'Just paradise': Meet the restaurateurs who decided to swap Manhattan for the Central Coast

New York is nice … but Killcare is paradise. So say restaurateurs Rupert Noffs and Matty Bennett who, in 2018, brought their south-east Asian eatery The Lucky Bee from Manhattan’s lower east side to the NSW Central Coast.

Originally operating in Woy Woy, The Lucky Bee has now opened its doors in Araluen Drive overlooking the boat-studded waters of Hardys Bay.

And while it’s unlikely they’ll be bumping into Barbra Streisand, LL Cool J or Sir Salman Rushdie – fans of their Big Apple restaurant – the couple is more than happy dishing up spicy lobster rolls and bao buns to the Killcare crowd.

Beach bliss

“My love of Killcare began when I was a teenager,” says Noffs. “I would go up and stay in my friend’s house on the beach and I’d come back to Sydney and tell my family about this place only one hour out of the city that was just paradise.”

Fast-forward to 2010 and Noffs’ and Bennett’s move to New York coincided with his family’s move to Killcare.

“So we came back every winter,” says Noffs. “We would catch the train from the airport to the Central Coast and each year we fell more and more in love with Killcare.”

Now firmly entrenched on the peninsula, Noffs says he loves living a short walk from work, exploring the bushwalks of the Bouddi National Park and swimming every day of the year.

“I’ve been to so many beaches around the world and there’s really nothing that beats Killcare Beach. We’ve got crystal-clear water that changes every day, a rock pool and a great cafe at the surf life saving club.”

A natural beauty

Belle Property Killcare agent Cathy Baker says arriving in the beachside suburb is like escaping to another world.

“When you drive into Hardys Bay and see the water it takes your breath away,” she says. “It’s still unspoilt and surrounded by national park. It has the essence of a small fishing village, but you’ve got great eateries and it’s accessible from both Sydney and Palm Beach.”

Baker says there’s a real sense of community among both the permanent residents and the weekenders.

“The minute you get a coffee in the morning, everyone says hello, there’s a real sense of inclusion if you come regularly,” she says. “There’s also lots of events from art shows to bands on the foreshore and creative workshops.”

A magnet for creative talents, Killcare plays host to musicians, artists, actors and authors, says Baker, as well as DINKs from Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Top home in the area

Bring on the garden parties: Beachwood boasts a north-facing entertainer’s terrace and more than a hectare of landscaped grounds framed by bushland.

An eco-friendly design delivers cooling cross breezes in summer and there’s an open fireplace for the winter months. The property also has a streamlined white kitchen, three living spaces and a separate studio.

Belle Property Killcare have the listing, which is being marketed with a $2.6 million-to-$2.7 million price guide.