Brightwaters
NSW 2264 · Lake Macquarie
875 (2021) → 926 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Lake Macquarie local government area (est. 222,310 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Brightwaters is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2264, about 90km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.03M is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 33/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Brightwaters has an overall score of 38/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 85/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2264 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (3.2%), New Zealand (1.49%), South Africa (1.37%), Germany (0.8%), Malta (0.57%)
Top languages: Greek (1.14%), Afrikaans (0.57%), Cantonese (0.46%), Tagalog (0.46%), Australian Indigenous Languages (0.34%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Reasonable school mix
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of schools, though the strongest options may require some travel.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 987 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Brightwaters Christian CollegeCombined · IndependentICSEA 1001
Nearby (within 10km)
- Bonnells Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.7kmICSEA 925
- Heritage College Lake MacquarieCombined · Independent · 3.8kmICSEA 1002
- Gwandalan Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 4.4kmICSEA 953
- Mannering Park Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 4.9kmICSEA 945
- Morisset Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.4kmICSEA 919
- Morisset High SchoolSecondary · Government · 5.5kmICSEA 929
- Dora Creek Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.6kmICSEA 939
- St John Vianney Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 5.6kmICSEA 961
- Nords Wharf Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.2kmICSEA 1023
- Wangi Wangi Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.2kmICSEA 987
- Arcadia Vale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.6kmICSEA 971
- Rathmines Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 8.7kmICSEA 996
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Limited facilities
Below average — fewer fitness options nearby, so you may need to travel to a gym or pool.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Great outdoor access
Well above average — plenty of parkland and outdoor recreation within easy reach.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
No data
No cultural venues matched to this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
No licensed pubs, bars or clubs are registered in this suburb per the Liquor & Gaming NSW register.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: OpenStreetMap
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Lake Macquarie
Compare Brightwaters with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Brightwaters
Is Brightwaters safe?
Brightwaters has a residential safety score of 85/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 1,714 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Brightwaters?
In Brightwaters, the median house price is $1.03M. Median weekly house rent is $627.
How far is Brightwaters from Sydney CBD?
Brightwaters is about 90.3 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 235 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Brightwaters?
Brightwaters has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1001 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Brightwaters?
Brightwaters has a transport score of 33/100 and 14 bus stops.