Central Coast
The Central Coast is located north of Sydney. It begins at the Hawkes-bury
River and stretches northwards to the southern shores of Lake Macquarie,
and westwards to historic St Albans. The area is roughly divided into two
- the City of Gosford with Brisbane Waters, and the Shire of Wyong with Tuggerah
Lakes. Within these two districts there are many seaside and holiday centres.
Gosford City
Population 129,000
The City of Gosford is 88km (55 miles) north of Sydney. The natural beauty
of the district and its close proximity to the major cities of Sydney and Newcastle
has made it an attractive living and recreation area on the east coast of Australia.
There are many popular surfing beaches and the Brisbane Waters are legendary
for fishing, sailing and other recreational pursuits. Although for many years,
it has been a popular holiday and retirement area, many young families are
now settling in the district as an alternative to living in the outer suburbs
of Sydney and Newcastle.
Climate
Average temperatures: summer max 25C (77F) - min 18C (64F); winter max 17C
(63F) - min 10C (50F). Average annual rainfall is 1300mm (51 ins), average
ocean temperature is 20C (68F).
How to Get There By Bus
Interstate coachlines call at Gos-ford.
By Rail
There is a good electric train service from/to Sydney, and the State Rail Authority
has mini-fares, family fares and combined rail/coach fares, 131 500.
By Road
From Sydney via the Pacific Highway all the way to Gosford, or the F3 expressway
from Hornsby to the Gosford turn-off, then the Pacific Highway.
Visitor Information
The Gosford Visitor Information Centre is in 200 Mann Street, Gosford, (02)
4385 4430 or 1800 806 258, open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2pm. Their email
address is the coast@c ctourism.com.au and the web page is at www.cctourism.com.au
If you are in Terrigal, the Visitor Information Centre is in Rotary Park, Terrigal
Drive. It is open 9am-5pm Mon-Sat and 9am-3pm on Sunday during summer. They
share contact details with the Gosford Centre.
The Centre has compiled some very good self-drive tours of the area, which
encompass all the attractions. Visitors are well-advised to pick up these brochures.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not a problem in the area, although it is wise to book in
advance during the summer holiday period. Here is a selection with prices
for a double room per night, which should be used as a guide only. The telephone
area code is 02.
Gosford
Metro Motor Inn Gosford, 512 Pacific Highway, 4328 4666. 50 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa, barbecue - $105.
Bermuda Motor Inn, cnr Henry Parry Drive & Pacific Highway, North Gosford,
4324 4366. 17 units, swimming pool, barbecue - $65-95.
Gosford Motor Inn, 23 Pacific Highway, 4323 1333. 36 units, heated swimming
pool, barbecue - $70-100.
Rambler Motor Inn, 73 Pacific Highway, West Gosford, 4324 6577. 55 units, playground,
swimming pool, spa, barbecue - $75-100.
Wyoming Caravan Park, 520 Pacific Highway, Wyoming, 4328 4358. (No pets allowed)
- powered sites $19 for two, cabins $55 for two.
Woy Woy
Glades Country Club Motor Inn, 15 Dunban Road, 4341 7374. 23 units, swimming
pool, barbecue - $80-120.
Ettalong
Motel Paradiso, cnr Schnapper & Ocean View Roads, 4341 1999. 1 room, licensed
restaurant - $75-140.
Ettalong Beach Village, Fassifern Street, 4344 2211. (No pets) - powered sites
$20-32 for two, cabins $60-110 for two.
Avoca
Bellbird Resort, 360 Avoca Drive, 4382 2322. 36 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool, tennis court - $80-100.
The Palms at Avoca, Carolina Park Road off the Round Drive, 4382 1227. (No
pets allowed), barbecue, sauna, pool - cabins $80-145 for two, villas $75-125
for two.
Wamberal
Apollo Country Resort, 871 The Entrance Road, 4385 2099. 42 units (private
facilities), licensed restaurant, swimming pool, spa, barbecue, tennis, gym
- $95-160.
Kincumber
Figtree Cottages, 247 Avoca Drive, 4368 3056. 2 rooms, unlicensed restaurant,
solar heated saltwater pool, fireplace, spa - $120-130.
Eating Out
No matter which locality of the Central Coast you choose to stay in, you will
find excellent restaurants. Here is a brief list, and the Information Centre
can advise you further if you desire.
