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Manly is a beachside suburb, 17 kilometres to the north-east of the Sydney CBD.

Famous for its long stretch of sandy beaches, Manly is a popular surf spot and attracts many tourists throughout the year.

The region has a strong sporting culture, and Manly is home to its own Rugby League team. Sailing is also popular in this area, as is surfing and body boarding.

The esplanade is now lined with high density apartment blocks, all offering fantastic views.

The commercial area of town is called the Corso, and this offers a number of outdoor cafés and boutique shops.

Accessing the CBD is easy from here, with frequent ferries and also a dedicated bus line.

This busy area in the heart of Sydney Harbour has a number of permanent apartments available. It is a bustling spot, full of tourists all year round. This area of the harbour is a major transport terminal, so you will see ferries rolling in and out all day.

Many of the apartments have sweeping harbour views, looking over the famous landmarks of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. This view is worth the huge price-tag.

It might be a difficult place to be based in the long term, given the transient nature of the crowds who frequent here. However this could be easily overlooked if you focus more on the incredible location and the view.

Beautiful Rose Bay - just 6 kilometres to the east of Sydney. With many grand waterfront properties, many with cutting edge designs, this location definitely comes with a hefty price tag.

However the suburb also offers a large number of apartment blocks and high rise living. Popular with young professionals, this area is a good spot to commute to the CBD.

This area offers a huge number of recreational activities. Golf and sailing are both particularly popular here.

Bondi Junction is a high density commercial hub situated just 6 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. There are a number of businesses headquartered here, and it continues to grow.

Bondi Junction also has some absolutely huge shopping malls. The Westfield is one of the biggest shopping areas I have seen in Australia.

The residential areas close to the suburb's commercial centre are high-rise apartment style living. However there are some low density options on the outer edge of the suburb, with a number of homes in Victorian and Federation style.

Delightful Woollahra, I love this place! Famous for its tree-lined streets and charming homes, Woollahra is situated just 5 kilometres to the east of Sydney.

It is a popular shopping spot, with the main shopping street lined with coffee bars, florists and boutique shops.

House prices are very high here, but to be expected given the great location and lovely village feel.

The CBD is just a short walk away, or can be easily accessed by bus.

Lime Street is a commercial and residential street located on the edge of the CBD and fronting on to Darling Harbour. Quite a few places here have great views across the water.

However the street itself feels very impersonal and concrete-like. There are a few cafés and 24 hour stores, but the area really feels quite isolated and lonely. To remedy this, you can pop out to Darling Harbour, but this feels very touristy! All in all, I think the area lacks a bit of soul, but I guess this is to be expected from inner city living.

Bondi Beach is a suburb located about 7 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. It is an incredible popular spot with tourists, largely because of its famous beach. It can be absolutely packed in summer, and maintains quite a steady crowd year round.

The residential areas of Bondi offer a range of housing options, from expensive and exclusive beachside properties, to townhouses, to apartment blocks. It really just depends on what kind of lifestyle you're looking for, how close you want to be to the sea, and of course your budget.

The area also has a number of shopping centres and restaurants, and is an easy commute to the CBD.

St Leonards is situated about 5 kilometres to the north of the Sydney CBD. It is a large commercial centre in its own right, and is home to the headquarters of a number of large Australian companies.

The area has some very tall residential apartment towers. These are in a very convenient spot for those who work in St Leonards itself, and also for those who work in the city.

There are good transport links to the CBD, with frequent trains that will take you to the heart of the city.

There are a number of cafés and shops in the restaurant. However given the commercial feel to the place, you are probably best to head to some of the surrounding suburbs for a more relaxed and homely lifestyle.

Lovely Mosman is about 8 kilometres to the north of Sydney's CBD. It is quite a varied suburb. There are some incredibly exclusive clifftop villas and great sea views. On the other hand, there are some pockets of very high density living, with apartment blocks and townhouses.

The area has a relaxed coastal feel, and has a number of beautiful beaches nearby such as Balmoral.

The region is quite a commercial hub, and the main shopping precinct is located on Military Road.

There are buses, trains and also ferries available to the CBD.

Greenhill Road is a busy road that lines the southern edge of Adelaide's parklands. There are a few large apartment blocks here, including the modern Air Apartments, which offer amazing views from the Adelaide Hills, across the parklands and to the sea.

This is a great spot to be based. There are many buses in to the CBD, or you can walk in around 30 minutes. There are a number of good café strips and shops nearby (try Fullarton Road, Unley Road, Hyde Park or Goodwood Road) - it just depends on which part of the road you are located.

Greenhill Road also continues to the east, across Portrush Road and past Glynburn. The type of housing out this way soon change, with large bungalows and big gardens. This area is not as central to the CBD, but offers a lovely lifestyle in the foothills. Burnside Village is on the corner of Portrush and Greenhill, and offers a huge range of shops, cafés, supermarkets and other services.

The only downside is Greenhill Road

Wakefield Street extends eastwards from the centre of Victoria Square in the heart of Adelaide's CBD, and intersects Hutt Street. It is a good central location, and would be an easy stroll to any office in the Adelaide CBD.

The housing along Wakefield Street is quite modern, with a number of apartment blocks and some executive townhouses.

This is a good spot for lifestyle - just around the corner from Hutt Street and only few streets away from Adelaide's eastern parklands which includes a number of good jogging spots.

One potential downside is that Wakefield Hospital is just across the road. This has an emergency room, and so ambulance sirens are quite common. Not the best for a good night's sleep!

