St Huberts Island is one of the Central Coast’s most distinctive waterfront suburbs: an entirely residential canal estate of around 564 properties where getting around by boat is just as practical as by car. Within this tight-knit community, Cuttlefish Parade and Long Arm Parade stand out as two of the island’s most desirable addresses, yet they offer fundamentally different takes on waterfront living.
Both streets share the same island lifestyle, school catchments, and a five-minute drive to Ettalong Beach and Woy Woy. The differences in waterfront orientation, price profile, and streetscape are what matter when you’re choosing between them.
Waterfront Living: Sheltered Canal vs Open-Water Panorama
Cuttlefish Parade is best known for its canal living. Positioned on one of St Huberts Island’s widest and most private canals, its north-facing orientation delivers all-day natural light to waterfront living areas and balconies. The sheltered, calm waters are ideal for paddleboarding, swimming off private sandy beaches, and family boating. Homes face each other across the wide waterway, creating a resort-style, neighbourly atmosphere. One listing describes it as a “coveted north easterly aspect at the entrance to a sheltered island inlet with crystal clear waters and an amazing white sandy beach.” It is worth noting the street is not exclusively canal-fronting: 15 Cuttlefish Parade faces Brisbane Water directly, with a sandy beach, jetty, and slipway, giving buyers a choice of waterfront types on the same street.
For canal-based boating, vessels are limited to a maximum of 10 metres or the property’s waterfrontage, whichever is less, and the St Huberts Island Bridge has a clearance of 9.75 metres above mean high water. These are practical considerations for buyers with larger craft.
Long Arm Parade delivers the prized “outside” waterfront position facing Brisbane Water: wide, open panoramas with an exceptional sense of privacy and space. There are no canal bridge clearance constraints: boats launch directly into Brisbane Water and Broken Bay, via the Rip Bridge (17.4 metres centre clearance). Waterfront frontages are generous: 21 Long Arm Parade features a 24-metre shoreline.
Cuttlefish Parade suits buyers wanting calm, swimmable water and all-day sun with the option of Brisbane Water beachfront on select properties. Long Arm Parade appeals to those prioritising unrestricted boating and sweeping open-water panoramas.
Property Market and Value
Cuttlefish Parade has a street median of $2,895,000 (July 2026), well above the suburb median of $1.95 million. Recent sales span 14 Cuttlefish at $2.18 million (2024), 3 Cuttlefish Parade (2025, 4 bed, 2 bath, 854 m²), 34 Cuttlefish at $2.5 million (2024), and 26 Cuttlefish at $2.7 million (2021), with upper-end estimates around $3.84 million at 31 Cuttlefish. The 12-month sale sits at $2.55 million (3 bed). Current listings include 26 Cuttlefish Parade via McGrath and 15 Cuttlefish Parade (a five-bedroom waterfront with jetty and slipway). With 35 houses and a 90% owner-occupier rate, the mix of original and renovated homes creates genuine renovation upside: buyers can enter at a base level and add value through renewal, as multiple active council DAs confirm.
Long Arm Parade has no published street median, but the numbers tell a clear story. The $6 million sale at 21 Long Arm Parade in October 2024 (an architectural masterpiece by ASI Vallack) is the island’s high-water mark. 11 Long Arm Parade sold for $2,010,000 in 2020 (4 bed, 3 bath, 682 m²). Most estimates cluster between $2.7 million and $4.2 million, with the entry point at 1 Long Arm Parade around $1.54 million. Only 26 houses, with a 95% owner-occupier rate (the island’s highest), make it the most tightly held street on St Huberts Island.
Cuttlefish Parade offers more transaction opportunities, a broader mix of home styles, and renovation upside. Long Arm Parade is the prestige play with a proven $6 million ceiling and genuine scarcity.
