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Ettalong Beach — Image credit: Destination Central Coast

Entertainment Venues

Ettalong Beach

Ettalong beach is a popular Central Coast enclave and a safe, fun family favourite. The beach provides a scenic breadth of activity at this waterfront town overlooking Broken Bay and Lion Island. Ettalong Beach's appeal lies in its beaches, lagoons, waterways and safe swimming for children. This popular town on the Central Coast also offers a wide range of seaside and bush accommodation. It's a renowned fishing beach, with excellent boating facilities. Ferries and charter vessels run regular tours around the majestic Brisbane Water National Park, providing scenic, fishing and whale watching experiences. There are many family friendly things to do within close reach. Visit Ocean and Umina Beaches for more than 2km of sandy beaches and an inland waterway that is great for younger children to have a splash around. Please note: Ettalong Beach is not patrolled by lifeguards.

Ettalong Beach NSW

2.5 km away

Ocean Beach Umina

Natural Attractions

Ocean Beach Umina

Ocean Beach on the Central Coast shares its shores with Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach, located on the Peninsula area of the region. With the protection of Broken Bay, you will enjoy its modest 1.3km kilometres of golden sand - the perfect combination of an ocean beach with views across the water, plus the safety of an inland waterway, which is great for family friendly swimming. This is also a dog friendly beach so you can bring your furry buddy with you to enjoy the waves. Ocean Beach has its own Surf Life Saving Club, Ocean Beach SLSC formed in 1921, and is patrolled every day from October Long Weekend until the end of April School Holidays. The Esplanade features a grassed area, kiosk, picnic tables and seating to admire the incredible view, along with BBQs and a children's playground. Parking is available at the public beachside car park and street side parking. Accessibility features include accessible parking, beach matting, beach wheelchairs, and accessible toilets.

Umina Beach NSW

2.8 km away

Broken Bay, Umina Beach — Image credit: Central Coast Tourism

Natural Attractions

Umina Beach

Umina Beach is one of the Central Coast's most loved beaches, and it's easy to see why the calm shallow waters make it ideal for families and a wide range of water activities. Everything you need is close at hand, food kiosk, picnic tables, a dog friendly area on the southern end. It's welcoming beach with something for everyone to enjoy. Professional Central Coast Council Lifeguards patrol Umina Beach from Monday to Friday. During weekends and on Public Holidays these locations are patrolled by Surf Life Saving volunteers. People with a disability will now find it easier to access Umina Beach with a Sand Cruiser and a Hippocampe (suitable for young people) wheelchair available for bookings. Contact Umina Surf Club for bookings.

Umina Beach NSW

3.0 km away

Flannel Flower Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: Sarah Brookes

Natural Attractions

Flannel Flower Walking Track

Acquaint yourself with Bouddi National Park’s beautiful and diverse vegetation on the Flannel Flower walking track. The best time of year to visit has to be spring; the flannel flower is in full bloom and the sight of their white petals are simply beautiful. Running between Hawke Head Drive and Lobster Beach, the track meanders through towering angophora forest. Stand a moment in the shade of these mighty red gum trees before continuing on to the magnificent Lobster Beach lookout. There, you’ll be treated to commanding views over some of the Central Coast’s prettiest and most popular beaches, including Broken Bay, Umina and Pearl. As well as taking you through stunning bushland and beachfront, this walking track provides public access across private property in one section. Please remain on the track at all times when you’re in this area. Keep an eye out for Box head track and Tallow Beach trail, which descends to Tallow Beach campground, which join the track.

Wagstaffe NSW

3.9 km away

Staples lookout

Natural Attractions

Staples lookout

If you’re looking for a scenic place to gaze across the expanse of Brisbane Water and Woy Woy Bay, Staples lookout is the spot. Built right on the side of Woy Woy Road, this vantage point offers views in several directions. Look southwest, for instance, and you can see all the way to Mount Wondabyne, the highest point in Brisbane Water National Park. Several rare bird species live here, so you’ll want to bring binoculars. Try to find a spotted-tailed quoll or a yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Then break out the picnic for a relaxing lunch at one of the picnic tables, with outstanding views of this national park as your backdrop.