Until recently, Grenfell Street was a commercial hub and shopping street, with a few pubs and cafés. However the Adelaide apartment boom then began, and a number of residences emerged on busy Grenfell Street.

The location is really convenient - right in the heart of the CBD. The apartments at the eastern end of Grenfell Street are in a particularly good spot, just a street away from Rundle Street and all of its cafés, and just around the corner from Hutt Street.

Parking tends to be offered with the apartment, but it is very difficult for family or friends to find somewhere to park when visiting (unless they are happy to pay).

All in all, Grenfell Street offers some convenient and low maintenance living, but it is a long way from becoming a residential hub.

The apartments on Union Street are perfectly placed for those who love a real party atmosphere. Stretching between Grenfell Street and Rundle Street, this busy road is just right next door to the "Bunker", which is the live music venue for the adjacent Austral Pub. Chances are you will hear some cool beats and funky tunes until all hours over the weekend (even though a number of steps have been taken by the Austral to keep the noise down).

The location here is brilliant - two minutes from Adelaide Uni or a fifteen minute stroll to UniSA. You are in the heart of Adelaide, so all of the cafés, bars and shops are at your fingertips. You are also just around the corner from Cibo, which serves delicious coffee until late a night - a handy pick-me-up for those late night study sessions.

Prospect Road is the main road that stretches through the entire suburb of Prospect. Prospect is a large suburb, and is situated to the immediate north of North Adelaide and the parklands.

There are quite a few houses along Prospect Road. The southern end has some very large and grand homes, followed by the 'main street' which has a number of shops, cafés and restaurants. As you head further north, the houses become smaller and perhaps slightly less well-maintained. Real estate values certainly decrease the further north you head.

All in all it is a great spot to be based, provided you choose your location wisely. It is a busy but narrow street, so beware that traffic can be slow during the peak hours.

There are lots of schools, recreational facilities and childcare in the area, so it is a great spot to raise a family.

This stretch of Esplanade is a great spot to live. There are modern beach-houses, permanent homes, apartment blocks and the occasional old house needing some attention. Every single place has sweeping views across the sea. Most places are multiple storeys, so you can see for miles. The sunsets here are just beautiful.

The beach by the Esplanade is pristine and clean. Excellent for long walks and great for swimming too.

The best thing about this location is that you are tucked away from the madness of Jetty Road, so you can enjoy relaxed coastal living without all the crowds. However you are close enough to go for a stroll and enjoy the action when you choose, and make the most of the cafés, restaurants, bars and delicious fish and chips.

Norwood Parade has undergone a huge development in recent years. Always famous for its wonderful selection of cafés and coffee bars, the whole street has now lifted and offers a wonderful array of entertainment options and lifestyle services.

There is a cinema, great shopping, gelati bars and pubs. There are a couple of big supermarket complexes, as well as some smaller stores offering the freshest seafood, gourmet delights and other fresh produce.

This strip really has it all. It does get very busy though - parking can be difficult at the best of times and traffic can hit a standstill.

Most of the houses on the Parade are at the western end, where there are a number of executive townhouses. There are also some bigger homes in the next suburb to the east.

Portrush Road is one of the main carriageways from Adelaide and also its northern suburbs to the South-Eastern Freeway. The road is therefore very busy with cars and many semi-trailers too.

The road underwent a major development a few years ago. It was widened significantly, and many of the homes along this stretch were required to give up some land, but were given an enormous fence in return. The fences along this stretch are quite a work of art - every single one is tailored to meet the aesthetic design of the relevant house. The fences are also very functional - quite thick and metres high so as to block out the traffic noise.

Living on Portrush Road does have some real benefits (despite the inconvenient traffic). There are a number of schools nearby, including Loreto (a private Catholic girls school) just along the road. There are also nearby shopping centres, restaurants and cafés both on Kensington Road and also Norwood Parade. The local pub, the Robin Hood, has also undergone a recent renovation and is a great spot for a pub meal.

Portrush Road is a major road, spanning all the way from Marden to the start of the South-Eastern Freeway. As a result, it is a very busy stretch of road with a heavy traffic including many large trucks. Triple glazing is essential!!

However there are some true benefits to this location. First, this area of Portrush Road has a lot of services and shops to offer, including a Fitness First Gym, a handful of takeaway stores, and the Mars Sporting Complex. The River Torrens and its popular walking/cycling tracks are just a short walk away.

Also the Adelaide CBD is only a 15 minute drive, plus there are multiple buses every hour.

Julius Street is a residential street, with bungalow houses on reasonably-sized blocks. It is a pretty street, with manicured gardens and jacaranda trees.

Situated in the heart of Tanunda, forming a T junction with the Main Street, the street is in an excellent location. It is just minutes from any shops and services you may require, but tucked away so it is a quiet and peaceful spot.

It is a lovely place for raising kids. The local swimming pool, tennis courts and oval are situated on the next street. The two primary schools of Tanunda are both only a couple of streets away. There are many other children who live in the neighbourhood.

It is also a good spot to retire. It is quiet and safe, with everything you need nearby.

The Rocks is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, nestled to one side of the Harbour Bridge. It is a popular tourist area, due to its history, and has a number of pubs and restaurants aimed at maximising the tourist dollar.

That being said, it is a great location to live. It is very close to the water and very close to the CBD - easy walking distance. There are some stunning apartments, older terraced homes and some incredible executive residences worth millions.

Parking of course can be a nightmare, but you are so close to everything you need that you might not even need a car (lots of Sydney-siders tend to go without).