Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086

We have lived in Frenchs Forest for 8 years now & from the moment we moved here we have loved it. The neighbours are friendly, the shopping for every day needs is easy, parking is good, there are plenty of bike tracks & walking trails & you are only 10 mins drive down to the beach & 10 mins drive to Chatswood or The Mall. The kids are active due to all the green space & the area now has improved roads & transport options. If you are looking for an easy part of the Northern Beaches to bring up a family we highly recommend it.

Frenchs Forest - it's leafy, it's clean, it's beautiful! Everybody is nice to the children, but I live on the big road, and so it's not so good for walking on the footpath. It was quiet - but now it's plagued in construction sites and many roads are blocked off. But if you're looking for a town where the shops are just across the road, or if you have children, Frenchs Forest is for you!
(Also, they have reat food. Try Stella Blu in Glenrose shopping centre)

I have lived in the Forest area for a decade and have been working in real estate here after moving from the Lower North Shore (Mosman) - the people here are much more relaxed and friendly - in Mosman, I hardly knew any neighbours, but in Frenchs Forest most people have strong relationships with others in their local area through school activities, walking the dog, or just seeing each other around. There are 5 different parts of Frenchs Forest, as it is divided up by Forest Way, Warringah Road and Wakehurst Parkway. Each section developed differently and has a different feel. There is a good book on Forest History that I have in my office - written by George and Sheila Champion, long-time local residents. Anyone interested can borrow it or drop by to have a look, just contact me via www.brianfairweather.com.au - if you are considering a move to this area, beware as many residents have stayed for 40+ years, it's that good...

Grew up in the 'forest' area and had fond memories of my childhood. Bought here after trying Mosman and the Eastern suburbs. The land sizes are great, and still affordable.

The demographics are interesting. There is still a presence of older people, but every month there are new houses selling and the young families are moving in. The homes then undergo some updating and the neighbourhood shines a little bit more. This demographic is similar to what took place in North Balgowlah within the last 10 years (and we all know how expensive it is to live there now and how sort after homes are).

There is a huge choice with primary schools. Mimosa seems to have a good reputation, but it is getting very large now and the locals are starting to comment on the school losing a little of its community feel. Their enrolments have increased by 50 kids every year for the last few, so it is very large. Wakehurst public has lovely grounds and the principal seems to have a great connection to the families. John Colet is close as well if you are interested in a private school. There is a catholic school nearby, but it's small, so the catholic school in forestville may suit some better. There is also a Christian school close by that appears well received by the community.

The neighbourhood is super friendly. I've got privacy but also have friendly neighbours happy to have a chat over the fence. People out for a walk will always acknowledge you.

The park concept is a little lacking in some areas, but this is not really a problem as everyone has a pretty sizable yard to play in (and if not, then their neighbours do).

Traffic in the direction of chatswood/city is manageable if you leave before 7.45. After that there is congestion getting onto warringah road from forestway. The buses are reliable but not frequent in the evenings.

The area is really green, leafy and well maintained. People demonstrate a sense of pride in their home/garden. The area is becoming more aesthetically pleasing as the new families move in.

It is beautiful leafy suburb .It is very safe and child friendly.The public transport is serviced by forest coach lines .
The new houses in the peppercorn ridge are unique with friendly neighbours .Some of the best streets are Tisane , Carnarvon and peppercorn .
It is 10 min drive to best beaches in sydney and close busy chatswood.

I recently migrated from europe and settled in frenchs forest .The suburb is clean with lot of trees and wild life .Some of the streets in peppercorn ridge like carnarvon drive , peppercorn drive have very beautiful with new architect designed homes .It has lot of potential
with the new hospital in pipeline .Forest coach lines bus service is pretty good and takes about 45 min to city.

Frenchs Forest is an undervalued area. It has all the lovely benefits of living in a great part of Sydney and the Forest Area. Great schools, large blocks, low density housing, National Parks, a lovely atmostphere, friendly people, solid brick homes, and close proximity to the Beaches and Lower North Shore, Waringah Mall, Chatswood and Belrose Supercentres).

