Waverton Suburb Review

Summary: This pleasant, quiet and green suburb on the Lower North Shore offers a village-type atmosphere with remarkably easy access to the Sydney CBD just across the bridge. Annually rated amongst the most liveable suburbs in Sydney, there’s not much to do in Waverton however – and that seems to be exactly the way its residents like it. It costs a pretty penny to live here, however it’s one of the few elite suburbs in Sydney that may truly be worth the pricetag.

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If there was a single word to best sum up both the life and atmosphere in Waverton, “sleepy” would likely be it – which is quite a rare and unusual thing to say about a suburb so close to the centre of Sydney.

It’s full of greenery, sits right on the water, and boasts a train station on a major railway line with trains that stop every 3 to 5 minutes, yet it remains almost eternally under the radar as both a place to visit and live in Sydney.

While most other Lower North Shore suburb names are immediately recognisable, Waverton is one that even long-time Sydney residents may not have heard.

Its relatively small size may be a reason for this – as is the fact that it’s a highly residential area with not much else to offer in terms of entertainment or shopping other than a few local cafes, a semi-iconic bakery, and some lovely stretches of greenery alongside the water.

As with many Lower North Shore Sydney suburbs, Waverton is an “old money” area rich in charming older homes that list in the millions of dollars – if they list at all. The property market for purchases is slow here, as is its way of life in general.

Head out of its (Australian Heritage-listed) old-fashioned train station and you’ll immediately discover yourself in a land where paper-based community noticeboards are still an actual thing.

A Slow Pace of Life

Its residents skew towards the older demographic, and there is a very “retirement village” type feel to the area due to both its peaceful atmosphere and quiet roads, with relatively little traffic to speak of given how close the suburb is to neighbouring North Sydney.

As a result, younger, party-going types will have little to no reason to visit here; however, young professionals may still find it offers an ideal balance of access to the city for work while being able to “take a breather” upon returning home.

It’s an extremely pet-friendly suburb, too, with all of its streets lined with grass (unlike many CBD-adjacent suburbs) and large pet-friendly parks – perhaps most notably the excellent Berrys Bay which doubles as a soccer field and provides a gorgeous view across the water to the Sydney skyline.

Waverton sits within easy reach of North Sydney

In addition, its Balls Head Reserve walk may be one of the most underrated in Sydney – this roughly 2km stretch of bush walking tracks culminates in a wonderful green oasis overlooking the harbour, Goat Island, and the various water traffic passing by.

Pretty, but Quiet

While there are only a few small stores and a couple of tiny restaurants, both North Sydney (walkable) and Crows Nest (better to drive) are just a stone’s throw away for more dining and bar options. Bigger shopping needs can be catered for by a quick trip on the train to Chatswood or Artarmon as well.

“While most other Lower North Shore suburb names are immediately recognisable, Waverton is one that even long-time Sydney residents may not have heard.”

Property-wise, Waverton is a strange dichotomy in that purchase-wise it’s as insanely expensive as most other waterfront suburbs, yet it also boasts an abundance of slightly older apartment blocks that offer a chance at decent-sized 2 bedroom units for a very reasonable (for central Sydney) price.

The Verdict

If you’re the type who appreciates having some nature and breathing room while still needing/wanting frequent access to the Sydney CBD – and can deal with an environment that is extremely quiet at almost all times – then Waverton is hard to fault.

It thus ranks as a highly viable option for those who don’t need the hustle and bustle of giant shopping centres, bars and clubs on their doorstep to stay satisfied in life.