North Sydney Suburb Review

Busy by day, empty by night.

Summary: Sydney’s ‘second CBD’ located just across the Harbour Bridge has quite a different feel than the centre of ‘true Sydney’ despite largely being used for the same purpose. North Sydney’s newer layout and design brings with it a bit more breathing room than the actual CBD, with roads that make (slightly) more sense and a little extra space between its highrises. Very well serviced by public transport, clean, safe and close/connected to some great things nearby, it’s a little soulless in itself without very much character or things to do, with limited housing options that can be quite pricey.

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“Sydney Junior” is often scoffed at as not being worth the effort to visit by those who live on the other side of the water, yet has plenty of positive things working in its favour that probably don’t get enough credit. There are far worse places to work in the greater Sydney area, and the overall atmosphere here just feels quite a bit less oppressive and stressful than the main CBD. All one has to do is get off at North Sydney Station in peak hour – with its better airflow and far less dense crowds – then do the same at musty Town Hall, and the difference quickly becomes obvious.

Given that city planners had an extra handful of decades to learn from some of their mistakes before it was properly built up, North Sydney’s more modern infrastructure and cityscape feels quite different to the Sydney CBD as well, although by association it also lacks some of the dramatic older buildings that can be found across the water. Driving here is far less hectic than south of the bridge as well, although heading out into its neighbouring suburbs across the highway and dealing with Military Road and the like can still be an extreme headache.

North Sydney’s connectivity to public transport is a major plus, with its own railway station on the Northern line and bus lines which can both find you in the Sydney CBD within a 10 minute ride on a good day. If you’re feeling feisty and work in the city, a walk across the Harbour Bridge in the morning also makes for one truly glorious commute.

A Convenient Ghost Town

Much of North Sydney is built on sloping land, and it’s quite hilly to walk around, but this aspect also offers some excellent water views from a number of vantage points throughout the suburb, as well as some buildings (and if you’re lucky, your own office building). It’s very much a white-collar and professional-oriented slice of Sydney, with a small and dense cluster of office buildings belonging to some big international brand names that quickly thins out.

Dining and drinking wise North Sydney is nothing special; there are a few decent restaurants and cafes dotted throughout but nothing too outstanding, and it pales in comparison to what’s on offer in some nearby suburbs not too far away. If you’re looking for some quality dining it’s often better to just suck it up and walk/bike to the likes of Neutral Bay, Crows Nest or McMahons Point which offer a lot more diversity of options in cuisine and bars, and especially nightlife in general.

There’s not much going on in North Sydney outside of its business activity. Greenwood Plaza just across from the train station offers a fairly comprehensive cross-section of retail shopping, although it can’t compare to the likes of full-blown centres such as Westfield at Chatswood just a few stops away. It does have a full-sized Coles as opposed to just a minified “metro” version found in some other central suburbs, which helps, and most of anything else you could want for daily life is either here or just 1 stop on the train away.

North Sydney as seen from across the water

A Good Night’s Sleep… in the CBD?

There’s virtually zero nightlife here outside of a limited couple of spots, and weekends in general are likewise pretty dead with not much to do. This isn’t necessarily a detriment on the whole if you’re thinking of living here however; while partygoing types may find it disappointing, it can be a boon for those who’d prefer a good night’s sleep. Plus, with the city just a couple of stops away, North Sydney makes for a good balance of convenience vs. peace and quiet.

Housing-wise it’s mostly a matter of high-density living and limited space, and can be expensive in general in return for what you get. Options outside of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments will likely be out of reach for most, although the occasional great-value 1-bedder does pop up and can bring with it some great views. A decent one bedroom apartment can be had for $450 to $500 per week if you’re willing to sacrifice a parking spot.

Options for freestanding housing are both very limited and prohibitively expensive, particularly the closer one gets to the waterfront.

Pretty but Squishy

It thus doesn’t score very high points for either family or pet-friendliness as far as Sydney suburbs go; both will likely be cooped up in apartments without much space. There’s a tad more greenery throughout the suburb than the true CBD (although not much roadside grass for dogs), as well as no pet store, with a walk up to St. Leonard’s Park which offers a big batch of greenery with some nice water views the most viable option for green space.

“If you’re feeling feisty and work in the city, a walk across the Harbour Bridge in the morning makes for one truly glorious commute.”

Worth a special mention is Lavender Bay – a gorgeous waterfront area home to extravagant properties and the lovely Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden which is a pleasure to walk through or sit in and admire the views.

The Verdict

So who should consider living in North Sydney? It’s a wonderful choice for young professionals or young couples without kids (or perhaps with one kid and/or a small dog) who work either in the Sydney CBD or elsewhere on the North Shore, as it’s got everything you’d need for daily life, is extremely convenient, and can be quite pretty overall.

Those looking for a vibrant nightlife and hopping bar scene, families hunting for affordable space, or those after a range of activities and highlights would probably be best to look elsewhere however.