CBrondum

Hastings Parade is an attractive, mostly tree lined, street in North Bondi. The section on the inland (north western) side of Campbell Parade has a lot of greenery and is rather pretty – with many quaint renovated cottages. There are some terrace houses and a few apartment building here and there. This section is also a relatively quiet neighbourhood.

The part of Hastings Parade on the eastern, ocean side of Campbell has quite a different character. There are some of the old apartment blocks with no verandas or balconies, and some new. There are renovated houses and older cottages. The properties on the eastern side either back onto the greens of Bondi Golf club – or, mostly – straight onto the cliff tops over the ocean. These houses have spectacular views – and even some on the western side also have good views looking back over Bondi Beach.

This is a great location with the North Bondi shops being extremely handy – there are a couple of cafes, a greengrocers store, a bottle shop, a chemist and more – so aside from big shopping trips there is everything you need. The northern end of Bondi Beach is a three-minute stroll – using a set of stairs.

This part of Campbell Parade also has a bus interchange with frequent buses to the city and north. Great area for small families, couples or singles alike.

Sandridge Street is a short road leading from Bondi Road (where it becomes Campbell Parade) to Fletcher Street Tamarama. As it is a direct through route to Tamarama, it does get quite a bit of traffic.

The properties here are eclectic in style, age and condition. There are the old brown brick deco apartment buildings, larger nondescript apartment blocks, terrace houses, sandstone cottages and modern apartments. All of the blocks are small. Some would have substantial ocean views, and some other may have glimpses.

The Bondi end gets a fair bit of traffic noise from busy Bondi Rd and Campbell Parade. The street isn’t particularly verdant – but does have at it’s beginning leafy Bondi Reserve, where the cliff top walk starts.

There’s no denying it’s an extremely convenient location – a very easy walk to the restaurants and shops of Bondi Beach – and the local Beaches. The cliff top walk offer magnificent views and is a lovely thing to do on a Sunday – you can walk to many of the eastern beaches- all the way to Coogee (and have lunch at the pub there).

There’s lovely Hunter Park at the end of Fletcher Street, and this has a good children’s playground. Buses are plentiful

Bondi Rd is essentially the main route into, and out of Bondi Beach. It begins at Bondi Junction and becomes Campbell Parade when it hits the beach.

This is a very, very busy thoroughfare and therefore traffic noise is substantial. On a hot summer’s day traffic can come to a standstill. Local transport buses and tourist buses use the route as well.

Housing consists of numerous apartment buildings and old style houses. Many of the houses (in particular) are very close to the road. There has been a lot development over the years – so there are new buildings mixed in with the old. A lot of the apartment blocks are the typical style for this area – low set – two, sometimes three stories, red and brown brick – with no balconies. Cockroaches have always been a problem in this area – the tiny ones that are hard to get rid of. Many of the buildings (apartments and houses) are rentals, and this remains a great area for investment properties.

Facilities are numerous – with a huge variety of shops, both food and otherwise. There are plenty great restaurants around too – with Icebergs nearby at the ocean pool.

Public transport is good with frequent city buses (or buses to Bondi Junction Shopping Centre). There is Waverly Park at the western end of Bondi Rd – which has great outdoor space and kid’s playground.

Bond Street runs from Duncan Street, down to Marine Parade and it sits at the northern end of Maroubra Beach (fondly referred to as The Bra).

It is a street fairly typical of this area, which is somewhat devoid of trees. It has an open aspect, and there is very little greenery.

The properties are on smallish blocks, are fairly packed together and aside from many houses and apartments here having good ocean views, the vista is a sea of red roofs. The upper part of the street has predominantly older houses, many of the red brick style, and some of the 1970s Italianate – with stuccoed verandas. The lower part of the street is mostly apartment blocks. They are varied in design – some older red and brown brick duplex types – but also there are several brand new modernist designs.

Maroubra has boomed in years of late, and this mix of old and new is indicative of change and can be seen throughout the suburb.

Bond Street is home to the Maroubra Neighbourhood Children’s Centre at the east end. It is a day care facility in a regular house – run by parents.
There is also a corner shop and dry cleaners on the corner – and the wide (and sometimes wild) beach is a moment’s stroll.

