Depends what you are used to and how much you want to spend. What type of house do you imagine living in. Do you want strip-mall type shopping or village? Will you have 2 cars or 1 or none?

I ask all of this because in the west you need a car each. Public transport is crappy there. The west is getting better but you need to pick your area carefully. Some schools can be a bit rough. But in saying this you can get a larger house.

The north shore is lovely, family, nice shopping areas and good schools (I mean around mosman, neutral bay area) Crows nest is close to city and nice as well. But then areas like Gordon are nice as well, lots of bushland and retirees and families. I dont know about schools there. Drummoyne is nice, I lived there for many years. It is on the water (not for swimming) but mostly there are units.

Dont know much about South, I assume you mean sutherland shire?

Eastern suburbs are expensive, but there are beaches. It is a nice place to live and yes there are lots of expats, mostly from the UK. But then again you would be hard pressed to find an area in Sydney that isnt really multicultural.

 

The Hills district, north west of Sydney, is also a very good family area with very good schools. Homes range from $450k to millions. Transport system isn't as good as the North Shore and inner west, so the commute would be longer. Hope this is of some help, not adding to the confusion! There are many good areas in and around Sydney. It's simply a matter of you deciding what you want and can afford.

 

Well, if you want to live southside you could try Burwood or Strathfield. Otherwise Balmain or Rozelle. All have good state schools. Hunters Hill is very nice and can be pricey but you can also find some cheaper places there too. It's near North Ryde and is north of the harbour but on the west side, so that might still work for you.

There are more expats in the north of Sydney, but yes, they are more expensive.

Not sure if you have used the cityhobo website yet.

We used it before we moved to Sydney and got lots of very helpful information from it on where to live. It looks at more than 50 suburbs and gives you an honest account of what's what.

 

We live in the Northern Suburbs, Ryde area. My husband takes the ferry to work everyday, to Circular Quay takes about and hour door to door. Its a tough life, cruising down the harbour.

 

Hi all

I'm due to go to Sydney at the end of March 2008 with my family on a 457 Visa and want some advice on where the best places in or around Sydney to live are.

My kids are 10 and 12 and we are happy enough living in the Suburbs. My commute will be to Central Sydney but on the South side of the bridge and I dont really want to commute for more than 45mins, but I suppose the most important thing is good state schools.

I've read the North is expensive and although the west is cheaper its less populated by expats than the South. The South (or the Shires as I think its called) is popular with expates and indigenous aussies.

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

Hi,
I've been in Sydney a year. I'm not sure on best suburbs South but I stay in Carlingford (West) and there are lots of ex-pats and others i.e. NZ, Germany, Norway near me.
I know there are a few suburbs to avoid down in that area as it can be wild - that's from the people I know who are Sydney born and bred.
From Carlingford Eastwood and Epping railway stations are nearby and it's about 30mins in train into city approx. 1hour by bus.
Inner West suburbs are the nice (Glebe / Haberfield / Five Dock ) but very expensive.

 

Hi there
I was born and grew up in Sydney.
The best suburbs in Sydney are.....
Point Piper
Vaucluse
Double Bay
Rose Bay
Mosman
Neutral Bay
Paddington
Woollahra
North Bondi
Watsons Bay

These places are the places that the very VERY wealthy people live. If you want information on good areas in Sydney that are not as expensive let me know. For more information try Real Estate, Property, Land and Homes for Sale, lease and rent - realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au

 

i'm a sydney girl through and through, what's your budget in $AUD for rent per week?

 

Dog Friendly Areas

Hi,
My wife and I are considering a move to Sydney and are bringing along our two children (both dogs). Our office will be in North Ryde, but we would like to live somewhere in between the office and the city. How hard is it to find homes/townhome/apartment that is pet friendly in the lower North Shore area? We were looking to spend about $600-$800 per week. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Lance

 

Hi everyone,
I am planning to buy a house in sydney close to sea in good suburb. I want an advice which suburb is better to live in. I am a student so i would like the suburb be active,not boring,with restaurants,shops etc. And how much aproximately the house will cost, medium size house (2-3 bedrooms with courtyard)?thank you in advance. Maya

 

Hi Mayya:

Sydney is very expensive to buy houses. I would take a look at realestate.com.au in the suburbs that are near your Uni. Students usually rent in Sydney.

