Central Coast of NSW

The Central Coast sits in a sweet spot — close enough to Sydney and Newcastle for a weekend escape, yet spacious enough to feel genuinely removed from both. This is where the city gives way to long beaches, deep coastal lagoons and national park bushland that rolls right to the water's edge.

Gosford anchors the region, but the appeal is scattered along the coast: the surf break at Avoca, the sheltered swimming at Terrigal, the surf lifesaving culture at Entrance, and the extraordinary birding of Tuggerah Lakes wetlands. The Hawkesbury River estuary forms the southern boundary — a maze of sandstone cliffs, mangrove creeks and quiet beaches that can only be explored by boat or kayak.

Brisbane Water National Park and Bouddi National Park protect large swaths of coastal heathland and clifftop walking tracks. Bouddi's coastal walk is one of the finest half-day hikes in NSW — finishing at Putty Beach with a cold swim and not another soul in sight. For families, the calm waters of the lagoons and the well-equipped campgrounds make this one of the most accessible camping regions on the east coast.