NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Wamberal, 2260
Current weather
16.1°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 21.8° / 13.6° today · 4.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Wamberal is a coastal mid-sized suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Coastal character runs through daily life, with the wider region offering extra trips and outings when you want them. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 6,991
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,407
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 271 of 2,594
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,500
- Employment rate
- 63.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 158 / 110 / 182
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)
- $690
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $875
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $800
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 185
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)
- 250
- Against the person
- 90
- Against property
- 103
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 35.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 78 residents
- State safety percentile
- 12th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -0.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud99
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment112
- Malicious Damage To Property98
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault84
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,048
- Wamberal Public SchoolPrimary
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
131 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ocean View Dr After Pacific St
- Ocean View Dr Before Pacific St
- Ocean View Dr Opp Bundara Av
- Ocean View Dr Opp Lake View Rd
- Ocean View Dr Opp Prince St
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksCentral Coast Highway, Tumbi Road19 Feb 2026 – 01 Jul 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
534 planning-related records
2026· 27 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development22 WAIRAKEI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
- Subdivision8 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 DILLON ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure531 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation442 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 MAWARRA ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool56 TALL TIMBERS ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space17 BUNDARA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KUROW CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7A WARRAMBOOL ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)141A OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 MCGEE AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure69 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 LAKE VIEW ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 DILLON ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Subdivision7-9 RENOWN STREET WAMBERAL 2260Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure111 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)8 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure84 BRUSH ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 ARILA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 MAWARRA ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure365 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool169 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)3 54 LUMEAH AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KUROW CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 DALPURA ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
2025· 13 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support79B OLD GOSFORD ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure41 LEA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure588A THE ENTRANCE ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 460 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure65 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation93 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)13 BUNDARA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4/490 Tumbi Road, WamberalDetermined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation37 BUNDARA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure42 DALPURA ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Co-living171 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 WINDSOR ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 ALDINGA DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
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
40 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Central Coast Hwy after Crystal StBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy after Ghersi AvBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy after Tumbi RdBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Aldinga DrBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Pitt RdBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Reads RdBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Ulamba AvBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy before Ocean View DrBus stop
- Central Coast Hwy opp Cabarita 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
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Benjamin Parker ReservePark
- Lett ParkPark
- Rysdyk Parade PlaygroundPark
- Wamberal ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 53.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 24% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1602nd in Australia
- State rank
- 512th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #35 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #61 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Central Coast Hwy after Crystal Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy after Ghersi Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy after Tumbi Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Aldinga Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Pitt Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Reads Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy at Ulamba Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy before Ocean View Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Central Coast Hwy opp Cabarita Stamenitiesbus_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.