northern suburbs

Summary: One of the pinnacles of where Sydney’s mix of wealth and bushland greenery collide, Wahroonga on the Upper North Shore is a showcase of pretty gardens, sprawling mansions and estates, and the occasional helping of unit blocks, little amenities and local shops sprinkled in. There’s an element of prestige that permeates almost everything within the suburb’s boundaries, from its homes, to its schools, to even the cleanliness and upkeep of its convenient train station which offers easy access down into Sydney city.

While it’s impressive to gawk at and wander its largely-peaceful streets, Wahroonga also has a practical element to it, with a decent smattering of amenities & dining throughout, a relatively easy drive into the CBD, and access to larger-scale shopping not far away. Other than its obvious price barrier to entry – boasting some of the most expensive real estate in the region – it’s lacking in “entertainment” of any kind outside of dining, although it boasts an extremely low crime rate in return, too. There are plenty of more boring suburbs, despite its reputation.
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Summary: Compact and convenient, Meadowbank is another Sydney suburb with the “split personality” of ultra-modern, high-density apartment living on one side and expansive, stately freestanding homes on the other. Its waterfront aspect gives it an open, airy feel while expansive and pleasant public green spaces occupy much of the suburb’s physical space as well. It’s very well-connected via public transport, however is notably lacking in amenities and its increasingly built-up status continues to put a strain on its infrastructure. Read Review