Italo is friendly, and will make you feel at home. The neighbourhood is quiet and approx 15min walk to a Woolworths supermarket in Kogorah. Kogorah shops are nicer than Rockdale. There is a walkway at the end of the road that cuts through. But there are little newsagents with basics, pizza place, and chemist much closer. Kogorah is better than Rockdale!
The 400 bus from the airport will get you very close at Rockdale station. I also used the Kogorah library just less than 5mins walk past the station.