Anybody in Ryde, Sydney NSW? What's it like? :)

[MrsBigD]

as per my other post we'll be moving sooner than anticipated and thanks to Arfishy I found a German school . It's in Ryde and as we have no idea where to move to my simple question is what's it like there to live? I'd love a short commute to school

tia

[ninedragons]

I have to admit I don't know it well, but it's a bit like Barnet in London - fairly middle-of-the-road suburbia. The road that goes into the city can be pretty horrific at rush hour. You could try somewhere like Gladesville, Drummoyne, Balmain or Rozelle, which are much closer to the city but still within fairly easy striking distance of Ryde.

Balmain in particular is much funkier (and of course much more expensive). Parts of Drummoyne are lovely (huge Victorian houses) and parts are fine (smaller Federation houses). Lots of places have water views.

[MrsBigD]

thanks ninedragons, have scribbled suburb names down for dh to look at he lived in Sydney for a while but don't know how far north he ventured.

as for 'funkier' I'm constantly tired with 2 youngens so funky doesn't rate all that hight something nice, quiet and close to water will do and of course lovely house with gorgeous garden

[ninedragons]

Balmain is actually very Yummy Mummy (think Saabs with booster seats, bookshops, shops selling heartbreakingly pretty white bedlinen etc). It used to be quite crystals-and-dreamcatchers but the property boom put paid to the hippies.

Rozelle is pleasant - rather more modest than Balmain (which is extremely flash by the water, less so inland) and for some reason a big hit with lesbian mums. My GP used to be there and there were always terribly friendly lesbian couples with little Chinese adopted girls running around the waiting room.

Drummoyne has a great shopping centre and a large supermarket, and Gladesville is very strong on sports facilities (huge pool complex, tennis courts etc). Drummoyne seems to be very popular with young families (again, has a big swimming pool complex). I think it's about as close to the city as you can get and still have a decent-sized back garden.

[MrsBigD]

Yummy Mymmy? Not me then LOL
Drummoyne and Gladesvill sounds good. Especially with dd and ds loving going shopping as well as going to the pool

I so feel like in limbo iykwim. Hard to plan when one doesn't know where one is going and it's not as if we could do a quick reconnaisance trip to there...

[ninedragons]

My parents have lived happily in Drummoyne for the past 30 years. I haven't worked out the messaging system, but I'll keep an eye on this thread if you want to ask about specific streets. I am not all that familiar with Gladesville.

If you've got an absolutely humungous budget, Hunters Hill (next to Gladesville) is also worth a look. Cate Blanchette lives there! It's strictly for the super-wealthy by the water, but like most places in Sydney, the further you are back from the water the more reasonable it is.

[MrsBigD]

thanks ninedragons the cat system is quite easy once you've paid the GBP5 I haven't gotten round to renew as we don't have a humongous budget. so guess Hunters Hill is notquite us LOL

I'm on katja at kiwiconsulting dot net if you want/need it ;)

[ninedragons]

Have sent you an email so you have mine.

Sydney is not abominably expensive by everyone's standards (though everyone who lives there whinges about it). By my admittedly inflated Hong Kong standards it's very reasonable, so have a look at Hunters Hill - you never know what you might find.

[MrsBigD]

ninedragons we're used to London/Marlow pricing so shouldn't be in for too much of a shock.

DH mentioned Chatswood. Any ?