Ourimbah, NSW 2258

Have lived in Ourimbah for 5 months and love it here. Coming from Western Sydney, the absolute silence here at night is incredible. I’ve never slept better. Waking up to the sounds of birds is heaven. Neighbours are quiet and respectful of each other. It really feels like you’re in a small country town but the F3 is just minutes away, and an easy drive to amazing beaches and bushwalks all over the coast to enjoy. Gorgeous lakeside walks also just a short drive away.

The natural beauty is phenomenal and I even have koalas living in my backyard. The only thing is if you’re coming from Sydney it takes getting used to some shops and cafes closing by 3pm, & a lot is closed on weekends. Also, it’s very hilly and walkability is tricky with few footpaths in some areas. If you’re someone who loves long daily walks, you’ll find yourself driving to somewhere to walk.

Ourimbah is boring for people who want more social stuff, nightlife, parties etc. Terrigal would be better. There is really nothing here for young people to do, the place is dead on weekends and evenings. Personally it’s why I love it, as an introvert, and past my party days, but I know young people who want to move out of here because they are too bored. They could use a few more local businesses like gyms or fitness groups, creative hobbies or something, but not too much because the quiet is what makes this place so special.

I have lived in many places and Ourimbah is by far my favourite!

The village centre consists of a train station, a small strip mall, a few stand-alone retail outlets, and a pair of large green sportsfield-parks. You could have once argued that Ourimbah was one of the best-kept secrets on the Central Coast, but these days the secret is well and truly out, and you can expect to pay a comparable premium to live in this community.

Due to Ourimbah sitting so close to the Ourimbah Interchange, drivers can easily access the M1 Motorway for commutes to Newcastle and Sydney.
The Northern rail line also runs through the town, stopping at a quaint historic station with many heritage features. It is possible to walk to the train station from most of the urban area of the suburb, but not every train service stops here.

There is a reasonably sized satellite campus for the University of Newcastle (UoN) within walking distance of the train line. This campus only offers select courses, and some local students may find themselves having to attend other UoN campuses from time to time.

The closest major shopping districts are Lisarow Plaza and Westfield Tuggerah, both of which are a short drive or train trip away. Westfield Tuggerah in particular is one of the largest major shopping centres in the surrounding region.

One could argue that there are at least 3 "Ourimbahs" that you might experience (though all are cohesive in their own right) - the first being the historic village centre, which is dotted by heritage buildings such as the post office, train station and a multitude of Californian bungalows; the second is the more modern suburban areas, particularly over the railway line along Coachwood and associated roads; and the third is the rural properties that extend outwards towards Palm Grove, Fountaindale and Glenning Valley, many of which have multi-generational family histories.

Much of Ourimbah sits at the bottom of a valley, a lot of the land was once covered in sub-tropical rainforest and wetlands, so you can expect some associated dampness - some homes in the area are subject to flooding, mould, and the occasional leech infestation.

Looking to the future of the suburb - there is already some conflict between those who want to maintain the historic nature of the village and those who see Ourimbah, with its extremely central location as ripe for significant expansion over the coming decades. Time will tell.

Moved from Sydney and love it here. Local Public School is fantastic with great bus service to the school. Close to the F3 for comuters or a short 15 min drive over the Ridge way to surf beaches. Horse friendly area for the horse lover with many trails to explore. Close to University. Great life style.

Ourimbah is an excellent palce for first home buyers (there are inexpensive houses here), established families (3-5 bedroom houses and houses with acerage are plentiful), retirees and people downsizing (there are plenty of choices here for 2 and 3 bedroom homes). Ourimbah is for people who want to live in a safe, green, quiet environment. There are no noisy entertainment venues however there is a bowling club, a hotel, shops, a medical centre, hairdressers, a post office and a public school. Public transport includes trains and buses. Wow, we have lived here for 20 years and it's till a wonderful place to live.

A very peaceful and underrated community. There are trees and wildlife everywhere you turn - even with free range peacocks if you're lucky. The railway is nearby and runs right through the suburb. You can hear the freight trains and night with a bit of a low rumble if you're outdoors, but generally you don't notice them.

It's a short drive to a major supermarket at Lisarow shops, and even shorter to Ourimbah shops, which is mostly newsagents, butchers, chinese restaurants and the like. A little further up the road is Westfield Tuggerah, and you can take The Ridgeway to Erina Fair in fairly good time too.

There is an excellent primary school opposite the RSL, and a couple of good parks here and there. The freeway to Sydney and Newcastle is also nearby.

The only thing really lacking is the good old corner store that you can walk to and/or have a cup of coffee, and the bus service doesn't suit early morning railway commuters.