Central Coast

Beautiful beaches meet pristine national parks and pretty waterways on the NSW Central Coast, just north of Sydney.

Explore the area’s natural treasures on outdoor adventures, meet native animals at popular wildlife sanctuaries, sample local food and wine, and discover a thriving arts scene.

Outdoor adventures

The Central Coast is blessed with national parks and nature reserves in its backyard: theBouddi Coastal Walk and The Coast Walking Track showcase these spectacular landscapes. There are mountain biking and horse-riding 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

The shared cycleways along the coastal path connect Ettalong Beach, Avoca Beach, Terrigal and The Entrance, home of the daily Pelican Feed. The Tuggerah Lakes Cycleway stretches 12km with plenty of picnic and barbecue spots along the way. The sparkling waterways are popular for fishing, kayaking, waterskiing and sailing, too.

Hike through Ourimbah State Forest to get to TreeTop Adventure Park where you can fly through the forest canopy on a rollercoaster zipline or flying fox. Go to Glenworth Valley to enjoy horse-riding in a sylvan setting. Other adventurous options include big game fishing tours, skydiving, scuba diving, kayaking and surf schools.

Native wildlife

See wildlife up close at The Australian Reptile Park, home to huge saltwater crocodile Elvis and giant Galapagos tortoise Hugo. Meet native animals including Kambala the koala and Hippo the wombat at Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, which is a working wildlife sanctuary designed to protect animals that come into care.