Central Coast

Introduction

The Central Coast is only about an hour away from Sydney, but has a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere - the beautiful beaches are less crowded and there are fantastic national parks as well as great restaurants and shopping.

Geography

The Central Coast is located about 80kms north of Sydney, and is divided into two council areas. Wyong Shire in the north and Gosford in the south. The Gosford region is home to great surfing beaches such as Wamberal, Avoca and Umina Beach, as well as the very popular beachside towns of Terrigal with its trendy cafes and restaurants. The Gosford area also has some beautiful national parks with lots of choices for bushwalking. The area is surrounded by water, with stunning beaches, Brisbane Water in the Gosford area, Tuggerah Lakes in Wyong Shire, and further north, Lake Macquarie, Australias largest coastal saltwater lake, which is around four times the size of Sydney Harbour.

Norah Head Lighthouse

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Events and Festivals

• Outdoor Music Festivals are popular throughout Australia in summer, but the Central Coast has its own unique annual event called CoastFest. Find out more by reading Outdoor Music Festivals in New South Wales

Getting There

By Plane

There are no commercial airports on the Central Coast.

By Train

Trains run from Sydney to the Central Coast regularly, and the trip takes about an hour. The three main train stations on the Central Coast are Woy Woy, Gosford and Wyong, which are all on the Newcastle line. Take the train to Hornsby, and change to the Central Coast and Newcastle train there.

By Car

From Sydney, follow the Pacific Highway north, and follow the signs to Newcastle. Turn off at the F3 freeway, the Gosford exit is about 45 minute drive from the start of the freeway (use this exit for Gosford, Terrigal, Woy Woy and surrounding areas), or keep driving another 20 minutes or so to the Wyong exit.

Getting Around

By Car

There are plenty of companies you could choose to hire a car from, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty. Car hire is often not available to drivers under 25, or if it is, it's more expensive for younger drivers.

Sleep