Gosford
Gosford Shoreline, Masons Parade, 4325 0644. Fully licensed seafood restaurant
with an a-la-carte selection. Open midday-2pm and 6pm-8.30pm Mon-Sat, and until
9.30pm Friday and Saturday nights, lunch only on Sundays, closed Public Holidays.
Gee Kwong Chinese Restaurant, 197 Mann Street, 4325 2489. Open 11.30am-3pm
and 4.30pm-9pm Mon-Sat, and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, closed
Sunday and Public Holidays.
Tohn Oor Sian Classic Thai, 26 Adelaide Street, Gosford East, 4324 2887. Take-away
available, dine-in BYO wine only. Open midday-2.30pm and 5.30pm-10.30pm 7 days.
Jaceys, 45 Imperial Centre, 4324 2558.
Da Vincis, 1-2 Brisbane Waters Drive, Gosford West, 4322 8000.
Saltwater, Shop 6 Brisbane Waters Drive, West Gosford, 4323 7744.
Curry House, 104 Mann Street, 4322 0223.
Peking Garden, in the Central Coast Leagues Club, Dane Drive, 4324 3788.
Surrounding Areas
Paceys, 172 Avoca Drive, Avoca Beach, 4382 3588. Seafood, a-la-carte. Open
6pm-9pm 7 days and midday-3pm weekends and Public Holidays.
Sirens, 1 Kurrawyba Avenue, Terrigal, 4385 2602. Open 5pm-midnight every day.
Pizza One, 80 Ocean View Drive, Wamberal, 4385 3311.
Ghandi Indian Restaurant, 189 Ocean View Road, Ettalong, 4341 1994.
The Don's Italian Restaurant, 28 Kincumber Village, Avoca Drive, Kincumber,
4363 1900.
Fishermans Wharf, The Boulevarde, Woy Woy, 4341 1171.
For Pizza Hut deliveries, 13 1166. Branches of McDonalds and KFC are found
in all the major towns.
Points of Interest
The town site of Gosford was first referred to as the Township at Point Frederick,
then in February 1839, when the plan was sent to Governor Gipps for approval,
as the Township of Brisbane Water. The plan was returned by the Governor
in April marked as the Plan of Gosford, with no explanation to indicate the
reason for its name. It was later discovered that the Governor had served
with the Earl of Gosford in Canada, and had taken the opportunity to honour
his friend.
Originally, timber cutting was the main economic product of the district, then
from the 1880s, citrus orchards began to dominate the local farms in the Narara,
Lisarow, Wyoming, Holgate and Ourimbah areas. These farms were close to the
railway, but later as roads developed, farming spread on to Somersby plateau.
By 1928-29, the district supplied 34% of the state's citrus crop.
The 1880s also saw the Gosford area become a tourist venue, with the completion
of the railway in 1887, and visitors coming for the fishing, and for hunting
trips. In recent times Gosford's development has been influenced by other factors,
such as the metropolitan expansion of Sydney, improvements to the roads, and
changes in lifestyles. The majority of people visit the area now for the surf,
sun and sand, but there are quite a few attractions worth visiting.
Old Sydney Town, Pacific Highway, Somersby (west of Gosford) is the largest
heritage park in New South Wales, and is a faithful re-creation of Sydney as
it was 200 years ago. There is live street theatre, and demonstrations of different
crafts take visitors back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The park has many
eateries, from fine restaurants to damper and billy tea places, or you can
take your own food and make use of the barbecue facilities. Old Sydney Town
is hopen Wed-Sun and all state school and public holidays, 10am-5pm, 4340 1104.
Admission fees are adults $20, children $13. A family pass can be obtained
for $55.
Henry Kendall Cottage & Historical Museum, 218 Gertrude Street, Gosford,
4325 2270, was built for the famous poet in 1836 by Peter Fagan. It is now
an historical museum with displays of various items from the past. Open Wed,
Sat & Sun, and public and school holidays, 10am-4pm.
The Australian Reptile Park was the first major tourist attraction on the Central
Coast, and is a popular science exhibit. Crocodile feeding in the impressive
crocodile enclosure is by far the highlight of the day. Watch as the trainer
holds a long pole over the water's edge while a croc emerges, leaps into the
air, takes the dangling chicken from the end of the pole into its jaws, and
thrashes back into the water again. The park supplies venoms to countries all
over the world for antivenenes and other research. There are picnic and barbecue
facilities, but note that the place is overrun by kangaroos, and the joy of
their company can quickly turn into despair if one bounds up and pinches your
lunch while you pat her! The park is open daily 9am-5pm, 4340 1146, and is
on the Pacific Highway, Somersby. Admission prices are $16 adults, $8 children,
$40 families.
