Travel Options
Destinations
A major Central Coast holiday and surfing area, Avoca Beach is situated among a residential coastline of wooded hills, beaches and lakes. Avoca Beach is a pretty coastal community, known for its numerous well known surf beaches (Pines Charity Surf Classic is held here) as well as Avoca Lake. Its a popular place to stay if you want to explore more of the Central Coast, with kayaking, scenic flights, good fishing, great restaurants and entertainment at night.
Just over a one-hour drive north of Sydney, Avoca Beach features rocky headlands at each end of a long, golden beach. Popular as a holiday destination, especially for families, it has a vibrant surf culture and a relaxed and friendly ambience. Here you can go fishing, beach walking, explore the nearby parks and headlands, or simply relax in a secret spot.
Gosford: is the commercial and administrative centre for The Central Coast, Gosford is close to Newcastle, with Sydney 88km to the south. The natural beauty of the Brisbane Waters on which it stands, and nearby beaches has made Gosford popular for both residents (many who work in Sydney) and visitors. Brisbane Water National Park and Bouddi National Park, with good swimming and fishing at its many beaches, are nearby.
Bordered by the hills of Rumbalara Reserve on one side and the most northern part of Brisbane Water on the other, there is a great deal to see and do. Enjoy a picnic or take a stroll on one of the bush walks through Rumbalara Reserve, while taking in spectacular views from the mountaintop. Relax and sit by the Gosford waterfront, watching the activity on the water, or ride a bike along the cycleway that extends all the way to Woy Woy. Head to Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium and watch the Central Coast Mariners take on their opponents in the National A-League Soccer competition, dine at the Central Coast Leagues Club, one of the largest recreational clubs on the Central Coast, and have a bet on the horses at Gosford Racecourse.
Terrigal is one of the most well known areas of the Central Coast and is very popular with visitors. With its famous beach, fabulous shopping, range of restaurants and cafes and variety of places to stay, Terrigal is a must when visiting the Central Coast.
Be sure to make your way around to The Haven at the southern end of Terrigal. Here you can swim in the sheltered water, go snorkelling and take in some marine life, explore the rock platform from one side to the other, or absorb the magnificent views from the top of the well-known headland, known as the Skillion. The Haven is also a base for fishing charters and diving. A collection of restaurants adorn the best locations in Terrigal offering spectacular views and award-winning food.
Patonga is a tranquil seaside village situated on the edge of recessed Brisk Bay near the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. Its calm, pleasant, relatively quiet and waters face in a south-easterly direction across to West Head, Pittwater and Barrenjoey.
Patonga and Pearl Beach make up two of the most southern coastal points of the Central Coast. This area has the potential to evoke feelings of isolation, yet is only a scenic 20 minute drive from Gosford. Great for families where the young ones can swim at beaches that provide little swell, as well as in an ocean rock pool at the southern end of Pearl Beach. Patonga and Pearl Beach offer many picnicking and fishing opportunities, while enjoying the views of the picturesque surrounding Brisbane Water National Park..
Known for its waterways, lagoons and beaches, Ettalong Beach offer safe swimming for young families. The beach is near Bouddi and Brisbane Water National Parks. A popular weekend market operates there, offering all kinds of local goods. Ettalong Beach itself is the natural eastward continuation of Umina Beach and Ocean Beach.
Ettalong Beach, along with its neighbouring seaside suburbs of Woy Woy, Umina, Patonga and exclusive Pearl Beach, occupies an area of the Central Coast known as The Peninsula. No matter where you go on the Peninsula, you usually find the sun shining down on sparkling water, your personal invitation from Mother Nature. Andersons Boat Shed hires a range of watercraft including BBQ pontoons which are perfect for group entertaining out on the water.
As a tourist destination, The Entrance is a huge success, gauged by the tens of thousands of people who flock there annually to take holidays, a day trip, an impromptu escape or a weekend stopover. Major attractions include Tuggerah Lakes, pelican feeding daily at 3.30pm, pristine surf beaches, boat hire, fishing, markets, entertainment, bike paths, shopping and so much more.
The Entrance is always a hive of activity. The waterfront park hosts a vibrant range of free family entertainment with live performances at the open air Sails Stage. Throughout the year, crowds of people enjoy the range of special events and festivals, while on the first and third Saturdays of each month, fresh locally farmed produce is available at the seaside Farmers Markets.
Catherine Hill Bay: is a unique coastal village on the Wallarah Peninsula, which lies between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean. The village, a beautifil welcoming place, consists mostly of modest timber miners cottages, some dating from the 19th Century and remnant infrastructure from almost 140 years of underground coal mining, set in a dramatic natural landscape of bush and heath beside the Pacific Ocean.
For more than a century people have been visiting Catherine Hill Bay and writing it about it in terms of magnificent views, picturesque locations, interesting pub, a great surfing beach and healthy air invigorated by sea breezes. On the other hand the residents, mainly mining families, gave certain locations ironical names like Paradise Alley , Federal City , Slack Alley , and Mine End , among others, for life was often hard. It is this special mix of place, perceptions and personalities that give Catherine Hill Bay its special flavour.
Brisbane Water National Park, near Gosford, offers a range of wonderful experiences, making it a great daytrip or weekend away from the city.
Come to see colourful spring wildflowers, ancient Aboriginal engraving sites and scenic views from the park's lookouts. There are great fishing spots to discover, along with walking and cycling trails that cross rainforest and rugged sandstone country. The park's waterways are a great place to spend a day on the water, so don't forget your kayak. Head to one of the coastal towns, like Umina Beach to organise your lunch before finding your own scenic picnic spot, or make a stop at Patonga for some tasty fish and chips and a beach view.
Located near Gosford, the beautiful Bouddi National Park offers spectacular diverse landscapes - from beaches and steep cliffs through to rainforest and heathland - and makes for a great weekend getaway.
Bouddi National Park is home to countless attractions, including one of Australias first marine protected areas, significant Aboriginal sites, unique animals and plant life and even an old paddle steamer wreck. Make the most of the parks coastal location and camp beside the tranquil Maitland Bay, go swimming, fishing, or take in sweeping views on the Box Head track.
