South Umina has become the pocket buyers ask about first. It is leafy, quiet, and close enough to the sand that a morning swim becomes unremarkable. Within this pocket, two streets surface in the same conversation: Airly Road and Lace Avenue. They share the same schools, the same beach, and the same West Street cafes. Walk down each one, though, and you will notice they deliver the South Umina lifestyle quite differently.
One offers the curated confidence of a master-planned estate; the other gives you an organically evolved streetscape with a broader range of homes and price points. Here is how they compare.
The Feel of Each Street: Estate Prestige vs Organic South Umina Charm
Lace Avenue is part of the North Pearl Estate, a named residential enclave with a distinct identity. Listings use words like “prestigious” and “highly sought-after” with consistency. Built around 2000 to 2003, the estate offers brick family homes on sloping blocks, landscaped gardens, and a cohesive architectural rhythm. Lot sizes are uniform, mostly 550 to 600 m².
Airly Road takes a different approach. No estate branding, no master plan. Its 23 properties have grown organically: an original brick home from 1980 near a modern five-bedroom, and lot sizes from around 520 m² up to 873 m². The feel is leafy and peaceful, but less predictable. Some properties back onto a wetland reserve.
Lace Avenue gives you the comfort of a consistent streetscape. Airly Road gives you variety and the chance to shape your own corner of it.
What Your Budget Buys: Housing Stock and Price Points Compared
Both streets sit above the Umina Beach median of $1,250,000. From there, they diverge.
Lace Avenue occupies a higher price band. 1 Lace Avenue is estimated at $1,803,000 for six bedrooms on 600 m². 11 Lace Avenue was listed at $1,550,000 to $1,630,000, and a March 2025 sale recorded $1,291,000. The premium over comparable Airly Road properties runs roughly $200,000 to $400,000.
Airly Road’s strongest sales cluster in the $1.03 million to $1.30 million range. 10 Airly Road sold for $1,290,000 in December 2025 on 522 m², and 11 Airly Road sold for $1,300,000 in 2022 on 609 m².
Housing diversity also separates the two. Airly Road spans from a one-bedroom rental at $595 per week through to five-bedroom modern builds. Lace Avenue homes are predominantly four to six bedrooms, move-in ready, aimed at established families.
Doorstep Practicalities: Schools, Shops, the Sand, and Getting Around
Both streets are in the catchment for Umina Beach Public School and Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus. The primary school serves 606 students across 29 classes with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.8:1 and an ICSEA score of 1,010, placing it above the national baseline. The secondary campus enrols 787 students with an ICSEA of 966. Airly Road is a 10-minute walk from the primary school gates; Lace Avenue is 14 minutes. That margin of roughly 400 to 450 metres holds across every nearby school.
Beach access is generous from either street. Airly Road is about 800 metres from the sand. Lace Avenue offers a short stroll to Kiddies’ Corner, the calm swimming spot at the southern end of Umina Beach. The patrolled surf beach, surf club, and Peninsula Recreation Precinct (with its BMX track, skate park, climbing net, flying fox, playground, and futsal, tennis, and basketball courts) are shared assets both streets reach within a walk.
For daily errands, the West Street strip lands within a 10-to-15-minute walk, bringing supermarkets, medical practices, the library, and cafes like Centred Café, Ruby’s, Cafe Ronto, Cookabrew Cafe, and Six Degrees Cafe into easy reach. Margarita Daze and Don Pedros add dining variety nearby.
On transport, Airly Road holds a measurable edge. Bus routes 50, 55, and 2026 stop a few minutes’ walk from the street, with Route 50 running the Woy Woy loop roughly every 15 minutes. Lace Avenue is approximately 500 metres from the nearest bus stop. Both connect to Woy Woy Station, a 10-minute drive, with Sydney trains in about 75 minutes. For a scenic alternative, the Palm Beach ferry departs from nearby Ettalong Beach, offering a direct run across Pittwater.
How Each Street Has Performed: Growth, Demand, and the Bigger Picture
Umina Beach has delivered growth that makes Sydney buyers pay attention: a median of $1,250,000, a 6.4% compound annual growth rate over the long run, approximately 10% growth over the most recent 12 months, and roughly 45% over five years. The acceleration of remote work and the enduring coastal lifestyle draw have driven sustained demand, pulling Sydney buyers up the M1 in search of more space and a beachside routine.
Because neither street has a systematic street-level median price series, the comparison here draws on individual property transactions and the suburb-level growth story, which provides the most reliable context.
Lace Avenue’s longer-term story is visible through 17 Lace Avenue: $175,000 in 2000, $459,000 in 2003, and $1,200,000 by 2021. The North Pearl Estate brand adds an intangible premium supporting resale interest.
Airly Road’s trajectory is seen through 9 Airly Road ($850,000 in 2016, now substantially higher) and 4 Airly Road ($1,030,000 in 2021). The December 2025 sale at 10 Airly Road for $1,290,000 on 522 m² confirms strong appetite. With the suburb median nearly doubling over a decade, both streets have rewarded their owners.
