Awaba

Back in the day the papers treated Awaba like the kind of place you drive through on your way to something shinier — and honestly, we like it that way. As Broadsheet noted, Awaba Bay is one of those serene spots where we stretch our legs in the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area and pretend the city is a distant, noisy memory. Our morning looks like this: coffee thermos in the boot, the 6.6-kilometre track from Marmong Point to Bolton Point underfoot, and water views that make us forget to check our phones.

For a lazy weekend we shove the kayak in and aim for Naru Beach — Urban List reminds us this is Awabakal Country and yes, you can paddle from sandbank to sandbank. The best bit? It’s dog-friendly, so the mutt gets to boss the shoreline while we admire the tide.

There isn’t much local tabloid drama in the files we’ve got — no heated council rows or scandalous restaurant openings to gossip about — and honestly, that’s part of our charm. If you need streetlights like Times Square and a constant stream of curated brunches, this is not your vibe. You’ll hate the quiet, the easy pace and the way the lake makes you reconsider weekend plans.

But if you love paddling, dog walks that end in water, and bushwalks where the scenery actually outclasses your Instagram caption, we’ve got your kind of suburb. We’ll keep it humble, keep it watery, and keep it ours.