The Entrance, Central Coast
Central Coast Beaches: from Broken Bay at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River to south of Newcastle, the Central Coast includes a mix of bays and inlets, pristine beaches, lakes and lush hinterland. The region’s laid-back atmosphere stems from the fact that life here is all about swimming, surfing, fishing or sailing, or simply relaxing at one of the waterfront cafés or restaurants.
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Gosford: 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.
Newcastle: with a population exceeding half a million, Newcastle is the seventh largest and the second oldest city in Australia and the second largest in the state of New South Wales. It is the largest coal export harbour in the world and boasts massive coal deposits which cover much of the region beyond the city. It is also home to the most beaches in Australia - there are over twenty from Lake Macquarie to Port Stephens - and it's the predominant city within the Hunter Valley region. Newcastle was nominated 9th in Lonely Plant's 2011 list of Top 10 cities in the world as tourist destinations.
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Knobbys Head: an island at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour. The Nobbys Head is thought to have been originally 62 metres, but was reduced to its current 27.5 m height because sailing ships were losing wind in the sails as they rounded Nobbys Head.
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Tin City, Stockton Beach
Stockton Beach: located north of the Hunter River, Stockton Beach is popular with four-wheel drive enthusiasts and fishermen. In World War II it was fortified against a possible attack by Imperial Japanese forces. Many of these fortifications can still be seen along the beach. Wreckage from many shipwrecks continues to wash ashore periodically but the most well known, recognisable and permanent of the wrecks are the Uralla and the Sygna.
A unique shanty town known as Tin City is situated 11 km south west of Anna Bay on Stockton Beach. Comprised of a series of tin shacks, it was used for several scenes in the 1979 movie Mad Max.
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Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area: as Australia’s largest saltwater lake, Lake Macquarie is one of the largest coastal saltwater lakes in the Southern Hemisphere. The Conservation Area covers some 16kms of coastal area with abundant wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies and colourful birdlife. Lake Macquarie is surrounded by cosy holiday towns like Belmont, Wangi Wangi, Cooranbong, Swansea and Toronto.
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The Entrance: 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.
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Woy Woy: situated on a peninsula between the Brisbane Waters and the Brisbane Waters National Park, Woty Woy is part of the city of Gosford with excellent views of Brisbane Water. It's a great sport for fishing and boating on Brisbane Waters, Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River. Great for boating and fishing.
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Avoca Beach: 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.
Forresters Beach: a 1km long beach, named after one of the original settlers, Robert Forrester. Nearby are Warberal Lagoon Nature Reserve and Wyrrabalong National Park (Aboriginal for headland looking over the sea) are known for their marine and bird life. Crackneck Lookout has sweeping vistas.
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Bateau Bay: a sleepy coastal village, Bateau Bay was first settled in 1828, It is known for fishing and whale watching in May to October. Nearby Wyrrabalong National Park has lots of bird and native wildlife.
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Terrigal: famous for its boutique shopping, upmarket restaurants and cafes and first class entertainment, Terrigal is a classic Australian seaside village with sunny street cafes. Terrigal is the geographical heart of the Central Coast with spectacular coastal lookouts, national parks and a beautiful rural hinterland, all within a short drive. Terrigal town is positioned right on the surf beach, with a perfect north easterly aspect to capture the sun all day.
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Norah Head: a headland on the peninsula to the east of Budgewoi Lake, the focal point of Norah Head is without question the Norah Head Lighthouse. With many ship wrecked vessels in the 1800's, the precast concrete block lighthouse structure was erected in 1903. There are several lookouts at Norah head looking north and south with a great walking trail with natural vegetation and wildlife.
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Bouddi National Park: a small park lying about 60km north of Sydney, on the north side of the mouth of the Hawkesbury River and Broken Bay. Set between forests and small secluded beaches and cliffs, it protects an area of coastal heath and moors, as well as a number of delightful beaches. It also has some fine examples of Aboriginal rock art.
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Wyrrabalong National Park: consists of two main sections - the northern section covers a substantial area of the peninsula between The Entrance and Norah Head as well as Terilbah and Pelican Islands within Tuggerah Lake. The southern section covers from Shelly Beach south to Forresters Beach. Excellent surfing can be had here, with wonderful coastal walking.
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Port Stephens: described as a "blue water paradise" because of the beauty of its marine surroundings, Port Stephens is located about two and a half hours north of Sydney. With over 30 km of clean, white sandy beaches, Port Stephens boasts vibrant tourism and fishing industries. Nelson Bay, the major town of the Port Stephens region, is a major tourism centre, particularly for surfing, diving, fishing, and dolphin and whale watching.
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Tilligerry Peninsula: On the south-western shores of Port Stephens lies the Tilligerry Peninsula. The peninsula is a tranquil and untouched place surrounded on three sides by the waters of Port Stephens and the Tilligerry Creek. Tilligerry Peninsula's communities are Lemon Tree Passage, Mallabula, Oyster Cove, Salt Ash and Tanilba Bay.
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Tomaree Peninsula: the large peninsula which divides Port Stephens from the Pacific Ocean. Tomaree National Park conserves over two thousand hectares of coastal bushland on Tomaree Peninsula, including twenty kilometres of rocky coastline and beaches. The coastal section from Anna Bay to Morna Point is the best place to exploring.
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Australian Reptile Park: the park, at Somersby close to the Sydney-Newcastle Expressway, was established in 1948 and is now regarded as one of the countries premier attractions. The Sanctuary is the only zoo in Australia committed to saving lives with a Venom-Milking Program in place for over 50 years.
Ettalong Beach: known for its waterways, lagoons and beaches, Ettalong 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.
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