Narangba QLD: Escape the Rat Race for A Simpler Lifestyle

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Written By Natalie Turner

Narangba QLD is the epitome of suburban tranquility, offering spacious homes, excellent schools, and plenty of green spaces. It’s perfect for families who dream of a quieter lifestyle away from city noise without sacrificing the convenience of nearby facilities and services.

If you feel overwhelmed by your bustling neighbourhood, this peaceful hamlet can help restore balance in your world. We love that Narangba is not too far from Brisbane but far enough, that we can unwind in a nice leafy and relaxed suburb. It has a small-town vibe that feels like a warm, reassuring hug as you exit the Bruce Highway into 4504. We really couldn’t think of a better place to raise our kids. Let’s look at what makes Narangba a perfect base for families and what it is likely to cost to get you settled in our community.

Narangba at a glance

It is believed the name Narangba may have originated from an Aboriginal word meaning “small place” or “small ridge”. Narangba’s quaint, rural origins are swiftly disappearing as residential interest in the area continues to grow. Thankfully, due to a Development Control Plan in place by the City of Moreton Bay Council, investment is being made in local infrastructure to support the growth. It is an exciting time to live in Narangba with new families moving into the community bringing new ideas to the area.

  • Local Government: City of Moreton Bay.
  • Population: 22,467 people (2021, ABS).
  • Location: South of Caboolture and North of Petrie.
  • Transport: The Bruce Highway and North Coast Railway Line.
  • History: Originally inhabited by the Yuggera people.
  • Shopping: Narangba Valley Shopping Centre, Morayfield Shopping Centre, Westfield North Lakes, IKEA, Costco, and Peninsula Fair.
  • Narangba Real Estate (renting and buying): Options to suit all budgets.

Why you should move to Narangba

There are so many positives for your family if you make the move to the 4504-postcode including affordable property prices and an abundance of acreage properties perfect for raising kids in the great outdoors. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, families make up 69% of our community followed by couples without children at 30%. Here’s why Narangba is a fantastic spot to raise kids:

  • Outdoor lifestyle: There are many exceptional tracks and parks in the area. We’re an active community so you will often find us out walking, running, or riding with our kids. When our friends come to visit, they always say how lucky we are. Plus, it’s only 20 minutes to the beach at Redcliffe or 30 minutes to the surf on the other side of Bribie.
  • Close to shops: It is easy to get your shop on with Morayfield Shopping Centre, Westfield North Lakes and Peninsula Fair close by. Plus, Costco and IKEA are only 15 minutes away.
  • Transport: The commute to Brisbane is reduced due to the express train service. Narangba’s location makes Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast highly accessible via the Bruce Highway.
  • Café scene: If a quality cup of coffee is high on your priority list, you are in luck. We have some great café’s including The Hideout and Valley Coffee.
  • Peaceful: You may be surprised to learn that Narangba is a very quiet suburb with minimal traffic. It’s the perfect spot to switch off after a chaotic week at work.
  • Friendly community: Our neighbours go out of their way to help and are always up for a yarn and a laugh. Street parties and BBQs are common.

Where to shop in and near Narangba

Your biggest challenge when hitting the shops in Narangba will be deciding which centre to visit. Let’s take a lot at your options:

Narangba Valley Shopping Centre

This will be your one stop shop for groceries and essentials with a Woolworths, Red Rooster, Brumby’s, doctors service, and Stella Rossa cafe. Plus, the Narangba post office is at this location.

  • Where: 212 Young Rd, Narangba QLD 4504, Australia

Morayfield Shopping Centre

Morayfield Shopping Centre is around a 17-minute drive along Oakey Flat Road from Narangba. Within the Centre, you will find all the big name stores including Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Target, and Big W spread across one level. The Morayfield Cinemas are very popular with local families and there are over 150 specialty stores for specific purchases.

Westfield North Lakes

From Narangba, it’s about a 17-minute drive to Westfield North Lakes. Major retailers include department stores like Myer and Target, and popular supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi. We love exploring stores like H&M, Zara, Cotton On, and Country Road without having the hassle of heading into Brisbane.

  • Where: Cnr Anzac Ave & North Lakes Dr, North Lakes QLD 4509

Peninsula Fair Shopping Centre

Located 26 minutes from Narangba QLD, Peninsula Fair offers a diverse selection of stores, including major retailers like Kmart and Woolworths, specialty shops, fashion boutiques, and dining options. Keep an eye on their free school holiday activities too!

  • Where: 272 Anzac Ave, Kippa Ring, QLD, 4021

Costco North Lakes

If you have a family of big eaters or love to entertain, Costco North Lakes will be your new haunt. It gets busy, so come ready to line up and to buy things you probably don’t really need. We enjoy trying the free samples and grabbing a cheap slice of pizza on the way out.