Most of the activity tends to be in CBD suburbs.

 

Hi Stretch:

Let me see I got the list right:

45 min commute to city
2 Boys need schools (public) - ages 10-12
Your work will be in the CBD (Central Sydney)
You want a place with lots of expats
You want to be close to the sea

I don't think I could hit everything but I'll give it a go:
Hornsby
- Close to the 45 min commute level
- good schools
- lots of expats
- not close to the sea
St. Ives
- Good Schools
- Commute to city within 45 mins
- 30 mins to sea
- OK with expats (not lots, nor too little)
Chatswood
- Good schools
- lots of expats
- 20-30 mins to sea
- good commute
Manly
- lots of expats
- good schools
- 30 min commute to Circular Quay (by ferry)
- Beach suburb, walk to the water


I would concentrate on the areas on the North Shore along the Northern train line between Chatswood and Epping.

Look at the pricing of houses on realestate.com.au and you should get an idea of less expensive/more expensive areas.

Hi all

I'm due to go to Sydney at the end of March 2008 with my family on a 457 Visa and want some advice on where the best places in or around Sydney to live are.

My kids are 10 and 12 and we are happy enough living in the Suburbs. My commute will be to Central Sydney but on the South side of the bridge and I dont really want to commute for more than 45mins, but I suppose the most important thing is good state schools.

I've read the North is expensive and although the west is cheaper its less populated by expats than the South. The South (or the Shires as I think its called) is popular with expates and indigenous aussies.

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

 

I might have a job with Sydney Ports Corporation. I am married with a 4 month old daughter. I am looking for some information on the outer suburbs as we will have to survive on one income for a while. What is Campbelltown like? I seen some not bad properties in Ambarvale (at least they look nice on the internet). What would the commute to Millers Point by car be like? The same question for Penrith. I would most likely have to drive as the job requires shift work.
Thanks,

Scott.

 

Hi Scott:

Penrith and Campbelltown are basically near the boundaries of Sydney in the West and South respectively (I think a bit further west is the actual boundary past Penrith).

As for living they're inexpensive but your commute is gonna be a long one (at least one hour to the CBD) and you'll be hit by road tolls everyday. I live in the the Northeastern part of Sydney so pretty far from both of those suburbs. I can't describe how it is to live there as I don't go to either area that much.

I would definitely pay a bit more and save some major commuting time. You'll pay for it one way or the other (if long commute then you'll be more tired and spend less time with Mom and Baby, OR shorter commute and pay more in rent).

In terms of Millers Point look at these suburbs. Petersham, Enmore, Alexandria, Zetland, Leichhardt. It will be units of some sort. Also it's not advisable to drive to Millers Point as parking will be an issue (unless you're getting paid parking).

Good luck

 

Access, rent, environment -best suburb??

Hi everyone,

I need advice from a "sydney-native"
I'm Chilean and I'm moving to Sydney to spend the next 3-4 years pursuing my doctoral studies in USYD.
I'm female and single, so I was thinking I should look for a studio or a 1-bedroom apartment for rent.
Which suburb do you recommend? I'm aware of the fact that the closer accommodation is to the city center, the more expensive...but I think that is also senseless to pay cheap rent and a lot of money in transportation!

I think I will be able to spend AUD$250-350 in accomodation.

Thanks for your help!
Beatriz

 

Hi Bquiroz:

Usually students share a unit in the CBD area. So look a the suburbs around USYD. Also contact the International Student office at USYD and ask them if they have info about students sharing housing.

