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September 10, 2026
Last updated: August 2026
Moving to Castle Hill or elsewhere in the Hills District with young children means settling into one of Sydney's larger, family-oriented growth areas. Good public transport, a network of council libraries and parks, and plenty of long day care and preschool options all help. But a few practical jobs need doing in the right order. Update your address for the Child Care Subsidy within 14 days of moving. Register with a local GP and child health service. Start contacting preschools and long day care centres directly, since they aren't bound by school-style catchment zones. And if you want a public school outside your new catchment, check the rules early rather than assuming it will sort itself out. The Hills District spans several suburbs across more than one council area, so "moving to the Hills" can mean quite different day-to-day logistics depending on exactly where you land. This guide, from the team at Kings Road Long Day Preschool, walks through what the area offers a family with a toddler or preschooler, how to get the admin done without missing a deadline, and where to find support once the last box is unpacked.
The Hills District is the everyday name for a cluster of suburbs in Sydney's north-west, and Castle Hill sits close to its centre. The Hills Shire Council's local government area takes in Castle Hill (in part), Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Norwest, Rouse Hill (in part), Box Hill, Beaumont Hills, Kenthurst, Dural (in part) and a number of smaller localities. Some suburbs commonly grouped under "the Hills" in everyday speech, including parts of West Pennant Hills, actually sit inside a neighbouring council area instead. That distinction rarely changes day-to-day family life. It does matter for two practical things though: which council's library card, waste collection and family services you're entitled to, and which local government area governs your street for planning and rates purposes. Not sure which side of a boundary your new home falls on? The Hills Shire Council's property and suburb maps will settle it in a minute.
Sydney Metro's North West line changed how easy it is to get around this part of Sydney without a car. The driverless service began running on 26 May 2019, linking the north-west to Chatswood and, since 2024, through to the CBD, with stations including Castle Hill, Bella Vista, Norwest, Kellyville and Rouse Hill. Trains run every four minutes at peak times, and every station is fully accessible: a genuine help with a pram, or a toddler determined to walk themselves. For most short local trips, families here still rely on a car. The M2 Motorway gives quick access toward the city and Parramatta, and a network of local buses fills in the gaps the Metro doesn't reach. One thing worth checking early: how far your new home actually sits from your child's future preschool or school. Drop-off traffic on the Hills' main roads can be heavier than it looks on a map.
The Hills Shire Council runs four library branches, at Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills and Dural, and each one is genuinely useful for a family with a toddler, not just a place to borrow books. Membership is free, and the libraries run regular kids' programmes and school holiday activities. There's also a strong run of family-friendly green space across the shire. Fred Caterson Reserve in Castle Hill alone covers more than 58 hectares, with a children's playground alongside its sports fields and bushwalking trails. We've covered the area's parks, playgrounds and family outings in more depth in our guide to things to do with toddlers and preschoolers in Castle Hill and the Hills District, worth bookmarking once you've settled in. Beyond council services, community-run playgroups, mothers' groups and a volunteer toy library are active across the area. Your new library branch or council's community directory is usually the quickest way to find one nearby.
Long day care and preschool enrolment in NSW isn't governed by catchment zones the way public primary school is. The fastest path is simply to contact centres directly and ask about current and upcoming availability. Popular centres in a growing area like the Hills can have waitlists. Start these conversations as soon as you know roughly where you'll be living, even before settlement day. Public school enrolment works differently. Each school has a defined local enrolment area, and while schools can accept out-of-area applications if places remain after local children are enrolled, there's no guarantee of a spot. Applications are assessed against criteria such as whether siblings already attend, additional needs better met at that particular school, or relevant medical or special-interest circumstances. If a public school place outside your catchment matters to your family, contact that school directly and ask about its own process and cut-off dates.
The most time-sensitive task is your address with Services Australia. Child Care Subsidy and other Centrelink payments require an update within 14 days of moving, whether or not a payment is directly affected. This is done through myGov, and updating it there can also flow your new address through to linked services like Medicare automatically. It's also worth registering with a local GP early, before your child is unwell and you need one in a hurry. In the Hills, integrated community health services, including early childhood nursing support, are delivered through Western Sydney Local Health District. A self-referral through the district's community health line is often the quickest way in if you don't yet have a preferred GP.
The Hills Shire itself describes the area as fast-growing and proud of its family-friendly, diverse culture, and that shows up in practice. Council library groups, school holiday programmes, community events calendars and local playgroups are all easy entry points if you don't yet know anyone locally. Preschools and long day care centres work as a natural way in too. Many run orientation visits or parent information sessions, and a friendly chat at pickup can turn into a family's first local friendship.
The Hills District generally refers to Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Norwest, Rouse Hill, West Pennant Hills, Box Hill, Beaumont Hills, Kenthurst and Dural, among other nearby suburbs. Most, though not all, sit within The Hills Shire Council's local government area; a few, including parts of West Pennant Hills, fall under a neighbouring council instead.
It helps to start early. Long day care and preschool places in a growing area can fill up, which means contacting centres as soon as you know your new suburb, even before settlement, gives you the best chance of finding a place that suits your timing.
Yes, largely thanks to Sydney Metro's North West line, which opened in May 2019 and connects Hills suburbs including Castle Hill, Bella Vista, Norwest, Kellyville and Rouse Hill to Chatswood and the Sydney CBD, with fully accessible, driverless trains running every four minutes at peak times. Local bus routes and the M2 Motorway cover the rest of everyday travel.
Possibly, but it isn't guaranteed. Schools can accept out-of-area enrolments if places remain once local children are enrolled, assessed against criteria like existing siblings at the school, additional needs, or medical or special-interest circumstances. Contact the school directly to understand its own process and cut-off dates.
Your address with Services Australia, within 14 days, since it affects Child Care Subsidy and other Centrelink payments. Updating it through myGov can also update linked services like Medicare at the same time.
Registering with a local GP as early as possible is worth doing before you need one urgently. For broader child and family health support, including early childhood nursing, Western Sydney Local Health District runs integrated community health services across the Hills, and you can self-refer through the district's community health line if you haven't settled on a GP yet.
If you're newly arrived in Castle Hill or the wider Hills District, Kings Road Long Day Preschool has been part of this community since 1989, so we've watched a lot of families go through exactly this settling-in process. We're a small centre by design, and that shows in how quickly new families tend to feel like they belong, whether you've moved from interstate, overseas, or just across Sydney. Our Learning for Life approach and the Three Rs of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience run through everything from our Wallaby to Kangaroo classes, and we welcome an inclusive, multicultural community of families from all kinds of backgrounds. We're open 8am to 5pm on weekdays, which tends to suit the juggling that comes with a fresh start in a new suburb.
If you'd like to see what a day here looks like before you commit to anything, book a tour at a time that works for your family, or get in touch with any questions while you're still finding your feet in the area.
