So far, I have read all good reviews about the south Sydney suburbs such as Cronulla, Gymea, Miranda, Sylvania, Woronora Heights, Engadine etc. and I'm getting more inclined to select one of these to live.

But, all can't be good about a suburb, right? There must be some negative sides as well. What are they, come on.... say it...

Road traffic is dense, there are some nice waterside properties away from the crowds but you will pay well over $1 million for them. The rail trip from the city is slow (it makes a big loop around from Sutherland). Cronulla is a very young trendy noisy beach suburb. Look at some of the more out of the way areas like Oatley, Janali, Woronora (some on the river have boat access only). But if you like a noisy suburban life this area is fine.

We have friends who live in Engadine and it is indeed a bustling suburb... its also incredible hot and humid come mid-summer. It can be several degrees hotter than Sydney CBD and not much in the way of a breeze either.

I second the traffic issue, if you work in the CBD or anywhere east or north of Sydney then it is a pain getting to work, but its no diffent to what London is like in that respect. I have had a big look around the area but it wasn't to my liking but then again I live in Manly and that was definately not to my liking, it is to my wifes liking though which is the key factor!!

I live in Yowie Bay and in September we are moving to Woronora Heights. In general, I love Sutherland Shire. Definitely a nice area to bring up children in my opinion. However, I do agree with the other posters about the traffic. It is certainly very noisy where we live at the moment, plus you do have the noise of the planes from the airport. Having said that though, we used to live in a rural area in the UK, with nothing but farmland around us, and we have got used to it now. Hubby used to commute to the CBD for work, and actually didn't find it too bad, although it did take him an hour or so. I think the chance to sit in the (relative) peace and quiet with a book after being at home with two noisy children had its attraction!

I personally would avoid Sutherland, Gymea and Miranda, anywhere around the main roads. We looked at houses in Oyster Bay, Bonnet Bay, Caringbah, Gymea Bay, Grays Point and Woronora Heights and liked all of those areas.

I found it quite isolating, people seem to have friends based on who they went to school with or who their kids go to school with so when you are new and don't have kids it is difficult.

I live in Engadine and I don't agree with traffic noise...sure the Princes Highway which runs past Engadine is very noisy but once you turn in to Engadine it's pretty quiet.
I agree that the commuting to the cbd is long and slow but then again I think that's Sydney Rail's problem and it would be the same whereever you live out of the Eastern Suburbs.

Engadine is family orientated and I have found lots of friends here, a few of them from the UK.
I'm originally from Sweden although spent 10 years in the UK and the heat doesn't bother me that much, it doesn't get that hot and since it's quite a bit cheaper to buy a house in Engadine you might even be able to afford a pool

I was referring to commutting by car, as far as train goes then thats the gamble. Engadine looks so unappealing to me, but maybe a travel around the more quieter roads might change my mind. Just looks so tired from the highway.

People have commented that traffic is a bit of a nightmare commuting to Sydney CBD. What's the traffic like going the opposite way, for example in the morning, commuting from Sydney CBD to Sunderland shire?

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Thanks everyone for the very useful and informative feedback. Cheers!

Agreed, but do turn off the highway and have a look around, it's actually quite nice :-)

I can't pin point what I didn't like about Sutherland but I didn't like it, or Miranda.
I'll prob get jumped on but I think the word i'm looking for is bland.

You migt find it very nice though - we can't all like the same areas

We love it...

Yep travel if you needed to the CBD by car every day would be pretty bad, but do like we do and live 10 minutes walk from a station and let the train take the strain!

When I go to the office, its actually out the other side of Penrith, but do-able in 1 hour 5 mins at the right time of day. Also, as I go to the airport most weeks (will be 3 times this week), its very handy to be on the airport side of Sydney. Again, I can do it in 25 minutes or less at the right time of day.

Places like Gymea have quite a village and cafe atmosphere, nice to sit out on a Saturday morning and watch the world go by.

Our house backs on to the Loftus Crown Reserve and we get the most amazing parrots, plus wallabies and other stuff right on our back gate. But I guess that's quite different to being in little thrid floor unit in say Sutherland itself.

Down side I would say is that Cronulla Sharks are not having a good season and could well finish up with the wooden spoon

we live in Cronulla
the downside is why go visit another beach when you have a really good one in your back yard?

The trains are slow 1 hr commute some days

It's very expensive property wise

the roads are chock a block so It's about an hours commute in the car too!

saying that we love it and so do all our friends who live here

Cronulla does have a nice beach - as with all nice beaches when visiting not only do you have to FIND a parking space but you have to pay a nice fee to park there even for a short time
I should imagine if you work and live in Cronulla though it's a good set up.

Even better if you have Ashers views