Rockford

I loved Victoria Street - just a few metres away from the hideous Darlinghurst Road sex drag of Kings Cross, but with a totally different vibe> i never experienced any bad behaviour in the street and was always overjoyed by the buzz around there on a sunny afternoon> The nightlife is great and the food is brilliant - plus there"s a local Coles.

Not sure how to express this... Phelps is a beautiful little street that runs off Bourke Street in central Surry Hills. Lovely and near nightlife, very leafy and quiet - but I somehow picked up that lonely vibe you can get in some inner-city suburbs. It seems to have an identiy crisis. Is it hip and youthful - or a place where long-time residents are sadly fighting a losing battle to keep the place an oasis? I recommend this area to young professionals and singles. Young families might find surrounding surry hills too chaotic, to crimey and too druggy. Older people might fear robbery. Younger renters might find it too expensive and a tad too quiet. I enjoyed it, myself - but it wasn't a standout address by any means.

Interesting proposition, Abercrombie Street. And not a proposition for young families, retirees or even young professionals. This is a great utility address for first-time renters - uni students or those in late teens/early twenties who want cheap rent in a central location. It is an ugly, noisy street but at that age you've got your stereo blasting and you don't really care (and there is a lot of resident/student noise in this street!). We drove our 'young professional' thirty-something neighbor nuts when we were there. He bought it expecting an investment to live in and found constant parties every night. He soon moved. But that was what was great about this street - we were all about the same age, we left our doors open in the evening for eachother to pass in and out as desired. We held parties on weekends. The worst thing about the address? The danger of robbery, for a start - also, the trucks screaming down there en route to Broadway and of course, the stench of the Carlton Brewery in summertime. Only for young, young adults! Don't say I didn't warn you guys!

I lived in 420 Sydney Road, which backed on to Angle Street. At one time Angle was hell on earth, as it was open to the flow of traffic from Sydney Road and had cars and trucks flying down it at hair-raising speed. A good local resident (our neighbour) petitioned to get the street converted to a dead-end and from then on it has been a quiet little oasis that is conveniently close to excellent public transport to the city and to manly/warringah mall. The suburb has temporarily lost its local supermarket - but this will be rectified next year. Great for families with young kids (there are quite a lot of young ones playing safely in the quiet dead end street during weekend days) it is close to schools and a high street of nice specialty shops and banks/restaurants. Get the pest inspector in pronto though - as with all suburbs close to the sea there is a real problem with insects and fumagation is a good idea once in a while - nothing out of the ordinary though. Excellent seafront walk to Fairlight pools and Manly from Condamine Street is recommended, as is nearby North Harbour Reserve.

Violet street is classic humble Sydney suburbia, but without the isolation you could experience out west. Ensconced in the northern beaches suburb of Balgowlah, it is in itself a quiet, sunny and clean street with lovely mixed-age residents who are quite social, but not invasive. The only significant disruption to street life is the local high school (Balgowlah Boys) which can see a rise in rowdy school kids parading down the sidewalk on sports day afternoons (Wednesdays) or just after school (3.20pm). It is bang in the middle between the high school (2 mins walk) and a primary school (2mins walk St Cecilia's) but is a little far to the main shops of Balgowlah (15-20 mins walk). Balgowlah shops has just lost the brilliant Totem Shopping Centre, but will replace it with an even better facility in the third quarter of next year. Public transport to the city or Manly is excellent, with busses running regularly from nearby Sydney Road. A few shops are located 400 metres away on Sydney Road - but nothing usable for your weekly shop. Also 400 metres from local golf course, if you're so inclined.

Formerly an unsightly agglomeration of council townhouses overlooking a central garage, Challenger Place and its sister street Lizzie Webber Place have undergone quite the makeover. The whole surrounding area is wide parkland that spills onto Sydney Harbour - with views of the bridge to boot. Community spirit is high and you'll find dog walkers out in force any day of the week socialising and letting their pets play together in the local ammenities. The excellent aspect of the park means it attracts heaps of locals to fireworks displays, while being secluded enough to never be overcrowded. New childcare centre has set up just next door too. A quiet area full of very young families and young professionals, as well as proud long-term residents. Since it is a relatively new redevelopment it has that slightly sterile feel to it - but that will wear out in time. Challenger is nicknamed 'ToyTown' by residents of overlooking Rowntree Street because of its cute, simplistic and toy-like architectural charm. Well, that's putting it nicely. Right on the harbour with a huge park and basketball court - what more could yu want?