10 Most Underrated Sydney Suburbs

Ten places in Sydney you've never heard of, scoffed at, or should reconsider.

They’re the Sydney suburbs that few people ever talk about, but offer either hidden charms, a great convenience vs. price ratio, or just a certain degree of character that deserves to have them put on the map.

Whether it’s due to outdated misconceptions, or simply being perceived as “boring”, these spots have probably flown under most people’s radars for either living or visiting.

Welcome to our list of the 10 most underrated suburbs in Sydney; here, we take a look at ten suburbs in Sydney you’ve probably either ridiculed, ignored, or never bothered to visit or talk about – but definitely should.

10. Daceyville

Region: Eastern Suburbs

What it offers: Charming houses on quiet back streets; ample urban greenery; lovely and distinctive public gardens

Small enough to be considered a “micro-suburb” and bordered by some larger and more recognisable names such as Kingsford and Eastlakes, Daceyville sits to the south of the Sydney CBD and consists of a mixture of just a few streets, charming houses, and abundant greenery. For a spot so close to the city – it’s only around a ~20 minute drive away – it definitely feels a world away, with a sleepy and quaint atmosphere.

Sure, it’s largely home to an older demographic and has a bit of a “retirement village” feel, but it still feels like a fortunate place in general to walk around – especially considering that it could have become just another concentration of high-density ugliness had proposed developments in the 1970’s ended up going through.

“For a spot so close to the city – it’s only around a ~20 minute drive away – it definitely feels a world away.”

You can’t even tell the suburb’s housing commission-heavy history at first glance, and its ample parkland makes for a pleasant place both to relax (Dacey Gardens – a surprisingly well-kept and tropical-feeling park with some historical curation that’s something of an oasis in the thick of things), or for exercise (courtesy of the multiple playing fields at Rowland Park).

Of course, its tiny size and low overall quantity of houses combined with the long-term settled nature of its residents makes it a place that’s almost impossible to buy in. As a result, you’ll probably only end up strolling through Daceyville if taking a walk a little too far from Kingsford – and may not even realise you’ve passed through at all.

9. Croydon Park

Region: Inner West

What it offers: Great choice for families not too far from the city; peace and quiet; good amount of greenery; mix of connectivity and affordability

Located towards what could be considered the “outer” portion of the “Inner” West, Croydon Park is the less-visited brother of the station-adjacent Croydon, and offers a more peaceful, laid-back and green atmosphere as a result.

Probably overlooked because of its semi-awkward distance from both Campsie and the aforementioned Croydon stations, this is a suburb that strikes a good balance between older-style suburban communal life and the onset of gentrification of the Inner West in general.

It’s got a nice mix of nationalities and backgrounds, with a fairly strong European influence and a range of restaurants and stores to suit.

“This is a suburb that strikes a good balance between older-style suburban communal life and the onset of gentrification.”

Croydon Park offers a solid blend of housing types too, with something to cater to nearly all budgets. Property on offer here offers a great cost of living vs. convenience ratio – especially given the suburbs that surround it.

While there’s not much going on in terms of nightlife or shopping, its individual restaurants of each cuisine range from good to great, and Ashfield right nearby provides ample Asian food if that’s your thing as well.

Add in multiple pockets of greenery that make it both pet and family-friendly and streets that are mostly tree-lined and pleasant, and the 20-odd minute walk to the train station becomes much more worth the effort. A great dark horse for families that won’t stay small-time for long.

8. Redfern

Region: Sydney city

What it offers: Convenient location; great public transport access; food, drink and nightlife nearby; cheaper prices than glitzier neighbours

In terms of the gap between reputation versus reality, few Sydney suburbs suffer such a bad rap in the present day as Redfern. Formerly a hellhole that had a justified reputation as the proverbial “hive of scum and villainy”, those days are long-gone as the suburb has been well and truly beaten with the gentrification stick.

It’s quite humorous how Redfern is perceived in such a negative light compared to neighbouring Surry Hills given the formerly-ghetto status of the latter as well, and how seamlessly they now flow in to one another. It’s also got less of a pretentious feeling than Surry as well, as the “brand name” of the suburb continues to turn some of the shallower types off.

Their loss, as you’ll be able to snag a property (particularly a rental) for substantially cheaper than those on the other side of Cleveland Street while still having easy access to all the cool pubs, restaurants and cafes for which the area is renowned.

“In terms of the gap between reputation versus reality, few Sydney suburbs suffer such a bad rap in the present day as Redfern.”

