15 Incredible Central Coast Beaches

The Central Coast is renowned for its beaches but if you really want to know the best of the best, you ask a local. Here, Megan Arkinstall lets us in on her top 15.

Home to more than 40 beaches that occupy an 80-kilometre coastline, the Central Coast of New South Wales is the perfect summer holiday destination or mid-winter seaside getaway. But with so many strips of sand to choose from, where do you start? Here, a guide to 15 of the best beaches on the Central Coast to suit sun seekers of all kinds – from water babies to surfing pros to people who just enjoy long walks along the sand.

Note: patrol season is from late September to late April

1. Avoca Beach

Patrolled

Visitors enjoying a day at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast.

Surfers and families alike flock to Avoca Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

The hometown of many surfing greats, including Wade Carmichael and Adrian Buchan, it’s no surprise that Avoca Beach is popular for those chasing waves. But this two-kilometre stretch of golden sand appeals to all beach lovers, with a shallow rock pool and lagoon for kids to play about in, a rocky platform for fishermen, and some great beachside dining including chic bar and restaurant Avoca Beach House, and Point Cafe located under the surf club. You could easily spend an entire day here, but during the summer months, you’ll need to arrive early to nab a patch of sand as it can get really busy.

Visitors pass the Point Cafe at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast.

Find a collection of takeaway and dine-in cafes overlooking the beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Toowoon Bay

Patrolled

A favourite with families, this 700-metre-long curved beach boasts calm turquoise water and white sand, perfect for little ones to splash about in the pristine shallows. The bay is sheltered by reefs, which means it’s also a great spot for snorkelling, as well as stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking, while novice surfers enjoy the soft rolling waves. There’s a café serving breaky and lunch at the surf club, with complimentary sea views.

Aerial of paddleboarders at Toowoon Bay, Central Coast.

Toowoon Bay is a perfectly sheltered family beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Soldiers Beach

Patrolled

Just south of historic Norah Head Lighthouse, Soldiers Beach is loved for its pristine white sand, clear water and reliable waves, which draw in the board riders year-round. There’s also a calmer swimming area. The surf club is home to Dunes, a restaurant with a tapas-style menu and incredible views, and there’s a kiosk at the top car park that offers burgers, milkshakes and the like.

Soldiers Beach is a popular local surf spot.

4. Wamberal Beach

Patrolled

Around the bend from buzzy (and often busy) seaside town Terrigal, you’ll find a wide expanse of golden-sand beach that’s much less crowded. It has an off-leash area for dogs and is a local favourite for surfing. The surf club has a café but less than a hundred metres down the road, Lagune serves up some epic coffee and focaccia sandwiches.

Wamberal Beach with views across to Terrigal.

Wamberal Beach is a less-crowded option over Terrigal Beach (pictured in the distance) come summer. (Image: Destination Central Coast)

5. Pelican Beach

Unpatrolled

Surrounded by Wyrrabalong National Park, Pelican Beach – or ‘Pelos’ as locals call it – is accessed via the rather unassuming Pelican Beach Road off Wilfred Barrett Drive. This is true surfing nirvana for experienced board riders and, due to its relative isolation, is usually uncrowded and feels a million miles away. It’s a beauty, with an untouched white-sand coastline and crystal-clear water.

Pelican Beach rd lookout, Wyrrabalong National Park

Pelican Beach is true surfing nirvana. (Image: John Spencer/DCCEEW)

6. Umina Beach

Patrolled

Umina is home to two patrolled beaches, Umina Beach and Ocean Beach, which occupy a 2.8-kilometre stretch of golden sand in Broken Bay. Both beaches are relatively calm for swimming and usually offer small waves, perfect for kids and novices learning to surf.

Umina is home to two patrolled beaches.

Umina Beach is also home to the fantastic and family-friendly NRMA Ocean Beach Resort. It features an incredible kids’ playground and cafe, both within walking distance from the sand.

A couple sitting in front of a campervan overlookingUmina Beach, at the NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort in Umina.

Set up camp at the NRMA Ocean Beach Resort for easy access to the beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Frazer Beach

Unpatrolled

Located in Munmorah State Conservation Area, you may have secluded Frazer Beach to yourself. At 400 metres, this little patch of paradise packs a punch with striking turquoise water and white sand. It also serves up reliable surf, a calm lagoon and nearby bushwalking tracks for all-day adventures. There are picnic tables that overlook the beach, a campground and toilets, but no other facilities.

