Sydney/Upper North Shore

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 Hornsbyshire council area.

Understand

The Upper North Shore starts north of Chatswood and stretches all the way to the Hawkesbury River. It consists of mainly residential and bushland suburbs, with the apartments and high density of the Lower North Shore giving way to the detached houses in the leafy suburbs of Killara and Turramurra, and further north to villages carved out of the bush near Berowra and Mt Colah.

Containing some of the oldest residential areas of Sydney, the North Shore is known for its extensive gardens and mature European trees, making it one of the most attractive areas within the Sydney metropolitan area. This is particularly true in November of each year, when the blossoming of the Jacaranda trees provides streetscapes of bright purple flowers.

Get in

Gordon railway station.

The North Shore train line and the Pacific Highway provide the spine of the region, running parallel to each other for much of their length.

  Gordon railway station is a major station on the North Shore line. All trains on this line, including expresses, stop there.

  Hornsby railway station is a terminal station for both North Shore lines, as well as providing onwards services north through the Central Coast, Newcastle and beyond.

Get around

Trains and public buses are available. This part of Sydney really needs a car to get around if far from a train station.

See

Rose Seidler House

•   Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve, Entry from Rosedale Road or Vista Road, St Ives, ☎ +61 2 8448 0400, e-mail: valleys.area@environment.nsw.gov.au. Open from sunrise to sunset except when it is sometimes closed due to weather issues or risk of fire. 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. 
•   Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, 420 Mona Vale Road, St Ives, ☎ +61 2 9424 0353, e-mail: kwg@kmc.nsw.gov.au. 8am - 5pm open every day except for Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday. The Wildflower Garden features scenic landscape including bushland, gullies, ponds and waterfalls. It is a great spot to have a picnic or go bushwalking/hiking. Entry is free. 
•   Rose Seidler House, 71 Clissold Road, Wahroonga, ☎ +61 2 9989 8020, fax: +61 2 9487 2761, e-mail: info@hht.net.au. open Su only 10am-5pm. 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. admission adults $8, child/concession $4, family $17. 

Do

•   Roseville Cinema, 112 Pacific Highway, Roseville, ☎ +61 2 9416 8555. Regularly shows movies not released in larger cinema chains. 
•   Lindfield Rocks, 62a Tryon Road, East Lindfield, ☎ +61 2 9424 0754, e-mail: recreationbookings@kmc.nsw.gov.au. The oldest bouldering site in Sydney. Very popular among rock climbing enthusiasts and accessible to beginners. For groups of 0-25 people the price is $12.50 per hour (2 hour minimum). (updated Oct 2015)
•   Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Large national park to the north of Hornsby until the Hawkesbury river. $12 to enter with a car. (updated Feb 2016)

Buy

•   Stanley Street Butchery, 15 Stanley Street, St Ives, ☎ +61 2 9449 9242, e-mail: jonty@stanleystreetbutchery.com.au. M-F 7AM-6PM Sa 7AM-5PM, Su 8AM-2PM. South African grocery and butchery. If you're after traditional biltong, boerewors, droëwors or any other authentic South African foodstuff, it will be here. (updated Oct 2015)
•   Westfield Hornsby. A large shopping centre with cinemas, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants etc. Right next to station. (updated Feb 2016)

Eat

• Khob Khun Thai, 308 Pacific Highway, Lindfield, ☎ +61 2 9880 8020. Serves light Thai meals super fast! You have barely had 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$10-15. 
• Food & Plonk, 366 Pacific Highway, ☎ +61 2 9416 5026. Lindfield. A$25-35. Food & Plonk serves French meals with a modern twist. The price is quite high for the area but the service is good. The mashed potato is so smooth it glides down your throat. 
• Lee's Lotus Inn, 41 Redleaf Avenue, Wahroonga, ☎ +61 2 9489 5740. A$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 approx. 3-5minute walk from the station and is generally full on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday's. Try the Sizzling Beef. 

Drink

•   Greengate Hotel, 655 Pacific Highway, Killara, ☎ +61 2 9498 3577, e-mail: manager@greengatehotel.com.au. Mon-Tue 10am to 11pm, Wed-Sat 10am to 12 midnight , Sun 10am to 10pm. Conveniently located on the corner of Pacific Highway and Greengate Road, there is always something on every night with entertainment or live music. A trivia night is held every Tuesday. Drinks $3.50-$9.00, Mains $10.00-$22.00. 

• Hornsby Returned Services League Club (Hornsby RSL), 4 High Street (Head West from Hornsby Railway Station, past the War Memorial and then head South about 100 metres.), ☎ +61 2 9477 7777. 9:30AM to 1:00AM. One of the most frequented drinking establishments in Hornsby, patronised by young and old. The drinks are reasonably priced, and the bistro offers good meals and great deals. There is a dress code (no open-toed shoes, no offensive shirts, etc.), intoxicated people will be turned away and anyone living within 5km of the club must either be a member, or be signed in by a member (this is common for all RSLs in Australia) 
• The Railway Hotel (The Oldie, Balls), 31 Station Street (Head West from Hornsby Railway Station, then turn North. Past the bus and taxi stands and the kebab shop.). 10:00AM - 4:00AM. This bar/restaurant/nightclub is often frequented by people who wish to party on after the RSL closes, or simply find the atmosphere of the RSL too stuffy. The drinks here are moderately priced (more than the RSL, but less than in the city), the music is quite modern and the staff are quite friendly. 
• The Hornsby Inn (The Inn), Burdett Street (From the Fountain/Clock in the Hornsby Mall, walk downhill/North). This bar/restaurant tends to be the venue of choice for the slightly older crowd who find the nightclub of The Railway Hotel a bit too loud/electronic. Again, the drinks are well-priced and there are often live music acts, including an Annual Battle Of The Bands contest. 

Sleep

•   Ascot Motor Inn, 18 Ingram Road, Wahroonga, ☎ +61 2 9487 3355, e-mail: info@ascotmotorinn.net.au. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10AM. Comfortable motel with swimming pool and a quality Indian restaurant and steakhouse. Rooms from $112. (updated Feb 2016)
•   Killara Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, 480 Pacific Highway, Killara, ☎ +61 2 9416 1344, e-mail: info@killarainn.com.au. 4 star hotel on the Pacific Highway with friendly service and clean and comfortable rooms. 

Pymble Hotel

•   Pymble Hotel, 1134 Pacific Hwy Pymble, ☎ +61 2 9144 1039, e-mail: pymble.hotel@alhgroup.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Budget, old-style looking hotel with pub and free parking. Cheapest rooms from $105. (updated Jan 2016)

Go next

• Brooklyn is a pleasant town on the banks of the Hawkesbury river, just a few stops north on the train line.