Caves Beach, NSW 2281 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Caves Beach is a suburb of New South Wales, postcode 2281, home to 4,016 residents with a settled, mature community. Located in the Lake Macquarie local government area (Inner Regional Australia) and roughly 97 km from the Sydney CBD.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 4,016
- Median age
- 49 years
- Median household income
- $1,628 /week
- Median personal income
- $711 /week
- Median family income
- $1,954 /week
- Average household size
- 2.6
- Persons per bedroom
- 0.7
- Local government area
- Lake Macquarie
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- Remoteness classification
- Inner Regional Australia
- Federal electorate
- Shortland
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $420 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,090
- Rent share of household income
- 26%
Schools
- Swansea High School
- Caves Beach Public School
- Swansea Public School
- Pelican Flat Public School
- Nords Wharf Public School
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 15 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 32 bus stops
- Caves Beach Rd Opp Bligh Av
- Ocean View Pde At Caves Beach Rd
- Ocean View Pde Before New St
- Park Av Before Caves Beach Rd
- Caves Beach Rd Opp Park Av
Lifestyle & amenities
- 2 cafés
- 2 restaurants
- 2 pubs and bars
- 8 parks and reserves
- 2 supermarkets
- 2 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (28.3°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (17.2°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 1134 mm
- Reference station: Williamtown RAAF, 37.0 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Premises serves 46.2% of the 2,010 resolvable premises in Caves Beach. Most premises here have a fibre cable running directly into the property — the fastest and most reliable NBN option, with plans available up to NBN 1000.
- Fibre to the Premises: 46.2%
- Fibre to the Curb: 12.4%
- Fibre to the Building: 4.9%
- Fibre to the Node: 36.5%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 896 across postcode 2281 in the year to Dec 2025 (stable on the prior year).
- Most common categories: 240 other offences, 222 violent offences, 135 theft.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Caves Beach?
Caves Beach (NSW 2281) had 4,016 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 49. It sits within the Lake Macquarie local government area.
What is the median rent in Caves Beach?
The median advertised rent in Caves Beach is $420/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Caves Beach?
Yes — 5 schools are listed within or near Caves Beach covering government sectors. Nearest include: Swansea High School (1 km), Caves Beach Public School (1.2 km), Swansea Public School (3.2 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Caves Beach?
Caves Beach is predominantly served by Fibre to the Premises (46.2% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Caves Beach?
Across postcode 2281, 896 offences were recorded in the 12 months to Dec 2025. The most common offence categories were other (240), violent (222), theft (135). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in Caves Beach?
In Caves Beach, mean daily temperatures range from 12.5°C to 23.2°C and annual rainfall is 1,134 mm measured at the Williamtown RAAF weather station (37 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
What public transport options are in Caves Beach?
32 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the Caves Beach centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 15 bus stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: