Lake Macquarie dubbed the most ‘desirable’ location for Sydneysiders making a sea change

Australians are flocking to a regional area with hundreds of job opportunities, six-figure salaries and affordable beachfront homes, where they can enjoy coastal living yet commute to Sydney’s CBD in less than two hours.

Lake Macquarie, a town in Greater Newcastle, 130 km north of Sydney, took the top spot for Sydneysiders fleeing the city for a change of sea.

The Regional Australia Institute ranked Lake Macquarie as the fourth most desirable city nationally and number one in NSW for people moving out of major cities.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the find was “no surprise” as the region offers a lifestyle outside of big city life.

“It is no surprise that we are increasingly in the crosshairs of people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of major urban centers,” said Cr Fraser.

“Moving to Lake Mac offers all the lifestyle benefits of ocean, lake and mountain living, and the financial benefits of living outside of a capital city.

“But that doesn’t mean you miss out on everything a city has to offer.

“We continue to invest in facilities and infrastructure across Lake Mac to make it a better place today, tomorrow and for years to come.”

The Lake Macquarie region is known for its relaxed recreational lifestyle and for being nature’s outdoor playground, with many outdoor activities, adventures, picturesque beaches and a lake.

The region is also known for affordable housing, with Lake Macquarie house prices reaching $860,000 making it easy for many to move.

That’s cheap compared to Sydney’s median house price, which is more than $1.23 million – with those looking for a waterfront home expected to pay more than $3.5 million in exclusive suburbs like Bondi, Manly and Cronulla.

Former Sydneysider Madeleine told Daily Mail Australia she moved to Lake Macquarie after realizing buying property in Sydney was ‘out of reach’.

The 29-year-old lived in Sydney for eight years in the posh suburbs of Randwick, Clovelly, Kensington and Rosebery.

“So I was in Sydney for about eight years before I moved to Lake Macquarie early this year,” Madeleine said.

“It was really, you know, to sort out my future. I knew it was unfeasible for me to buy a property in Sydney. So that was kind of the big motivator.

“I was planning for my future and moved to a place where I could live in a more accessible neighborhood where I could buy real estate and settle down.”

Madeleine explained that having flexible work, which allowed her to “occasionally” work from home, at an office in Newcastle and commute to the Sydney office, enabled her to move.

She added that anyone considering a move from Sydney to Lake Macquarie will not regret it as the region has a fine lifestyle and is great for ‘putting down roots’.

“It’s just a really fun lifestyle and there are a lot of reasons to love the area,” Madeleine said.

‘It’s very close to Newcastle and close to Sydney. Everything is within reach and at the same time gives the locals a much more relaxed lifestyle.

‘It has beautiful scenery and it’s so easy to go for lovely walks. It really has everything you need in terms of healthcare, resources and community facilities.”

She has no regrets moving from Sydney and hopes to have a down payment on her own home by the end of the year.

‘For me, being in Sydney. It never really felt like it would be permanent,” Madeleine said.

“I feel like I’m not missing out living in Lake Macquarie and at the same time it’s so much more viable if you want to buy real estate.”

3Realty Sales Director Alicia Taylor told Daily Mail Australia she has seen an influx of Sydneysiders buying their dream homes in some of the region’s popular suburbs.

Ms. Taylor has been working as a real estate agent for seven years, primarily selling homes in the popular Lake Macquarie suburb of Caves Beach.

“It really is the perfect location because you have the lake, canal and ocean all within minutes of each other,” said Ms. Taylor.

‘So it’s a very coastal lifestyle with lots of boating, fishing and camping, with nice restaurants and cafes. It’s a very relaxed lifestyle.’

She explained that the coastal suburb is the perfect location for Australians who still work in the city but are looking for a change of sea.

‘We’re only an hour and a half from Sydney, so it’s convenient for people who commute and work in Sydney. It’s as easy as going back home if you lived in western Sydney,’ Mrs Taylor said.

“We are a lifestyle that is very beach oriented with a lake and the ocean. So we’re a really great location for people who still potentially work in the city.’

Ms Taylor said house prices in Caves Beach have risen 49 per cent in six months amid the Covid pandemic.

She added that a wide range of people in the area are buying, including young families, professionals, investors and those approaching retirement.

“We have a lot of young families moving to the area and a lot of families buying holiday homes and using them on the weekends or as an Airbnb,” Ms Taylor said.

‘There are also many people who are nearing retirement who buy in the neighbourhood. People in their fifties or sixties, who might buy a property that will be rented out for the next two to five years and then move on when they are fully retired.’

Ms Taylor said that despite Caves Beach having an average house price of $1.1 million – which is higher than the median house price for the Lake Macquarie region – the suburb is still more affordable than buying a property close to the beach in Sydney.

The population of Lake Macquarie is expected to increase by 50,459 people – growing from 202,332 in 2016 to 252,791 in 2041.

The forecast comes from Remplan – a team of economists, planners, analysts, demographers and economic development specialists – who expect the greatest growth to occur between 2021 and 2026.

By the end of 2023, Lake Macquarie’s population is expected to increase by 2.4 percent.

Remplan has predicted that the population of Lake Macquarie will reach 219,207 by the end of 2023, a 2.4% increase since 2021, providing 73,233 jobs in the city.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found while all generation groups in the city had an increase in people between 2016 and 2021, Millennials had the largest increase with an additional 4,484 people.

High-paying jobs are also offered in the Greater Newcastle area, many of which are advertised online with an annual salary between $80,000 and $100,000.

The Lake Macquarie City Council spends about $100 million each year on capital investments, while building approvals totaled $766.6 million in 2021-2022.