Streetscape and Character
Cuttlefish Parade’s canal-enclosed streetscape has homes facing each other across the wide waterway, fostering an intimate neighbourhood feel. 34 Cuttlefish Parade occupies a prominent point position with expansive water frontage, a distinctive streetscape feature. The architectural mix ranges from original 1980s brick-and-tile homes, described as “rock solid” waterfront oases, to stylishly renovated residences with scope to personalise further. Block sizes range from 651 m² to 854 m². Active investment is visible: council approvals include a new dwelling with pool at 23 Cuttlefish Parade (DA/307/2024).
Long Arm Parade’s outside-facing position creates a more open, expansive feel. Its standout feature is underground power (a $5 million Ausgrid upgrade), meaning no overhead wires interrupt the views, explicitly cited by agents as a selling point. The style range spans modest single-level homes to the architectural ambition of 21 Long Arm Parade, with spacious double brick construction. Block sizes reach up to 965 m² at 14 Long Arm Parade. A park at the street’s end features a First Fleet landing obelisk, adding unique heritage character.
Lifestyle, Amenities, and Community
The island is entirely residential; a five-minute drive reaches Ettalong Beach, Umina, and Woy Woy for cafés, restaurants, and the cinema. Eight parks cover nearly a quarter of the island, and leisurely walks and bike rides are a local favourite. Named bays and inlets (Crescent Cove, Marina Cove, Nannygai Inlet, Sandy Cove) and nearby bushland reserves at Daleys Point and Blackwall enrich the recreational backdrop.
On Cuttlefish Parade, the sheltered canal makes the water accessible for casual everyday use: paddleboarding, swimming, and family boating. The north-facing orientation means outdoor areas enjoy sun all day. 12 Cuttlefish Parade operates as a holiday rental, underscoring its resort-style appeal. Empire Bay Public School is a 16-minute walk, with Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus a 10-minute drive away.
On Long Arm Parade, residents launch directly into Brisbane Water without canal constraints, a genuine advantage for larger boats. Private slipways and sandy beach frontages are standard, and homes like 4 Long Arm Parade offer “steps from your back door to the water”. The street-end reserve with the First Fleet obelisk adds a daily touch of Australian heritage to neighbourhood walks. Heated pools and expansive entertaining terraces (as at 21 Long Arm Parade) reflect the prestige lifestyle. Empire Bay Public School is a 13-minute walk, and Coast Christian School in Bensville is an 11-minute drive. Kincumber High School (ICSEA 1,045, the highest-ICSEA secondary in the area) is a 14-minute drive.
Both streets rely on the single bridge at Daleys Point. Woy Woy station and the Ettalong Wharf ferry to Palm Beach are a short drive away. A car is essential, and for most residents, so is a boat.
Bringing It Together
Cuttlefish Parade delivers sheltered, north-facing canal living with all-day sun, calm waters, and genuine renovation potential, ideal for buyers who picture themselves paddleboarding in still water on a sunny afternoon. Long Arm Parade offers open-water grandeur, Brisbane Water panoramas, and the prestige of underground power: the island’s most tightly held address, for buyers who want to drop the boat in and head straight for Broken Bay. Both share exceptional capital growth and Central Coast access. The right choice depends on the waterfront experience you want to come home to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cuttlefish Parade St Huberts Island like to live on?
Sheltered canal living on one of the island’s widest waterways, with a north-facing orientation delivering all-day sun. The calm waters suit swimming, paddleboarding, and small-craft boating. Homes face each other across the canal, creating a resort-style feel. A few properties (like 15 Cuttlefish Parade) face Brisbane Water directly, adding waterfront variety to the street. With 35 houses and a 90% owner-occupier rate, the street has a settled community backed by ongoing homeowner investment.
How much does a property on Cuttlefish Parade cost?
The street median is $2,895,000. Recent sales span $2.18 million to $2.7 million, with upper estimates near $3.84 million. 3 Cuttlefish Parade sold in 2025 (4 bed, 2 bath, 854 m²), and the 12-month sale sits at $2.55 million. Current listings include 15 Cuttlefish Parade (a five-bedroom waterfront with jetty and slipway) and 26 Cuttlefish Parade via McGrath.
What kind of waterfront does Cuttlefish Parade offer?
