Also in the suburb are water reservoirs, a primary school and several small bushland reserves.

It is largely populated by doctors and other hospital staff [citation needed], and hence is generally regarded within the higher end of Newcastle's socio-economic scale, along with suburbs such as Merewether Heights.

Parts of the suburb border the Blackbutt Nature Reserve, which is a large native bushland park maintained by the City of Newcastle.

The park, sometimes called the lungs of the city, includes hiking trails, picnicking areas, and a native animal enclosure which houses kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, emus and native birds.

The suburb is also located close to Westfield Kotara, a large shopping mall to the south east.