Choosing Your Street: A Matter of Character, Not Compromise
Airly Road and Lace Avenue both deliver the genuine South Umina lifestyle: walking distance to the beach, strong school catchments, and a relaxed, family-oriented rhythm.
Lace Avenue suits buyers drawn to a master-planned estate with uniform, larger homes and a recognised premium address. Airly Road suits buyers who value housing diversity, a wider entry price band, closer school access, and a more individual streetscape. In a suburb where 12-month growth has pushed into double digits, both streets offer a stake in one of the Central Coast’s most resilient markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Airly Road Umina Beach like to live on?
Airly Road is a leafy South Umina street with 23 properties and an organically evolved character. The mix includes original brick homes, modern residences, and dual-occupancy arrangements, with some backing onto a wetland reserve. Quiet, family-oriented, and within walking distance of the beach, school, and shops.
How much do houses cost on Airly Road Umina Beach?
Recent sales cluster between $1.03 million and $1.30 million. 10 Airly Road sold for $1,290,000 in December 2025, and 11 Airly Road sold for $1,300,000 in 2022. Estimates reach about $1.52 million, with entry points below Lace Avenue.
How close is Airly Road to Umina Beach Public School?
A 10-minute walk. Airly Road is in the catchment for Umina Beach Public School (ICSEA 1,010, 606 students, 16.8:1 student-to-teacher ratio) and Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus (ICSEA 966, 787 students). It is roughly 400 metres closer to the primary school than Lace Avenue and consistently closer to all nearby schools.
What bus routes service Airly Road Umina Beach?
Routes 50, 55, and 2026 stop near Airly Road. Route 50 runs the Woy Woy to Umina loop roughly every 15 minutes. Route 55 connects to Gosford, and Route 2026 is a school service. Woy Woy Station is a 10-minute drive. The Palm Beach ferry from nearby Ettalong Beach offers another connection across Pittwater.
What types of homes are on Airly Road Umina Beach?
A broad mix: original brick homes from 1980, modern residences, and dual-occupancy on lots from about 520 m² to 873 m². A one-bedroom rental at $595 per week adds rental diversity. The spread suits entry-level buyers, renovators, families, and knockdown-rebuild buyers.
Is Airly Road Umina Beach a good street for families?
Yes. Zoned for Umina Beach Public School, a 10-minute walk away. Bus routes serve older children, and the Peninsula Recreation Precinct and patrolled beach are walking distance. Three-to-five-bedroom homes suit families at different stages.
What is Lace Avenue Umina Beach like to live on?
Lace Avenue is part of the North Pearl Estate, a master-planned enclave described as prestigious and family-friendly. It offers cohesive brick homes built around 2000 to 2003 on sloping blocks, with uniform lot sizes and landscaped gardens. It is a “private and peaceful location” walking distance to the beach, school, and shops.
How much do houses cost on Lace Avenue Umina Beach?
Lace Avenue sits in a $1.55 million to $1.80 million band. 1 Lace Avenue is estimated at $1,803,000, and 11 Lace Avenue was listed at $1.55 million to $1.63 million. 17 Lace Avenue shows the trajectory: $175,000 in 2000 to $1,200,000 in 2021, a $200,000 to $400,000 premium over comparable Airly Road properties.
What is Lace Avenue’s connection to the North Pearl Estate?
Lace Avenue is a core street within the North Pearl Estate, spanning Cowper Road, Lace Avenue, Tapestry Way, and surrounds. Built around 2000 to 2003, it features cohesive brick family homes on sloping blocks with established gardens. The estate brand confers a distinct identity and premium positioning.
How close is Lace Avenue to Umina Beach and amenities?
Lace Avenue is within walking distance of Umina Surf Beach, with a short stroll to Kiddies’ Corner. West Street shops, cafes, and the library are 10 to 15 minutes’ walk. Umina Beach Public School is a 14-minute walk. A bush walking trail with waterfall access is nearby. The Palm Beach ferry from Ettalong Beach is also within easy reach.
What types of homes are on Lace Avenue Umina Beach?
Large family homes of four to six bedrooms on lots of 550 to 600 m², built around 2000 to 2003 as part of the North Pearl Estate. Brick construction with uniform architecture and established gardens. Move-in-ready properties aimed at established families, within a tightly held enclave where homes rarely come to market.
Is Lace Avenue Umina Beach a good street for investment?
The North Pearl Estate brand and tightly held nature support resale interest. Umina Beach provides a strong backdrop: 6.4% compound annual growth, roughly 45% five-year dwelling growth, and approximately 10% growth over the past 12 months. Investors also benefit from a tight vacancy rate around 1.07% and median house rents of $630 to $650 per week. 17 Lace Avenue illustrates multi-decade appreciation in a market where the median has nearly doubled.