St Huberts Island is one of the Central Coast’s most tightly held waterfront enclaves: 564 homes, a single causeway, and a median house price around $1.95 million. Many buyers end up comparing two streets at opposite ends of the price spectrum: Cuttlefish Parade on the deep-water perimeter and Discovery Street on the sheltered interior.
The Price of Waterfront Living
Cuttlefish Parade’s median sits around $2.75 million to $2.90 million. Discovery Street’s median is roughly $1.44 million. That is a gap of $1.3 million to $1.5 million, or about 90 to 100 percent. It is not driven by land size: Cuttlefish Parade lots run 650 to 740 square metres, Discovery Street 685 to 703. The premium is almost entirely about direct water frontage.
Cuttlefish Parade sales confirm its position at the top of the island’s market. Number 29 sold for $4.25 million in April 2022. Number 3 went at $2.55 million in March 2025. Number 34 sold for $2.5 million in October 2024, and number 14 for $2.18 million the same year.
Discovery Street operates at roughly half the price point. Number 16 sold in April 2026 for $1.78 million (it was $810,000 in 2020, $550,000 in 2014, $237,000 in 1998). Number 12 went for $1.4 million, and number 11 sold for $1.36 million in March 2022, later listed at $1.85 million.
The suburb’s market data shows consistent performance across both tiers: compound growth around 6.8 percent a year, five-year median uplift of 19.7 to 23.5 percent, average gain of $122,383 for each year held. Discovery Street is the accessible entry point. Cuttlefish Parade is the top shelf.
Two Different Lifestyles on the One Island
Cuttlefish Parade is built around the water. Every property fronts deep water with a private jetty, slipway, and sandy beach. A listing for number 15 called it a “waterfront property with sandy beach, uninterrupted views, jetty and slipway” providing “everything needed for the ultimate watercraft lifestyle.” Number 26 was described as “north facing resort style waterfront luxury” with a jetty, boat ramp, and pool. Homes are multi-level executive designs capturing water views from every floor.
Discovery Street is about the home. Properties are predominantly single-level, light-filled, organised around swimming pools, landscaped gardens, and outdoor entertaining. Number 16 was marketed as “a resort-style home with swimming pool ideal for families seeking idyllic island life,” with a pool house, office pod, soundproof studio, BBQ kitchen, and fire pit. Number 11 “offers the lifestyle families dream of” as “resort style family or retirement living.”
The water access is the biggest difference. On Cuttlefish Parade, you step from your yard onto your own beach. On Discovery Street, it is a short stroll to the shared waterfront and boat ramp. Both streets give residents access to the island’s own kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing in the canals, and quiet streets for walking and cycling.
Both streets share the same broader catchment. The island itself has no shops or cafés, so all errands require a short drive to the mainland. Ettalong Beach village is a five-minute drive for markets, cafes, the Diggers Club, and the cinema. Umina Beach is the same distance for surf. Woy Woy handles shopping, the train station, and services. Erina Fair is the major regional shopping centre a little further south. Brisbane Water National Park is on the doorstep.
Streetscape and Character
Cuttlefish Parade has been called a “dress circle cul-de-sac surrounded by some of the Island’s best homes”. It is a sweep of water-fronting facades, boats moored at jetties, and wide Brisbane Water views. Architecture spans original 1980s residences through to modern luxury renovations and multi-level executive designs.
Discovery Street is quieter. Listings call it a “quiet street,” a “peaceful cul-de-sac.” It sits on the interior eastern side near Long Arm Parade, tree-lined with enclosed gardens. Architecture leans toward single-level resort homes with open-plan living flowing to pools and gardens.
The feel: Cuttlefish Parade is about the panorama, boats bobbing at jetties and water glittering across the inlet. Discovery Street is about the cocoon, leafy and private, with homes designed around their own resort amenities.
What the Two Streets Share
Both streets fall into identical government catchments. Empire Bay Public School (ICSEA 1,039, 426 students) handles primary and Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus (ICSEA 966, 787 students) covers secondary. No schools sit on St Huberts Island itself, so all students travel off-island for class. Cuttlefish Parade is a 16-minute walk to primary; Discovery Street is a six-minute drive. Private options nearby include Green Point Christian College, Coast Christian School, and St John the Baptist Catholic Primary.
Neither street has a public transport stop within 1,500 metres. Both rely on the same Busways routes and Woy Woy station. The single causeway at Daleys Point is the only way on and off the island. A car is a necessity. Discovery Street’s interior position puts it marginally closer to the bridge exit than perimeter streets, but the difference is narrow.