The Starship Cruise & Ferry Service, 100 John Whiteway Drive, 4340 1146,
has two venues for cruises. The Lady Kendall departs from Gosford Wharf, Wed,
Sat & Sun to cruise on the Brisbane Waters, and the Trinity Queen leaves
from The Entrance Wharf for cruising Tuggerah Lakes and Wyong River, Wed-Sat
10.15am and 1pm. Both vessels operate daily during school holidays.
The Fragrant Garden, 25 Portsmouth Road, Erina, 4367 7322, has a very large
collection of fragrant plants, crafts, pot-pourri in an olde-worlde garden.
There is a mud-brick gallery, waterfall and a herb roof, and souvenirs are
for sale.
Central Park Family Fun Centre, The Entrance Road, Forresters Beach,
4386 2466, has something for everyone - ten-pin bowling, five giant
waterslides, a mini golf centre, senior and junior Grand Prix cars,
BMX track, maze, mini bikes,
Sunday markets. Open daily 9am-5pm, Sat and holidays 9am-10pm.
Festivals
Gosford's Australian Springtime Flora Festival is held in September.
Facilities
Fishing, swimming, boating, diving, wind-surfing, water skiing, horse riding,
ten-pin bowling, squash, lawn bowls, golf and tennis. The Tourist Information
Centre will give you all the information for directions and bookings.
Outlying Attractions Beaches
The coastal beaches in the Gosford area are Killcare, McMasters, Copa-cabana,
Avoca, Terrigal, Wamberal and Forresters. They each have their own attractions,
and all are patrolled on weekends from October to April, with daily patrols
during the school holiday periods. Apart from McMasters and Forresters, they
have a choice of takeaway food outlets close to the beachfront.
The crystal clear waters right along the Central Coast offer some of the best
diving in Australia, and there are fascinating wrecks off Terrigal in reasonably
shallow water. If you are interested in learning how to dive, the Terrigal
Diving Centre, The Haven Terrigal, 4384 1219, or Pro Dive, 96 The Entrance
Road, The Entrance, 4334 1559, are the places to visit. They teach diving,
and after 5 days tuition, which costs around $450, you are awarded a C card.
If you are already a qualified diver and have your certificate with you, a
diving charter can be arranged instead.
Fishing tours are also available for those who prefer to catch fish rather
than rub noses with them (unless you are one of those fanatics who performs
this ritual after catching a fish); one option is Haven Fishing Charters, 12
Lexington Parade, Green Point, 4369 5673.
The Blue Bead Arabian Stud, 4382 2346, is located at Razina Park in Picketts
Valley Road, 5 minutes from Terrigal and Avoca Beaches. They have mountain
trails for the experienced, and instruct beginners and improvers. Bookings
are essential, and the stud is open 7 days.
Tuggerah Lakes
The administrative centre of the Tuggerah Lakes district is Wyong, 22km (24
miles) north of Gosford on the banks of the Wyong River. The Lake system
extends from Killarney Vale in the south to the township of Lake Munmorah
in the north, and consists of three lakes - Tuggerah, Budgewoi and Munmorah.
The biggest lake is Tuggerah Lake, and it has the only opening from the ocean,
appropriately enough, at The Entrance. There are no sharks in the lakes.
Characteristics
One of the most popular holiday places in New South Wales, Tuggerah Lakes has
grown like Topsy. Once it was strictly a fisherman's paradise with basic
fishing shacks. Now there are first class motels, hotels, restaurants and
sporting facilities.
How to Get There By Rail
There is a regular electric rail service from Sydney to Wyong, and local buses
from the station to the other areas.
By Road
From Sydney, via the Pacific Highway, or the F3 from Hornsby to the various
destination turnoffs.
Visitor Information
The Entrance Visitor Information Centre has its office in Marine Parade, and
is open daily 9am-5pm. It shares its contact details with the Gosford Visitor
Information Centre.
Accommodation
As with any holiday centre, there is a great deal of accommodation to choose
from in the Tuggerah Lakes district. Here is a selection with prices for
a double room per night, not including GST, which should be used as a guide
only. The telephone area code is 02.
Wyong
Central Coast Motel, cnr Pacific Highway & Cutler Drive, 4353 2911. 17
units, swimming pool - $60-80.
