🔍

Caves Beach

NSW 2281 • Rest of NSW

4,016
Population (2021)
$84,656
Median Household Income
2.43 km²
Area
$420/wk
Median Rent
CoastalFamily-FriendlySurfingLakesideRelaxed

About Caves Beach

Caves Beach is a coastal suburb on the Swansea peninsula between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean, within the City of Lake Macquarie in Greater Newcastle, NSW. Home to approximately 4,016 residents, the suburb is named for the large sea caves that dot its rugged coastline. Established in 1829, it sits on traditional Awabakal country and covers a surprisingly large 43 square kilometres, though most development is concentrated in the residential western half.

The suburb revolves around its beautiful surfing beach, which is popular with local surfers and spearfishers targeting red morwong. A small commercial strip on the eastern side offers a resort, restaurants, cafés, an IGA, butcher, and gelato store. With 7 parks covering 27% of total area and a relaxed seaside atmosphere, Caves Beach attracts families and retirees who enjoy coastal living at a more affordable price point than Sydney, while still being within reach of Newcastle's employment and services.

Caves Beach falls under postcode 2281 and is governed by Lake Macquarie Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Swansea electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2281
Urban Area
Lake Macquarie - East
LGA / Council
Lake Macquarie
Federal Electorate
Shortland
State Electorate
Swansea
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-33.11°, 151.65°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
2.43 km²
Elevation
21m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Caves Beach for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$1.4M
67 sales · ▲ 8.1% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$855K
13 sales · ▼ 6.6% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$420
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,090
Avg Household Size
2.6 people
Median Age
49 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
3.9%

56 state housing + 3 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Morisset
18 km
Central Coast & Newcastle Line
Fassifern
20 km
Central Coast & Newcastle Line

Bus Services

  • Newcastle Transport — Swansea & Belmont via lake suburbs 20-40 min
  • Newcastle Transport — Charlestown Square 45-55 min

Commute to Newcastle

Distance
35 km
By Bus
1h 15min - 1h 30min
By Car (Peak)
45-55 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
35-40 min

🛣️ No direct train; nearest stations are Morisset/Fassifern (18-20km). Bus services connect to Swansea and Belmont. Most residents drive via Pacific Highway.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Local shops and beach are walkable from nearby streets but car needed for most services in Swansea or Belmont

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 2 heritage-listed places in or near Caves Beach, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

WWII RAAF Radar Station 208 (former)
Catherine Hill Bay • SHR #01752
Catherine Hill Bay Cultural Precinct
Flowers Drive, Catherine Hill Bay • SHR #01828

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area, which contains Caves Beach. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
216.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 4.6%
Motor vehicle theft
229.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
376.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 2.9%
Robbery (unarmed)
4.1 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
409.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 3.1%
View all 62 offence types for Lake Macquarie →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
4,054
Census 2021
4,016
▼ 0.9% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$31,044
Personal Income 2021
$36,972
▲ 19.1% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$36,972 / yr
$711/wk
Household
$84,656 / yr
$1628/wk
Family
$101,608 / yr
$1954/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 3,436
Born Overseas 463

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 141
  • 2. New Zealand 48
  • 3. Scotland 20
  • 4. Germany 16
  • 5. Philippines 16
  • 6. Thailand 16
  • 7. Wales 16
  • 8. Netherlands 15
  • 9. South Africa 13
  • 10. China 12

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 1,774
English 1,725
Irish 496
Scottish 495
German 176
Australian Aboriginal 119
Italian 101
Welsh 67
Dutch 58
Maltese 49

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,821
Both parents born in Australia
551
Both parents born overseas
519
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
54.1%
No Religion
40.7%
Buddhism
0.5%
Hinduism
0.3%
Islam
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
147 (3.7%)
5-14 years
506 (12.6%)
15-19 years
229 (5.7%)
20-24 years
231 (5.8%)
25-34 years
280 (7.0%)
35-44 years
413 (10.3%)
45-54 years
514 (12.8%)
55-64 years
599 (14.9%)
65-74 years
624 (15.5%)
75-84 years
343 (8.5%)
85+ years
136 (3.4%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Caves Beach known for? +

The suburb revolves around its beautiful surfing beach, which is popular with local surfers and spearfishers targeting red morwong.

How far is Caves Beach from Sydney CBD? +

Caves Beach is approximately 35 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes approximately 45-55 min in peak hour and 35-40 min off-peak.

Does Caves Beach have public transport? +

The nearest train station is Morisset (18 km away, approximately null walk) on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. Bus services include Newcastle Transport, running to Swansea & Belmont via lake suburbs in approximately 20-40 min.

What is the population of Caves Beach? +

According to the 2021 Census, Caves Beach has a population of 4,016 residents. The suburb is part of the broader NSW metropolitan area.

Is Caves Beach a good place to live? +

Caves Beach is well-suited to families, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle in NSW. A small commercial strip on the eastern side offers a resort, restaurants, cafés, an IGA, butcher, and gelato store.

What is the postcode for Caves Beach? +

The postcode for Caves Beach is 2281. It is located in New South Wales (NSW).

What is the average income in Caves Beach? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Caves Beach is about $711 per week (around $37,000 per year). The median household income is $1,628 per week and the median family income is $1,954 per week.

What is the median house price in Caves Beach? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,400,000, up 8.1% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $855,000, down 6.6% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Caves Beach? +

The median age in Caves Beach is 49. The largest age group is 65–74 (624 residents, around 16%). Around 22% of residents are under 20 and about 27% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Caves Beach a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Caves Beach is part of the Lake Macquarie LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Caves Beach? +

In Caves Beach, the median weekly rent is $420, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,090 (2021 Census).