NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cardiff Heights, 2305
Current weather
16.9°CClear sky
67% humidity · 13.5 km/h wind · 20.8° / 13.8° today · 3.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Lake Macquarie, Cardiff Heights is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,384
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,850
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 17 of 554
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,050
- Employment rate
- 57.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 25 / 93 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $720
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 107
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 64
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 99 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling49
- Fraud83
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment42
- Malicious Damage To Property54
- Steal From Motor Vehicle80
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Public transport
31 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cardiff Heights Baptist Church, Main Rd
- Lynden Grove Retirement Village, Main Rd
- Main Rd Opp 50
- Main Rd Opp Cockburns Lane
- Main Rd Opp Highfield Tce
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
48 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
June 2026
- Subdivision238 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Under Assessment
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85A MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure187 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Attached dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure200 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure187 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
October 2025
- Demolition4 NADRIAN CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85A MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 NADRIAN CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6A RAINBOW CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure71 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Privacy screens140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2024· 3 proposals
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6A RAINBOW CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)15 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
January 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure79 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use198 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
August 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy122 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
July 2023
- Seniors housing187 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling67 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing77 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
March 2023
- Demolition121 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development125 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2022· 16 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing130 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
November 2022
- Signage; Educational establishment; Earthworks / change in levels6 HARRISONS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Other79B MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
October 2022
- Demolition6 HARRISONS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development23 NADRIAN CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development191 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces57 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development191 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling; Subdivision of land122 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Subdivision of land117 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development191 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
February 2022
- Signage131 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
- Shed24 COCKBURNS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
January 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces85A MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Other180 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bus Station
- 54 Main RdBus stop
- Cardiff Heights Baptist Church, Main RdBus stop
- Cardiff Rd at Daintree ClBus stop
- Cardiff Rd at Rainbow ClBus stop
- Lynden Grove Retirement Village, Main RdBus stop
- Main Rd after Cockburns LaneBus stop
- Main Rd opp 50Bus stop
- Main Rd opp Cardiff Heights Baptist ChurchBus stop
- Main Rd opp Cockburns LaneBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hancock ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 38.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3792nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1190th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #322 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #659 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 54 Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bus Stationamenitiesbus_station
- Cardiff Heights Baptist Church, Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Cardiff Rd at Daintree Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Cardiff Rd at Rainbow Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Lynden Grove Retirement Village, Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Main Rd after Cockburns Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Main Rd opp 50amenitiesbus_stop
- Main Rd opp Cardiff Heights Baptist Churchamenitiesbus_stop
- Main Rd opp Cockburns Laneamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.