NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Caves Beach, 2281
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Life in Caves Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a mid-sized suburb that never strays far from the water. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because parks and green space and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and transport and access.
Population
- Population
- 4,016
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,628
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 238 of 1,739
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,090
- Employment rate
- 51.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 78 / 155 / 60
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)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 266
- Against the person
- 68
- Against property
- 98
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 44.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 995.5
- Caves Beach Public SchoolPrimary
- Swansea High SchoolSecondary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
59 public transport stops in this suburb
- Caves Beach OOSH, Park Av
- Caves Beach OOSH, Park Av
- Northcote Av At Dolphin Ct
- Swansea High School, Park Av
- Swansea High School, Park Av
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).
214 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14A CALDWELL STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation65 CAVES BEACH ROAD CAVES BEACH 2281Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah5 OCEAN VIEW PARADE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 BRIGANTINE PLACE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators126 CAVES BEACH ROAD CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space16 SEACLIFF PLACE CAVES BEACH 2281Under Assessment
March 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences8 CIVIC AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 VILLAGE GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 VILLAGE GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50 OCEAN VIEW PARADE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36 SCENIC DRIVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure47 PACIFIC STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 ALEXANDER AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
2025· 26 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 PHILLIP STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures52 PARK AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation8 PARK AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool23 PACIFIC STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 SAPPHIRE CLOSE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading15 GALLEON GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators126 CAVES BEACH ROAD CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 BLIGH AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 SCENIC DRIVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool143 PARK AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah151 PARK AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 OCEAN VIEW PARADE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation13 ALEXANDER AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 SEA EAGLE CRESCENT CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 MARTHA STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure154 MACQUARIE GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 GALLEON GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)14 CALDWELL STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses7 PARK AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 MACQUARIE GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Privacy screens; Supporting Development4 PACIFIC STREET CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 BRIGANTINE PLACE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool37 CAVES BEACH ROAD CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 CIVIC AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
January 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces74 MACQUARIE GROVE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 DRIFTWOOD CLOSE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
2024· 1 proposal
December 2024
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)13 ALEXANDER AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
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
77 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- Bicycle Parking (4)
- 137 Park AvBus stop
- Bus stop (9)
- Caves Beach OOSH, Park AvBus stop
- Caves Beach Rd at Mawson ClBus stop
- Caves Beach Rd at Middle StBus stop
- Caves Beach Rd at Phillip StBus stop
- Caves Beach Rd at Yachtsman AvBus stop
- Caves Beach Rd before Caldwell StBus 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
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Caves Beach Pharmacypharmacy
- Physiotherapy Cawes Beachphysiotherapist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Caves Beach Long Day Care and Pre-Schoolkindergarten
- Caves Beach Uniting Pre-Schoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 2
- 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
- 51.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1773rd in Australia
- State rank
- 564th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #19 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #63 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 137 Park Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_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.