A chic harbourside enclave, Double Bay is one of Sydney’s most exclusive shopping districts. It’s loaded with designer boutiques, featuring everything from international fashion houses to independent Australian labels. Plus a handful of homewares stores, hair salons and trendy restaurants tossed in for good measure. For those wanting a taste of Sydney’s luxe lifestyle, a day in Double Bay is a must.
The neighbourhood is peppered with lush public parks and is famous for its elegant tree-lined boulevards housing chic pavement cafes. Beyond shopping and coffee, Double Bay also boasts a handful of gorgeous beaches. Redleaf and Murray Rose Pool are fantastic places to cool off, with Steyne Park and Blackburn Gardens perfect for picnics.
Double Bay sits on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour and boasts spectacular views of the ocean. Ferries sail from Circular Quay to Double Bay in just 15 minutes, with plenty of opportunities to snap photos along the way. It’s also possible to catch the metro in just 20 minutes or walk the five kilometres via Elizabeth Bay in under one hour. To Sydney Airport, the drive to Double Bay takes just 25 minutes.
While today Double Bay is a Sydney celebrity, it wasn’t always so glamorous. Following the initial European Settlement, it was used as a shelter for harbour fishermen. By 1814 it was home to a major cattle farm, though this was eventually shut down when developers moved in and real estate prices soared.