Hansford Parade begins at Lower Plateau Rd, Bilgola, and winds steeply down to the end of Hudson Parade near Taylor’s Point. When I say ‘winds steeply’ I mean steeply.
The single most distinguishing feature of this road is its angle. Older cars (and automatics) may even struggle to complete the ascent.

The top part near the plateau has some lovely homes with terrific Pittwater views, and some have neat and tidy grassed yards. And it’s all downhill from there…literally.

I believe the right hand side of the street further down – is perhaps too steep to build on, which would explain the absence of properties. The left hand side has several large properties set high up – which would have magnificent views.

The area is particularly leafy and green and home to much bird life. At the bottom, on Hudson Parade – there are a couple of public access routes – overgrown path ways – leading down to Pittwater – and small sandy coves when the tide is not too high.

The top part of Hansford would have access to the city express buses (peak times only) at the end of Lower Plateau, otherwise public transport is terrible – and walking anywhere particularly far would be an effort.

Tasman Road, North Avalon, is one of the prime roads in the area to live in, particularly if you have teenage kids attending Barrenjoey High School which is also situated here.

The street runs from North Avalon Road to the south where it ends practically right on the sand of North Avalon Beach. It’s a level, well-treed street (one side has numerous towering pines), with large – to very large blocks.

Many of the houses have been beautifully renovated, but there are quite a lot of original weatherboard cottages (made smaller looking by the large land they sit on). Because of the level blocks and the location – properties on the street are highly prized and go for fairly high prices.

As well as Barrenjoey High School, there is a Montessori Preschool also close to the beach. North Avalon Road itself, within easy walking distance, provides a good café, a surf shop, takeaway, convenience store and a bottle shop. Buses on Barrenjoey are also not far to walk too.

North Avalon Beach (which has a toilet block) is popular with surfers and is easier to park at than Avalon and some of the other beaches in the height of summer. It’s un-patrolled but is also lovely to swim at (watch out for the boards though).

You could be forgiven for thinking that Wandeen Road is the steepest in the Clareville/Taylor’s Point area – because although it is exceedingly steep there is an even steeper street a couple of blocks over, in Hansford Parade. However, Wandeen is more of a through route- and local buses come up here so it can’t be too bad.

Wandeen begins at the end of Lower Plateau Rd – where the beginning of Angophora reserve is also situated. The latter mentioned is an overgrown council reserve spanning many hectares and is home to much local wildlife, koalas included. Unfortunately, ticks also abound. It has several walking tracks through it – one of which leads down to Avalon – but they are frequently overgrown.

So the upper reaches of Wandeen are in Bilgola Platea, and the decline ends at Taylor’s Point, which is a prestigious area – many of the houses having close Pittwater views. Wandeen itself offers some fantastic water views form both sides – but predominantly the north side (which is north facing).

The street is very leafy and green – and very steep in it’s upper inclines although the bottom 50ms or so is relatively level. Nearby is the Taylor’s Point ramp and dinghy storage, and Clareville Beach is a short drive.

Riverview Road is often classed as Clareville and equally as often, as Avalon. Take your pick.

It’s a fairly lengthy road running from Hudson Parade/Avalon Parade – through to the end of the Careel Bay Peninsula. It’s a wide street with plentiful trees and has the rainforest feel typical of the area. It is somewhat more of a busy through-route though, than other streets nearby.

As the road is so lengthy – there is a huge mixture of housing types – and they range from small original cottages on seemingly huge blocks – to huge newly built properties with water views, but little outside space. There are also several private ‘cul-de-sacs’ leading off Riverview – that have a Riverview address – but are essentially their own little enclaves. Great for small children!

The street is generally quiet, but has some traffic noise. The southern end has terrific access down Paradise Ave (and even private paths on the west side) on to Paradise Beach – a wonderful swimming spot at high tide.

The Hilltop Shops on Hilltop Road – leading directly opposite Riverview are also easily accessible to the south end of the road. Peak time city buses are also available here. There is also a great playground around the corner on The Appian Way.