  • Where: 17-39 Cook Court North Lakes QLD 4509

IKEA North Lakes

If you are wanting to upgrade your furniture after you move to Narangba, you can make it happen at IKEA North Lakes. There is also the bonus of a cheap and easy meal for the kids that you didn’t have to cook!

  • Where: 3 North Lakes Drive, North Lakes, QLD 4509

Taste your way around Narangba’s best eats

From tasty pub meals to coffee better than you’ll find in the city, Narangba has it all. Here are some of our favourite spots:

Narangba Valley Tavern

Narangba Valley Tavern is a great spot to take the family for a bite to eat. It has a 250-seat restaurant, a fun kid’s space with outdoor playground and more. It can be a bit pricey, so make sure you check out the specials.

  • Where: 37-47 Golden Wattle Dr, Narangba QLD 4504

Narangba Fish and Chippery

If you are looking for Narangba fish and chips you won’t do better than the Narangba Fish and Chippery. The calamari are incredible, the apple fritters are the bomb, and the works burgers has us drooling just thinking about it!

  • Where: 12/32-34 Main St, Narangba QLD 4504

Valley Coffee

This is where we go when we’re after amazing coffee and delicious baked goods. Valley Coffee is a family friendly coffee shop run by locals. The service is quick which is a blessing when you’re in a rush.

  • Where: Unit 9/212 Young Rd, Narangba QLD 4504

The Hideout

For an extra special dining experience, you can’t go past the seasonal menu at The Hideout. This café is not only a joy to eat at, but the setting is cozy and inviting with fairy lights strung along the ceiling to add to the rustic, boho aesthetic. The barista is a magician, whipping up perfectly balanced coffee. We could go on and on. Make sure you pop in to see what all the fuss is about!

  • Where: 22 Main Street, Narangba, Narangba, QLD

Other services in the area worth noting include the Narangba Valley doctors based out of the  Narangba Valley Medical Centre. Here you will be treated by regular, full time doctors who care about your family. The last thing you want to be doing is searching for ‘doctor Narangba’ in a panic when you or are loved one are unwell. On that note, our preferred Narangba chemist is the Star Discount Chemist.

If you find yourself in need of a Narangba dentist, the team at Narangba Dental are local and are well respected in our community.

Making the move with pets? You will need to find a Narangba vet. The team at Narangba Veterinary Clinic have come to our rescue many times and are our pick.

Lastly, moving house usually means a clean out! The closest thing to a Narangba tip is the Dakabin Waste Management Facility, around a 10 minute drive.

Find your dream home in Narangba

Narangba QLD offers amazing diversity in property. You get to choose from the pristine residential estates of Norfolk Lakes and Forest Ridge or sprawling semi-rural acreage. 95% of residents in Narangba live in separate houses with only a sprinkling of townhouses. Most of the homes are a family friendly 4+ bedrooms making it a great suburb for your family to move into.

Narangba house prices are on the rise which is great for us local homeowners but challenging for families wanting to move to the area. The increased interest in Narangba QLD has seen the median property prices over the last year increase by 6.9% to $775,000 for houses and $439,000 for units. When it comes to houses for sale, Narangba quickly attracts buyers. Most properties do not stay on the market for long, averaging only 36 days in total.

Narangba rentals have continued to increase in demand too. If you are looking for an investment property, consider houses in Narangba rent out for $600 per week and units rent for $442 per week.

The best Narangba real estate agents to help you find your dream home are Ray White Narangba. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Narelle and the team. They handle the current rentals Narangba has on offer in addition to selling new homes. If you are on the hunt for houses for rent, Narangba has plenty to choose from.

Need some help on where to buy in Narangba QLD? If you are looking for specific sites to move into, we have friends that live in Narangba Heights Estate, and they absolutely love it! They are always mentioning that it has a wonderful sense of community. The estate is close to schools and the local shops.

The Narangba Valley area is another popular choice for families. It is safe and secure. You can walk around the many paths and tracks even at night. The kids have a great time hanging out with their friends on holidays, and there are plenty of parks and tracks to keep them entertained.

If you find the perfect home but it needs some renovations, be sure to visit the team at Narangba Timbers. They have a wide collection of timber and hardware. From decking to fencing, cladding and structural timber, they’ve got you covered for timber supplies.

Working opportunities for residents of Narangba

Our close proximity to the city, means we can seek employment both in our local area and in Brisbane. 56% of people that live in Narangba are employed full time and 29.5% are working part time. Our community are mainly employed as professionals, tradies, and administrative assistants. We tend to work in hospitals, takeaway food services, supermarkets, and education. At times, these jobs are in Narangba or we may commute to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast. Additionally, some of our community work remotely from home.