Primarily deepwater canal frontage on one of St Huberts Island’s widest and most private canals. Sheltered, calm waters ideal for swimming and paddleboarding, with private sandy beaches and jetties standard. The north-facing orientation means all-day sun on waterfront living areas. Select properties like 15 Cuttlefish Parade face Brisbane Water directly with beachfront, jetty, and slipway. For canal boating, vessels are limited to 10 metres or the property’s waterfrontage, and the island bridge has a clearance of 9.75 metres.
What are Cuttlefish Parade property sizes and types like?
Block sizes range from 651 m² to 854 m². Homes are predominantly two-storey brick and tile with wide balconies facing the water, spanning original 1980s builds, described as “rock solid” waterfront homes, to stylishly renovated residences. 34 Cuttlefish Parade occupies a prominent point position with expansive water frontage. Typical: four to five bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, double parking, private jetty and slipway.
What is the investment potential of Cuttlefish Parade?
15 Cuttlefish Parade sold for $450,000 in 1994 and is now a listed five-bedroom waterfront, illustrating decades of capital growth. The mix of original and renovated homes creates renovation upside, and active council DAs (including a new dwelling and pool at 23 Cuttlefish Parade, DA/307/2024) signal ongoing investment. Suburb-wide compound growth of 6.8% per year and five-year gains of 19.72% support the long-term story.
How does Cuttlefish Parade compare to other streets on St Huberts Island?
Its $2.895 million median sits well above the suburb-wide $1.95 million. It offers the island’s widest and most private canal with north-facing orientation unavailable on outside-facing streets. Compared with Long Arm Parade, it provides more homes (35 vs 26), a broader mix of original and renovated properties, and stronger renovation upside. The holiday rental at 12 Cuttlefish Parade highlights its lifestyle appeal.
What is Long Arm Parade St Huberts Island like to live on?
A premium outside-facing waterfront street with sweeping Brisbane Water panoramas and an exceptional sense of privacy and space. 26 houses, 95% owner-occupier rate (the island’s highest). Underground power from a $5 million Ausgrid upgrade means uninterrupted views. A First Fleet obelisk at the street-end reserve adds heritage character.
How much does a property on Long Arm Parade cost?
The record is 21 Long Arm Parade at $6 million (October 2024). 11 Long Arm Parade sold for $2,010,000 in 2020 (4 bed, 3 bath, 682 m²). Most estimates cluster between $2.7 million and $4.2 million, with the entry at 1 Long Arm Parade around $1.54 million. With 26 homes and 95% owner-occupation, properties rarely come to market.
What kind of waterfront does Long Arm Parade offer?
A prized outside waterfront position on Brisbane Water with wide, open panoramas. No canal bridge constraints: boats launch directly into Brisbane Water and Broken Bay via the Rip Bridge (17.4 metres centre clearance). Private slipways and sandy beach frontages are standard, with 21 Long Arm Parade featuring a 24-metre waterfront frontage.
Why is Long Arm Parade considered one of St Huberts Island’s best streets?
Three factors: underground power from a $5 million Ausgrid upgrade, meaning uninterrupted views cited by agents as a selling point; the highest owner-occupier rate (95%) and lowest rental share (5%) on the island; and the $6 million record at 21 Long Arm Parade, demonstrating the street’s prestige ceiling.
What is the investment potential of Long Arm Parade?
21 Long Arm Parade sold for $6 million in 2024 after being purchased for $2.38 million in 2020, demonstrating strong upper-tier appreciation. The 95% owner-occupier rate and only 26 houses create genuine scarcity. Underground power is a permanent, non-replicable streetscape premium. Suburb-wide compound growth of 6.8% per year underpins long-term value.
What are Long Arm Parade property sizes and types like?
Block sizes range from 639 m² to 965 m² (the largest at 14 Long Arm Parade, currently for sale). The architectural range spans modest three-bedroom homes to the ASI Vallack-designed masterpiece at 21 Long Arm Parade (5 bed, 6 bath, 892 m², heated pool). Spacious double brick construction is a noted feature. Typical premium configurations: four to five bedrooms, three-plus bathrooms, private slipway.