Fast facts
- Popular Central Coast holiday destination
- Coastal town at the geographic heart of the Central Coast
- 91 km north of Sydney, population 10,000
Why go there
With a repertoire of attractions that includes fishing, swimming, surfing, boating, diving and natural scenery, Terrigal caters for locals as well as holiday makers.
The town is characterised by a row of stately Norfolk Island pines that define the beachfront esplanade, situated at the southern end of a stunning 4 km beach.
The town is a blend of natural beauty with sophisticated dining and cafe culture.
History
The name is derived from Tarrygal, the Aboriginal term for "place of little birds". The name was also given to the first white settler‘s property in 1826. A sawmill opened in the 1870s supplying timber to Sydney, and a dairying industry followed. In the late 1800s tourism became popular, boosted by development of the Sydney-Newcastle rail line.
Things to do
- Climb the Skillion, a strikingly shaped, steep headland that rises to the east.
- Enjoy the tranquillity of Wamberal Lagoon and its sanctuary for protected birds and animals.
- Try your hand at beach fishing for the many species that abound in the local waters.
- Catch glimpses of whales as they travel along the coast from May to October.
Don’t miss
- Swimming in Terrigal lagoon.
- Nearby Nel Joseph Fine Art Gallery at Erina.
- Hang-gliding at nearby Forresters Beach.
- Firescreek Fruit Winery open Wednesday to Sunday.
- The spectacular sinking in 2009 of the decommissioned warship, HMAS Adelaide, which will become a permanent dive site.