Yes, there are still some dodgy sections, and yes, walking down worse back alleys at night isn’t advisable – just like it isn’t in basically any part of any central area of a global city elsewhere on Earth.

And just look what you get in return: one of the most well-connected train stations in the city right on your doorstep; the city within walking distance, plenty of parkland for exercise and sunshine, and supermarkets and other daily convenience spots all in easy reach.

Prices have gradually shot up as a result, but for young professionals and even – yes it’s true – families, Redfern is now a spot that is a viable both as a place to live, and to go out of your way to hang out.

7. Meadowbank

Region: Northern Suburbs

What it offers: Lovely waterfront aspect; plenty of parkland; big shopping nearby; good public transport

An underrated and easy to recommend option for those after some lovely water views without the hefty pricetag of, say, the Lower North Shore, Meadowbank is a small and highly green suburb that sits on the banks of the Parramatta River.

The suburb’s a great little blend of ethnicities, building types both old and new, and convenience courtesy both of its selection of grocery stores and supermarkets within it, and ample bigger shopping spots close by.

Its open green spaces are lovely, with several parks offering a refreshing atmosphere as well as being decked out with playground equipment for the kids. Of particular note are its bike trails which follow the waterfront, making for some of the most pleasant and accessible cycling routes within the Greater Sydney region.

Perhaps its strongest point is providing a bevy of public transport options. Take your pick of either a train into the city via Strathfield, or if the weather’s pleasant you can opt instead for a relaxing ferry ride to the CBD. It’s just nice to have multiple fallback options should one form of public transport be out for any reason – whether that’s for the daily commute, or coming to visit Meadowbank from elsewhere.

“Its open green spaces are lovely, with several parks offering a refreshing atmosphere.”

Stick to the smallish range of local restaurants and shopping options, or head to Top Ryde, Macquarie or Rhodes for bigger-scale retail therapy. Few suburbs with such a pleasant aspect also have such variety nearby.

TAFE is here for students, while the tech hubs across the water are an easy commute, too – then you can return home of an evening to a suburb that is quiet at night and boasts a low crime rate to boot.

Yes, many of its apartments are several decades old, but many of them have also undergone renovations and can be had for a much more affordable price than other options further east.

For buyers looking for a solid all-rounder with basically no faults other than a slight distance issue from the CBD, Meadowbank should definitely make your list for a look.

6. Wareemba

Region: Inner West

What it offers: Water views; peace and quiet; charming housing and streets; community vibe

Receiving far less play than the likes of its neighbours Five Dock and Abbotsford, Wareemba is another of Sydney’s smallest suburbs that has a cool little village vibe and a great waterfront location. One of the reasons you may not have heard of it before is its recent creation date; the suburb only became an “official” separate suburb back in 1993.

It’s got a concentration of charming, freestanding homes and quite wide and spacious streets which are fully grassed and don’t come with as hefty a pricetag as its fairly central Greater Sydney location may initially make it seem.

Peaceful and quiet and offering plenty of space, it’s definitely a sleeper suburb for families in particular who don’t want to base themselves too much further out towards the Western Suburbs in order to afford property. It’s a lovely little mix of lifestyle and community spirit that’s quite rare.

“It’s got a concentration of charming, freestanding homes and quite wide and spacious streets which are fully grassed.”

Its location alongside the Paramatta River brings obvious benefits – including a boat ramp for those looking to enjoy water activities – while Halliday Park offers a lovely green area with impressive kids playground facilities and a slice of pseudo-beach down on the waterfront side.

Wareemba also contains several charming cafes, small supermarket and little restaurants of good quality along its nice little shopping strip with some obvious Italian influences.

Its connectivity to the city isn’t amazing, with bus the main avenue of choice for those looking to avoid driving, but the ferry terminal further down Great North Road at Abbotsford also provides an alternative option for a more scenic route.

Combine access to schools nearby, its waterfront aspect, and quiet nature with everything one needs for daily life, and Wareemba is one of the most family-friendly suburbs on this list.

5. Holsworthy

Region: Southern Suburbs

What it offers: Great balance of personal space and convenience; affordable housing; family oriented atmosphere

Formerly renowned as mostly just a hub for army activity, if you’re looking for a mixture of living space and affordability without being in the middle of nowhere, Holsworthy is an excellent choice.

It’s a great and more reasonable alternative to Sydney city living while still having a train station that provides access to the urban areas when needed. And given its distance away, the train ride isn’t even bad – you’re looking at just over half an hour ride into the city on an express train in which you can also usually get a seat regardless of departure time.

