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Region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Photo: Sardaka, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Lower North Shore is the metropolitan area on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour and is surrounded by Middle Harbour to the east and Lane Cove River to the west. The region extends as far north as Chatswood, where beyond that is the Upper North Shore.
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is Sydney's major zoo and houses both Australian and exotic animals. Worth the trip for the views back to the city and Opera House. Don't miss the Bird Show where various native birds fly free over the heads of visitors.
Blues Point Reserve is a small grassy area right on the water, affording perfect views of the Bridge. It is the most popular area in the district to watch the fireworks at New Years' Eve.
Very close to Blues Point Reserve, but completely hidden! Quiet harbour views and ideal for picnic on the grass.
Two points to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Balls Head is a large park and picnic area with extensive harbour views and walking tracks. The park also contains the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability - an industrial zone turned into a community area where visitors can also walk through the original tunnels. Adjacent is the MV Cape Don, a decommissioned ship which holds tours occasionally. Also has a restored Aboriginal rock carving of a whale.
Bradfield Park is directly adjacent to the Harbour Bridge's northern approach. However, the very south end has the best view of the city on the other side of the harbour.
Berry Island first connected to the mainland with a causeway from Wollstonecraft farm in the 1800s. Later quarried sandstone made a permanent land bridge to the island. The land bridge is now lawns with a playground, and a loop walk circles the island, which will take around 20 minutes. There are interpretive signs about the Aboriginal heritage of the area. The last part of the walk can be done rock hopping along the sandstone rocks on the coastline. There is an Aboriginal carving there, but it basic, and quite hard to make out. There is a lookout at the end of the point, with views across the harbour to Balmain and Birchgrove. You can also see across to HMAS Waterhen Naval Base.
Cremorne Reserve is a small park along the water near Cremorne Wharf, with sweeping views southwest to the city and Harbour Bridge. A good place to watch the sunset on a summer night with a picnic dinner.
The park is bushwalking for the latte and chardonnay set. Take middle head road from Mosman - follow the signs to the Zoo, and then turn left at the roundabout onto Middle Head Road. The site offers spectacular vies over the harbour, and the city. Well formed bushwalks, picnic areas, and swimming at Chowder Bay and Balmoral beaches on the harbour. There are several well placed cafes and restaurants within the park, if you don't feel like carrying a picnic basket, including Ripples near Chowder Bay.
The reserve has a park adjacent to it with a variety of barbecue facilities. The park is also a peculiar meeting place for dogs and their owners. On most days, usually between 2-5PM, a group will gather and the dogs will play while the owners socialise. Not far from the park is a distinctive mangrove swamp and a reserve with many bush walking trails. The bay is picturesque with its yachts and native vegetation in the foreshore. A sea scouts clubhouse is located in the area, and is popular with rowers and sailors alike. Also nearby is the historic St Ignatius (Catholic) college, a prestigious secondary school in Sydney. The school has football fields and outdoor basketball courts that are often used freely by members of the public.
Walk on beautiful shorefront trails through trees and "bushland" in Mosman.
Wendy Whitely, the widow of famed Australian landscape painter Brett Whiteley, has cleared out disused railway land in Lavender Bay to create a large, unofficial park, packed dense with Australian and exotic flowers.
Family friendly beach away from the main Harbour waters. Good for a quick swim in the swimming baths, enclosed by shark nets and a wide boardwalk. Plenty of cafes around.
A beach that's perfect for picnics, off-leash dog walking and ample parking. This small sheltered beach looks across Middle Harbour to Clontarf and Sydney Harbour National Park, where the water always seems to be glistening. Rosherville Reserve is perfect for picnics games with the kids and dogs are allowed off-leash on weekdays.
Clothing optional beach which is also popular with families. It can get crowded here on weekends in summer, but nudists say that's a great time to join in if you're new to it. You'll blend in to the crowd.
Great old cricket and rugby ground. Northern Suburbs (Shute Shield), North Sydney Bears (NSW Cup) use the ground regularly, with some NSW one-day cricket games played there in summer.
Luna Park is an older style amusement park on the harbour's edge. The huge grinning face over the entrance is a Sydney icon.
An outdoor public pool almost under the Harbour Bridge with spectacular views. It opened in 1936 and features sea water, sauna and outside snack area. Conveniently close to Sydney CBD. Winter water temperature can be very cold.
