mari555

Out of all the areas I’ve lived in Sydney, Seaforth was by far my favourite! It is such a beautiful, safe and peaceful area with lots of greenery, harbour views, and just a short drive (or walk!) away from Clontarf Beach. However, it is also a really convenient place to live, with very well-connected public transport options, great schools nearby, and shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy.

The area also has a wonderful community feel, with neighbours hosting get-togethers and Christmas parties, and people generally being very friendly and polite. You can almost certainly expect a smile and “Hello” on your morning walk, which is lovely!

I lived in Cremorne for 6 years, and found the area to be extremely convenient, safe, and beautiful. Commute to the city was 10-15 mins with buses running regularly, and the suburb is only a stone’s throw away from some of Sydney’s most stunning natural sites such as Balmoral Beach and Cremorne Point Reserve. There are also many good schools in the area, making the suburb ideal for families, while also being a lively spot with lots of wonderful cafes and restaurants.

My only complaint is that there is not a huge sense of community spirit and people can occasionally be a bit rude - neighbours don’t seem very interested in getting to know each other there, and there isn’t the same friendly spirit as in other suburbs where you chat to locals on your morning walk or on bus rides.

North Ryde is a very convenient area to live, with easy access to the city, various PT options, good schools, major roads, and lots of shops and cafes around.

However, compared to other places I’ve lived in Sydney, I strongly feel that the area lacks soul and a community spirit. Older houses are being knocked down and replaced by identical-looking modern duplexes, and the area has very little green/tree cover. There is not much sense of community, and neighbours don’t talk to each other. Walking on the streets, I’ve even had (usually elderly) residents be extremely rude to me when I smiled at them or said hello, which was considered absolutely standard and polite when I lived elsewhere! I also don’t feel that the area is super safe at night, as there have been various safety incidents near where I live.