The above posts are fantastic with very accurate and useful information.

I have been searching around the Northern Beaches for a residence to lease during my 2-5 tenure here. Suffice to say, a colleague at work said to visit the Northern Beach suburbs during the day and spend the day/night there for an accurate picture of a suburb. We need to consider our two 'near' teenage children and schools/safety etc.

I visited Avalon beach after many positive recommendations and we enjoyed the place thoroughly. White beaches and fantastic proprietors throughout the shopping area and cafes. That was until the 'locals' got off from work and went out to wine and dine.

Last night my wife and I had dinner at an Italian Restaurant in Avalon which served immaculate food (and pizza). We were enjoying our meal and wine on the warm summer evening until a table of some very loud locals setup at a large table outdoors.

This didn't phase us, we are use to loud people enjoying their meal and drinks. What deterred us from 'ever' staying or recommending Avalon was with what happened next.

A large vehicle pulled up and was reversing into a parking space outside of where we were dining when a smaller Japanese car came in from the other side of the street and took his car space. I nearly saw them collide. The driver of the car that had his space taken approached the other driver and said he had nearly collided with him. He explained he had stopped and indicated he was occupying that space. The driver replied 'Well you are not a local then, nobody reverse parks here", where the other chap responded that the signs say "Front or Reverse to Kerb".

Just then the table of 15-20 or so exploded into insults abusing the driver. However, not the driver of the small car who stole the space, they abused the driver of the large car! I was amazed. The small car driver did leave but he too abused the innocent driver where I heard him call him a twit and 'You are not a local' etc etc.

When the rightful owner of the space went to reverse back into the space a more older man at the table of locals got his chair and sat in the car space while a drunken overweight woman continued abusing the driver.

It was a disgraceful scene, especially when they all started telling the man to p1ss off, you are not a local etc. My wife thought the men in the group and the loud woman would assault the man by their actions but I told her not to worry. They were victimising him as he was alone. It was disgraceful behaviour.

Amazingly the gentleman being abused responded civilly and explained himself but to no avail. He stood up for his rights and said he has nothing to be ashamed off when a bald 30'ish man started to insult him.. then another with tattoos threatened him The lone individual then.... 'laughed at them all'! He obviously wasn't afraid or intimidated or aggressive... in fact his laughter somewhat diffused the situation.

I though other people in the restaurant would have been more outspoken and assisted this man but in fact, I thought we would get abused also if we said anything to assist (especially with our accents)!

Only some of that group continued to annoy the man. This group were all aged between 30 and 55 years! Disgusting behaviour and proud to call themselves locals. It convinced us not to live there. We started looking around at all the people on the streets. Locals!

The most amusing thing of the evening, which I will be writing home about was that a group of 20 motorbike riders arrived some 5 minutes later. Who did they come to meet but none other than this man who was being abused and victimised. The group of locals quickly dispersed and some went to smaller tables while others left the restaurant.

The driver that was victimised didn't seek revenge or start trouble and was a good upstanding character. Funny when the tables are turned. I never told my wife I secretly desired to see them teach this group of uncivil morons a lesson.

So that said, what other Northern Beach suburbs would you recommend without this 'Locals Only' attitude? Manly was nice but far too much activity. We are seeking the quiet beach lifestyle if that exists.

The all new 'Anti-Avalon Locals Movement'