Here is a link from Sydney Uni where you can start:
Accommodation Service - The University of Sydney

Good luck

Hi everyone,

I need advice from a "sydney-native"
I'm Chilean and I'm moving to Sydney to spend the next 3-4 years pursuing my doctoral studies in USYD.
I'm female and single, so I was thinking I should look for a studio or a 1-bedroom apartment for rent.
Which suburb do you recommend? I'm aware of the fact that the closer accommodation is to the city center, the more expensive...but I think that is also senseless to pay cheap rent and a lot of money in transportation!

I think I will be able to spend AUD$250-350 in accomodation.

Thanks for your help!
Beatriz

 

Thanks for the last response, this is a little more detailed now. I am hoping to secure the position shortly and I would be working out of Port Botany by the Container Terminal. I would be making around 90,000 AUD per year. I will be coming over (from Canada) with my wife and 6 month old daughter. We were hoping to find something not to far away but we have the following challenges. I am not sure if my wife will be allowed to work in country, so we might only have the one income. Secondly, they indicated I would have to drive as the work is shift work and there is no real public transit that works for the shifts. I was thinking about the Sutherland/Woronora to Heathcote area. Any suggestions would be more that appreciated.

 

Hi:

I don't get down there too often (you're working in the Southern part of Sydney and I live and work in the Northern part of Sydney (a harbour between the two). But you should be able to find something along the eastern Suburbs and also Sutherland shire (i.e. Cronulla, Brighton-le-Sands, Coogee, Bondi). These aren't too far to drive. From what I know about PR visas they should include your wife and will allow her to work. Even if it's a 457 Temp visa as long as she also is on the application she should be able to work in AU.

But if unsure I would contact immigration once you get your visa to clarify that your wife has right to work in AU (they should specifically state she can't work on her visa sticker if there is such a restriction).

Good luck.

 

Hi,

If any Pakistanis out there are willing to share accomodation in Sydney, NSW, please reply on this thread or send me a private message. I know that Pakistani students share with up to 4 other students in Sydney and the per week cost is around $100/- for the rent. I would be extremely interested in such an arrangement. If you know any students who have such an arrangement I would be infinitely grateful if you could connect me with them. Thanks in advance.

 

I am also looking for same but I will move after 2 months time as my current lease has 2 months left in it. After that I'd love to join in such an arrangement.

 

Hi saaron,

Well met mate!!! Are you currently in Pakistan? Which city? Where do you plan to live immediately after reaching Sydney? Before your post here I was alone... now there is two of us!!! Let us keep posting on various forums and hopefully soon enough there will be a bunch of us.

A very neat possibility is for us to rent a good house and divide the rent amongst us. If there are 5 people and we rent a $500 per week apartment, that would be $100 per week per person.... amounting to almost $400 per month per person. A very good thing about this kind of arrangement would be that everyone would follow the Halal restrictions so we wouldn't need to worry about food etc. There are many other benefits.

I will wait for your reply. Meanwhile I hope to get responses from others as well.

 

good information thank you so much!

 

Moving to Sydney in January 2014

Hi Guys

I'm migrating to Sydney on 22 Jan'14 from Delhi using Air India dreamliner. Anyone having plans on same day or month can connect to this thread.
We can help each other on how to get settled in Sydney.

Regards
Vijay

ACS : 12Nov2012| ACS Feedback : 10Jan2013| IELTS : 14Feb2013| EOI : 02Mar2013| Invitation (189) : 04Mar2013 |CO :17Apr2013|Meds :06May2013|PCC :17Jun2013| Grant : 18Jun2013

 

Hi Guys

I'm migrating to Sydney on 22 Jan'14 from Delhi using Air India dreamliner. Anyone having plans on same day or month can connect to this thread.
We can help each other on how to get settled in Sydney.

Regards
Vijay

ACS : 12Nov2012| ACS Feedback : 10Jan2013| IELTS : 14Feb2013| EOI : 02Mar2013| Invitation (189) : 04Mar2013 |CO :17Apr2013|Meds :06May2013|PCC :17Jun2013| Grant : 18Jun2013

I am also planning same week as job market will open from 26 Jan onwards.