Frazer campground Munmorah State Conservation Area

Frazer Beach is fairly unknown, so you may have this patch of paradise to yourself. (Image: John Spencer/DCCEEW)

8. Shelly Beach

Patrolled

Stretching an impressive 1.5 kilometres, Shelly Beach is a great all-rounder beach. It attracts surfers of all abilities for its consistent beach break, a dog exercise section, small sand dunes for tumbling down and a great grass area up the top for picnics. The surf club also has a restaurant upstairs and a café downstairs, which is a popular spot for coffee or a sun-drenched breaky post-swim. Shelly Beach Golf Club is one of the most spectacular golf courses on the coast for its ocean views.

Surfers enjoying a morning out in the water off ShellyBeach on the Central Coast.

Shelly Beach is a great all-rounder. (Image: Destination NSW)

9. Killcare Beach

Patrolled

This secluded seaside enclave is known by holidaymakers for two luxe guesthouses Bells at Killcare and Pretty Beach House; both charming and indulgent options for a weekender from Sydney. Down by the water, things are just as appealing: sweeping views towards Sydney’s Northern Beaches, uncrowded golden sand, a rockpool at the western corner for the kids to splash about in, and decent waves for surfers of all abilities – what’s not to love? There’s also a sand cruiser wheelchair available for hire so people with disabilities can fully enjoy the beach.

Views above Killcare Beach.

10. Macmasters Beach

Patrolled

Immediately south of Copacabana Beach, which is a magnet for surfers, Macmasters Beach is more of an all-rounder for beachgoers of all kinds. It has calmer conditions for young swimmers and those learning to surf, an ocean pool built in the 1960s, a great picnic spot with barbecues, an off-leash dog section and a fabulous kids’ playground nearby.

Sunny day at Macmasters Beach and ocean pool on the Central Coast.

Macmasters Beach ocean pool is the perfect spot for families to enjoy. (Image: Destination Central Coast)

11. North Avoca Beach

Patrolled

The northern stretch of Avoca Beach is a favourite with families, particularly for the rock pools that kids love to hop about in. Surfers of all abilities come here for the waves and it’s a dog-friendly beach too. It’s usually less crowded than its southern counterpart but come summertime locals and visitors alike will pitch their cabanas on the sand and settle in for the day.

Aerial of surfers on North Avoca beach, Central Coast.

Surfers at North Avoca Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

12. Ettalong Beach

Unpatrolled

The quaint seaside town of Ettalong has a shallow and calm beach that is ideal for families, with views across Broken Bay and towards Box Head. Stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, boating and jet skiing are popular in the waterways around here.

Couple enjoying a walk along Ettalong Beach at sunset.

Ettalong Beach is an under-the-radar gem. (Image: Destination NSW)

There’s also a beautiful three-kilometre pathway that traces the foreshore from Ettalong to Umina, past The BOX on the Water, which is a great spot for a coffee or sundowner. There’s also an excellent playground beachside that the kids love.

Food and drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.

Take advantage of BOX on the Water’s proximity to the sand. (Image: Destination NSW)

13. Terrigal Beach

Patrolled

Perhaps the Central Coast’s most popular holiday spot, Terrigal is a buzzy seaside town with a host of restaurants, bars and accommodation. The beach itself usually has calm and gentle waves, so it’s popular with families but during summer is filled with umbrellas and cabanas.

View of the coastline from the water at Terrigal Beach on the Central Coast

Terrigal Beach is one of the Central Coast’s most renowned beaches. (Image: Destination NSW)

Terrigal is a scenic spot to take a beachside walk, its pathway running along the beach and across a cliff-hugging wooden boardwalk to Terrigal Haven. Here, kids will love fossicking in the rock pools and climbing up – and often rolling down – Terrigal Skillion, a steep headland that offers incredible views from the top.

Families swimming in the rock pool at Terrigal Beach on the Central Coast

Kids are at play in the rock pool alongside the boardwalk connecting Terrigal Beach to the Haven. (Image: Katie Carlin)

14. Pearl Beach

Unpatrolled

Sharing a peninsula with the sleepy beachside enclave of Patonga, Pearl Beach is the Central Coast’s southernmost beach. Facing Broken Bay, the calm southern end is popular with families.

Woman enjoying a morning of stand up paddleboarding atPearl Beach on the Central Coast.

Calm waters make for perfect SUP conditions. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s also known for its 25-metre rockpool that was built into the cliffside during the 1920s. Amalfi is a sophisticated Italian restaurant housed in an historic cottage just steps from the sand – it’s an idyllic spot for long, lazy beachside lunches.

Scenic aerials overlooking Pearl Beach on the Central Coast.