The actual physical area of Palmgrove Road is a little tricky. It’s not what you’d call a through-route and it does wind back on itself. It starts steeply off Plateau Road and it is narrow and heavily treed. There are some magnificent views to be had here over Avalon Beach and the ocean.

There are also walking tracks down through Palmgrove Reserve that come out closer to Avalon – but still not close enough to equate to an easy stroll to the beach.

The houses here are predominantly larger two or three story older properties – some of which have wonderful sea views. Many of the homes have been renovated to some degree – some such, extravagantly.

It’s a great location – but given the predominantly east (to south-east) location and the heavy foliage, this is not a street that would receive much light – in winter especially. The facilities are good nearby with all the shops and restaurants Avalon can offer – but walking to anything would be difficult on a daily basis.

Beautiful leafy and private views, but accessibility is not so easy. Buses pass by on Plateau Rd but they are only local or peak express… otherwise buses need to be caught from the Bends roundabout or Avalon village itself.

Foamcrest Avenue, Newport is a very popular street. It starts at the right hand juncture of a strange roundabout and carries through, running parallel to Barrenjoey Road, until it reaches Neptune Road.

Foamcrest would not have been considered a busy street in the past, but it has grown and expanded – and has become subjected to vehicles associated with new building work, as well as the building work itself.

The avenue consists now, of almost wholly townhouses (new, modern and expensive), some older apartment blocks and new ones, and a small smattering of old houses.

The new Newport Coles supermarket rears on to Foamcrest and traffic here is now a big issue. There is some underground parking but access isn’t great.

There is a post office on the corner of Foamcrest and Robertson and at this point there are a couple of great cafes on Robertson – particularly Burnt Fingers – they have an al fresco courtyard, and do great breakfast and coffees. The poached eggs are the best I’ve ever had (try the ‘pittwater’) – and their lunches are so well priced (BYO). I don’t know his name but the chef (and I presume owner) is wonderful, and a great character.

Foamcrest is a great street for those wanting to buy luxury townhouses in a great maintenance free location.

Lindsay Ave, Darling Point

Lindsay Ave… What can I say? Do you want to live here, and if so are you rich??!
This is one of the penultimate addresses Sydney has to offer.

Lindsay Ave is a quiet and secluded cul-de-sac that is more like a narrow laneway. It leads off Darling Point Road and offers great privacy.

The houses are shrouded by bushes and trees and offer little or no satisfaction to the prying eye. The few blocks along this prestigious enclave are huge. I ould imagine the houses are huge and beautifully kept – but it is too hard to tell. Several are direct waterfront and obviously will offer the benefits that go with that.

McKell Park fronts the harbour here (and backs on to Lindsay Ave), and it is a popular spot for picnics and has a ferry terminal.

Aside from the obvious attraction of the harbour side, Edgecliff is a short distance up the road and has numerous shopping facilities and a train station. There are also buses along New South Head Road.

I don’t imagine the proximity of schools would be of issue to anyone living on Lindsay Avenue, as if you could afford to live here, I’m sure you’d have a limousine and driver.

Foveaux Street is a deceptively long, steep and interesting road that begins at Elizabeth Street next to Central Railway Station, and ends to the east at Bourke Street.

It is essentially a through-route and a busy urban street. The western end near Central is made up of mostly older buildings – many of which were originally terrace houses – and also some big older warehouse buildings. This location is home to many small fashion houses and designers, and numerous other small traders – it’s partially known as rag-trade alley. Factory outlets abound. There are plenty of shops and cafes and it is a fairly thriving locale. Obviously being so close to the trains at Central transport is generally good.

Foveaux Street is surprisingly green for such a wide and busy road, with many trees overhanging the thoroughfare.

The road rises steeply towards the east and the commercial properties dissipate giving way to old two story terrace houses. They generally front the pavement offering no privacy and the noise levels, I imagine, would be fairly high.

Shannon Reserve in this area has monthly markets and offers a green outdoor space. There are numerous pubs, cafes and shops both on Foveaux and its cross streets.
There are also frequent local buses.

Milford Street is a steep tree lined street, which is both attractive and convenient. It is relatively short, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School occupies almost one whole side of it, that fronts on to Avoca Street.