Prefer driving? Easy access to both the M5 and M7 opens up plenty of further opportunities for heading both east and north whether it’s for work purposes or a weekend getaway. For those times where you need a bigger shopping option, Westfield Liverpool is only a 15 minute drive away.

Interstate or overseas visits are serviced by the airport being around 20 minutes away as well.

“It’s a great and more reasonable alternative to Sydney city living while still having a train station that provides access to the urban areas when needed.”

The chance at having an actual decent-sized backyard here makes it great for those wanting to raise both kids and pets, while it’s also got a wide range of food and shopping options on offer.

Supermarkets, schools, and plenty of greenery round out its lifestyle perks, and the suburb skews highly family-oriented and quite communal as a result.

It’s safe, clean and green, and has all the extra amenities one could need for daily life, and while it may not exactly be “buzzing” in terms of activities to nightlife, that’s hardly the reason most would choose to live in the Southern Suburbs anyway.

Opportunities for a decent 3-bedroom home for substantially under $1 million within 30 minutes access to the Sydney CBD without living in semi-squalour don’t come around frequently, but Holsworthy offers this and more in spades.

4. Chippendale

Region: Sydney city

What it offers: Unique design features; buzzing urban atmosphere; great shopping, food and drink options

Yes, it’s one of the bigger names on this list and not exactly unknown, but Chippendale doesn’t typically grab the tourist or hipster headlines of Sydney city suburbs of the likes of Pyrmont, Balmain, The Rocks or even the city proper. Given that it’s about equal walking distance from Town Hall as these others, it can often fall short of the cut for people that have limited itineraries.

In the past that wouldn’t have been such a big deal, but the changes to Chippendale’s central area that have been completed in the past couple of years are just damn cool. Say what you want about the future-urban modernity of the One Central Park complex, but there’s no doubt that it just feels different from anything else in Sydney – and that’s no mean feat given how much variety Sydney as a whole has.

There’s a really striking contrast between the greenery-draped towers, modern sculptures and glass-heavy design of the newer buildings alongside its brown/red brick historic counterparts. Chilling on the grass here with the buzz of students around does feel appropriate given the suburb’s heavy tech-education leanings as well.

“There’s a really striking contrast between the greenery-draped towers, modern sculptures and glass-heavy design of the newer buildings alongside its brown/red brick historic counterparts.”

And, of course, there’s a ton to do right nearby.

Grab some fresh produce from Carriageworks on the weekend, or one of many Asian cuisine street foods from Spice Alley at night, check out some art at the White Rabbit Gallery, go grab a beer and enjoy some tunes at the Chippo Hotel, waste your money on brand fashion at the stores nearby; variety abounds here.

It’s overall just an awesome mixture of old and new, local and foreign, busy and peaceful that Chippendale is truly deserving of that wanky term “eclectic”.

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3. Waverton

Region: Lower North Shore

What it offers: Peace and quiet while close to the city; plenty of greenery; some excellent views and walks

“Where-verton”? There’s plenty of Lower North Shore suburbs that would likely first spring to mind if it was thrown as a quiz question to the average Sydneysider, but Waverton combines the best of many of them all-in-one. One of the biggest appeals of this part of Sydney is its mix of closeness to the actual city with greenery and peace and quiet thrown in, and Waverton excels in this regard.

It’s a surprisingly humble-feeling place as well considering the amount of money that’s floating around the Lower North Shore, and brings to mind England – if only England had views of one of the greatest harbours in the world on its doorstep.

The suburb is small, quaint and quite charming; spotting the paper-based “Community Noticeboard” as one of the first things you see outside its historic train station will likely elicit either a smile or a laugh.

It’s undeniably warm, though. Dogs form a central focus of residents lives here, and it’s very dog-heavy; fortunately there’s a huge range of grassed areas that are well-suited for pups. Chief among these is the parkland-slash-soccer-frield at Berrys Bay behind the station on the waterfront. It’s a gorgeous backdrop of the Sydney city skyline that you can enjoy while snacking on a gourmet pie from the always-crowded Grumpy Baker, a local institution.

“The suburb is small, quaint and quite charming.”

If you’re feeling more energetic, walk a bit further and you’ll come across the interesting repurposed Coal Loader Reserve which has been converted into a dedication to eco and sustainability methods. Or, do the 1 hour walk out to Balls Head Reserve and snag some awesome views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and closer Goat Island.

