Lake Macquarie & NSW Central Coast

AQUATIC WONDERLAND

The Central Coast and Lake Macquarie Areas have much more to offer than beautiful beaches, watersports and spectacular scenery.

For generations, the Central Coast of New South Wales has been a favourite holiday spot for Sydneysiders. Just 90 minutes drive from the centre of Sydney via the F3 Freeway, the Central Coast is justly renowned for its long stretches of gorgeous coastline, inland waterways and river systems, and tranquil country charm.

The Hawkesbury River is the southern-most border of the Central Coast, emptying into Broken Bay. Adjoining this is the Brisbane Water, providing a safe watersports haven and a relaxed ambience for such communities as Pearl Beach, Umina, Ettalong, Woy Woy and Killcare.

On the northern shores of the Brisbane Water is Gosford. Eighty kilometres north of Sydney, it is the administrative centre for the lower Central Coast.

Continuing north, the coastal road passes by Terrigal, one of the most up-market precincts on the Central Coast, alive with fine restaurants and fashionable shopping. A seaside resort since the 1950s, Terrigal is blessed with a beautiful beach and great accommodation that extends some four kilometres north.

Continuing on is Bateau Bay and the communities gathered around the expansive Tuggerah Lake, with Wyong on the western side and Long Jetty and The Entrance to the east. The Entrance gets its name from the narrow channel that links Tuggerah Lake with the sea.

A popular holiday camp was established at Toowoon Bay near The Entrance in the early 1890s, and was soon followed throughout the immediate area by guest-houses and hotel accommodation. The Entrance still maintains much of a resort atmosphere, with a popular pedestrian-friendly mall and walking tracks both along the coastline and the lake.

Tuggerah Lake is part of an 80 square kilometre lake system. Tuggerah is connected to Budgewoi Lake to the north which, in turn, is connected to Lake Munmorah. The shallow lakes are exceedingly popular for such watersports as sailing, canoeing and sailboarding. Fishing is also a favourite pastime, with whiting, mullet and jewfish in plentiful supply. Prawns are abundant in the lakes during summer.

The waterways of the Central Coast were explored by Governor Philip in 1788 and later by Bass and Flinders in the 1790s. The first land grant was made in 1811, although the proximity to the Newcastle penal settlement kept the area free of large-scale development for the next few decades. The completion of a railway link between Sydney and Newcastle in 1889 hastened tourism and the region has never looked back.

There’s an immense wealth of activities available on the Central Coast. Wandering along a pristine beach at daybreak is a great introduction to the region’s many charms. Swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, horse riding, 4WD excursions, abseiling, orienteering and camping under the stars are just some of the activities available. Guided tours into the hinterland, into areas rarely traversed, give a glimpse of nature at its best.

The Brisbane Water National Park, along the southern edge of the coast, encompasses around 12,000 hectares, boasting a diverse range of ecosystems. Bouddi National Park, taking in Maitland Bay, is part of a 300 hectare protected marine environment. Other great parks include Dharug National Park, Yengo National Park and the Parr State Recreation Area.

In the north is Lake Macquarie, a watersports haven with such major towns as Swansea, Morisset and Toronto. The lake, which is linked via a channel to the sea at Swansea, is Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake. The Lake Macquarie State Recreation Area, a renowned leisure hub of the region, takes in more than 16 kilometres of foreshore.

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