It has another advantage over it's surrounding suburbs on the northern beaches. It is located close to public transport with one bus to Manly, Chatswood, Warringah Mall and the City. (No you don't need to change buses if you live near Forest Way shops). It has both a private and a public bus services. The Bantry Bay areas of Frenchs Forest have the conveniance of being able to avoid the congestion and lost time in the bottle neck of traffic turning from Forest Way and Waringah Road. Warringah Rd and Eastern Valley Way provide the fastest route by car to the city. (Who wants to spend any more time travelling to work than they have to). You can get more house and land for your money than alot of areas of the city.

The area has huge potential. Where are they proposing to build the light rail through? Where are they proposing to put the new hospital in? Granted that this may take some time before it all happens. However it will happen.

I have lived in the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and Southern Suburbs of Sydney and I am so longing to return to the place I grew up. It still retains a pleasant atmostphere where people are polite and acknowledge each other. Where I can actually afford to buy a house in a quiet street with a large backyard rather than a shoe box on a main road near factories and an airport. It's great to live and bring up children. It's a place where most people hold down responsible jobs, they speak fluent English and they don't toss their old furniture and on the street until council clean up. I love that people mow their nature strips. I love that the air is always fresh and you can smell the trees. People are far more polite than in more crowded areas of the city. How fortunate are people that live in this lovely area. As they say you do not appreciate what you have in your own back yard until you venture beyond it.

The down side of the area? A few to many power lines but thats a small price to pay for so many positives.

Lots of greenery and open spaces. Very down-to-earth place to raise a family. Public transport isn't the best (other than at peak hours), but other than that it's a great place to live. One of the more affordable places on the Northern beaches.

Having spent ten years living an working in Europe and London I returned only to by a house around the corner from my mother.
I do not believe we appreciate what we have until we travel and Belrose has it all and I am very happy to be back permanently.
It is safe and secure and an ideal place to live.

Belrose is a Sydney suburb located 19 kilometres north east of the CBD in the local government area of Warringah Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region. It has a population of about 8,400 of whom 24% are under 18 and 27% are over 60.

Until the 1970’s Belrose was a semi-rural suburb. Today it is mainly residential consisting of single dwellings. The average price of houses is $786,000.

Glenrose and Belrose Village are two shopping centres in the suburb. It is home to the Austlink Business Park. There is also the Glen Street Theatre which presents many performances for the entertainment of Sydney siders.

The suburb is bordered by bushland which makes it prone to bushfires in the summer. The vegetation in the area has come to manage being burned as part of its cycle. The name Belrose comes from two native plants – the Christmas Bell and the native rose.

Children are well catered for with the Covenant Christian School, Belrose Public School, Wakehurst Public School, a Rudolf Steiner School and Yanginanook School – an independent Christian primary school. Of course there are other schools in nearby suburbs.

Forest Coach Lines provides transport for the residents offering regular services to Chatswood Railway Station and to other suburbs in the Northern Beaches region.

The Sydney suburb of Frenchs Forest is located 13 kilometres north of the CBD in the local government area of Warringah Shire and is part of the Northern Beaches area. It has a population of about 12,500, 17% of whom are under 18 and 19% of whom are over 60.

Frenchs Forest is a suburb with lots of facilities. There is a big shopping centre – Forestway Shopping Centre – at the corner of Forest Way and Warringah Road. There are a couple of smaller shopping centres with restaurants and other shops. One, called The Skyline, was built on the site of the Skyline Drive-In Theatre which was closed in the mid-80’s.

Children are well catered for with two primary schools – Frenchs Forest Public School and the Mimosa Public School – and two high schools – Davidson High and The Forest High School.

Forest Coach Lines run regular bus services to Chatswood Railway Station, Warringah Mall and to the City.

The average price of houses in the suburb is $762,500.

The Garingal National Park is nearby abounding in native flora and fauna. Because of the proximity of the Park there is always the danger of bushfires in the summer.

All in all, Frenchs Forest is a pleasant and convenient suburb.