The Entrance
El Lago Waters Resort, 41 The Entrance Road, 4332 3955. 40 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, spa, sauna, tennis - $70-120.
Ocean Front Motel, 102 Ocean Parade, 4332 5911. 31 units, barbecue, undercover
parking - $80-150.
Sapphire Palms Motel, 180 The Entrance Road, 4332 5799. 20 units, swimming
pool, spa, barbecue - $55-95.
Tienda Motel, 309A The Entrance Road, 4332 3933. 30 units, swimming pool, spa
- $55-110.
Lake Front Motel, 16 Coogee Avenue, 4332 4518. 14 units, swimming pool, barbecue
- $55-110.
Blue Bay Camping and Caravanning Park, cnr Bay Road & Narrawa Avenue, 4332
1991. (No dogs allowed), 48 sites - powered sites $23-30 for two, on-site vans
$50-80 for two, cabins $60-100.
Dunleith Caravan Park, Hutton Road, North Entrance, 4332 2172. 180 sites -
powered sites $18-35 for two, cabins $65-180 for two.
Long Jetty
The Coachman Motor Inn, 33 Gordon Road, 4332 3692. 7 units, swimming pool,
barbecue - $50-110.
Palm Gardens Resort, 44 Kitchener Road, 4333 1000. 23 suites, swimming pool,
spa, sauna, barbecue - $70-170.
Buccaneer Motel, 398 The Entrance Road, 4334 3100. 14 units, swimming pool,
barbecue - $68-120.
Jetty Motel, 353 The Entrance Road, 4332 1022. 22 units, swimming pool, spa,
barbecue $60-110.
Bateau Bay
Palm Court Motel, 61 Bateau Bay Road, 4332 3755. 10 units, unlicensed restaurant,
swimming pool - $60-110.
Bateau Bay Hotel/Motel, The Entrance Road, 4332 8022. 6 units, licensed restaurant
- $60-70.
Sun Valley Caravan Park, Bateau Bay Road, 4332 1107. (No pets allowed), 342
sites - powered sites $21-30 for two, holiday flat $65-110 for two. Budgewoi
Hibiscus Lakeside Motel, 2 Diamond Head Drive, 4390 9100. 13 units, barbecue
- $65-110.
Sunnylake Caravan Park, 2 Macleay Drive, 4390 9471. 130 sites - powered sites
$15-30 for two, cabins $90-170 for two.
Budgewoi Tourist Park, Weemala Street, 4390 9019. (Pets allowed on leash),
380 sites, barbecue - powered sites $12-18.
Toukley
Toukley Motor Inn, 236 Main Road, 4396 5666. 13 units, swimming pool - $56-80.
Twin Lakes Motor Inn, 57 Main Road, 4396 4622. 11 units, swimming pool - $50-85.
Eating Out
The district has several licensed RSL and bowling clubs, and these usually
offer reasonably priced meals. There are also many takeaway and fast food
outlets, both in the towns and on the beachfronts.
Rus Chinese Rendevous, 120 Railway Street, Wyong, 4353 2494.
Wyong Golf Club Restaurant, Pacific Highway, Wyong, 4352 1999.
Sounan Thai, 27 The Entrance Road, The Entrance, 4332 8806. Fully licensed
restaurant with waterside views. Open 6pm-11pm 7 days and midday-3pm Wed-Sun,
closed Public Holidays.
Jetty Indian Tandoori, 509 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty, 4334 2477.
Jans Chinese Malaysian Restaurant, Shops 5-6, 227-229 The En-trance Road, The
Entrance, 4334 1333.
Mantas Seafood Restaurant, 347 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty, 4332 2548.
Beach Point, 19 Point Street, Bateau Bay, 4334 5070.
Carmelos Italian Restaurant, 61 Bateau Bay Road, Bateau Bay, 4334 5155.
Pizza Pit, 65 Scenic Drive Budgewoi, 4399 1035.
Silver Moon Chinese Restaurant, 105 Scenic Drive, Budgewoi, 4390 0489. Licensed,
open 5pm-9pm 7 days and for lunch midday-2pm every day except Monday.
Cactus Blues Mexican Restaurant, 245 Main Road, Toukley, 4397 1557.
Starfish Seafood Restaurant, 200 Main Road, Toukley, 4397 1300.
Points of Interest
The Forest of Tranquility, Ourimbah Creek Road, Ourimbah, is the home of Willy
Wombat's rainforest walk, the best walk in a rainforest in the Sydney environs.
