NSW Central Coast trailer trip

If ever a region needed a marketing moniker to better portray its abundant natural assets, it’s the picturesque and peaceful coastal strip located midway along NSW’s coastline, roughly equidistant to Sydney and Newcastle.

The creative team came up with “Central Coast”, which is geographically accurate but doesn’t quite project the aura of, say, the Sunshine Coast, Sapphire Coast or Shipwreck Coast.

Admittedly it’s not easy to succinctly define an area that spans 85km by road and, within its 1681km² footprint, has a major estuary called Brisbane Water, six lakes of varying sizes, four coastal lagoons, several rivers, and portions of both Lake Macquarie and Broken Bay. Add to that 41 beaches and an expansive hinterland with two mountain ranges.

More than 50 boat ramps service these waters, including several that afford direct ocean access – Norah Head, Terrigal Haven and Patonga. For non-trailable vessels, there are five modest-sized marinas on Brisbane Water – Central Coast Marina at Booker Bay, Booker Bay Marina, Koolewong, Killcare and Gosford Sailing Club.

Like on the Gold Coast, there’s a juxtaposition between densely-populated suburbia and the tourism hubs where the fun is often interrupted by traffic jams and lengthy searches for car parks. The secret is finding a place you like and staying put.

Gosford is the commercial heartland and home to a sailing club that counts Tom Slingsby among its alumni. Seaside towns Terrigal and Avoca offer a trendy ‘Byron’ vibe, while The Entrance and Umina have the air of family holiday towns.

If you have a hankering for fishing, tow sports, sailing and paddling, you’ll be spoiled for choice with both stillwater and offshore options.

Lying to the north, Tuggerah Lake is a sizeable waterway that interconnects with Budgewoi Lake and Lake Munmorah. South are Wamberal Lagoon, Terrigal Lagoon, Avoca Lake and Cockrone Lagoon, where paddleboats and kayaks play. The Brisbane Water basin covers 165km2 and flows into Broken Bay.

Tuggerah produces dusky flathead, whiting, luderick and bream, particularly around the sand flats of The Entrance. Lake Munmorah adds trevally, tailor and Australian Salmon to that list, while Long Jetty is popular spot for prawning. Brackish Wyong River holds estuary perch, bream and flathead.

Terrigal and Norah Head boat ramps are your gateways to fertile offshore grounds, with no ocean bars to navigate. Just be cognisant of wave surge at both ramps.

Where there’s ocean fishing there’s diving, and a renowned site is the frigate HMAS Adelaide that was scuttled off North Avoca in 2011. Pro-Dive Central Coast operates wreck dives as well as reef excursions.

On Brisbane Water there’s some banks off nearby Umina that generate lazy swells for jetskiing, while fishos frequent the bays further upstream around the Rip Bridge.

Daleys Point and Booker Bay deliver decent jewfish, along with the aforementioned species, but take note that tides rip through here (hence the bridge’s name). Spots favoured by locals include Paddys Channel at Tascott, Pelican Island and Rileys Island, Erina Creek, Empire Bay and Davistown. 

The Central Coast is even better known for its surf beaches. Starting north, there’s Fraser Park, Catherine Hill Bay and Soldiers Beach, while Norah Head’s reef is good for experienced surfers.

South of The Entrance, head to Shelly Beach, Forresters and Wamberal, while Terrigal Point pumps in a southerly. Jewels in the crown, however, are Avoca, Copacabana and McMasters beaches. 

If walking is more your speed, the Coast to Lake Walk at The Entrance covers 7.6km of coastal terrain, taking in beaches, lookouts, ocean baths, cafes and galleries. The Wyrrabalong National Park’s Coast Walking Track between Forresters and Bateau Bay beaches also comes highly recommended.

The Bouddi Coastal Walk, measuring 8km each way via boardwalks and bush tracks, is also stunning, and I personally love the Maitland Bay trek and Patonga to Pearl Beach Trail when the spring wildflowers are in full bloom.

Also in full bloom, today, is the coast’s foodie culture. Hatted restaurants abound, Terrigal leading the way with Meribella restaurant at Crowne Plaza, L’Isle de France, Yellowtail and The Cowrie. Ettalong offers Osteria il Coccia and Safran. Bells at Killcare’s Wild Flower Bar is also highly acclaimed.

More casual fare is available from Killcare Beach Kiosk, or The BOX on the Water at Ettalong. Nearby Umina has the Italian Sandwich Company and Café Ronto for lunch and Miori Japanese Restaurant for dinner.

Favourites at The Entrance include the American smokehouse bar Cue and Crew and the laid-back Mrs May Bistro and Bar at The Entrance Social Club. Il Toscano is a popular artisan pasta bar at Long Jetty and also Terrigal.

Accommodation options vary from unpowered campsites to eco-cabins to boutique hotels and luxury resorts. There are also hundreds of holiday homes available for rent, many of which offer off-street parking for trailerboats.

Kims Beachside Retreat at Toowoon Bay is famous for both its cuisine and beachfront villas, nestled within a bamboo rainforest. Lighthouse lovers can spend a night or two in historic sandstone cottages at Norah Head.

For five-star luxury, consider Star of the Sea apartments at Terrigal, Bells at Killcare, Pullman Magenta Shores or Pretty Beach House near the Bouddi National Park. One star down are Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Mantra Ettalong Beach and Boathouse Hotel Patonga, among many others.

Bring your boat, your board, your bikes, your hiking boots and your appetite and there’s a good chance you’ll truly enjoy the coast with the most. Now there’s a catchy title.

Visitor Information: lovecentralcoast.com

For our Central Coast trailer trip we used a Sea-Doo RXP-X 325 RS, the world’s most powerful production personal watercraft. Read our review of the Sea-Doo RXP-X 325 RS.

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