The Ultimate Central Coast Summer Itinerary

The Central Coast is a sprawling region comprising of pristine beaches, leafy hinterland, and quaint and cool coastal towns. It’s the perfect place for a summer road trip, so we’ve done the work and planned the itinerary for you. Here, seven sunny days on the Central Coast.

Day 1: Central Coast Hinterland

While the Central Coast is epitomised by its beaches, it also has beautiful rural suburbs, sprawling bushland and pockets of lush rainforest to be experienced if you take the route along Tourist Drive 33. Your first stop is Saddles at Mount White for morning tea (around 50 minutes north of Sydney). Set on an 11-hectare property, Saddles is a beautifully designed restaurant set in bushland. The menu includes bakery-inspired items such as sausage rolls and lamingtons, cooked with ingredients from the kitchen garden and plated in style.

The Piano Bar at Saddles. Credit: Jacs Powell

Continue to Glenworth Valley, a privately owned 1214-hectare wilderness in the Central Coast hinterland, and home to a range of adventure activities such as horse riding, quad biking, abseiling, kayaking and laser skirmish. Consider staying overnight at one of the secluded and contemporary eco cabins here.

Day 2: Patonga, Umina and Ettalong

Take the 40-minute drive to the quiet beachside village of Patonga for brunch at The Boathouse Hotel. Perfect for summer dining, it has that classic style synonymous with The Boathouse Group, as well as three ultra-chic apartments available for guests to stay.

The Boathouse Hotel in Patonga is perfect for summer dining.

Be sure to do the short walk to the spectacular Warrah Lookout just 10 minutes down the road before continuing to Ettalong Beach. It’s a great family destination with a beautiful waterfront reserve, kids’ playgrounds, calm swimming spots and a walkway that leads to Umina Beach. Mantra Ettalong is an ideal accommodation option here, with views of Brisbane Water and Broken Bay.

Spend a night at the Mantra Ettalong.

Enjoy lunch at The Box on the Water, which has panoramic views of the water, followed by some shopping at nearby florist and homewares store Salmon and Co, vintage bolthole Tiki La La and exotic lifestyle store Jachavela. There are a plethora of dining options on the Central Coast and for dinner tonight we recommend booking a table at Chica Chica for South American fare.

Enjoy lunch and panoramic ocean views at The Box on the Water.

Day 3: Bouddi Coastal Walk and Killcare

Take your breakfast at Lords of Pour, ensconced within its skulls-and-pink-neon theme, and enjoy incredible coffee with a variety of blends from across the world.

Bouddi Coastal Walk is one of the most picturesque on the Central Coast.

Fuelled up, it’s time to traverse the spectacular Bouddi Coastal Walk. Stretching from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach, the eight-kilometre walk traces the rugged coast with breathtaking views of the ocean, past quiet beaches and through rainforest. It’s relatively easy but the entire track can take up to four hours one way. Pack your swimmers!

Stay overnight at the luxurious Hamptons-style retreat Bells at Killcare, and enjoy dinner at the lauded on-site restaurant, which serves fine Italian cuisine.

Time to soak the day away at Bells.

Day 4: McMasters, Copacabana, Avoca and Terrigal

Spend the morning at either MacMasters or Copacabana, which are both good surfing spots. ‘Macs’, as the locals call it, has a great rockpool for kids, while ‘Copa’ is also home to bright and cheery Cabana Café.

Enjoy a casual lunch at Avoca Surfhouse.

Arrive in Avoca for a casual lunch at Avoca Beach House, whose front-row beach views allow you to sit on the balcony under umbrellas and watch as the waves roll into shore. If you’re in Avoca on the fourth Sunday of the month, browse the stalls at Avoca Beachside Markets. Pick up some local produce, quality arts and handmade products, or just enjoy the live music and food trucks.

Avoca Surfhouse has front-row beach views.

Avoca Beach House has front-row beach views.

