Central Coast

The beautiful Central Coast of NSW is charming, with gorgeous beaches, magnificent national parks and pretty waterways. You’ll be amazed by all the fun adventures and wonderful attractions, from water sports to bushwalking, mountain biking, whale watching and marvellous wildlife sanctuaries.

Just north of Sydney, enjoy an alluring mix of bays, inlets and lakes, and golden and white sandy beaches, as well as picturesque waterfront esplanades. Places to stay in the southern Gosford area and the northern Wyong area include campgrounds, holiday parks, seaside hotels and luxury resorts.

In the national parks and nature reserves are exhilarating experiences. Two of the prettiest walks are the Bouddi coastal walk and The Coast walking track. There are mountain biking and horseriding trails too, as well as 4WD touring in stately forests. The national parks on the Central Coast are:

• Brisbane Water National Park
• Popran National Park
• Bouddi National Park
• Wyrrabalong National Park

You’ll find shared cycle ways around Ettalong Beach, Avoca Beach, Terrigal and The Entrance, home of the daily Pelican Feed. The Tuggerah Lakes Cycleway winds 12km, with picnic and barbecue areas along the path. The sparkling waterways are popular for fishing, kayaking, waterskiing and sailing.

For a scenic ferry ride on Brisbane Water, Central Coast Ferries offers an hour-long round trip. It departs Woy Woy, a popular day trip from Sydney for tasty fish and chips at Fishermen’s Wharf. There are many more delicious places to eat, including seaside cafes, restaurants and markets.

For adventure, the young and young at heart will love soaring on the TreeTop Adventure Park’s zip-lines, or flying foxes. In Glenworth Valley, enjoy horseriding in sylvan charm and enchanting forest. Other adventure tours include big game fishing, skydiving, scuba diving, kayaking and surf schools.

Among the other extraordinary things to do is a visit to The Australian Reptile Park, home to the saltwater crocodile Elvis. You can also stroll with Hugo, a Galapagos tortoise. At the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, meet native animals including Kambala the koala and Hippo the wombat.

Another delightful experience is the Gosford Classic Car Museum, one of the best car museums in the world. The heritage is astonishing, with more than 420 vehicles. For touring art exhibitions, visit the Gosford Regional Gallery, and check out the events calendar for shows at the vibrant Art House.