Education

The schools in our area are excellent and perform well. Our children can’t wait to get to school, and we feel that this is the most important measure. Each year we watch our local students expand their knowledge and skills under the careful guidance of our wonderful teachers. Here is some of the amazing schools in or near to Narangba:

  • Narangba State School: Prep – Year 6.
  • Jinibara State School: Prep – Year 6.
  • Narangba Valley State School: Prep – Year 6.
  • Narangba Valley State High School: Years 7 – 12.
  • Burpengary State Secondary College: Years 7 – 12.

And if you’re leaning towards private education, there’s:

  • Carmichael College: Prep – Year 10.
  • St Eugene College: Prep – Year 12.
  • Arethusa College: Years 7 – 12.

For local higher education options, students can access the nearby University of Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay campus. The campus currently has more than 4,700 students studying across 90 programs and is projected to grow to 10,000 enrolments by 2035. Another option to explore, many Narangba locals choose to commute into the city to attend QUT or the University of Queensland.

If you are looking to buy a home in the area, check the catchment area of that house for the local schools.

Narangba Weather

When it comes to the weather, Narangba usually enjoys summers that are warm, muggy, and wet. Comparatively, our winters are thankfully short. Throughout the year, the temperature typically varies from a low of 9°C up to 29°C. Our favourite time of the year in Narangba is from September to April as the consistently warm weather is perfect for trips to the local beaches.

Getting to and from Narangba

64% of Narangba residents report that they travel to work via their car with only 3% taking the train. This is a bit of a surprise given that since 2014 we have had access to express trains to Brisbane. Here are your transport options for our area:

By car – The commute to Brisbane city via the Bruce Highway can be anywhere between 40-60 minutes each way.

By train – Narangba Train Station is a staging point for inbound and outbound express trains. This is a big win for us locals as the high-speed trains make the commute to the city a breeze. From Narangba, you can take the train to Brisbane, Ipswich, Caboolture, and the Sunshine Coast.

By bus – The 663 local loop bus service provides transport throughout the suburb connecting it to train services. The 668 service runs from Narangba railway station to the nearby suburb of North Lakes.

By plane – The closest airports to Narangba are Brisbane Airport (BNE) 26.69km and the Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) 67.74km.

Things to do and see around Narangba

Narangba’s prime location means there are plenty of options for fun both locally and a short drive away. Here are some of our favourite ways to unwind:

Norfolk Lakes Park

This park has a beautiful lake that is home to an array of birds and wildlife. It is the perfect spot for a BBQ or picnic with plenty of tables, green space, and amenities. Our kids love exploring the playground while we use the fitness equipment. Make sure you bring scooters and bikes.

  • Where: MacDonald Dr, Narangba QLD 4504

Delta Force Paintball

We love working off some end of week frustration and having a heap of fun with our kids at Delta Force Paintball. They have the coolest, movie set game zones from Tomb Raider, Resident Evil and more. We love that they have a focus on safety.

  • Where: Neilson Rd, Kurwongbah QLD 4503

Lakeside Park

Start your engines! Do you love cars, bikes, and everything motorsport? You will be happy to hear there is a racetrack near Narangba! You can hit the Lakeside Park track and be a driver for the day or take in one of the many professional events.

  • Where: Lakeside Road, Kurwongbah Qld 4503

Sheep Station Creek Conservation Park

If you love exploring the great outdoors a trip to the 231-hectare Sheep Station Creek for a hike needs to be on your to-do list. Protected since 1977, this best kept Brisbane North bush walking secret will give your family a quiet and easy escape into nature. Its open, grassy forests provide an ideal habitat for the resident koala. wallaby, short-beaked echidna and locally threatened Greater Glider families. There are 3 easy walking circuits to enjoy including the scenic Grey Gum Circuit, a 4.4-kilometre loop.

Lake Samsonvale

Fishing, kayaking, and sailing are some of the best things to do at Lake Samsonvale. There is a play structure and ample room for a BBQ and picnic. We really enjoy walking the 4km dirt trail that runs along the water’s edge.

  • Where: Access Lake Samsonvale via Forgan Road.

Slickers Horse Riding

If you have a horse fan in your family, they will love visiting Slickers Horse Riding. They offer riding lessons, school holiday camps and trail rides on 3,500 acres. It is wonderful to have this experience so close to home.

  • Where: 116 Dunlop Ln, Kurwongbah QLD 4503

Check our events calendar to find out what is on locally for you.

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