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Our residence city is Woy Woy on the Central Coast of New South Wales. It’s tucked away on a peninsula, simply over an hour north of Sydney.
It’s a well-liked vacation vacation spot and an awesome base to discover all the favored issues to do within the Central Coast NSW area.
Rising up there allowed us to discover this area in additional depth {that a} typical traveler, but it surely wasn’t till we returned on our 18 month Australian street journey that we appreciated it from a vacationer’s perspective.
We left the Central Coast area with peace and gratitude and a wholesome love for our residence area. It’s really stunning, and among the finest saved secrets and techniques in Australia.
We’re excited to share with you among the high sights on the Central Coast that we loved visiting rising up right here. That is our residence, we hope you like it as a lot as we do!
Issues to Do in Central Coast NSW
1. Arrive in fashion by ferry from Palm Seaside to Ettalong Seaside
If you’re coming for a day journey from Sydney, we suggest leaping on a ferry from Palm Seaside to Ettalong.
It solely takes 20 minutes and the surroundings is absolutely stunning. You’ll cruise on in previous Field head, which if the waves are pumping, is the place to surf on the Peninsula.
Or, arrive by prepare from Sydney (1 hour). It’s a picturesque and serene journey previous the Hawksberry River.
2. Go to Secluded Pearl Seaside
Pearl Seaside is the place lots of celebrities and rich Sydney Siders come to go to. There’s a peaceable and religious vitality at Pearlie. It has probably the most stunning outlook throughout to Lion’s Island and Palm Seaside.
Head to the ocean rock pool on the southern finish of the seashore, for a quieter, extra bushlike setting. If you need a bit extra journey, take a hike on the previous fireplace path for stunning views out over the Hawkesbury River.
This is among the finest issues to do on the Central Coast – native’s favourite.
3. Picnic at Somersby Falls
Somersby Falls made the native radio stations’ “high 50 native secrets and techniques” record of issues to do on the Central Coast.
It’s a beautiful spot for a picnic and a scenic stroll. It’s no Victoria Falls, however makes for an awesome half time out.
4. Go to the Central Coast Wildlife Parks
The Central Coast has two nice Wildlife Parks. The Australian Reptile Park is kind of an Australian icon and one of many Central Coast’s hottest sights. This park was based by the nice Eric Worrell, Australia’s first naturalist.
The Reptile Park is the one zoo in Australia dedicated to saving lives with a Venom-Milking Program in place for the previous 50+ years. There are many wildlife exhibits and possibilities to work together with the animals. They’ve fairly an in depth vary of Australian animals.
The newest is the Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park a bit of extra private and interactive + it’s the one time I’ve ever patted a dingo. It’s residence to principally native Australian animals reminiscent of koala and kangeroos.
Additionally they have Aboriginal walks by the encompassing bush, and night time safari sleep overs, which sound fairly cool.
5. Do the Bouddi Nationwide Park Coastal Stroll
By far considered one of our favorite Central Coast discoveries is the Bouddi Nationwide Park Coastal Stroll.
That is our personal Bondi to Coogee coastal stroll, besides you’ll have nearly all the observe to your self. It’s merely gorgeous. Now we have completed it a number of occasions with our youngsters and so they like it.
Begin from Putty Seaside, pack a picnic lunch to have on secluded Maitland Bay earlier than strolling again. A spherical journey will take round 4 hours (we did it with 2 children).
The Bouddi Nationwide Park coastal stroll is my native’s tip for the very best factor to do on the Central Coast, NSW.
6. Do The 5 Lands Stroll, from McMasters Seaside to Terrigal Seaside
The 5 Lands Stroll on the Central Coast NSW is among the most satisfying festivals I’ve ever participated in.
It’s held each June to coincide with the migrating whales. The whale is a crucial totem of the native Aboriginal tribe. The 5 Lands stroll strikes by the 5 seashores of McMasters, Copacabana, Avoca, North Avoca, and Terrigal Seaside.
At every land, there are exhibits, dances, and meals to rejoice the normal elders of the land, in addition to the varied migrant communities that reside within the space. It’s actually particular and one you don’t wish to miss.
7. Cycle the Central Coast Brisbane Water observe
This experience fully shocked us with how satisfying this free Central Coast out of doors exercise was. We’ve pushed up and down the Gosford to Woy Woy street with out ever considering it was something aside from boring.
Leaping on a motorbike confirmed us there was a complete lot extra to it, there are wetlands and waterways to understand. If you’re courageous sufficient, you possibly can cycle across the complete Brisbane water – a 41km journey.
In any other case, leap off the prepare at Gosford and bike to Woy Woy (approx 8km’s) ending off with some traditional fish and chips at Fishermans Wharf.