The beauty of Pearl Beach is on full display. (Image: Destination Central Coast)

15. Birdie Beach

Unpatrolled

This four-kilometre stretch of white sand lapped by cerulean waters is much loved by naturalists for its clothing-optional liberties. The Central Coast’s only nudist beach, Birdie is hidden within Munmorah State Conservation Area just north of the town of Budgewoi.

Tea Tree Walk with scenic views over Birdie Beach, Wybung.

Birdie Beach is the only nudist beach on the Central Coast. (Image: Destination Central Coast)

Hugged by craggy cliffs, it’s not only for perfecting an all-over tan, but also a haven for surfing and snorkelling. If you prefer to stay in your cozzies, make sure you keep an eye out for the sign that indicates the ‘unclad bathing’ section and head to the southern end instead.

Read the Ultimate travel guide to the Central Coast for more insider tips.

Underpinned by grassroots hospitality and award-winning organic produce, the Central Coast’s gastronomy scene is thriving, with the region quickly becoming one of the best destinations in NSW for epicures.

Revered for its rugged natural splendour and laid-back seaside charm, NSW’s Central Coast has soared in popularity in recent years, becoming a top choice for an affordable slice of weekend escapism for Sydneysiders. Just a short 45-minute drive north of Sydney, it’s the kind of place that, no matter how many times you visit, leaves you with the sense that there’s always more to uncover. But while the ocean pools, bushwalks and beaches have (rightly) taken the spotlight, it’s the Central Coast food offerings which have been quietly simmering in the background.

From fresh-as-it-gets seafood and juicy organic citrus you can pluck yourself, through to regenerative farming and reputable farm-to-fork dining, this coastal gem has become an idyllic foodie mecca. Here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in grassroots hospitality and gastronomic glory on the NSW Central Coast.

vegetables in a basket at Bells Garden at Bells At Killcare

From picking your own, to farm-to-table, discover the best Central Coast food experiences. (Image: Remy Brand)

Central Coast oyster experiences

From humble grub to opulent delicacy, oysters have ascended into a league of their own. Epicureans are fascinated by them – willing to pay upwards of $35 per dozen (double at some of Sydney’s reputable fine dining restaurants) – and ‘shuck bars’ seem to be popping up at every milestone celebration.

But it’s rare to find places that really draw back the curtain on how they’re farmed and why everyone is mad for these molluscs. The Central Coast, however, is home to several of these venues. With its pristine waters, mild climate and nutrient-rich estuaries, it’s the perfect breeding ground for oysters.

Learn about oyster farming and, importantly, how to shuck them at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. Nestled on the Hawkesbury River at Mooney Mooney, Sheridan Beaumont and her team offer a hands-on foodie experience where you can feast on dozens of oysters (white tablecloth and all) while wading through the calm waters. You can even bring your own bottle of bubbles to wash them down.

guests in the water for an experience at Sydney Oyster Farm - Central Coast food

Learn tricks of the trade at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. (Image: Remy Brand)

Elevate your oyster knowledge even further by heading north over the Hawkesbury River Bridge to the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed. Tour their scenic oyster leases and saltwater paddocks by boat to uncover the distinct characteristics of the Sydney rock oyster and creamy Pacific oyster. They’ve also partnered with Broken Bay Pearl Farm to offer a one-of-a-kind oyster and pearl farming guided tour, showcasing the Central Coast’s very own pearl oyster, the Broken Bay ‘Akoya’. But if you’re simply in the mood to devour a dozen delectable oysters while soaking in the tranquil river views, pull up a chair at the shed. It’s friendly in every sense of the word: pets, families and BYO welcome.

shucking oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm

Taste freshly shucked oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm. (Image: James Horan)

Central Coast farms to pick your own fruit

While the Central Coast is known for its breathtaking 40 beaches and 80-kilometre coastline, its lush hinterland is equally impressive – abundant with orchards and agriculturally rich farmland. And when it comes to the simple joy of picking your own fruit, the Central Coast is a ripe playground.

Family-owned Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge is an orchard that blends conventional, biodynamic and organic philosophies. Third-generation farmer Tim Kemp and his wife Elise are dedicated to honouring the family legacy by growing a rich variety of oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins and avocados. In late May, roam the sustainable and nutrient-dense property during ‘Pick Your Own’ weekends.

Eastcoast Beverages is another bountiful citrus orchard boasting over 60 hectares of fruit. From June you can learn about the cultivation of high-quality ingredients – like lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges – by touring both the farm and factory before setting out and picking your own straight from the source. You can also sample an array of citrus-inspired sweet and savoury treats at their on-site cafe, Bambino’s.