There’s not much in the way of a housing property market here as it’s typically tightly-held and very expensive for freestanding houses. On the other hand, there’s an abundance of older-yet-well-maintained apartment blocks that make renting a viable proposition for those looking for a tantalising 10-minute train commute into the CBD.

Add in North Sydney and its conveniences being just a 10 to 15 minute walk away, and this suburb is a “sleeper” in every sense of the term.

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2. Little Bay

Region: Eastern Suburbs

What it offers: Escapist atmosphere; lovely clean and scenic nature; peace and quiet; beach and coastal walks

One of the lesser-considered suburbs for those looking for a gorgeous beach lifestyle as opposed to, say, Manly, Little Bay is a suburb that boasts a very resort-style atmosphere. Its most obvious feature is it’s almost entirely encircled by waterfront, while offering plenty of peace and quiet to go along with its natural beauty.

This is one spot that’s well worth a day trip for its mixture of walks and beach alone. Its namesake Little Bay Beach is a wonderful, sheltered cove ideal for swimming or a snorkel and is protected enough for be a perfect weekend spot for families as well (but be sure to take the bus as parking can be a nightmare).

It’s a spot that truly feels like a holiday destination and yet is still not ridiculously far from Sydney city; you can catch a bus into the city in around 45 minutes during busy times, while driving can halve that. In return, you get larger homes – there are quite a few heritage style buildings here – and access to plenty of greenery and sand.

“One of the lesser-considered suburbs for those looking for a gorgeous beach lifestyle.”

The growth in Little Bay’s popularity in recent years means it’s now replete with all the amenities needed for daily life too, so there’s not as much of a need to head in and out of the suburb as in days past. This has also brought with it a range of mixed restaurants which have popped up and helped enhance its dining scene in recent years as well.

Little Bay’s also remarkably clean and well looked after by both local authorities and residents alike, and is peaceful overall. This is despite the airport being only a 20 minute drive away as Little Bay is mostly out of earshot of nearby flight paths as well.

For the retirees or enthusiasts out there, the suburb’s also renowned for its quality golf courses that provide quite a different aspect than most of Sydney’s other offerings due to their coastal aspect.

Sure, it’s by no means a cheap suburb as there’s a lot of money around here, but for those with some coin considering a place to base themselves Little Bay offers about as scenic a balance without being entirely disconnected from Sydney proper as one can hope to obtain in the region.

1. Artarmon

Region: North Shore

What it offers: Ideal balance of city-vs-space; charming little Japanese hub; good transport connectivity; access to all aspects of shopping, amenities and dining nearby

This seldom-discussed North Shore suburb is one of the most versatile in the entire city, combining elements of bigger suburbs with smaller village-type ones into a single surprising package. Artarmon is a suburb with “two faces” in that it’s completely different on one side of its well-serviced train station to the other.

As a result, it’s got something to offer both cashed-up buyers looking to snag a heritage home on a lovely, leafy street, while those who prefer more of an apartment-based high-street style lifestyle are catered for as well.

On the track’s east side, its freestanding homes are mostly older, large and stand on surprisingly big blocks. Many are heritage protected, and its peaceful streets with large trees overhanging lend an aura of tranquility.

On the west side, you’ve got an array of smaller retailers, bakeries and miscellaneous shops run by a mix of nationalities. Behind these sit a range of apartment buildings that offer pretty damn affordable accommodation given it sits in a major spot on the North Shore line for a roughly 15 minute train ride into Sydney city.

“This seldom-discussed North Shore suburb is one of the most versatile in the entire city.”

One of the most unusual aspects of Artarmon is its concentration of Japanese population. Head just under the tunnel outside the station and you’ll find a little enclave of Japanese-style restaurants including cafes, ramen restaurants, and even a couple of specialty Japanese mini-marts selling all kinds of imported snacks and ingredients. It’s a very friendly vibe and highly pleasant to hang out in and chat.

Elsewhere in the suburb, the scale of things in creases – there’s hospitals, larger furniture and pet superstores, and a range of warehouse-style outlets and car dealers that help round things out. The extreme-end of the shopping scale at Westfield Chatswood is also just a short trip away.

It’s also fairly decent in terms of driving given its scale, as the North Shore in general is far less hectic than its bigger brother over the water.

Professionals young and older, singles and families can all find something to appeal in Artarmon without having to pay through the nose for the privilege, and as a result it tops our list of Sydney’s most underrated suburbs.

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