Many thanks Anne & Stephen for a wonderful exchange. Your location at Balmain and it's close proximity to the city and beautiful harbour made it a ve...
Read More...Elaine
Australia
Oct 1, 2018 - Dec 31, 2019
Became a member in: 2000
Renewal Date: 31/Oct/2024
We are winding down from work and our 3 children have become independent, although occasionally come and go. Our lives are pretty full - enjoying friends, family, travel, politics, exercise, reading, nature, cooking and entertaining and community and volunteer/activist work of various kinds. Home Link has been an absorbing part of our lives for nearly 20 years now and has led us many places.
Affinities
Plants & Gardens,
Pets,
Skiing,
Cycling / Mountain Biking,
Large Families,
Hiking,
Wine Lovers,
Foodies,
The Arts,
Music Lovers
MoreLessAffiliations
Teachers / Education Professionals,
Seniors,
Homemakers,
Caregivers,
Science / Research,
NGO workers,
Communty Service Volunteers
MoreLessProfession
Psychologist/Education officer
Our pets
A gentle female kelpie cross, Jess.Travelling with her is a bonus but we understand if that doesn't suit. Pet care not required as she would be housed elsewhere..
Elaine
Australia
Hoffman
South Africa
Ian & Margo
Australia
Many thanks Anne & Stephen for a wonderful exchange. Your location at Balmain and it's close proximity to the city and beautiful harbour made it a ve...
Read More...Many thanks Anne & Stephen for a wonderful exchange. Your location at Balmain and it's close proximity to the city and beautiful harbour made it a very memorable exchange. We felt very at home in your house with its leafy garden setting and stunning views of the Sydney skyline. With so many local restaurants, unique houses, harbour and closeness to ferries and buses, everyday was an adventure. Thank you also for the level of communication both before and during the exchange.
Read Less...Simultaneous Home Exchange
Weekend Home Exchange
Long-term Home Exchange
Hospitality Exchange Offered
Youth Exchange
Pet Care Needed
Smoking Not Allowed
Children Welcome
Use of Personal Car is possible
Open to all dates | NSW, Australia | Malta | South Island, New Zealand |
Open to all dates | Bolivia |
Description of the home we are offering for exchange
For 2 adults, we are looking for long weekends to 10 days in NSW or Victoria, particularly country areas.
However, all offers in New Zealand, Europe and other countries will be happily considered!
We live in a quaint and cottagey Balmain semi-detached wooden house in a quiet one-way street, 5 minutes' walk from the centre of the village. It is a home with individuality and rustic character, comfortable and family orientated. The original part of the house is 140 years old, hessian 'wallpaper' and all, but bathroom, sunroom and extra bedrooms were added 15 years ago and now an upper floor with sweeping 180-degree views of the city. There are 4/5 levels, laid out in a spiral design but with generally only a few steps between each. The kitchen is light filled, modern but with a country feel.... we do a lot of cooking! Each bedroom has either a verandah, balcony or small courtyard. There is also a sunroom with huge floor to ceiling windows and a separate eating area, leading to the garden.
WE are virtually as close to the City of Sydney residentially as you can get; the bus leaves from the end of our street, taking around 8-10 minutes via the Anzac Bridge to Town Hall and we are also serviced by the Balmain ferry over to Circular Quay. This is a wonderful 20-minute scenic trip across the harbour, taking in Luna Park, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Balmain, for all its proximity to the city, is incredibly leafy. Our garden has a number of very large gums, attracting many interesting birds, possums and fruit bats which we love. The master bedroom upstairs is indeed like a tree house!