Continue to Terrigal, stopping at La Boheme on the way to browse the boutique shop’s beautiful bohemian fashion and homewares, and bunker down for the next couple of nights at the beachfront Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific. (Note: If you prefer just one accommodation for the week, Terrigal is a good central base from which to explore, within a 40-minute drive of most places.)

Inside the Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific.

This afternoon, take a walk around The Haven, which has a small kid-friendly beach and dog park, as well as The Skillion, an imposing headland that you can climb. Terrigal Ocean Tours leaves from the boat ramp here and, during summer, they offer a scenic cruise with dolphin watching, led by a marine biologist.

Dine tonight at Yellowtail, a relaxed but refined restaurant with a modern Australian menu featuring Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian flavours. Afterwards, head to rooftop bar Mumbo Jumbo’s for a cocktail in a fun Caribbean Island-style setting.

Mumbo Jumbo’s rooftop bar in Terrigal.

Grab a drink and a feed in a fun Caribbean Island-style setting.

Day 5: Wamberal, Erina and Gosford

Breakfast at Bellyfish is a must. Set across the road from the beach, this buzzy cafe serves a delicious all-day brunch and the best coffee in town. Wander up to neighbouring Wamberal Beach afterwards for a swim; it’s a beautiful spot that’s usually less crowded.

Beer aficionados should take a drive to Six Strings Brewing at Erina, which was the Coast’s first craft brewery and now offers tastings of its award-winning beers. While you’re out and about, take the 10-minute drive to Gosford for lunch at The Railway Hotel. The mouth-watering menu hinges on a paddock-to-plate philosophy.

Enjoy a guided tour of Six Strings Brewery Destination NSW

Book a guided tour of Six Strings Brewery to really get the most out of a visit. (Image: Destination NSW)

This afternoon browse Terrigal’s collection of boutique stores, including premium fashion at Antigua Collective, sleek surf shop and coffee bar Ocean Haus, luxe lifestyle store Zafirah on Church, and cute-as-a-button Zarlak Kids.

If a casual dinner is on the cards, Chop N Grind makes some of the best burgers on the Coast.

Day 6: Long Jetty

Spend the morning exploring the Newtown of the Central Coast. This hip hood of Long Jetty has an urban aesthetic with a laid-back coastal vibe. Browse stores such as Shadow Bang apothecary and supply, Plain Janes for casual but cool fashion, and Tiny Folk Co. for the little people in your life. Vintage lovers are also in luck, with a host of pre-loved fashion and furniture stores in the area. Be sure to take a walk along the town’s namesake, a 351-metre jetty that juts out into Tuggerah Lake.

Grab a quick bite to eat in the nearby tiny township of Toowoon Bay from Flour & Co, known for its good coffee and delicious baked goods, then while away the rest of the afternoon at Toowoon Bay Beach, which is a good snorkelling spot with calm, pristine water.

Flour & Co in Toowoon Bay is known for its good coffee and delicious baked goods.

Check in to your next stay, Pullman Magenta Shores, a sprawling resort with a golf course and a white-sand beach accessed by a walking track; the spa here is also incredible if you have time for some R&R. For dinner tonight, head to The Savoy, a 1956-built movie theatre repurposed into a bar and restaurant in Long Jetty. There are grazing platters and pizzas to share in the cinema where films are regularly played on the big screen.

Long Jetty’s former 1950s theatre The Savoy is now a bar and restaurant.

Day 7: Norah Head

If you’re up to it, wake early this morning to catch the sunrise at Norah Head Lighthouse, just 10 minutes from the resort. Nearby Soldiers Beach is a beautiful spot to spend the morning with white sand and cerulean waters; it’s also popular with surfers.

Rise early to catch the sunrise at Norah Head Lighthouse.

Break up the journey home with a short detour to Brisbane Water National Park, about 20 minutes off the M1. The park is home to a number of Aboriginal engraving sites and beautiful Somersby Falls, which are nestled in lush rainforest and easily accessible by a walking track – a pretty and tranquil spot to end your summer road trip along the Central Coast.

Read our 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.

The ultimate Central Coast summer holiday