there, there are few positives like: food is cheap, rent compares well with rest of Sydney, and rail connections are extremely good - straight trains into CBD - including express trains!!!
Rents are roughly around $250 plus for two bed flat. Liverpool and Cabramatta are also rough areas...
Anyway, I am sure I have pissed off few peoples already!! But these are my impressions and trust me, some opinions about these areas came from the locals!!
2) Best avoid areas like Bondi, Coogee and anything south of this but not south of Airport!
These are really places for surfer dudes, young people. Not families!
3) You have two options that are worth exploring if you're a family and want to be closer to CBD:
Chatswood area and vicinity of this: Really nice residential areas around Chatswood and there is a train line into CBD, which runs regularly and also bus connections.
It's a place where you could bring up kids. The trade off is that rents are higher and are roughly in the area of $400 plus per week for a two bed flat. More if you needed bigger place. Also, you're not close to the beaches...A journey from Chatswood to the closest family beach, ie Manly, would take at least an hour (to and fro).
North Sydney: Now this doesn't mean the CBD section of it. It's Manly, Queenscliff, curl curl (no I didn't repeat the word, it's what it's called!!
) and Dee why.
All of these areas have beautiful beaches, schools, restaurants etc..But the prices are similar to Chatswood, and some of these places, like Manly and Queenscliff don't have rail connections to CBD. They have however express bus connections to CBD!
Manly has the added advantage of direct connection to Sydney CBD via the ferry.
4) Areas immediately adjacent to CND, like Kirribili, Neutral Bay and Mosman are also worth a look. They are very lush, leafy residential area with ferry links to CBD.
You are close to Luna Park (Milsons Point) and if you're lucky you could get a view on to the Opera house and definitely the coat hanger (harbour) bridge!
Prices vary. I thought they were in excess of $450 per weekfor a two bed flat but couple of guys at work live there and pay around $350 per week for two bedder flat!
Hope this has helped.
