Professionals

Summary: This ritzy North Shore Sydney suburb is teeming with wealth, boasting some of the most expensive properties in the region in a desirable location surrounded by greenery, water and some gorgeous slices of beach. Mosman as a suburb is also strangely quite isolated, however, with a disconnect from public transport and a nightmare road renowned for its terrible traffic putting some dampers on its otherwise gleaming facade. Read Review

Summary: An incredibly pretty, charming and surprisingly accessible suburb surrounded by waterfront with a likewise incredibly high barrier to entry, Kirribilli is as beautiful as it is out of reach for the majority of Australian property owners. There’s a reason it was chosen as the site of the governor-general’s house, as its outlooks are some of the greatest Sydney has to offer, and its proximity and connectivity to the CBD are all better than many of its neighbouring or fellow-elite peers. Read Review

Summary: Up-and-coming in terms of both desirability and price, “Ersko” has become a darling of the young professional and hipster communities, with its mixture of easy access to Sydney city, greenery and growing array of cafes, pubs and bars all positive points in its factor. Soaring costs and the effects of gentrification are creeping in, however, and buying a slice of Erskineville life may soon be out of reach of the average income earner – if it isn’t already. Read Review

Summary: An historic and undeniably charming suburb that exudes affluence, Balmain is a lovely slice of land dotted with sandstone-brick buildings dating back to the origins of Sydney. It’s got a lot of character, pockets of greenery, is packed with quality places to eat and drink, and its waterfront views are stunning. A prohibitive pricetag for buyers and terrible commute traffic – plus a disconnect from the heavy rail system – hold it back from being ideal, however. Read Review

Summary: The flagship suburb of the Northern Beaches, Manly is set on a physically striking slice of headland that is renowned for the quality and variety of its lovely beaches. It boasts an airy, open feel that’s far more “tropical” than the core areas of Sydney further south, and has become a magnet for tourists and expats alike due to its bevy of dining and drinking options. Distance from the Sydney CBD and eye-watering property prices hamper its viability somewhat, and thus it largely remains “a nice place to visit” rather than to live for those without very deep pockets. Read Review

Summary: A central Sydney suburb with a difference, Pyrmont is extremely pleasant to walk around and simply “be” in, with its waterfront location and ample parkland feeling overall very vibrant and clean. Its proximity to a huge array of things to see, do and eat just around the corner is a huge plus, while still feeling somewhat separate from the Sydney CBD. High prices for small sized properties, a disconnect from heavy rail, and plenty of ambient noise make it a suburb far more suited to young professionals looking to rent than average families looking to stay, however. Read Review

Summary: One of the most versatile of all Sydney’s more central suburbs, Paddington strikes an excellent balance between location, greenery, food and shopping, and action vs. quiet. It’s a historic slice of Sydney with a good blend of housing types able to cater for a wide range of income levels and demographics, some great spots for a drink, and its myriad of heritage buildings give it an extra dose of character that other suburbs lack. Expensive prices are a major factor however, for all but the smallest of living spaces. Read Review