The houses on Milford Street are predominately renovated properties of the bungalow variety and they are situated on small blocks. There are a few two story houses that look to have Georgian or Federation history, but it is not really recognisable any more- to an untrained eye like mine. There are at least two (from memory) apartment buildings on the street, one of which is very large, the other a lot smaller and quieter. The larger of two may actually have its address on an adjacent street.

There are numerous facilities nearby including buses, shops and restaurants on Avoca Street, and Milford Street is very close to Coogee Bay Road, offering a straightforward car or bus trip to the beach. Also very nearby is the Royal Hospital for Women, offering wonderful medical facilities, and the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute.

The area offers both fairly easy commuting to the city, and easy access to the beaches and nightlife of the Coogee surrounds.

Milford Street itself, and the surrounding area, gets pretty congested with local traffic at school pick up and drop off times.

Neptune Street is a road that’s beautiful for both its parkland and its views. It is situated at the southern (high) end of Coogee Beach, in an area of great natural aesthetic appeal.

The properties here consist almost fully of large older apartment buildings; many of them have spacious balconies with wide open, north facing ocean views. In fact – I think there only approximately three houses on this stretch of road, all of which are bungalow variety and beautifully restored.

The biggest plus the street can offer is its direct and easy access down to iconic Wylies Baths. Wylies is essentially a 50-metre ocean rockpool, but there is also a kiosk and yoga classes. The baths have a wonderful history, and date back to the early 1900s. The local building structure surrounding the baths reflects this – and it is an especially magical spot, that welcomes everyone.

To the south of Neptune Street, a very short walk away, is Blenheim Park. This lovely park offers off leash dog exercise and also has a playground.

All the facilities of Coogee are nearby, including of course Coogee Beach and the infamous Coogee Bay Hotel, where food is plentiful and great live acts can often be seen. There are numerous local stores, and cafes and buses to the city are plentiful.

Mooramie Avenue is a wide suburban street, occupied for the most part by ‘Californian’ Bungalows. Many of these have been renovated – but little has changed to the façade of the street in the last fifteen to twenty years. It’s not hugely green, but there are plenty of trees, and it is an attractive avenue.

Mooramie Ave is in a very convenient location, beginning very close to Anzac Parade, and having a park with playing fields at the other end. Buses on Anzac Pde are plentiful.

It is also within walking distance to the University of New South Wales, NIDA, and Randwick Racecourse. A longer walk, or short drive will bring you to many restaurants, a few pubs and shops. The Royal Hospital for Women is also close by, as is The Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute.

Kensington Public School is also near, and Catholic Girls’ school Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart College, is within walking distance.

With the southern section of Centennial Park, and Moore Park nearby, the area offers great outdoor facilities. Express buses to the city are frequent, and it is a very short commute. It’s also an easy drive to Coogee and some of the eastern beaches.

Blair St is a wide avenue forming the heart of the North Bondi community. It is a straight stretch from Old South Rd up a slow incline to Military Rd, where it emerges opposite the cliff-top golf course.

A median strip traverses the distance and it is planted with foliage. Blair Street is a good bypass to avoid driving through the buys centre of Bondi Beach, if your destination is further to the north-east. Though there is foliage in the middle of parts of the road (that is very wide indeed for a suburban street), there is little other greenery, and aside form a few trees, the street is fairly barren.

Housing mostly consists of the old apartment blocks that are fairly typical of the Bondi area. They are often, dark brown brick duplex type properties, that are fairly non-descript from the exterior – though the interiors may be nicely renovated. Low set bungalows also feature.

Blair Street is mostly a level walk into Bondi central and the beach, taking approximately 15 minutes.

There are a few shops on Blair Street, including two grocery stores, a newsagency, hairdressers, and a café. Also present is Galilee Catholic Primary School. The lower end is better for public transport, but buses aren’t too bad in general.

Ocean Street is a busy, though leafy, through-route, beginning at Oxford Street, passing through Edgecliff and ending near the harbour in Double Bay.

