Ask anyone who lives in this Newcastle suburb why they stay, and you'll probably get the same answer: once you settle in, it's hard to find a reason to leave.
Popular for its two main villages around Regent Street and Orchardtown Road, New Lambton is the kind of suburb where buying a new home often just means moving a few doors down.
That village vibe has kept Gail and Steve Harmon firmly put in the area for 35 years.
While they've moved around the suburb, they've never ventured far from the local hub of shops, restaurants and cafes along Regent Street.
For the past 12 years, the couple has lived on Portland Place, transforming a humble 1930s cottage into a spacious contemporary home with an open-plan extension and a pool in the backyard.
The home's original leadlight windows and doors retain the character homes in New Lambton are known for.
Even though it's a 10-minute drive to the beach, living on an elevated block captures the coastal breeze.
"We're on the right side of the hill, so we get the beautiful breezes from the ocean side from the east," Mr Harmon said.
Now planning to downsize, the couple has put the house on the market - but their next address is only a couple of streets away.
"We've been in New Lambton for 35 years, so we just keep moving around the same spot and we're revolving around Regent Street," Ms Harmon said.
"We just love the location, that it's not flat-out busy but you're close to everything and the people are lovely.
"The other thing is, now that we are older, we have lived in this area for a long time and we have moved closer to Regent Street because of the amenities, the bus stop - it's just perfect for everything."
The convenience of the local shopping village, with a supermarket, bakery, cafes, and their long-time favourite restaurant Paul's Asian Affair, means they have everything they need nearby.
"We're only moving down the hill, so we're not going far and will still only be 300 metres from the IGA," Mr Harmon said.
"So, we're staying put."
Real estate agent Luke Wilson of Harcourts Newcastle said the suburb attracts a mix of buyers, from young families upgrading from apartments and professionals wanting a convenient village lifestyle to downsizers who grew up locally and don't want to leave.
"It's predominantly couples with children, and most of our buyers are owner-occupiers rather than investors - around 68 per cent of homes here are owner-occupied," Mr Wilson said.
"This is a suburb where people put down roots.
"We regularly see three generations of the same family living within a few streets of each other - kids who grew up here buying their first home locally, then their own kids going to the same schools.
"It's not unusual for a family to stay 15, 20 years or more once they land here."
The suburb's village feel combined with the location is the biggest drawcard.
"You've got a walkable main street with cafes and independent shops, Blackbutt Reserve and John Hunter Hospital close by, good schools, and you're only a few minutes from Newcastle's beaches and the CBD," he said.
"Most day-to-day errands are doable on foot, which keeps it appealing whether you're a young family or an empty-nester."
Among the businesses on New Lambton's Regent Street is Barista Miss.
Established in 2017, the popular coffee shop is owned and operated by Paula Richards, who took over the reins last year.
A former New Lambton resident herself, she said the people make it a special place to live and work.
She has her daily regulars, including pooches, and knows their names and typical coffee orders.
"I've been here for about 14 months but the business before that has been here for eight years," Ms Richards said.
"I love the community. They have been so welcoming, especially since it was an established business.
"We have this run of regulars that come every day and they have built their own little network of people.
"We get to know their coffee orders, their names, their kids names, their dogs' names. It's all part of it and it's really special. It's a unique community."
While Barista Miss is a relative newcomer at eight years, other local businesses have spanned decades.
New Lambton Hot Bread Shop serves up old-school nostalgia with lolly-topped cupcakes, while fashion consignment boutique Second To None, on Portland Place, is two years shy of celebrating its 30th anniversary.
In the recently upgraded Blackbutt Village on Orchardtown Road, Euro Patisserie is another long-standing favourite alongside Piggott's Pharmacy which was established by long-time New Lambton residents and pharmacists Chris and Shirley Piggott in 1970.