The island-wide demographic profile applies to both. The median age is 58, median household income is $1,605 per week, occupations are predominantly professional, and owner-occupancy runs at 87.3 percent. Cuttlefish Parade pushes that to 90 percent across 35 properties. Discovery Street sits at 85 percent across 19 homes. Neither street is dominated by holiday rentals or investor turnover.
Who Each Street Suits
Cuttlefish Parade buyers tend to be boating enthusiasts, luxury downsizers, and those for whom private water access is non-negotiable. The price selects for people who value the jetty and beach as much as the house.
Discovery Street attracts families, professionals seeking an island retreat, and retirees who value single-level living. It delivers the same postcode, catchments, and island character at half the cost.
The choice is not about better or worse. It is about which version of island weekends suits you: water at your toes or a pool in your backyard, panorama or privacy, boating or barbecuing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cuttlefish Parade’s median property price?
Cuttlefish Parade’s median sits at approximately $2.75 million to $2.90 million, making it the island’s most expensive street. Recent sales include 29 Cuttlefish Parade at $4.25 million, 3 Cuttlefish Parade at $2.55 million, and 34 Cuttlefish Parade at $2.5 million.
What waterfront features do Cuttlefish Parade properties offer?
Every property fronts deep water with a private jetty, slipway, and sandy beach. Listings describe “crystal clear waters,” “amazing white sandy beaches,” and “everything needed for the ultimate watercraft lifestyle.” North-facing positions are prized for natural light and panoramic water views.
How does Cuttlefish Parade compare to other St Huberts Island streets?
Described as a “dress circle cul-de-sac surrounded by some of the Island’s best homes”, Cuttlefish Parade sits atop the island’s price hierarchy, ahead of Helmsman Boulevard, Heron Place, Beachfront Parade, and Discovery Street.
What is the owner-occupier rate on Cuttlefish Parade?
Cuttlefish Parade has a 90 percent owner-occupier rate across 35 properties, with 10 percent rented. One property, 12 Cuttlefish Parade, operates as a holiday rental with its own private jetty, reflecting the street’s waterfront appeal. The high owner-occupancy reflects the street’s character as a long-term residential holding.
How close is Cuttlefish Parade to Ettalong Beach and shops?
The island itself has no shops or cafés, so all errands require a mainland drive. It is a five-minute drive to Ettalong Beach village for markets, cafes, the Diggers Club, and the cinema. Umina Beach surf is also about five minutes away. Erina Fair, the major regional shopping centre, is a longer drive south.
What schools are in Cuttlefish Parade’s catchment zone?
The primary catchment is Empire Bay Public School (ICSEA 1,039, 426 students), a 16-minute walk away. The secondary catchment is Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus (ICSEA 966, 787 students), a 10-minute drive. No schools sit on the island itself. Private options nearby include Coast Christian School, Green Point Christian College, and St John the Baptist Catholic Primary.
What is Discovery Street’s median property price?
Discovery Street’s median is approximately $1.44 million. Recent sales include 16 Discovery Street at $1.78 million, 12 Discovery Street at $1.4 million, and 11 Discovery Street at $1.36 million, placing it well below the suburb median of roughly $1.95 million.
Is Discovery Street a good entry point for St Huberts Island?
Yes. At $1.44 million, Discovery Street offers the island postcode at roughly half the cost of Cuttlefish Parade, with the same school catchments, amenity access, and island character.
How has Discovery Street property growth tracked over time?
The clearest example is 16 Discovery Street: from $237,000 in 1998 to $1.78 million in April 2026, roughly 650 percent growth. 11 Discovery Street sold for $1.36 million in March 2022 and was listed at $1.85 million in July 2026, consistent with suburb compound growth around 6.8 percent annually.
What lifestyle does Discovery Street offer families?
Discovery Street homes are predominantly single-level resort-style properties centred on pools, landscaped gardens, and outdoor entertaining. Listings describe it as “ideal for families seeking idyllic island life,” with water access a short stroll to the shared waterfront and boat ramp.
How close is Discovery Street to the St Huberts Island bridge?
Its interior position places it marginally closer to the Daleys Point bridge than perimeter streets. Ettalong Beach village is a five-minute drive. Woy Woy station and shopping are 10 to 15 minutes by car or bus.
What types of homes are on Discovery Street?
Discovery Street has 19 houses, 85 percent owner-occupied. Homes are predominantly single-level, open-plan designs with pools, landscaped gardens, and outdoor entertaining on lots of 685 to 703 square metres. Interiors feature stone benchtops, plantation shutters, and ducted air conditioning.
Choosing Your Version of Island Living
Cuttlefish Parade offers private waterfront at a premium. Discovery Street offers resort-style family living at an accessible entry point. Both sit within a supply-constrained market that has delivered consistent capital growth, and the St Huberts Island postcode carries enduring appeal either way. The question is not which street is better. It is which version of island life feels like yours.