8. Take pleasure in Glenworth Valley Out of doors Adventures (Go horse using, abseiling, kayaking, quad biking)
We LOVED discovering Glenworth Valley and couldn’t consider it was even on the Central Coast.
It’s such a secret, adventurous place to hang around. We suggest coming for at the least one night time and tenting. Rise up early for the horse mustering.
It’s a extremely particular expertise to see herds of horses come galloping up by the fields from the mist. We had been the one ones there watching.
Spend the day horse using by the valley, quad bike using, kayaking or abseiling.
Kalyra beloved her first horse experience on Chili.
9. Swing by the bushes at Treetop Journey Park, Ourimbah
Need to play Tarzan and do a little bit of Jungle browsing? Then head to tree tops and zip line by the bushes in Ourimbah State Forest.
They’ve impediment programs to swimsuit all ages (and bravado) together with one big flying fox that hurtles you over the automotive park to the end.
Kalyra beloved this exercise, and regardless of being so fearful jumped off the kiddies flying fox to do her course once more.
10. Go to the seashores on the Central Coast, NSW
The Central Coast has some stunning seashores, lots of them nice for browsing, or with beautiful rock swimming pools for the children to swim in.
A few of our favorites are Macmasters Seaside, which is an exquisite pure wanting seashore with sheltered rock pool space for youths, and Toowoon Bay, which is a picturesque sheltered bay that’s splendid for swimming.
Avoca Seaside has an awesome rock pool space for the children. For the surfers, simply head north to North Avoca for higher waves.
Terrigal Seaside is the most well-liked seashore city on the coast. Swim on the essential seashore or take the children round to the Haven or the lagoon for a paddle. You may take dolphin and whale watching excursions from Could to November, when the humpback whales are on their annual migration.
By day or night time, Terrigal is buzzing with cafes, eating places and the beer backyard at Crowne Plaza.
Norah Head is one other picturesque seashore. Stroll as much as the Norah Head Lighthouse for an awesome view, and for the surfers head south to Troopers Seaside.
Killcare Seaside is the place lots of Australia’s rich elite reminiscent of Alan Jones and John Singleton have houses. It’s a quieter seashore and has nice waves when situations are proper. Head north across the bend and you’ve got Putty Seaside, the Bouddi coastal stroll.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out our personal hometown seashore Umina Seaside recognized for its lengthy, sandy shoreline and delicate waves. It’s good for swimming, browsing, household picnics, and lengthy walks. I like strolling from Umina to Pearl Seaside over the rocky cliff observe. There’s a massively in style caravan park positioned on the northern finish of the seashore – the quieter half to the seashore I like. Though they turned it into the canine seashore years in the past which ruined it considerably.
11. Go native on the Avoca Beachside Markets
These are small markets run each 4th Sunday of the month.
There are the standard craft and meals stalls. There are a few beautiful spots below bushes to retreat to for a chunk to eat or to take heed to some native acoustic artists play in Lizottes nook.
12. Get your quirky on at Amazement Farm & Enjoyable Park
If you happen to’re visiting the Central Coast with children, spend the day exploring the mazes and petting pleasant cattle at The Amazement Farm and Enjoyable Park.
This doesn’t sound like a lot of an epic journey, however belief us, it’s lots of enjoyable.
It’s quirky and has sufficient to entertain you and the children for hours. There are mazes to get misplaced in, cattle to carry, peacocks to chase, video games like bocce to play, trails to bike round, and an entertaining sheep race.
You may see how a lot enjoyable our ladies had within the video under:
13. Pelican feeding at The Entrance
That is fairly the favored factor to do day-after-day at 3:30pm on the Entrance foreshore.
It’s really fairly cool to look at how the pelicans fly in from close by waterways to fill their bellies and to look at them jostle and battle for a tasty morsel of fish.
There’s a actually nice playground right here for the children, and The Entrance is a fairly space to discover if you are right here.
14. Discover Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Backyard
The Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Backyard is among the many Japanese gardens within the Central Coast.
In 1988, Gosford and Japan entered into an settlement and as a present from Edogawa, the backyard was constructed and opened in 1994.
It options the identical design and rules of the Japanese Heian interval (700AD), together with a tranquil koi pond, shuyu (strolling fashion) backyard, and Japanese-style pavilions.
The backyard is a quiet place to mirror and luxuriate in being in nature.
15. Loosen up at Distillery Botanica
Set in a serene three acre backyard, is the Distillery Botanica. Right here you possibly can style some award-winning gins, vodkas and liqueurs, but it surely’s additionally an awesome place to calm down and benefit from the gardens.
Take pleasure in complimentary tastings, tour the distillery, or tour the gardens to study how the vegetation and botany are used to create distinctive flavors to their merchandise.
