Hello Celina. I can probably answer some of your questions.
Really everything has got a positive upside and a negative downside. Just keep that in mind whilst you are looking.
Allambie Heights is horrible. In my opinion.
Manly is nice but gets very very busy.
I have lived in Australia for 25 years and lived all over the place including the past 15 years in Sydney. But my favourite place to live by far is the upper Northern Beaches area in Sydney.
I was previously living in Wahroonga. This is a lovely area, as has a village community feel to it. It has tree lined streets, lovely houses, shops, cafes, and is located close to several extremely good schools both private and selective.
It is also on the main direct train line to the city. So it is an excellent choice in a practical sense. Before I got a job further up the line in St Leonards, I use to get the 7.05am train from Wahroonga and arrive at Wynyard in the city at 7.41am.
And nowadays there are three “Quite” carriages on most trains, which is very relaxing. So you can read a book or snooze for the trip.
There is also a faster train that comes down from the Central Coast which skips all of the small stations in between. To get the faster train, you have go to the next suburb over and catch it from Hornsby.
In a practical sense, any suburb on the train line from Cowan down to North Sydney would be a good choice for a family.
The downside is: many of these suburbs are conservative and a little dull, especially on weekends.
A few years ago we moved to Newport on the Northern Beaches. I absolutely love it here because there is so much to do and it has a laid back relaxed lifestyle. It is like being on your summer holidays permanently…….well not quite but hopefully you get my drift.
I have a ten minute walk to Newport Beach. Or sometimes I walk along the cliff to Bilgola Beach. And I have a short car or bus trip to at least ten other beaches. And each beach has an enclosed clean pool if you don’t like ocean swimming. Some beaches are better for children, or surfers, or whatever, so lots of choice.
Plus being near gorgeous Pittwater, you have sailing, canoeing, jet skiing, fishing and other water related activities, and also bushwalking in the beautiful nearby National Park thrown into the mix.
The pubs, cafes and restaurants are brilliant; so much choice from cheap to expensive. There are excellent shopping options and cinemas. There is a massive shopping venue called Warringah Mall which is located near Manly. But I do all my shopping in Mona Vale or Warriewood, as both locations have everything I need.
The downside is lack of public transport on the Northern Beaches. Buses only. No train.
Which means to “beat the traffic” we leave home at 6.15am. Mona Vale Road becomes a carpark around 8.00am, so we go through early to beat the traffic.
That is the sacrifice I make, but I think it is more than worth it.
It also means that we can get to work early and leave early. We have made this arrangement with our managers, as have many Sydney workers.
I work in St Leonards and my husband works in the city near Town Hall station. So we drive to Gordon station which takes around 25 minutes. We park there and catch the train. It takes me 11 minutes on the train and takes my husband 26 minutes.
So you are looking at about a 1 hour commute from Newport into Sydney CBD by combined car and train if going via Mona Vale Road. There are of course several routes into the city. Via the Spit Bridge or via the Wakehurst Parkway. Lots of people also go via Belrose and round the back of Chatswood. It is just a matter of finding which route works best for you.
I would never drive direct into the city (unless leaving super early like 5.00am) as the roads really can get congested and parking in the city is expensive.
Lastly you can get a really lovely house for $1,000 - $1,500 per week.
I have just seen a truly stunning place in Avalon in that price range. And another in Clareville with amazing jaw-dropping views over Pittwater. And lovely duplex in Newport for $600.
I am happy to answer any other questions you have.
