The Ultimate Central Coast Summer Itinerary

It’s the perfect place for a summer holiday, so we’ve done the work and planned the itinerary for you.

Stretching for 80 kilometres between the Hawkesbury and Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast is epitomised by its beaches and chilled-out seaside towns, making it the perfect summer getaway. Choose a base and balance out beach days with countryside drives, coastal bushwalks and delicious dining.

Day 1: Arrive via the Hinterland

scenic views across Glenworth Valley, Central Coast — Immerse yourself in the peaceful wilderness across Glenworth Valley. (Image: Destination NSW)

If you’re driving from Sydney, detour for breakfast or lunch at Saddles at Mount White (around 50 minutes north of Sydney). Set on an 11-hectare bushland property, Saddles has been recognised as one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world. The paddock-to-plate menu is cooked with local ingredients and plated in style. It’s a great place to dine if you have kids, with plenty of space for them to stretch their legs in the pretty gardens and around the dam.

From here you can follow Tourist Drive 33 if you’ve got time. Highlights along this route include Australian Reptile Park, Somersby Falls, and Glenworth Valley. Within this 1214-hectare wilderness, you can get thrills from a range of adventure activities such as horse riding, quad biking, abseiling, kayaking and laser skirmish. Girrakool Walking Track at Kariong is somewhat of a hidden gem, with wildflowers and waterfalls along an easy two-kilometre loop.

Hot tip: Terrigal or Avoca are ideal places to base yourself for a summer break – both are beachside towns that are centrally located to most attractions on the Coast. They can be very busy during summer though; check out the list of other accommodation options at the end.

Days 2 and 3: Avoca and Terrigal

students of Central Coast Surf Academy heading out to surf — Learn how to ride the waves at Central Coast Surf Academy. (Image: Destination NSW)

Life in Avoca revolves around its beach: it’s got a great rock pool for kids, a surf club with popular cafe, and Central Coast Surf Academy (which also runs lessons at Copacabana and MacMasters). Avoca Beach House has front-row beach views, so you can dine as you watch 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.

In neighbouring Terrigal, 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. This is one of our favourite places to come with the kids to relax outdoors.

Terrigal Ocean Tours leaves from the boat ramp here and, during summer, offers a scenic cruise with dolphin watching, led by a marine biologist.

waterfront dining at Terrigal Pavilion, Central Coast — Dine on succulent seafood with dreamy views at Terrigal Pavilion. (Image: Megann Evans Photography)

The Haven is also home to the Central Coast’s newest dining and drinking hotspot, Terrigal Pavilion. Walk between Terrigal’s main esplanade, lined with shops and cafes, and The Haven via its pretty boardwalk, which is suitable for prams, scooters and wheelchairs. It’s a lovely evening walk along here too, after dinner in town.

Beer aficionados should take the five-minute drive to Six Strings Brewing at Erina, which was the Coast’s first craft brewery and has 16 taps, a dog-friendly outdoor area, and a restaurant.

Hot tip: Neighbouring Wamberal Beach is often less crowded than Terrigal Beach and North Avoca Beach less crowded than Avoca Beach (with a fun rock pool for the kids). On warm summer days, get down and set up your cabana early!

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Day 4: Patonga, Umina, Ettalong

a couple enjoying drinks with a view at The Box on the Water, Central Coast — The Box on the Water has panoramic water views. (Image: Destination NSW)

In the southernmost region of the Central Coast, also known as ‘The Peninsula’, the town of Umina Beach is a popular summer getaway for families. The beach itself is our go-to for surfing – it’s gentle and not overly crowded, which makes it ideal with our small children. Umina Beach is also home to an epic skate park with BMX track and play space.

The neighbouring seaside town of Ettalong is another great spot for families to swim, stand-up paddle board or go for a walk or scooter ride along the esplanade. Here, The Box on the Water has sophisticated dining with panoramic water views (incredible for a sunset cocktail), as well as a casual kiosk for takeaway and a playground next door.

Be sure to check out Chillis Deli at the Galleria Ettalong, which has a casual but flavourful menu including paninis, pasta and gelato – combine with coffee or Campari spritz, depending on your mood. The Galleria is home to multiple dining venues, as well as a weekend undercover market and quaint cinema.

Drive a little further south of Umina, around the winding headland, to the quiet beachside village of Patonga. Its beach is great for kayaking, fishing and beachcombing. The Boathouse Hotel is the place to go for a long, lazy summer lunch, with the classic coastal style synonymous with The Boathouse Group and set right across from the beach.

Hot tip: The spectacular Warrah Lookout just 10 minutes down the road from The Boathouse is worth a post-lunch walk, with views of Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River.

Day 5: Killcare, MacMasters and Copacabana

the Bouddi Coastal Walk, Central Coast — Trace the rugged coast from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach. (Image: Nikki To)

The Bouddi Coastal Walk stretches for eight kilometres from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach and is a must-do on your summer itinerary. It is a beautiful way to spend a sunny morning or late afternoon, tracing the rugged coast with breathtaking views of the ocean, past quiet beaches and through rainforest. It’s relatively easy – we have walked from Putty Beach to Gerrin Point Lookout many times with our small children – but the entire track is spectacular and can take up to four hours one way. Pack your swimmers!

