Craving authentic Australian experiences without traversing the entire country? The Big Lap can wait. The Central Coast has it all, and then some.
Only a 45-minute drive from Sydney, the Central Coast has long-been a drawcard for mates, families and couples seeking a relaxing getaway with a cool beach culture.
With the region’s huge array of nature-focused, historical and cultural attractions, you can take a dip into the best Australia has to offer without doing the big lap.
True blue animal encounters
Home to the largest collection of reptiles in Australia, the Australian Reptile Park has visitors coming face-to-face with pythons, rattlesnakes, red-bellied black snakes and deadly king browns.
The park is vital to the success of Australia’s antivenom production, serving as the sole supplier of raw venom for terrestrial snakes, and providing funnel web antivenom. The program saves over 300 lives annually, and visitors can witness live snake milking demonstrations and see funnel web spider milkings at Spider World’s brand-new Weigel Venom Centre.
Check out saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, and a huge range of unique reptilian wonders, birds and spiders. Not every resident has scales or huge teeth – you can also meet cuter critters such as kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian devils and wombats.
Hand-feed kangaroos and meet Hugo – one of the largest Galapagos tortoises in the world. Learn about the Tasmanian Devil breeding program (while meeting them in action), which is focused on preserving this unique endangered species. Fascinating keeper talks are held throughout the day so that visitors can learn about our native wildlife while exploring.
To meet some more cuddly creatures, Iris Lodge Alpacas is set on 25 acres of beautiful farmland in the heart of Jilliby, and the lush Central Coast hinterland. This ECO-certified alpaca farm is home to 140 alpacas, llamas, babydoll and Wiltipoll sheep.
Tours allow visitors to hand feed alpacas while learning about their behaviour and care. Indulge in a brunch of locally sourced seasonal produce (vegetarian and dietary options available) surrounded by the friendly alpacas. You can also meet an adorable cria – aka baby alpaca.
Take a sip of the Central Coast
Eastcoast Beverages is a family-owned fruit farm on a 300-acre citrus orchard producing juices from its abundance of delicious oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes.
On a juice factory tour learn firsthand how citrus is grown and harvested and experience the juice-making process, from fruit washing to bottling. Sample the farm’s full range of freshly squeezed and cold-pressed juices.
The farm’s café, Bambinos, dishes up farm-to-table food with produce harvested directly from the fields and from other local producers, and the picnic tables in the gardens offer scenic views across the orchards to the mountains. It’s not every day that you can kick back in a piece of paradise and quite literally taste the sweetness of a destination.
From the valleys to the sea
If immersing yourself in nature is your thing, Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures spans across 3000-acres in a secluded valley only 20 minutes inland from the beaches, where you can choose your own adventure.
Take a horseback ride or get your adrenaline pumping on a quad biking adventure – both allowing you to explore the creeks, undulating valleys and quintessentially Aussie bush teeming with wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies, goannas and a huge array of native birds.
Kayak along pristine Popran Creek, abseil from cliff faces within the valley, and for a night under the stars, set up camp and bask in the serenity.
For a wildlife adventure on the water, Terrigal Ocean Tours provides humpback whale watching tours during migration season (May to November), dolphin watching tours, and scenic private cruises to explore the stunning scenery of Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River. On all tours, marine biologists educate guests about our precious ecosystems and wildlife behaviour.
You can also get out on the water with Sail Central Coast, which has intimate scenic sailing experiences across Brisbane Water, Broken Bay and Hawkesbury River. Choose a 2-hour or full-day adventure on sailing vessels ranging from traditional yachts to modern catamarans where guests can indulge in local wines and gourmet cheese platters.
For something more romantic, choose a sunset cruise, or embark on a wildlife safari where dolphins, sea birds, and whales are the stars of the show. Some of the trips take guests around Lion Island, to take in the magnificent sandstone cliffs and more wildlife.
The finer things in life
For a truly immersive experience, pull on your waders and walk amongst the oyster leases with Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. Learn about the complete life cycle of Sydney rock oysters, from spat (aka baby oysters) to harvest-ready adults.
Local guides demonstrate traditional oyster harvesting techniques and modern farming methods before guests indulge in freshly harvested oysters straight from lease. It’s a true foodie experience as each guest shucks 18 oysters and can enjoy them with some fresh local prawns. You can even BYO your own special wine to pair with the exquisite offerings!
Tours are around two hours and all gear is provided, including waders, gloves, and oyster shucking tools. Tour groups are capped at 16 people, allowing for a personal experience.
Oysters have many talents, with one of them being their ability to produce pearls. Broken Bay Pearl Farm is NSW’s only pearl farm on the east coast, producing rare Akoya pearls. The company’s boat tours take visitors to the pearl farm’s floating infrastructure on Brisbane Waters, where you can learn about the pearl farming process – from seeding to harvesting.
Guests will see an oyster being opened and a stunning pearl on display for the first time, hold and examine pearl oysters at the farm, and visit the pearl showroom where pearl grading is explained, and unique pieces can be purchased. The tours are around 2.5 hours with a maximum of 12 passengers per tour.
Cultural and historical offerings
The Central Coast is home to one of the largest growing Aboriginal communities in Australia. Long before this region was known for its hinterland, valleys and beaches, it was, and remains, the home of the Darkinjung, Gurungai and Awabakal peoples, who lived, cared for and thrived on this land for thousands of years.
Honouring the deep connections between culture and country, Girri Girra Aboriginal Experiences offers guided, cultural bushwalking tours where guests learn about native foods and traditional medicinal plants.
Experience a welcome smoking ceremony, watch demonstrations of traditional tool-making techniques, and handle Aboriginal tools and artifacts. Guests are also entertained by didgeridoo performances and can gain some know-how when it comes to traditional animal tracking methods in the bush. Tours are between 2 to 3 hours, operating in various locations across the Central Coast.
You can’t visit the Central Coast without checking out the longest jetty in New South Wales, Spanning 351 metres into Tuggerah Lake, Long Jetty was built in 1915 and offers visitors a chance to get out over the water and soak in amazing sunrises and sunsets.
The pier is also a top fishing spot, with common catches being bream, flathead, and whiting.
Children can swim in the shallow lake waters and have fun in the playgrounds while parents relax. On the last Saturday of the month, between 9am and 2pm, Long Jetty Markets hosts more than 130 stalls of international foods, fashion, homewares, desserts, jewellery and more.
Another special historical attraction – and a Central Coast icon – is Norah Head Lighthouse. Built in 1903 and rising to 27.5 metres, it’s a fully operational lighthouse located on a dramatic headland surrounded by rock pools, walking tracks and fishing spots.
Book a tour and climb the 96 steps to the top of the lighthouse for breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean while learning about the many tragic shipwrecks and fascinating tales from the region.
If you’d like to take a little piece of the Central Coast home with you, pop into the General Store near the lighthouse to explore a variety of ethically sourced clothing, gifts, homewares, and even hand-shaped surfboards.
You can stay in one of the Lighthouse Quarters on the grounds of the lighthouse and from May to November watch the humpback whale migration in all its glory from your front yard or even from the comfort of your room! That’s something to write home about.
As a sunset sets the sky alight, stroll along Soldiers Beach and you’ll understand why people fall in love with the Central Coast, and come back again and again for a big lap.
In partnership with Destination Central Coast, to unearth more to love on the NSW Central Coast visit LoveCentralCoast.com.
To read about the best coastal festivals and events in Australia, click here.
