Caves Beach

NSW 2281 • Rest of NSW

4,016
Population (2021)
$36,972
Median Income
2.43 km²
Area
21m
Elevation
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

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

🚌 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.

Catherine Hill Bay • SHR #01752
Flowers Drive, Catherine Hill Bay • SHR #01828

🏠 Housing Costs 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$420
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,090
Avg Household Size
2.6 people
Median Age
49 years

👥 Demographics

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

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

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

Income Comparison

📊 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
  • 11. Ireland 12
  • 12. United States 12
  • 13. India 10
  • 14. Malta 10
  • 15. Italy 8

🧬 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