16. Study pearling at Damaged Bay Pearl Farm
The Central Coast has a long-standing pearling historical past and is among the finest locations to study how these treasured gems are farmed.
Head over to Decrease Hawkesbury River, to the Shellar Door of Damaged Bay Pearl Farm, the place you possibly can flick through regionally grown pearls, shells and jewelry, or ebook onto one of many Pearl Farm excursions.
In addition to studying about pearl farming, it’s additionally an awesome place to dine on some contemporary native oysters with wonderful views of the river.
Craig and I labored on a pearl farm in Kuri Bay, Western Australia. I promise you’ll discover this expertise studying how they’re cultivated will probably be fascinating.
17. See Historic Rock Engravings at Brisbane Water Nationwide Park
One other in style nationwide park within the Central Coast area is Brisbane Water Nationwide Park, close to Gosford.
The park has many fantastic mountain climbing trails and fishing factors, but it surely’s additionally residence to an historical Aboriginal rock engraving web site that’s price testing.
Bulgandry Artwork Web site Aboriginal Place has some well-preserved engravings which might be greater than 200 years previous, some even older.
18. Splash Round at Central Coast Aqua Park
If you happen to’re visiting the Central Coast in the summertime, head to Central Coast Aqua Park in Gosford.
Open from November, this inflatable impediment course is a enjoyable journey for the entire household! Climb on pyramids, swing on monkey bars, slide down slides, and splash round within the ocean.
It’s the proper technique to cool off from the summer season warmth, and have enjoyable doing so!
19. Play at Wyong Milk Manufacturing facility
The Wyong Milk Manufacturing facility opened its doorways in 1906, and has developed from a easy milk manufacturing facility to a restaurant and playground that’s enjoyable for the entire household.
Take a kayak or row boat out onto the river, have a BBQ, and let the children blow off some steam within the indoor and out of doors playground.
Contained in the manufacturing facility is Little Creek Cheese, Central Coast’s personal native, award successful, handmade connoisseur cheese manufacturing facility and outlet. You may go behind the scenes with the cheesemaker, learn to make cheese and luxuriate in a cheese tasting platter!
Locations to Keep on the Central Coast NSW
Crowne Plaza, Terrigal
The Crowne Plaza, Terrigal is an iconic Central Coast place to remain.
It has a superb beer backyard (we expect among the finest in Oz) overlooking the seashore. From Thurs – Solar they’ve reside acoustic music. Head upstairs to the Lord Ashley Bar for prime tea or a cocktail.
Our greatest tip: seize some wine and stroll round to the Haven for stunning sundown views over Terrigal Seaside.
The Mantra, Ettalong
We just lately had Craig’s fortieth/ farewell celebration on the Mantra Ettalong. It has probably the most stunning views.
It’s a extremely in style place for Sydney Siders to remain on a weekend. The ferry from Palm Seaside nearly drops you on the entrance door.
Ocean Seaside Caravan Park
The award successful Ocean seashore caravan park has all of the lodging choices and services to fulfill any households wants.
An important pool space with water slide is the spotlight, in any other case, merely stroll straight throughout the street to Umina Seaside.
Patonga Caravan Park
Patonga Caravan Park is such a fairly, secluded caravan park in a really small native city on the seashore.
It’s nice for households on the lookout for a calming getaway with nature, particularly if there are any fishing followers within the household.
Locations to Eat on the Central Coast
Discovering a spot to eat isn’t simple, so listed here are three locations we used to dine at usually that can assist you slim down your search!
Fishermen’s Wharf, Woy Woy
I could also be a bit of biased about Fishermen’s Wharf, BUT, again in 1996, they did have the very best cook dinner there within the restaurant by the title of Caz!
Actually, Fisho’s is such an awesome place to eat on the Central Coast.
It has the very best calamari I’ve ever eaten and lunch or dinner on the wharf with views over the quiet channel is such a calming technique to take pleasure in time with associates or household.
Bamboo Buddha Cafe and Nursery, Holgate
The Bamboo Buddha cafe is an oasis set in Holgate is a vegetarian cafe / gallery / tea backyard / nursery all rolled into one. Go deal with your self to some natural espresso and a spot of tranquility.
Bar Toto, Ettalong
Bar Toto was our native cafe. It’s within the Ettalong Vacationer Resort, the place you may as well take pleasure in an exquisite dinner in one of many many eating places there.
You may also duck into the cinema for a film. Our tip: purchase your film ticket at Totos, you’ll get a discount worth in case you purchase a espresso with it.
Extra NSW Suggestions
Want extra ideas for visiting New South Wales and the Central Coast? Listed here are another useful guides…
What are you most wanting ahead to doing within the Central Coast? Tell us within the feedback.