NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Hardys Bay, 2257
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 22.1° / 14° today · 3.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Central Coast (NSW), Hardys Bay is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally. 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 below average overall, mainly because housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 233
- Median age
- 59
- Median household income / week
- $2,068
- Dwelling vacancy
- 39.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 68 of 171
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,409
- Employment rate
- 52.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 5 / 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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $615
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 246
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)
- 12
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 51.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 58 residents
- State safety percentile
- 28.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order132
- Domestic Violence Related Assault138
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property174
- Other Offences94
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
14 public transport stops in this suburb
- 53 Heath Rd
- 56 Heath Rd
- Araluen Dr Opp Killcare Rd
- Heath Rd Opp Araluen Dr
- Killcare Rd After Nukara 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).
35 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
May 2026
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise58 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation39 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure86 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure70 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure140 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space27 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY NSW 2257Under Assessment
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2025· 5 proposals
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool55 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure14 NUKARA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)25 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
May 2025
- Shop top housing; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure58 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure86 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation37 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation91 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 NUKARA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
May 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure182 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club14 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure140 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2A HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Withdrawn
January 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation70 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2023· 4 proposals
April 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development14 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Attached dwelling76 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces140 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Withdrawn
February 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development55 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Withdrawn
2022· 4 proposals
November 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development100A ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development156 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing35 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
April 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition86 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2021· 4 proposals
November 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs2 FLORA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
- Other71 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
April 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development2 HAWKE HEAD DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
February 2021
- Attached dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development63 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2020· 3 proposals
October 2020
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces116 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
August 2020
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs5 FLORA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
July 2020
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development49 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
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
30 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alcohol
- Bench (2)
- 53 Heath RdBus stop
- 56 Heath RdBus stop
- Araluen Dr after Killcare RdBus stop
- Araluen Dr opp Killcare RdBus stop
- Heath Rd before Araluen DrBus stop
- Heath Rd opp Araluen DrBus stop
- Killcare Rd after Nukara AvBus stop
- Picnic Table (10)
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 16.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6793rd in Australia
- State rank
- 2107th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #146 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #880 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 53 Heath Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 56 Heath Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Alcoholamenitiesalcohol
- Araluen Dr after Killcare Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Araluen Dr opp Killcare Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Heath Rd before Araluen Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Heath Rd opp Araluen Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Killcare Rd after Nukara Avamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.