 

I am planning on same week.

 

Have u guys have planned ur accommodation

ACS : 12Nov2012| ACS Feedback : 10Jan2013| IELTS : 14Feb2013| EOI : 02Mar2013| Invitation (189) : 04Mar2013 |CO :17Apr2013|Meds :06May2013|PCC :17Jun2013| Grant : 18Jun2013

 

Me and one of my friends also planning to move sometime between 14th Jan and 22nd Jan. Going to book our tickets this week itself.

Could someone please post a checklist of necessary stuff we should carry from India, which could be rare / expensive in Sydney. How will the weather be at that time of the year?

Cheers!
- whizzard and my pal ss28

 

Hi whizzard, we didn't carry a lot when we moved from India - remember that there are strict rules and a number of prohibitions/restrictions regarding what you can bring into the country. Make sure you check the customs.gov.au website.

Having said that, make sure you bring your degrees/transcripts/work experience certificates. Also, bring some warm clothes. Although you will be landing in 'summer' time here, Sydney does get cool as evening falls so it would be wise to have some warm layers with you.

Cheers!

 

I am plng for 1st week of march...to move to Sydney. My biggest worry is a safe accom. Any pointers. I am planing to go alone...

 

Hi jose2012, accommodation in Sydney can be expensive...but I don't think there is any particularly 'unsafe' or 'to avoid' suburb. If you can afford the city rents, go for accommodation in the city - most people prefer to leave farther away though due to lower rents.

 

Hi drshk

I'm planning to look accommodation in Starthfield or burwood.
Can u share the pros and cons of these areas.

Regards
Vijay

ACS : 12Nov2012| ACS Feedback : 10Jan2013| IELTS : 14Feb2013| EOI : 02Mar2013| Invitation (189) : 04Mar2013 |CO :17Apr2013|Meds :06May2013|PCC :17Jun2013| Grant : 18Jun2013

 

Hi Vijay, I live close to these suburbs. Strathfield was our no.1 choice - huge Indian population, frequent trains to the city and a number of Indian restaurants. Downside is, its highly popular with Asians so rental property is in high demand and costs are high...especially for first time renters, there can be quite a competition as there is no rental history to back up your file. When we were house hunting, there were 20-30 other people also looking at the same unit. Does not mean you can't find a place, its just going to be competitive. Burwood is great too for the same reasons, plus Burwood has Westfield which is a big mall with many major stores and outlets like Coles, Woolworths etc for everyday shopping, clothes outlets and Event cinema.

So go ahead with these suburbs, all the best. You could also consider the nearby suburbs of Homebush, Homebush West and Flemington. Only con is that these are not major stations so trains are not as frequent as Strathfield or Burwood. But they have better rent prices and are just as great residential suburbs.

Cheers

 

Thanks drshk

ACS : 12Nov2012| ACS Feedback : 10Jan2013| IELTS : 14Feb2013| EOI : 02Mar2013| Invitation (189) : 04Mar2013 |CO :17Apr2013|Meds :06May2013|PCC :17Jun2013| Grant : 18Jun2013

 

No worries

 

Hi drshk,
I'm moving to Sydney on Dec-17th and worried about accommodation.
can you help me to find shared accommodation with tight budget.

thanks,

 

Hi Gautam, I can only give advice - I suggest you look on gumtree.com.au as people usually put up ads there for house-share. I am not sure whether you would be able to open an account on it and post an ad yourself as you are currently offshore. Just be very careful in your dealings, not every ad will be honest. It might be better to talk to few people, come to Sydney, get a hotel for a few days, meet these people and look at their places, then decide accordingly. I strongly advise against finalizing anything before you personally meet the people and see the property. Hope this helps!

 

Best tread for Sydney movers, I am planning in 2nd week on January.