I lived in Tuggerah for 7+ years . Our lives revolved around my husband working in Sydney and my two small children. We moved to Tuggerah because I could easily walk to a major Westfield, Primary School and Pre-School whilst the freeway was 2 seconds away for my husband's commute to Sydney.The train is also a 15 min walk.Tuggerah is a small valley style of suburb surrounded by rainforest trees and the spconstant sound of Bellbirds.Tuggerah Westfield is a very close 5 min walk but not visible or audible from our street. Both the State and Catholic school buses pass through Tuggerah.There is a mix of socio economic families there and some streets are (as is often the case) nicer than others. In our 7 years of residencey we didn't have so much as a child's bike stolen from our yard nor did we ever hear any noise from wild parties, aside from the odd 21st or NYEve.It is a surprisingly safe,quiet and family orientated suburb. The Westfield has movie theatres,2 childrens' indoor play centres,restaurants,Medical Practitioners and is very pram friendly.There is a gym with a creche and Pre-School.
We moved to Tuggerah from Sydney so that we could become a one income family while the children were young yet still afford a cubbyhouse,yard and good quality of life. We have now moved on to a slightly bigger home elsewhere on the Central Coast but I look back on my days at Tuggerah with my two young children as being absolutely ideal. Everything was right at hand and a trip to either Sydney or Newcastle was a breeze! Shelley Beach is 10 minutes away and The Entrance about 20mins. Consider little old Tuggerah and have a look before dismissing it as you might very well find your own little piece of happiness ;)