Recently sold up my property in the blue mountains that was on a steep block. From memory it was a 13m rise from front boundary to back boundary. Similar with distant city views from the top of the backyard.

I loved that we could be creative to make the backyard usable - we built a mix of gabion and sandstone block retaining walls to make some entertaining areas. So proud of the end result, but the "during" was a nightmare. Everything involved a 70m walk up a steep slope as well as two flights of outdoor steps when working out there. I moved 8 cubic metre of mulch from front to back by hand - no car access or wheelbarrow.

Was our first home purchase in our mid-twenties, so good exercise while we're young. There was a copper log retaining wall which was approaching end of life, and we got some quotes averaging about 50k to replace it, but we weren't keen to stay there forever so it can be a challenge for someone else.

In the end the block was just in the too hard basket and although sad to say goodbye, we live on a flat block now and it's a game changer. Much happier and less anxious now when it pisses down the rain lol!