Where to begin! It was not easy to find a vacation rental to suit us: a centrally-located, suburban family home in Sydney with 3 br, 2 bathrooms & parking for an SUV. So we didn't have high expectations. We were a family of 6 with 2 grandparents, parents & 2 kids, girl 12 & boy 7 from all around Australia, hoping to enjoy a weeklong reunion. Our hostess, the lovely Kristen, did not disappoint! She kept in touch by email and phone in the weeks leading up to our rental, and left her beautiful North Shore house in pristine condition for our arrival. Our plane was late, so she even had dinner in the fridge! The immaculate home had plenty of room for everyone, with lots of privacy. We grandparents took the kingsize bed in the biggest kingsize bedroom we've ever seen. There were 2 twin beds for the grandchildren, a long way from the privacy of the double bedroom for their parents. The kids actually kept quietly busy for hours at the long table in the workroom at the back of the house, and they played in the back yard and in the wonderful public park over the road. There were all the household amenities: washer & dryer, freezer, microwave, cable TV (3 of them!). The "cooks kitchen" had everything we needed and more. We enjoyed many memorable family meals over the week with our Sydney relatives at the huge native timber table, which seats 12, in the dining room. Everything was close bye-- fresh food market precinct on the High Rd, chemist shop, Northbridge Shopping Centre with Woolworths supermarket, ferry landings. The location was perfect, just 10 minutes from the CBD by car, bus or taxi. Kristen kept in touch by phone in case there were any problems, but she had everything so well organised there were none. We found the atmosphere surrounding us was ore than a house, it was a real family home. It was easy to live in and hard to leave! The week flew by. We'd all go back in a heartbeat! Thank you Kristen & the Sweeney family for sharing!