If you’re a keen surfer, MacMasters Beach, or ‘Macs’ as the locals call it, has a variety of waves and a great rockpool for kids. Just north of Macs, ‘Copa’ has a world-class point break for advanced surfers and is also home to bright and cheery Cabana Café.

Hot tip: See Bouddi National Park – which has more than 100 significant Aboriginal sites including rock engravings, middens and shelters – with Girri Girra Aboriginal Experiences, led by proud Aboriginal man Tim Selwyn.

Day 6: Long Jetty and The Entrance

seafood dishes at The Entrance Social Club — Grab a pub-style feed at The Entrance Social Club.

Take a drive to the Newtown of the Central Coast. The hip hood of Long Jetty has an urban aesthetic blended with a laid-back coastal vibe. Browse stores such as Shadow Bang and Plain Janes for casual but cool fashion, and Three Donkeys for chic and quality furniture and homewares. Be sure to take a walk along the town’s namesake, a 351-metre jetty that juts out into Tuggerah Lake.

Just north of here, The Entrance is a popular spot during summer. Visitors and locals alike come to spend time at the splash park on the waterfront or fish and boat around the waterways. The Entrance Social Club is a great spot for a pub-style lunch and a cold glass of wine or beer with live music on the weekends.

Hot tip: Long Jetty has an excellent, flat bike track along the foreshore that leads to The Entrance. Begin at Saltwater Creek Park and ride along the lakeside into town for a coffee break or lunch (approximately five kilometres).

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Day 7: Norah Head

sun setting over Norah Head Lighthouse, Central Coast — The historic Norah Head Lighthouse holds many untold shipwreck stories. (Image: Destination NSW)

If you are driving north, don’t just head for the freeway: Norah Head is a beautiful detour. Take a walk around its heritage-listed lighthouse down to the rockpool. Or spend time at Soldiers Beach, which has white sand, cerulean water and good surf, to top off your summer week on the Central Coast.

Best places to stay

the pool at voco Gosford — The glittering resort-style pool with views at voco Gosford. (Image: voco Gosford/IHG Hotels & Resorts)

Terrigal is centrally located, beachside and has sophisticated dining, lots of hip small bars and trendy shopping. It’s the perfect locale for a summer getaway on the Central Coast. Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific is right in town, with elegant dining, a pool and day spa, and views over the beach.

The Hinterland offers a unique Central Coast experience of tranquil bushland, farm gates and rainforest. Glenworth Valley has camping, bell tents and eco cabins nestled in the bush. If you plan on spending time exploring the hinterland, this is a great spot to stay.

Umina and Ettalong are neighbouring beachside towns, with gentle beaches, great family activities and lots of dining options. Mantra Ettalong has views of Brisbane Water and Broken Bay, while NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort is a family favourite packed with fun facilities from a waterpark to a jumping pillow.

Killcare is a secluded town where national park meets the ocean and is close to the Bouddi Coastal Walk. Stay overnight at the luxurious Hamptons-style retreat Bells at Killcare, which also has four-people, tri-level lodges with views towards Palm Beach.

Gosford is an emerging hub with the recently opened luxury hotel voco Gosford, which has a sexy rooftop bar that looks over Brisbane Water.

Toukley is a five-minute drive from Norah Head and 15 minutes north of The Entrance. The Beachcomber is a chic Hamptons-style hotel perched lakeside with restaurants and a pool club.

With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

Where the vines tell a story

A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food. — Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

At the table

A flat lay of a steak. — Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

From the source

A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish. — Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

Mark your calendar

A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith. — Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.

The ultimate Central Coast summer itinerary

It’s the perfect place for a summer holiday, so we’ve done the work and planned the itinerary for you.

Day 1: Arrive via the Hinterland

Days 2 and 3: Avoca and Terrigal

Day 4: Patonga, Umina, Ettalong

Day 5: Killcare, MacMasters and Copacabana

Day 6: Long Jetty and The Entrance

Day 7: Norah Head

Best places to stay

How to spend a restorative weekend on the Central Coast

The Central Coast’s new luxury lodge has private villas, plunge pools and a piano bar

The new Central Coast hike with camping, workshops and a bush sauna

20 incredible Central Coast beaches to visit this summer

This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

Where the vines tell a story

At the table

From the source

Mark your calendar

It’s the perfect place for a summer holiday, so we’ve done the work and planned the itinerary for you.

Day 1: Arrive via the Hinterland

Days 2 and 3: Avoca and Terrigal

AI Prompt

Day 4: Patonga, Umina, Ettalong

Day 5: Killcare, MacMasters and Copacabana

Day 6: Long Jetty and The Entrance

Day 7: Norah Head

Best places to stay

How to spend a restorative weekend on the Central Coast

The Central Coast’s new luxury lodge has private villas, plunge pools and a piano bar

The new Central Coast hike with camping, workshops and a bush sauna

20 incredible Central Coast beaches to visit this summer

With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

Where the vines tell a story

At the table

From the source

Mark your calendar