cindyh

This is a leafy pocket close to everything that Sylvania has to offer - shopping, transport, entertainment - but still has that local feel. This area was my old stamping ground with my cousins - we had a great time in the shire and going down to the beach in Cronulla.

It's amazing how we would roam the streets playing in each others houses - the neighbourhood is great.

If I could afford the right house I would live in Birchgrove. As a peninsula suburb you don't get drive through traffic and being walking distance to Balmain you get all the perks but none of the hassle.

You also have nice famous neighbours - actors, directors, film makers and sometimes a murdoch or two.

Louisa Road Birchgrove - my dream location. Sardina Place was the reality - small, quiet and friendly.

When we camped at Indented Head I couldn't believe how close we were to the beach and how clean it was. Usually when you get a campsite that's close to the beach you get a bunch of teenagers drinking alcohol until three in the morning playing bad music!!

This place was great including the Mister Whippy that came at 6pm with the best choc-top I've ever had.

The town of Indented Head doesn't have much but you don't need much and when you are craving for the Melbourne style breakie and coffee you just head into Port Arlington.

Churchill Island is a great place to visit when you're on Philip Island - the food is brilliant at the Farm and I believe the Chill Island events are great.

My son loved the farm animals and the freedom to run around.

Matthew Flinders Drive is the epitome of beach side living - it's the type of location that you think of when you think house by the beach. They're all LARGE houses at that too.

This is an area of Port Macquarie called Lighthouse Beach and started out as a small beach-side community. The town grew and Lighthouse grew so they're now joined.

You can walk from Lighthouse Beach along the beaches and into town - it's a bit of a long walk but not too difficult. I'd have to say I've never made the full journey as every time I attempt it I get lost on one of the beaches going for a swim or relaxing.

There's a great cafe in the Kiosk at Lighthouse and is a secret spot for locals. It has the best coffees in Port. I would say they're equal to those found in Melbourne or Sydney. They also do a great breakfast.

I grew up in Port Macquarie and lived in John Street just 10 minutes walk from the beach. I would go to the beach every day. Given the safety of the Beach I was allowed from a very young age to go by myself - around 12 years old.

The beach in Port are fantastic and it's one of those places that aren't directly on the high-way so it's not too over-run by tourists in holiday season. [Anyone local just goes to Lighthouse or Shelly Beach during this time as tourists don't know where they are :) ]

The council has been OK as well at keeping too many high-rise ugly buildings out of the area. So it's green, relaxing and fun place to stay.

John Street is one of the older streets/areas in town - it has a few low-rise flats and is great for young couples as you are near to work as well as the beach and local shops. My youngest sister still lives in the area.

It's one of those areas people don't tend to move out of - my mother still owns the house we grew up in and the neighbours have been the same for 25 plus years.

We've just moved in here and are loving living in the area. I thought I'd put down it was really bad so I could keep it to myself :)

We can walk to parks, shops [Station Street], restaurants and the train station - you come home from work and don't need to get in the car.

Gertrude Street, Fitzroy is just around the corner - voted the coolest street in Melbourne and a bit of an arts hub. Well in Bedford Street - a little street just down from Smith Street - you'll find your standard Collingwood community. We have photographers, music producers, stylists, fashion designers, graphic designers, artists, architects, furniture designers/makers and more!!

How much more creative could you get!!!

We've only just moved out of Collingwood and miss it. We still do our shopping on Smith Street and go out for dinner [even if we have to drive and not drink as much].

We had to move as we couldn't afford the size house we needed with our 4 year old - additional bedroom, study and back-yard are not that easy and cheap in Collingwood now.

The community and people of Collingwood - particularly Smith Street - was fantastic with our son as he grew up. He became a regular talking to the crowds outside Safeway. We never felt threatened and always felt safe.

I loved living in Collingwood.