There are gas barbecues, a children's playground, and picnic area, and rainforest
plants are for sale. hOpen Wed-Sun 10am-5pm and all public holidays, 4362
1855.
Crackneck Lookout, in Hilltop Avenue, Bateau Bay, offers sweeping views of
the coastline to Norah Head and Bungary Point, over the three lakes and the
three power stations.
Bateau Bay Golf Practice Range, 468 The Entrance Road, 4332 3277, is the largest
golf range on the Central Coast, and venue of Australian Golf Schools. Practice
facilities include grass tees, target greens, bunker and distance markers.
Open 7 days.
Long Jetty Catamaran Hire, cnr Tuggerah Parade and Pacific Street, Long Jetty,
4332 9362, hires out catamarans, sailboards, canoes and pedal boats. They also
have lessons in water skiing, and sell fishing tackle and bait. The Entrance Aquaslide, 4334 3151, adjacent to the Lakeside Plaza
carpark, 19 Taylor Street, The Entrance, has The Space Spiral, Outer
Orbit and Cosmic Crusher rides, and the good news is, the pool is heated.
Each afternoon at 3.30pm, near the children's playground in the Memorial Park,
The Entrance, everybody gathers to feed the pelicans. The pelican has been
adopted as the symbol of the tourist industry on the Central Coast, and the
daily feeding ensures that this symbol doesn't disappear. There is no doubt
that they are fascinating creatures, with wing spans up to 2m, and those incredible
beaks, but there are many locals who are not exactly enamoured of them. To
start with, they eat fish and are not well mannered enough to limit themselves
to the afternoon meals supplied by humans, but tend to fish for themselves
in the lakes. And, they are much better at it than those people sitting in
boats and on the shore with hooks and lines. Then they have lice, which they
shed in the water to bite anyone who dares to swim in the area. It is not that
the pelicans do this on purpose, but try selling that to a kiddy who is suffering
from itchy bites. Of course, the pelicans came before people starting feeding
them, but not in such large numbers.
At Dunleith Caravan Park, Hut-ton Road, North Entrance, 4332 2172, there is
a Shell Museum, with an extensive display of shells and early photographs of
the area, along with models of aquatic animals.
Norah Head Lighthouse, circa 1903, is open for visitors only by arrangement
with the Visitor Centre. At Cabbage Tree Bay, the tiny settlement where the
road to the light house commences, there are steps leading down to a lovely
little rock pool, which is very popular with children. You can also drive down
the steep road before the steps, but parking is usually a problem. There is
a surfing beach alongside, but it is not patrolled, and there is a dangerous
riptide.
Edward Hargraves Homestead, in Elizabeth Drive, Noraville, is not open for
inspection, but can be viewed from the road. Edward Hargraves discovered gold
near Bathurst in 1851, causing the first gold rush in Australia.
Toukley has a good-sized shopping centre, and the Toukley & District Senior
Citizens Club in Hargraves Street, has loads of entertainment and things to
do. Toukley RSL is also a very busy club, and visitors are always welcome,
as they are at Toukley Bowling Club.
Warnervale Airfield, near the expressway (follow the road through Toukley,
crossing the Pacific Highway) offers joy-flights every Sunday, and other days
by appointment. Contact Central Coast Helicopters, Lot 1, Sparks Road, Warnervale,
4352 2222, or Warnervale Air, Jack Grant Avenue, 4392 5174.
Smokey Mountain Steam Railroad, in Mountain Road, Warner-vale, offers a different
day out for all the family with steam train rides through the surrounding picturesque
valleys between 11am and 4pm. It operates on Sundays and public holidays from
Boxing Day until the last Sunday in October, except Good Friday and days of
total fire ban. For further information, contact them on, 4392 7644.
Beaches
The coastal beaches in the Tuggerah Lakes area are: Bateau Bay; Shelly Beach;
Toowoon Bay; The Entrance; North Entrance; Soldiers Point; Cabbage Tree Bay;
Jenny Dixon; The Lakes Beach.
Jenny Dixon Beach and Cabbage Tree bay are not patrolled, and Jenny Dixon has
some nude bathers, but the other beaches are patrolled every weekend, and all
through the school holidays, and have handy food outlets. From the Lakes Beach,
miles of sand and surf stretch northwards, but it should be remembered that
the site of the beach club was chosen because it is the safest part of that
stretch.
