Abstract: There is a growing body of interdisciplinary research which demonstrates that the built environment plays a significant role in supporting people being healthy as part of everyday living. This is the theoretical setting for our paper in which we present outcomes of an Australian Research Council funded Linkage project involving partners from the built environment and health (UrbanGrowth NSW, Heart Foundation, and SW Sydney Local Health District). Focussing on four diverse residential localities in metropolitan and near-metropolitan Sydney, the research employs a rich mix of methods that emphasise in-depth and detailed observations. The study areas are examined to assess how they enable or hinder three key healthy behaviours identified from our earlier research: (1) physical activity via both recreation and transport; (2) easy access to nutritious food; and (3) social interaction. The paper details the research methods used – our Healthy Neighbourhood Audit Instrument specifically developed for the study; individual interviews and focus group discussions; and food and farmers’ market surveys. We then outline significant qualitative findings across these three healthy behaviours, with an analysis of the built environment factors that best support them. While each locality provides distinct lessons, there is much in common. Access to healthy food is good in all areas, but in poorer suburbs there is less variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Gaps tend to be filled by community gardens, markets, and food box programs. Getting sufficient physical activity for health benefits remains an issue across the study sites. The need to provide public transport and associated active modes of getting around safely are paramount for all localities. Neighbourhood social interactions tend to be low where residents have less time in their neighbourhood, full time work commitments and other competing interests. Implications for creating healthy built environments in different urban settings conclude the paper.