NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Caves Beach, NSW, 2281
Desirability index
84.1/100
How this score is calculated#70 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Caves Beach is a smaller suburban community in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 4,016 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,016 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+2%), roughly 253.0 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $725 (flats $550, houses $750), 2 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
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
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.
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)
- 1,016
- Against the person
- 260
- Against property
- 374
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 253
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 15 residents
- State safety percentile
- 17.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +2.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
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
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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· 37 proposals
December 2024
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)13 ALEXANDER AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Determined
2023· 38 proposals
38 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 48 proposals
48 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 49 proposals
49 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 3 proposals
3 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
75 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).
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 84.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #70 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Caves Beach OOSH, Park Avtransport
- Caves Beach OOSH, Park Avtransport
- Northcote Av At Dolphin Cttransport
- Swansea High School, Park Avtransport
- Swansea High School, Park Avtransport
- Caves Beach Long Day Care and Pre-Schoolchildcarekindergarten
- Caves Beach Uniting Pre-Schoolchildcarekindergarten
- Caves Beach Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
- Physiotherapy Cawes Beachhealthphysiotherapist
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structuresplanning52 PARK AVENUE CAVES BEACH 2281Lodged 26 Nov 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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