Balmain itself is widely known as an historic and popular 'lifestyle' suburb with its vibrant, buzzy inner-city character and hub for excellent restaurants, galleries, pubs, cafes, eclectic architecture, historical walks and harbour view parks. It is very centrally located, close to Glebe, Annandale, Leichhardt, Rozelle, a short drive to cross the Harbour Bridge (visible from many parts of Balmain) and the northern suburbs and perhaps a 10-minute drive to the eastern suburbs via the Cross City Tunnel where many beaches including Bondi are located. Lovely Balmoral Beach in the north is only 20 minutes away,
Type
House - 2 or more floors/ Main Residence
Amenities
Entertainment
Extras
Setting
Description of our neighbourhood and surrounding area
The local neighbourhood, situated on a peninsula adjacent to Sydney Harbour, has an inner city, cosmopolitan vibe with the centre of Balmain village just a 5-minute pleasant stroll away. It is well known for its good coffee, restaurants, many pubs, galleries, fashion and specialty shops, scenic parks and views of the water and Harbour Bridge. The City of Sydney is at your fingertips and Balmain attracts many weekend visitors. It also has a large number of gracious old buildings - historical walks operate at weekends as the area represents an eclectic range of fascinating architecture and social change in Sydney over the century. Its narrow streets from an older era are fun to explore with a self-guided map in hand.
Our neighbours are also delightful and friendly and available to help you out if needed.
There is a ferry service at the bottom of Darling St, the long road that runs through the Balmain Peninsula. Ferries run every 20 minutes or so to Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.
Free, public tennis courts are just a minute away around the corner from our house; we have racquets for your use. Dawn Fraser Pool (saltwater) on the harbourside is a 10-minute walk away and Barangaroo in Darling Harbour has just opened a new netted public swimming area. Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre is less than a 10-minute drive.
Our closest beach is Balmoral (20 minutes across the Bridge) and is also the prettiest in Sydney we believe.
Outdoor Activities
Leisure
Cultural Activities
Transport Nearby
Neighbourhood Services
Our home exchange - places to go and things to do while staying in our home
Attractions include all places of interest in Sydney as we are so close to the city. They are too countless to mention.
Views of beautiful Sydney Harbour are also a feature of Balmain as well as the buzzy village itself.
Our favourite restaurants
Cafés & bars
Special places to shop
Leisure and cultural activities
Walks or jogging paths
Health or fitness clubs
Interesting day trips
Our home exchange - here are our Preferences and House Rules
We have completed around 45 exchanges now and always ensure we leave a house the same way, if not better, than we found it. This we always ask of others and have never been disappointed!
Exchange-wise we are free to travel overseas now as our youngest are no longer at home. Anywhere within NSW, Tasmania or Victoria (Australia) would be desirable for long weekend to weeklong stays. We are open to all suggestions really.
Conditions
Use of Personal Car
Home Exchange Type
Became a member in: 2000
Renewal Date: 31/Oct/2024
We are winding down from work and our 3 children have become independent, although occasionally come and go. Our lives are pretty full - enjoying friends, family, travel, politics, exercise, reading, nature, cooking and entertaining and community and volunteer/activist work of various kinds. Home Link has been an absorbing part of our lives for nearly 20 years now and has led us many places.
Affinities
Plants & Gardens,
Pets,
Skiing,
Cycling / Mountain Biking,
Large Families,
Hiking,
Wine Lovers,
Foodies,
The Arts,
Music Lovers
MoreLessAffiliations
Teachers / Education Professionals,
Seniors,
Homemakers,
Caregivers,
Science / Research,
NGO workers,
Communty Service Volunteers
MoreLessProfession
Psychologist/Education officer
Our pets
A gentle female kelpie cross, Jess.Travelling with her is a bonus but we understand if that doesn't suit. Pet care not required as she would be housed elsewhere..
Elaine
Australia
Hoffman
South Africa
Ian & Margo
Australia
Many thanks Anne & Stephen for a wonderful exchange. Your location at Balmain and it's close proximity to the city and beautiful harbour made it a ve...
Read More...Many thanks Anne & Stephen for a wonderful exchange. Your location at Balmain and it's close proximity to the city and beautiful harbour made it a very memorable exchange. We felt very at home in your house with its leafy garden setting and stunning views of the Sydney skyline. With so many local restaurants, unique houses, harbour and closeness to ferries and buses, everyday was an adventure. Thank you also for the level of communication both before and during the exchange.
Read Less...Over 70 years of home exchange experience
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