Cardiff South
NSW 2285 · Lake Macquarie
2,931 (2021) → 3,030 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.
Cardiff South is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2285, about 111km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $916K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 76/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Cardiff South has an overall score of 71/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 67/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2285 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (1.23%), New Zealand (0.72%), China (0.51%), Philippines (0.51%), Scotland (0.44%)
Top languages: Samoan (0.68%), Mandarin (0.44%), Macedon (0.31%), Polish (0.31%), Vietnamese (0.31%)
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
Strong school options
Well above average — good-quality schools within reach and a healthy range of options to choose from.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1013 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Cardiff South Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1017
Nearby (within 10km)
- Cardiff High SchoolSecondary · Government · 0.7kmICSEA 986
- Cardiff Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1000
- St Kevin's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.4kmICSEA 1071
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1020
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 940
- Warners Bay High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1056
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1045
- Cardiff North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1014
- Biddabah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1065
- Mount Hutton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 940
- Charlestown South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.7kmICSEA 1075
- St Mary's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.7kmICSEA 1093
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
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Some green space
Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Some cultural venues
Around the national average — a handful of cultural venues, with more on offer a short trip away.
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
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
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
Childcare
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
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 Cardiff South with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Cardiff South
Is Cardiff South safe?
Cardiff South has a residential safety score of 67/100, 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 2,593 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Cardiff South?
In Cardiff South, the median house price is $916K and the median unit price is $693K. Median weekly house rent is $720.
How far is Cardiff South from Sydney CBD?
Cardiff South is about 110.5 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Cardiff South?
Cardiff South has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1017 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Cardiff South?
Cardiff South has a transport score of 76/100 and 27 bus stops.