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Balmain, NSW

A real pub culture and a contemporary dining scene

Historically Balmain was one of Sydney‘s oldest working class suburbs where many of Sydney’s ferries were built. Today it’s renowned for being one of the city’s trendiest and most affluent suburbs. Some of Australia’s well-known writers, actors and entertainers call this harbourside village their home.

balmain sydney

Balmain has more than its share of new and traditional Aussie pubs where you’re encouraged to mingle with the locals. Eating options are plentiful with buzzing cafes and restaurants offering a range of experiences from pubs to al fresco- style fine dining.

If you go on a Saturday, explore the market held in the grounds of the local church and see why it attracts people from all over Sydney. Balmain’s colourful streets’ and historical charm is combined with the fashionable food and shopping options of today.

Balmain Wharf

Balmain Highlights

  • Arrive by ferry at the foot of Darling Street and walk up the hill into the village.
  • Browse through the shops to find recycled art, contemporary galleries, jewellery and second hand books.
  • Explore Balmain’s working class origins by walking through the backstreets and discovering charming old buildings. The Balmain Walk pamphlet is available from the Watchhouse.
  • Join the Balmain Historic Pub Tour. A walking tour taking in the history and local hotel scene every Saturday.
  • Enjoy a drink and great live music at one of the many pubs’: The London, The Commercial, The Cat and Fiddle, Sir William Wallace, The Royal, The Riverview.
  • Take a gourmet self-guided walking tour incorporating the providores, hand made chocolate shops and other delectables.
  • Visit Herbie’s Spices for the Southern Hemisphere’s largest range of culinary herbs and spices.
  • Walk from Darling Street to the Dawn Fraser pool and see where Australia’s greatest Olympian spent her youth.

Nearest Airport: sydney

Where to stay?

Experiences

  • Food and Wine
  • Historic/Heritage

Popular Activities

  • Shopping

About Balmain

  • Locality: Suburb
  • Balmain Postcode: 2041
  • State: New South Wales
  • Region: Sydney
  • Latitude: -33.8565
  • Longitude: 151.17801
  • Elevation: 48m
  • Population: 10453
  • Median Income: $69784
  • Area (Sq/km): 1.538
  • Timezone: Australia/Sydney

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains