Our 6-month stay in Craig’s Woollahra apartment was one of the highlights of a happy work trip to Sydney. Three elements combined to enhance our experience: Craig’s hosting, the apartment itself and the area.
Craig is an exemplary host. He’s communicative, amiable and highly efficient. Although he was based in the US during our stay, he answered mails promptly, organised online replacements of items we needed, was always calm and orientated towards making things run smoothly.
The apartment is a spacious haven. It’s a quiet, stylish and beautiful space. The tv arrangement is excellent as Craig gives you access to his Apple Tv and Netflix accounts, plus a full bouquet of channels and a library of dvd’s (featuring some of the rather famous films for which Craig wrote the screenplays). If you’re a reader, the shelves groan with interesting choices – if a Shakespeare fan, you would want to stay for a few years. The beds are wonderfully comfortable with quality linen. The kitchen is well-equipped and modern; it’s a friendly space. We’d have liked a microwave, but otherwise it has everything you need. It’s a charming spot that allows you to feel at home.
Location is tops. You’re away from any jarring urban noise, but have Sydney at your fingertips. By public transport, the city is 20 minutes away, an easy 10-minute walk to Edgecliff Station with frequent trains, a bus terminus and good shopping. The wonderful Murray Rose Pool at Double Bay is 11 minutes by bus or 22 on foot, not to mention the pleasures of Double Bay and the state of the art Woollahra Library. You have the pristine coastal path from Rose Bay (12 mins by bus) to South Head and beyond, with great spots to swim along the way. There’s good access to the Bondi vibe, scenic walks, great food and shopping in Bondi itself and Bondi Junction. Paddington’s more rustic and arty scene is an easy walk away (don’t miss the Palace Chauvel cinema), as is Centennial Park. And it’s an easy trip to Circular Quay, to catch the ferry to Mosman, Manly and the delights of the North shore.
If you’re hoping for access to good restaurants, you’ve arrived. We’d highly recommend Woollahra’s Bistro Moncur, Chiswick and the café Flat White. In Paddington we tasted the best fish of our lives at Saint Peter and mouth-watering roast chicken at The Paddington. In Bondi there’s a glut of choice, but Shaun’s Panorama hosted us twice and we loved NBF (North Bondi Fish) and Brown Sugar. Fish and chips at Watsons Bay is essential.
We could not recommend 422 Edgecliff Rd highly enough. It was a serendipitous find that enhanced our enjoyment of Sydney.