Nelson Bay flood & bushfire risk
Of Nelson Bay’s 7,387 mapped properties, 0.6% are in a mapped flood area and 17.4% are in a bushfire hazard area.
For context, Nelson Bay’s flood exposure is below the NSW average of 5%, and bushfire exposure is in line with the NSW average of 16.4%.
Where the hazards are in Nelson Bay
Flood and bushfire areas across Nelson Bay. Zoom in to see how they fall relative to individual streets.
Crime near Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay sits in the Port Stephens council area, which recorded 5,692 reported offences in the 12 months to Mar 2026.
Every reported offence by type — these add up to the 5,692 total. Figures are for the whole Port Stephens council area (which may cover several suburbs), last 12 months. Reported offences only.
Property values in Nelson Bay
Median sale price by property type, reported by postcode area — suburbs sharing a postcode show the same figure.
Indicative postcode-area estimate — NSW medians are reported by postcode, so Nelson Bay shares this figure with nearby suburbs in the same postcode. Not a valuation of any specific property. Source: NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report — sales tables (postcode).
Zoning in Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay is mostly residential. The most common zones:
Low density residential — mostly detached houses on standard suburban blocks.
Zone: Low Density Residential
Medium density residential — townhouses, terraces and low-rise units (the “missing middle”).
Zone: Medium Density Residential
Centre / commercial — shops, offices and mixed use; often allows apartments above.
Zone: Local Centre
School catchments in Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay can span more than one catchment — check a specific address (below) for the exact school.
Who lives in Nelson Bay
At the 2021 Census, 18.6% of Nelson Bay’s 6,141 residents were born overseas.
Top ancestries
Top countries of birth
Ancestry counts people reporting each ancestry (up to two each), as a share of responses. Source: ABS 2021 Census.
Development near Nelson Bay
Port Stephens council approved 622 new dwellings in the 12 months to May 2026.
New dwellings approved across the whole Port Stephens council area (not just Nelson Bay). See the council trend. Source: ABS Building Approvals.
Nearby suburbs
Figures are indicative only — verify any specific property with the relevant council. Sources: council/state planning schemes & flood mapping, Geoscape G-NAF, state police crime statistics, ABS.