Chatswood has two multi-screen cinema complexes, in Westfield and in the Mandarin Centre. In addition to mainstream movies the Mandarin Centre often features Asian films, including Japanese Anime, and films from Bollywood and China.
The Orpheum shows mainstream and art house films in beautiful refurbished theatres. Call ahead to find out when the organist is playing for a real old rime treat.
Ryo's Ramen
Ryo's Noodles serves authentic Japanese ramen and is well known among the Japanese expat community in Sydney as some of the most authentic and tasty ramen outside of Japan. They also serve some unique dishes such as the miso bolognese - give it a try. The place is very small and they don't accept bookings, so expect to queue sometimes - particularly at weekends.
Fantastic views over the harbour to the bridge and Opera House. Great food, though portions are small.
Maisy's is a slightly crowded cafe and slightly overpriced for the quality. The menu is standard burger and pasta fare, if it's a late night and you need to fill your stomach, Maisy's is the place to be.
A very small but highly delicious dumpling house next to the train and metro station. Food tends to be on the slightly pricier side. Rice-based meals are also available.
Mid-range Thai restaurant.
Has Japanese food.
Indian sit-down & takeaway restaurant with a range of flavoursome curries, naans, snacks, drinks and lassi. Great food & service. Of particular interest is reading the little philosophies on life scrawled on the walls.
All-vegan Chinese restaurant with an emphasis on Cantonese dishes.
Friendly Irish pub catering to a mostly professional clientèle. The upstairs restaurant serves large meals, has comfortable seating and TV screens to keep an eye on the current sporting events.
The Great Northern has a friendly outdoor beer garden, and serve generous steak dinners.
This relaxed and popular pub has a large interior and beer garden centred around a large oak. You can purchase raw meat to be barbecued, and there is also a pizza kitchen.
A pub frequented by young professionals, it is popular and noisy. Special deals include free beer until the first point scored during major football games.
This large pub has four bars, and has music events every week including R&B, hip-hop, funky house and trance. Known jokingly by locals as 'Teenwood' because of the notoriously young clientele it attracts. Before 9pm it has a more office and after work crowd. Nice outdoor area with good choice of drinks and reasonable pizza.
The ambience is set up by beautiful fairy lights in the outdoor courtyard. There is a decent variety of craft beers and Australian and international wines.
Ideally located amidst the relaxed village atmosphere of Cremorne - a short drive to the attractions of Sydney's city centre. The hotel's city fringe location gives leisure visitors numerous sightseeing and entertainment options on the North Shore. The hotel features fully self contained studio and one bedroom apartments some with harbour views. The apartments feature modern decor, climate controlled air-conditioning, TVs, direct dial phones with internet access and full kitchen and laundry facilities. The hotel is situated near numerous dining options with a restaurant and bar next door.
Very close to Chatswood's shopping and business districts. Apartment-style North Sydney accommodation and a short walk to Chatswood railway and metro station and a 10-minute train ride to Sydney's CBD.
The Harbourview is a mid-range hotel, and most rooms has an excellent to spectacular view of Sydney Harbour, one of the best afforded by the district. Rooms are neat but not luxurious.
This Vibe North Sydney fronts onto Alfred Street, just across the road from Milsons Point Railway Station, and some rooms offer sweeping views over the harbour. A few minutes up the hill to North Sydney CBD, and a 2km pleasant walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge will bring you to the main sightseeing, shopping and entertainment areas.
By train and metro
The North Shore Line (/) serve the central core of the region between Milsons Point and Chatswood. Trains for the Lower North Shore depart from Central, Town Hall and Wynyard stations in the city.
By bus
Regular buses run from the city throughout the Lower North Shore.
By ferry
West of the Harbour Bridge, Milsons Point and McMahons Point are on the F3 and F4 routes, providing connections to Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Balmain and up the river towards Parramatta.
By foot
You can walk across the Harbour Bridge from the Rocks, directly into Milsons Point. It takes about 20 minutes brisk walking.
By bicycle
There is a dedicated cycleway on the western side of the bridge, fully separated from cars and pedestrians. On the city end, follow the Kent St Cycleway north, or enter from Observatory Hill.
By public transport
The public transport system in the Lower North Shore is mostly designed to get locals from the area directly to North Sydney and the city.
By foot
Exploring the harbour on the north side is ideally done by foot. There are walking trails and paths along the water.
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