PLEASE NOTE OUR HOUSE IS NOT AVAILABLE OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD. HOWEVER, IT IS AVAILABLE - FOR NON-SIMULTANEOUS EXCHANGE ONLY - FROM MID JUNE TO MID OCTOBER 2013, AND AT CERTAIN TIMES NEXT YEAR.

Our home was built in 1892 and renovated by us in 2007, retaining its charm and original features. We added an architect-designed extension to the rear which, while modern, is sympathetic to the older part of the house.

The bedrooms, plus a double living-dining room with piano, stereo and gas "coal" fire, are in the old section. The main bedroom has a queen-size bed, while the second has a double bed. Both bedrooms have built-in wardrobes but are not en suite, as we didn't want to spoil the original character of the house.

The new section comprises a large open-plan kitchen, casual dining area and family room, with 106cm flat-screen TV, DVD player and stereo, plus many books, CDs and DVDs, as well as a gas fireplace. This room opens on to a dining terrace, with mains gas barbecue, overlooking the 9x3-metre solar-heated saltwater pool. There's a small external bathroom and a 6,000-litre rainwater tank, which we use to top up the pool and water the vegetable garden.

(One of our sons is currently living in the studio above the garage, detached from the house, with a separate rear entrance. He uses the bathroom attached to the garage.)

Back indoors, the main bathroom has a large tub and separate shower, while the second bathroom, which doubles as a laundry, has a shower.

One of our favourite places is the wild front garden, which provides privacy for sitting on the verandah with coffee and the morning papers. The flowering Australian plants attract flocks of native birds to feed on the nectar.

Four generations of our family have lived in this house, so it holds a very special place in our hearts.

We are fortunate to live at Bondi Junction in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, brushed by balmy sea breezes. Bondi and Tamarama beaches are about 2km away - an easy downhill walk - and Bronte, with its magical ocean pool, is only a little further. The renowned clifftop walk from South Bondi to Bronte plays host to the annual Sculpture by the Sea free exhibition in Spring. The 5km Federation Walk stretches from Dover Heights, just past North Bondi, to idyllic harbourfront Watsons Bay, taking in some breathtaking ocean vistas along the way. We are also just a stone's throw from other beautiful harbourside beaches and Sydney Harbour National Park.

There are numerous fabulous parks nearby, including 189-hectare Centennial Park, where you can ride a horse or a bicycle, feed the water birds or picnic beneath tall paperbark trees. Or you can catch a ferry across the glittering harbour to Taronga Zoo, one of the world's finest and home to three beautiful baby Asian elephants and three Sumatran tiger cubs, among many other fascinating and endangered creatures.

Opportunities for eating out, from ultra-casual to fine dining, are seemingly endless and there is a vibrant cafe culture. As well, Sydney has a thriving arts scene, with many galleries, theatres, concert halls and, of course, our World Heritage-listed Opera House.

We are well served by public transport, with numerous bus routes running past the end of our street and Bondi Junction railway station less than 10 minutes walk away. Bondi Junction is a shopping mecca, where you can buy everything from a Chanel handbag or Speedo swimsuit at Westfield to home-grown vegies and free-range eggs at the farmers' market. The chic shopping area of Double Bay is also nearby and the Sydney city centre is about 5km, or three stops on the train.

For more about our city and local area visit:

www.australia.com/destinations/cities/Sydney.aspx
www.australia.com/articles/nsw_bondi_bronte.aspx
www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/12882/BondiVisitorMap.pdf
www.australia.com/things_to_do/Things_To_Do.aspx

One of our sons is currently living in the studio above the garage, detached from the house, with a separate (rear) entrance. He uses the bathroom attached to the garage.

Please note that we don't want to have to clean at the end of our stay, so are happy to pay for a professional or to swap cleaning services. (Our cleaners come fortnightly.)

We can do NON-SIMULTANEOUS exchanges, as we can be flexible with dates. However, we only want to visit the Northern Hemisphere during the warmer months, approximately May to October.

Alan and Kerrie have both had long careers in journalism. Kerrie is also a recently fledged prehistoric archaeologist. Now that our three children have grown up - our daughter is living in London and one son in Sarasota, Florida - we are freelancing so we can spend more time pursuing other passions, notably travel. We have an eight-year-old cat, Smudge, who is a free spirit. If our son was going to be away, we would ask you to feed her twice a day.

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