It’s a wide boulevard with trees arching over it, and gracious old houses and mini-mansions in particular, occupy the Woollahra end.
The housing at the northern end closer to William Street consists more predominantly of apartment buildings, both big and small.

There’s a mixture of building styles here with Victorian and Georgian homes, and rustic workers cottages. Many buildings are listed on the National Estate – including the quaint sandstone corner store on Ocean Street.

Public transport is good, with buses on the street itself, and Edgecliff train station nearby – walking distance from the lower (north) half of the street. Edgecliff also provides good grocery shopping facilities, and Ocean Street has several specialty shops including liquor store, drycleaner’s, a drapery, cafe and some furniture shops.

On the corner of Forth Street is Woollahra Public Primary, which has a good program for gifted and talented kids. The area is fairly lacking in good outdoor spaces and playgrounds for small kids, but there is Trumper Park not too far away, which has a large sports oval, a playground and walking trails.

Ocean Street is a busy, but beautiful road.

James ‘Street’ is really no more than a tiny laneway, leading from the northern end of busy Oxford Street, crossing the more prominent Victoria Ave, and ending at Moncur Street. At first glance you would find nothing remarkable about it. There is a Locksmith near the Oxford Street corner, and a Kennards Hire.

Being the narrow strip that it is, there are no trees, and the front doors are practically on the street. Many of the nearby larger street’s properties, back on to James St, and to begin with it looks like only back access to these yards. There is a large red brick apartment building on the corner of Victoria.

A dozen or so quaint cottages occupy the northern part of James St. Some look like very old terraced worker’s cottages, and are absolutely tiny, others are larger and have been beautifully renovated, a couple look to be in original condition.

Nearby facilities are good – with easy bus transport to both the city and the eastern beaches. A short stroll away is Queen Street, which has a selection of café’s and restaurants, antique stores, delis and specialist shops.

This is a great area for people who want to be close to the action.

Greycliff Avenue Vaucluse is situated at the bottom of steeply winding Vaucluse Rd. It’s a very pretty avenue, and home to prime real estate.

The houses are old and gracious, exuding charm. One of the biggest attractions of the area is situated on Greycliff Avenue. This is the Hermitage Foreshore Reserve, and more importantly Nielsen Park. The park is situated on the eastern shore of Sydney Harbour and offers wonderful family facilities. There is safe, shallow swimming, and an area of the harbour has a shark net up (in summer at least).

The grassy park also offers a playground, many shady trees, toilets and picnic tables. There is a kiosk, a popular restaurant and several function facilities (all run by the same company I believe).

Further back up the hill on Olola Ave, is Vaucluse Park, which contains historic Vaucluse House, another attractive place to visit. And beyond that, on the corner of Vaucluse and New South Head Rds, is the elite Kincoppal-Rose Bay school. It’s a private (and expensive) school with co-ed early learning centre and primary, and girl’s only high school.

There are decent shopping facilities on Old South Head Rd at Rose Bay North/Dover Heights, and good bus transport along New South Head Rd. Ferries and trains can be caught further west. Realistically a car is needed.

Military Road stretches for most of the Eastern Suburb’s northern peninsula. It begins where Campbell Parade finishes – climbing to the north of Bondi and ends at Old South Head Rd in the exclusive suburb of Vaucluse.

Dover Heights is a mix of smaller suburban houses on unremarkable streets on its lower western slopes, and either average houses or amazing upgraded properties, with amazing views on the eastern cliffs fronting the Pacific Ocean. There are also many spectacular views to be had from properties on the western side towards the top of Dover Heights. Some of these have a broad panorama over the city, including Sydney Harbour and the Bridge.

Likewise Dudley Page Park on Military Rd in the heart of Dover Heights, has these wonderful views to the west. It’s a fantastic spot for evening picnics, particularly on New Year’s Eve, when it’s very popular. The views may be fairly distant – but spectacular non-the-less, and far from the madding crowds.

This section of Dover Heights has a few shops. They are now limited to a liquor store, a hairdresser, and I believe a dentist. There used to be a good butcher and grocery store here, but now for further shopping, heading a few blocks north to the shopping precinct on Old South Head Rd is an easy option.