Q: Only looking to rent. Would love somewhere that is great to live with two small children, within a small town. I would also love not to be too far away from everything ( We live at Port Stephens now). My fiance is a carpenter and would be looking to find work in carpentry in a surrounding area. Thankyou in advanced for any help
A: Central Coast is fast becoming a lot like an outer suburb of Sydney. Unfortunately, the nicer areas are pricey. However, if you are looking for a small town vibe try Patonga, Pretty Beach, Catherine Hill Bay (technically Lake Macquarie), Buff Point. Areas to avoid at ALL costs: San Remo (highest drug production area in Australia) Umina (gang violence), Charmhaven, Wyong, Wyee, Ettalong, Lake Haven, Gorokan and Tuggerah (high unemployment and bogans everywhere) Nice expensive areas include Avoca, Terrigal (nightlife is quite violent though and alot of violence and vandalism on streets) and Empire Bay. There isn't a whole lot of work on the Coast, in fact the area has a higher than average unemployment rate. So when looking for housing you should try and find something close to the F3, so that way it's only an hour to Newcastle and 1.5 hours to Sydney. Good Luck