Does this Balmain apartment have the best view in Sydney?

IF uninterrupted views of the Harbour Bridge, North Sydney and Darling Harbour sounds special to you, just wait till you see inside this apartment.

escape balmain

MY WIFE bumped into another guest on the landing outside our apartment.

They exchanged pleasantries and both commented on how gorgeous the Balmain Wharf Apartments were.

"Don't tell anyone," the woman insisted. "We need to keep this place to ourselves."

When my wife told her that wasn't possible because we were staying here to write this review, she warned that she was willing to toss me down the stairs to keep it a secret.

But I can't allow that to happen. I want to scream how good it is from the rooftop. This is the best non-hotel accommodation experience I have had in Sydney.

The building was built by shipwright John Bell and was one of the first licensed establishments in Balmain and the first building in what is now Balmain's main street.

Our apartment, the Shipwright Suite, has uninterrupted views of the Harbour Bridge, North Sydney and Darling Harbour. Not harbour glimpses. This is the full Monty, with nothing blocking your view in any direction. You could argue there may not be a better spot in Sydney to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks.

It is a 15-second walk to the Balmain East ferry stop. The bus stop is just below our window. It is a $2 bus ride to the main Balmain shopping area. It is a $3.60 fare into the city. It is a $50 taxi fare to the airport.

The apartment
The load-bearing walls inside are thick golden sandstone, and date back to the early 1800s. A mushroom carpet contrasts with the other stark white walls. At 100sq m, there is plenty of room to spread out and most of the space is invested in the living areas. In fact, the open-plan layout would allow you to comfortably host a party for 30 or 40 of your closest friends and not feel at all cramped.

The minimum booking here is three nights, so there is every chance you will use the fully equipped kitchen and laundry. Some basics are provided coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, salt and pepper but you might need to wander up the road a few hundred metres to the deli.

It was good to discover that the apartment had free wireless internet and Foxtel. We recently cancelled our Foxtel at home so I was having withdrawal symptoms.

The bedroom and bathroom look back toward Darling St.

I like: This apartment, at least, is all about the views. (Unfortunately, I didn't see the other apartments). From the moment you walk in the door here and look to the right, you see Sydney at its best. The colours of the harbour change throughout the day as the sun rises and heads towards the west. Sydney Harbour is busy and from here you don't have to pay to see the show.

There are not a lot of close dining options. There is a great breakfast cafe Asetra (the corn cakes are divine) and a pizza place, but apart from that it is only a 10-minute walk to the main part of Balmain, and the multitude of gourmet offerings it has.

I don't like: On Sunday morning the street was quiet. Very quiet. With people going back to work on Monday, though, that changed. Buses stopped and started outside our window at 5am, every 30 minutes.

It gave me a good excuse to get up and go for a walk because a sleep-in would have been impossible.

The damage: Prices change according to the length of stay. But you can expect to pay about $500 a night (minimum three nights). For seven nights, the cost is $450 a night; and for a month, it is $200 a night.

For New Year's Eve this year, the Shipwright Suite costs $1000 a night (three-night minimum).

The details: Balmain Wharf Apartments, 10 Darling St, Balmain East.

The property is managed by the same people who look after Bannisters at Mollymook on the South Coast, hence the bottle of complimentary Rick Stein Chardonnay in the fridge.

More: See www.balmainwharf.com.au

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