Moving to the Sutherland Shire with your family? Picking the best neighbourhood for your kids’ needs as well as your own is a big decision – and we’re here to help.
Here’s what you need to know about local schools in the Shire, plus things to do on the weekend.
For local schools
Primary Schools
If you have young kids, you can live pretty much anywhere in the Sutherlands Shire and be confident your child will receive access to high-quality education. There are primary schools dotted about the entire area, so you’re never more than a few minutes from the nearest.
Specialty Schools
For children with special needs, look at Minerva School in Sutherland. Catering to both primary and secondary school children, Minerva is well resourced to provide individualised education based on a child’s unique needs, and comes equipped with a sensory therapy room, industrial arts and food tech facility, and a school band.
High Schools
All totalled there are around 10 high schools in the Sutherlands Shire so, as with primary schools, you’re never that far from the nearest.
The Caringbah/Woolooware/Burraneer area is one of the top spots for parents of teens, with access to either Endeavour Sports High School or Woolooware High School. Caringbah High School, a fully selective institute for particularly gifted children, is also here.
If you live in Oyster Bay and Como, Jannali, or Sutherland/Woronora, you can access The Jannali High School – a well-liked school with a large intake area.
Of course, you might be hoping to balance the needs of your children with the needs of your family to be near the beach. While the entire Shire is never more than 10-15 mins from the beach, it’s right on the doorstep of anyone living in Cronulla – sitting in the intake area of Cronulla High School.
If you find yourself over the water, more like Bundeena, you’ll have access to the same school.
Things do get a little sparser as you head towards the edges of the Shire, but there are still high schools available for everyone living out towards Bangor, Barden Ridge or down towards Heathcote – they just spread out a bit more.
Quick tips when picking schools in the Shire
When buying in the Shire, you have access to your choice of local schools. These are some things to think about to figure out where is best for your family:
- Try to understand your child’s personal strengths, as well as their interests and goals. This may affect which school they’ll enjoy the most (based on the opportunities it presents).
- Check school routes, to make sure a school fits your practical needs.
- Make a list of school and class sizes, as well as scholarship opportunities, extra-curriculars, support programmes and anything else which seems relevant to your child.
- Determine if you want to go public or private, comprehensive or selective. This affects where you can live, what it will cost and what your child has to do to be accepted.
For weekend activities with the kids
Alright, with all the local schools stuff out of the way it’s time to look at the other side of the coin – what you’ll be up to on the weekend. These are some of the more popular hotspots around the area:
1. Cronulla Beach, Cronulla
Cronulla Beach is the golden heart of Cronulla, with a mix of long stretches of sand, fascinating rock pools and coastal walking opportunities. If you’re looking to head outdoors in the Shire, this is one of the go-to spots that locals love.
There are lots of smaller beaches tacked onto Cronulla, too, so it stretches all the way around Bate Bay – plenty of space for you, the family and the dog.
You’ll also find an array of parks by the waters edge that have great playground facilities and green spaces to enjoy a picnic or just relax in the sunshine!
2. Kurnell Peninsula – Cronulla, Kurnell
Glance at a map and you’ll see there’s a ton of green space out east past Cronulla. This is Kurnell Peninsula, a bit of a natural playground with a few things to see and do.
- Cronulla Sand Dunes: While not as big as they once were, the Cronulla Sand Dunes still make for an awesome walk and exercise opportunity. A 5km loop track starts at Don Lucas Reserve, and walkers reckon it takes just over an hour to complete. Fun fact – part of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome was shot here, and the crew returned for Furiosa too!
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park: Way out at the edge of the peninsula is Kamay Botany Bay National Park, a place with significant heritage. Captain Cook’s landing site is here, and you’ll also find the Cape Baily Lighthouse, Aboriginal history and walks galore. If you’re very lucky, you might spot a whale or two at Cape Solander.
- Kurnell: The actual township area of Kurnell is a pleasant place to swim and sunbathe, and you can walk your dog along Kurnell Dog Beach. With lots of cafes in the area too, it makes for a lovely day out.
3. Westfield Miranda – Miranda, Gymea
Need a big shopping fix? Westfield Miranda is your local mall – with all the fashion, entertainment, necessities and food shopping you’d need in one place.
4. Shire Farmers Market – Sutherland
The Shire Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 8am through to 1pm in Sutherland, the only dedicated food market in the Shire. Fill your home with freshly grown local produce, or just come to gorge on treats until you can’t walk anymore.
5. Other parks and gardens
You’re never short on walking or picnic spots in the Shire, with plenty of green spaces dotted about the area. Some of the additional highlights include:
- Como Pleasure Grounds – Como: A popular park for kids and families, surrounded by bush and walking/cycling tracks.
- EG Waterhouse Camellia Gardens – Caringbah South: There are only sixty recognised Camellia Gardens of Excellence in the world, and this is one of them. Come to play, walk, picnic or just relax.
- Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve – Kirrawee: This reserve is devoted to native plants, one of the few gardens of its type in Sydney. There are 4 km of paths to explore across 2.2 hectares of themed gardens.
- Royal National Park: Nasho is the world’s second-oldest national park, and it’s right on the Shire’s doorstep. At 16,000 hectares, there’s plenty of space – whether you’re into bushwalks, cycling, surfing or animal-spotting. A visit to the Figure 8 pools is a must!
Need help choosing where to live?
Picking a suburb is a big decision, made a lot easier by talking to a local.
We’re the Sutherland Shire’s experts when it comes to property, being locals ourselves. We’ll help you figure out what’s best for you and your family and find you the perfect home. Contact us, or pop in to see us at our offices in Cronulla or Jannali.
Start your search early:Properties for sale in Sutherland Shire