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!

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).

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.

Thredbo in summer is a nature lover’s dream of show-stopping alpine beauty, cool mountain air and magical moonlit adventure.

For many of us, Thredbo calls to mind shimmering slopes and snow-dusted gums, but come summer, this Alpine resort transforms into a playground of an entirely different kind. A cool mountain retreat despite the season, Thredbo summer hikes are astonishingly beautiful, criss-crossing over dramatic peaks, pristine glacial lakes and abundant flora and fauna.

From approachable tracks for novice walkers to more challenging hikes across the Main Range and even journeys under moonlight, Thredbo puts on an unforgettable show of natural splendour all summer. Lace up your walking boots and take the chairlift from Thredbo village to embark on a self-guided exploration or a tour of the Snowy Mountains’ most compelling landscapes.

These eight unforgettable hiking experiences are only available in summer and offer an alpine adventure like you’ve never experienced before.

1. Full Moon Hike to Mt Kosciuszko

There’s something almost mystical about hiking by the light of a full moon. This guided experience begins with a 15-minute chairlift ride, where you’ll admire the Thredbo Valley below, bathed in the fading sun.

Once at the top, you’ll pass rivers, alpine lakes and spot nocturnal wildlife on your way to the Kosciuszko Lookout and Lake Cootapatamba. By the time you reach the summit, sunset is well underway as you watch day give way to night and the alpine landscape magically illuminated by the lunar glow. Enjoy a hot chocolate here before following the path back to Eagles Nest, brightened by the night sky.

This 13-kilometre hike will take place on 3 January, 2 February, and 2 April in 2026.

2. Super Full Moon Hike

Super Full Moon Hike in thredbo — Take in the might of a super full moon.

The only thing that could level up the celestial beauty of a full moon hike would be a super full moon hike . Following the same route, you’ll meet the moon when it is largest and closest to Earth by ascending to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko at an elevation of 2228 metres. From such a height, it almost feels as though you could reach out and touch its glowing surface.

Given the rarity and splendour of the super full moon, limited spots fill up fast for this awe-inspiring hike, so be sure to book the 5 December in advance.

3. Lunar Eclipse Hike

Thredbo Lunar Eclipse Hike — See dazzling celestial displays.

What could be more extraordinary than witnessing a lunar eclipse from Australia’s highest peak? Whether you’re a keen astronomer or simply revel in nature’s beauty, this guided 13-kilometre hike will place you on top of Mount Kosciuszko just as Earth passes between the sun and moon, throwing shade over the lunar surface before transforming it with a deep-red hue.

It’s an epic place to witness one of our galaxy’s most spectacular and rare light shows. Apart from the dazzling celestial display, you’ll also enjoy walking through the moon-bathed landscape, an evening chairlift ride, and a hot chocolate at the summit.

Book now for 3 March.

4. New Moon Hike

New Moon Hike Mt Kosciuszko — Catch the changing skies of a new moon.

A stargazer’s delight, the darkness of a new moon gives the Milky Way full permission to dazzle with its shimmering display. Both astronomers and photographers will relish this opportunity to observe and capture the starry skyscape from the lofty height of Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Departing Thredbo Village at dusk and leaving its twinkling lights far below, you’ll arrive at the summit in time to see the sun slip away and the stars appear.

Catch this hike during the new moon lunar phase on 20 December, 19 January, 17 February, 19 March or 17 April.

5. Thredbo River Track

Embark on a gentle entry into the Snowy Mountain scenery with an amble along the Thredbo River. This self-guided hike hugs the river and wanders along the valley floor, revealing snow gum forests, swimming holes and little waterfalls that make for revitalising cold plunges in the summer heat.

6. Merritts Nature Track

Merritts Nature Track thredbo summer hikes — Stop at swimming holes along the way.

On warm summer days, venturing into the cooler air of Thredbo’s alpine tracks offers relief from the heat. Particularly if you set course for the four-kilometre Merritts Nature Track , where there are opportunities to take a refreshing dip in swimming holes along the way.

The two-to-three-hour self-guided hike meanders through towering ancient trees (dubbed the ‘Pixie Forest’ by locals), takes in stunning mountain vistas and is soundtracked by the melody of birdsong. Stop for a picnic and discover a hidden natural infinity pool, the location of which is given away by the roar of a cascading waterfall.

7. Mt Kosciuszko Summit Tour

Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko's summit. — Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.

While you can easily steer yourself to Australia’s most iconic peak without a guide, following an expert guide to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko will colour your experience with a deeper knowledge of the landscape and its wild inhabitants. The 13-kilometre return trail puts the alpine scenery on display with 360-degree views from the highest spot in the country.

The walk begins at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift and takes around four to six hours to complete, but is gentle enough to be embarked upon by all ages.

8. Snowies Alpine Walk Experience

If you’re looking to truly untether from daily life and embark on a real immersion in Thredbo’s stunning alpine scenery, pack your hiking boots for the newest multi-day walk in the mountains. The Snowies Alpine Walk can be tackled over two or three days and includes nightly accommodation in the iconic Thredbo Alpine Hotel, daily buffet breakfast, packed lunch and dinner vouchers, plus daily transfers to and from trail heads in a brand-new Defender.

The two-day experience covers 24 kilometres, while the three-day experience almost doubles that at 44 kilometres. Along the way, explore barely trod landscapes, vast high-country plains and uplifting mountain horizons.

Discover the full offering of summer hikes in Thredbo at thredbo.com.au.

The ultimate Central Coast summer itinerary