beth76

No offense to some of the good people who live in Umina but I have to agree with DP. Umina is a rough suburb. The people who think otherwise are people who probably have never lived in nicer areas to make a comparison. I lived in Chatswood for 39 years until '06 and thought mullets were part of the '80s until I moved up here. Sometimes it is like a time warp back to the '70s even. I would not venture out in Umina after 9 pm and the mount druitt by the sea cliche is fairly correct. I too try to keep to myself as much as possible up here as there is a big downtrodden mentality up here (not by everyone, but many) who seem to dislike anything that at least a million people 80 km south think is good. Especially do not move here if you have even the slightest interest in anything creative, or you like seeing good looking girls. On the up side the beaches are nice and there is sometimes a friendliness that you don't get in Sydney.

beez2011 move back to Chatswood. It just amazes me that people will live in a place then complain about it. If I'm not happy I do something about it, but I guess you complained a lot in Chatswood too.

There has quite obviously been a lot of trolling on this page, but it seems to be ok now. At the end of the day I moved here from Ryde which IS a nice part of Sydney. The Peninsula is a beautiful place. Natural beauty is everywhere, the climate is good and overall even though the area is getting busier it is still quieter than the rat race that most of Sydney has become. You can always get a free park at the beach, shops etc, and you are never more than 5 minutes from any number of waterways living on the Peninsula. The public transport here is also better than most other areas on the Central Coast.

On the flip side, the area does have bogans, as do all areas particularly where there is cheap property. The more decent people though who keep seeing the value in this area, and how great it is, the more these types are being pushed out, which is definitely happening right now. I will say personally though I've never had a problem here (Touch Wood) but I think as long as you don't go looking for trouble you will be fine as with nearly everywhere.

I moved to this area from Meadowbank last year due to skyrocketing Sydney rents.

I agree with the above and I can only see improvements coming.I'm meeting a lot of decent, friendly people and slowly getting used to some of the others here . Overall I'm enjoying it here,especially the natural scenery. I only wish I didn't need to commute to Central for work and we do need more medical services here.

PS Chatswood has definitely gone downhill since the 70s. I would never live on the North Shore again.

We live in Bondi and have a holiday home in Umina. We have been going there at least once a month for the past three years. The place is the best kept secret - absolute haven of peace and tranquilityand such an easy drive / train ride from Sydney.
The locals are consistently more friendly and relaxed than back in Bondi. I don't walk home from the beach late at night in Bondi and I wouldn't look for trouble by doing that in Umina either. We have had no safety issues.
The development has been astonishing. There are great restaurants in the area including Pearl Beach, Ettalong and Hardy's Bay. We have meant to enjoy the nature parks but are usual too relaxed enjoying the gorgeous beach, good food and movies round the corner. We look forward to spending a great deal more time in Umina after retirement.

Hi! I heard school is rough in Umina is that true? I also heard you have to drive far to find a good secondary school? is that true? Many thanks :)

I lived in chatswood for many many years and you know I never got to know anyone. Here I walk down the main street and it takes twice as long because one stops to chat even if it is just about the weather. I have lived in Mosman and you want to see a drug and Alcohol problem go there it is rife.. Like anywhere in the world you go there will be your undesirable but as property developers have seen the potential of the peninsula this is changing. I think Umina is one of the best kept secrets until now!

I go to bed at night and leave my ranch sliders open to hear the surf crashing on the shore, never lock my front door, leave the windows open and have never felt unsafe here. The locals are true Aussie (would give you the shirt of their backs) something that was lost in Sydney a long long time ago. If you are going through a rough time the boys at the local with pass the hat around that is a place to be proud of even if some of them still have a mullet.. A good hair do don't make you a better person!

@RealLife People come on these sites for a balanced view of good and bad. If you can't let someone speak & insult them because you don't agree with there view or opinion. Then I suggest your the one that's in the wrong.

Hi I moved from bondi to woy woy. And there is good reason why houses are 4 times cheaper. No jobs. No public transport. No good schools. No higher end shops. No nightlife. Etc....

Then go back to Bondi lol

I've lived here my whole life and have never had a problem with employment or public transport.
When I've gone to visit relatives in Sydney's Hills district (which is quite an affluent area) THAT was another world to me.
People screaming out car windows, young Arabic men making hand gestures and generally just making me uncomfortable.
I don't know how anyone could live anywhere in Sydney. It stinks, it's noisy and over populated, terrible traffic...
There's a horror story on the news every night about stabbings, shootings, terrorism..
If you can be amongst all that and then come to our little beach side town and have a whinge because there's a few bogans and you don't like their hairstyles? lol

That's crazy.
The community spirit here is like nothing you will ever find anywhere else.
Yes, we are a bit bogan - but who doesn't love an Aussie bogan? lol
There are also a lot of wealthy people who live here too, and average families with kids.
It just comes down to whether or not your a laid back person, who loves the beach, a yarn with your neighbour or your local Butcher, and whether you have your head up your solid plate gold bottom.
Umina is a laid back, beach side community and people from all walks of life live here (including bogans), but as you can see by reading the comments, we are fiercely proud and protective of our town, and we all look out for one another here.
If that doesn't make for a great place to live, I don't know what does.

Umina, Ettalong, Blackwall and Booker Bay are all fantastic areas. It is the best part of the Central Coast. Close enough to Sydney to commute and even see parts of Sydney from the beaches, and yet far enough away to be peaceful, laid back and be non pretentious. This area is growing leaps and bounds ahead of what it used to be. Fantastic cafe's are everywhere, there is good public transport, shops are getting better and there is some great food to be had. Woy Woy can be rough and unappealing, however Umina has really become the hub of the Peninsula and has a great vibe.

larao1 you do realise these posts are from about 3 years ago. I don't even personally like Umina much anymore. Get a life.

I'm getting emails that someone is responding to my posts you clown. Not to mention I made 2 posts on the entire page including saying Umina had bogans, but you've spammed the page with about 5 posts in the space of an hour. Like I said, I don't even care about Umina, things change and the place has gotten worse and worse with crime over the years. Get over yourself and realise whether people like or hate the place is up to them. I'm out!