Veer right as you come off the Harbour Bridge or Tunnel and you’ll find yourself in Neutral Bay, a picturesque harbourside suburb originally home to a port for visiting international vessels.
Meandering down to the waterfront, the leafy, hilly streets of this rather high-density suburb are home to an array of architectural styles. You’ll find plenty of character apartment buildings from the turn-of-the-century to through to the Art Deco era, along with more contemporary boutique apartments and luxury townhouses. These are interspersed with rows of traditional semis, exclusive freestanding houses and some modern architectural masterpieces. Many enjoy the privilege of gorgeous harbour and city skyline vistas.
Neutral Bay has a bustling village centre and a thriving culinary scene found along and around the main drag of Military Road. Fashionable cafes sit side-by-side with multicultural eateries, upmarket establishments, intimate small bars and gourmet food purveyors, ensuring that the heart of this local hub is busy day and night. Revamped local landmark The Oaks Hotel is still a much-loved meeting place for after-work drinks, a great steak and sporting events.
If you make your way to the harbourfront you’ll also find a cluster of local shops at Hayes Street, along with a find boutique beach and the ferry wharf, where you can enjoy a short, relaxing ride into the city.
Once you head away from busy Military Road, there are plenty of beautiful spots to relax and marvel at the backdrop. Explore the jacaranda-lined Forsyth Park, with its sporting fields, community centre and community garden, or head to waterfront Anderson Park, with its floodlit sportsfield and meditative views of the boats bobbing on the harbour.
There are several schools which service the area, including the well-regarded Neutral Bay Public School and private co-ed school Redlands in neighbouring Cremorne.