If it’s just juicy oranges you’re after, Cedar Farm in Dooralong is a must-visit. Located about 30 minutes north of Peats Ridge, it features 15 flourishing orchards and over 3000 orange trees – with take-home bags during the season (from July) at low prices. Not bad for a fruity weekend haul.

woman picking oranges at Oranges at Dooralong

Pick your own citrus fruits on the Central Coast. (Image: James Vodicka)

Organic dining

What makes the Central Coast hinterland so special is the unwavering respect the communities have for their cherished backyard. Locally owned and operated farms are all striving for more sustainable practices and methods to both enhance biodiversity and reduce environmental impact, each with a heartwarming food philosophy.

The Food Farm in Wyong Creek believes good food is worth both the work and the wait. Devoted to regenerative farming, first-generation ‘farmily’ Tim Eyes and Hannah Greenshields are recognised for their grass-fed, grass-finished beef and pasture-raised, gold medal-winning chickens. With an open gate policy, The Food Farm encourages visitors to swing by and try some of their slow-grown produce at their small ‘honesty’ farm shop. With no staff, you can pick up a few quality cuts of meat and pasteurised eggs, leaving the owing amount in cash or via eftpos.

Keeping the spirit of generational organic farming alive is Fanelli Organics. Nestled in the Central Coast’s scenic and sleepy Mangrove Mountain, founders Eden and Louise Fanelli own over 45 hectares of plentiful farmland and orchards that produce a huge range of organic fruit and vegetables, like purple Dutch carrots, blood oranges, broccoli and Tuscan kale. A true home-grown operation, Fanelli Organics shares its fresh produce with local restaurants and community markets, including the beloved markets at Like Minds Cafe at Avoca Beach every Wednesday afternoon.

farmers holding fresh produce picked at Fanelli Organics

See where your food comes from at Fanelli Organics.

Paddock-to-plate dining

High-quality ingredients go hand in hand with premium dining, and the Central Coast is home to several paddock-to-plate restaurants that showcase its diverse and rich agriculture. Paired with warm, grassroots hospitality, there are culinary triumphs, new menus and revered chefs constantly popping up, putting the local dining scene firmly on the map.

Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce. Nestled in thick bushland with wraparound verandahs, floral gardens and an idyllic dam, the gourmet homestead and bakehouse is unlike any restaurant on the Central Coast. Here, head chef Reece Collins and his team serve up an impressive breakfast and lunch menu that oozes rustic charm. Pull up a comfy armchair on the expansive deck, listen to birdsong, and tuck into flavoursome dishes like the farmhouse Benedict with honey-cured ham, lemon myrtle hollandaise and Warrigal gremolata, or the hearty beef brisket pie with confit garlic potato purée and rainbow chard.

woman writing in notebook next to a table of food at Saddles, Central Coast food

Taste country-style cooking at Saddles. (Image: Destination NSW)

Delivering a slice of sophistication and luxury to the shores and bushland of Bouddi Peninsula is Bells at Killcare. One of the few boutique resorts on the Central Coast, it’s known for its premium service and five-star suites, as well as its bountiful kitchen gardens that boast an orchard, olive trees, avocado trees, free-range hens and a honey bee hive.

Cameron Cansdell has returned to Bells at Killcare as head chef, bringing his expertise to the casual yet refined menus that feature a raw bar with Oscietra caviar, freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters and Moreton Bay bugs, all served alongside optional matched wines. Sample some of Australia’s best regional wines and standout dishes, like roasted Wollemi duck with grilled leeks, rocket, grilled grapes and 10-year-aged balsamic, or the shareworthy salt-crusted snapper with herb salad and salsa, before roaming the picturesque gardens, wine in hand.

Sample incredible wine, cocktails and dishes at Bells At Killcare. (Image: Nikki To)

Plan your next visit to the delicious Central Coast.

15 incredible Central Coast beaches to visit this summer

The Central Coast is renowned for its beaches but if you really want to know the best of the best, you ask a local. Here, Megan Arkinstall lets us in on her top 15.

1. Avoca Beach

2. Toowoon Bay

3. Soldiers Beach

4. Wamberal Beach

5. Pelican Beach

6. Umina Beach

7. Frazer Beach

8. Shelly Beach

9. Killcare Beach

10. Macmasters Beach

11. North Avoca Beach

12. Ettalong Beach

13. Terrigal Beach

14. Pearl Beach

15. Birdie Beach

Read the Ultimate travel guide to the Central Coast for more insider tips.

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Why the Central Coast is a foodie mecca

Underpinned by grassroots hospitality and award-winning organic produce, the Central Coast’s gastronomy scene is thriving, with the region quickly becoming one of the best destinations in NSW for epicures.

Central Coast oyster experiences

Central Coast farms to pick your own fruit

Organic dining

Paddock-to-plate dining