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Sydney, Australia
Photo: J Bar, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Upper North Shore is a leafy and affluent residential area to the north of the heart of Sydney. It is east of the Lane Cove River, north of Chatswood and south of the uppermost border of Hornsby Shire council area.
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A must-see for birdwatchers, conservationists and people with a passion in Australian botany. The nature reserve contains some of the last remaining blue gum forests which once ruled over much of Sydney. Rainbow lorikeets, king parrots and silvereyes are a sample of the birds you will find here.
The Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden features scenic landscape including bushland, gullies, ponds and waterfalls. It is a great spot to have a picnic or go bushwalking/hiking. The picnic area is quite often visited by swamp wallabies so this is a good spot to see these animals relatively close to the city.
The first building designed by the renowned Australian architect Harry Seidler. This famed piece of Australian modernist architecture, built in 1948-1950, has been preserved in its original condition and features panoramic views of Kuringai National Park.
Hidden in the deep bush, the park is known for its beauty and is a popular recreation site for its little hiking trail. The name of the park comes from the classical Australian children's novel by English-born Australian writer Ethel Turner.
Annie Forsyth Wyatt, the founder of the National Trust of Australia spent most of their time in this very cottage. In 1945, the unofficial meeting of the trust was held here.
Completed in 2018, the murals depicts how the suburb of Hornsby looked like in the early 20th century, allowing visitors to take a trip back memory lane.
Family-owned, independent cinema with a focus on art house. Runs films not shown in the big multiplexes.
The oldest bouldering site in Sydney. Very popular among rock climbing enthusiasts and accessible to beginners.
Large national park to the north of Hornsby until the Hawkesbury river.
Public golf course with scenic views. The flattish terrain and golf lessons available make it particularly attractive for beginners though it is probably not challenging enough for pro golfers.
Every year the St. Ives Showground turns into a bustling village from the Middle Ages. Events include a jousting tournament, a trebuchet demonstration, seeing fully armoured knights, a reenactment of hawking as well as a lavish medieval feast.
Small park with lots of walking trails, greenery and an easy way to escape the bustling Sydney crowds.
Serves light Thai meals quickly. You barely have enough time to sit down or grab some BYO alcohol from the shop around the corner before the food is ready. It is popular with university students from the nearby campus of the University of Technology, Sydney.
A local bistro that serves French meals with a modern twist.
$10-20. Serves Chinese cuisine mainly. It is the most popular and well known Chinese restaurant within the area. It is BYO Wine only with no corkage, and there is a bottle shop just down the road. It is approximately a 3-5 minute walk from the station and is generally full on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday's. Try the Sizzling Beef.
The restaurant looks plain and drab but the South Indian dishes are reasonable for budget eaters.
Serves all kinds of Vietnamese food in casual setting.Try the BBQ pork banh mi.
The local kebab shop serving pide, pizzas and halal snack packs as well, all with generous amounts of filling.
There is always something on every night with entertainment or live music. A trivia night is held every Tuesday.
The go-to place for people passing through Hornsby. Attracts an older crowd than in the past. The RSL offers high tea, tapas and mixed drinks. There is a basic dress code to not wear any offensive, untidy or overly casual clothing.
As hinted by the name, this wine bar was built on what was a mechanic's garage. Nowadays it has a rustic and chic industrial vibe. There is a big fireplace making winter nights very comfy. Over 250 different types of wines are available, along with spirits, craft beers and ciders. Serves tapas.
The Cook's Garden
Has the design and atmosphere of a classic English style pub. The cocktails aren't too flashy but the diners come for the burgers like the wagyu beef and pulled pork.
A modern, boutique bar tucked and hidden away. The large range of wines are all sourced from Australia and New Zealand. Try the caramelised garlic bread.
Comfortable motel with swimming pool and a quality Indian restaurant and steakhouse.
This pub style accommodation is not too flash but cosy. Inside there are a few bars, bottle shops and a Thai restaurant.
4 star hotel on the Pacific Highway with friendly service and clean and comfortable rooms.
Budget, old-style looking hotel with pub and free parking.
South African grocery and butchery. If you're after traditional biltong, boerewors, droëwors or any other authentic South African foodstuff, it will be here.
A large shopping centre with cinemas, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants etc. Right next to the station.
True to its name, this carpeted shopping precinct has an 80s vibe with a local flavour and is not as overcrowded as the shopping centres and malls that have sprung up across metropolitan Sydney. Popular among retirees and boomers.
By train
While there are plenty of train stations in the Upper North Shore, the two most important ones are listed.
By car
The Sydney/Upper North Shore is very accessible from nearly every part of Sydney, as it faces no major geographical obstructions, and is not too far away from the CBD, being about a 20-40 minute…
By bus
The 194 bus serves the eastern part of the Upper North Shore up to at most St Ives. It runs at a frequency of every thirty minutes daily.
Trains and public buses are available, mainly centred around a city commute.
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