Kariong NSW

4.0 km away

Lobster Beach

Natural Attractions

Lobster Beach

Leave the city beaches to the crowds while you spend the day at Lobster beach with barely a soul in sight within Bouddi National Park. Lobster Beach is a sheltered beach just a short walk from the carpark. The area is perfect to pop by if you're sailing or boating around at Brisbane Water National Park, just across from Bouddi. Marvel at the beautiful angophoras, stringy barks and banksias along the way, before arriving at this pretty beach fringed by natural bushland. Enjoy a refreshing swim or wander along this sandy beach. Find a spot to throw in a fishing line and take in the serenity. Keep your eyes out for dolphins or sea eagles swooping for fish at Lobster Beach and don't forget to pack your snorkelling gear. You're sure to find just as many natural wonders to admire beneath its sparkling waters as on land. Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching. Take a virtual tour of Lobster Beach captured with Google Street View Trekker.

Box Head NSW

4.1 km away

Allen Strom lookout

Natural Attractions

Allen Strom lookout

Clear your mind and refresh your senses with the stunning vistas on offer at the Allen Strom lookout, located on the ridge above Rocky Point. Standing at this fenced lookout, it's a pleasure to watch the boats bobbing up and down in Hardys Bay. The views extend across to Wagstaffe and Ettalong and you can even see as far as Brisbane Water National Park. It's easy to reach the lookout by foot or bike simply combine Rocky Point trail to your Bouddi Ridge explorer experience. This trail commences near the intersection of Wards Hill Road and Maitland Bay Road, and you'll tread a carpet of flannel flowers if you plan a springtime visit. Allen Strom lookout was named in memory of the man who dedicated much of his life to the establishment of many national parks and nature reserves in the state.

Killcare NSW

4.6 km away

Tommos loop and Rocky Ponds cycling loop

Natural Attractions

Tommos loop and Rocky Ponds cycling loop

Pack a bit of adventure into your day and take your bike for a spin along this mountain biking loop. The trail starts opposite the impressive Staples lookout with pretty views of Brisbane Water, it then heads off to explore the ridge. Set your own pace, either tackling the trail like a mountain biking pro, leaving a cloud of dust in your wake, or going a little slower for a gentle ride to look for wildlife and admire the scenery. Tommos loop trail is great for older kids and beginner adults, and it’s a good idea to take sunscreen and plenty of water. Remember to wear protective equipment, including a helmet and take care on the steeper sections towards the end of the Rocky Ponds trail.

Kariong NSW

4.7 km away

Box Head Track — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Box Head Track

Amble along Bouddi National Park's most southern ridge, taking in breathtaking water views over the Tasman Sea and Hawkesbury River as you go. Beginning at the end of Hawke Head Drive, Box Head track alternates between rugged bushland and open windswept heath. Keep your eye out for hidden treasures as you walk – an assortment of birdlife flits amongst the red gums and the rocky outcrops host a variety of moss and dwarfed trees. You’ll find clifftop patches offering panoramas, particularly at the end of the track from Box Head lookout, where you’ll enjoy fantastic views over Tallow Beach, Little Tallow Beach, Broken Bay, Lion Island and Sydney's northern beaches. The track is joined by Flannel Flower walking track and Tallow Beach trail, which descends to Tallow Beach campground.

Box Head NSW

4.9 km away

Daleys Point Walking Track — Image credit: Photo John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Daleys Point Walking Track

Daleys Point walking track, in Bouddi National Park, offers spectacular scenic views and an opportunity to experience unique Aboriginal cultural heritage. Starting near Wards Hill Road, this signposted track follows the ridgetop through beautiful bushlands with some short steep sections, to Daleys Point Aboriginal Site. It is a moderately easy walk that can be enjoyed on a family day trip. Winding through the woodlands, listen for the distinctive call of glossy black cockatoos. In spring, the bush is dotted with native wildflowers including the delicate white flannel flower. Before you know it you’ll arrive at Daleys Point with spectacular scenic views over Cockle Bay Nature Reserve and Brisbane Water. Also known as Milligans Cave or Fish Hook Shelter, these sandstone engravings are an important Aboriginal site. While you admire and take in the significance of this special place, please remember to respect the surroundings so as not to damage engravings.

Killcare Heights NSW

5.2 km away

Rocky Point Trail — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Rocky Point Trail

Bouddi National Park offers plenty of mountain biking opportunities on well-defined trails, also suitable for walking. One of the best cycling routes for beginners is Rocky Point trail, a one-way trail beginning just off Wards Hills Road and finishing at Allen Strom lookout. There are stellar scenic views from Allen Strom lookout over Hardys Bay and it is great for birdwatching along the way, so be sure to bring your binoculars. Rocky Point trail forms part of Bouddi Ridge explorer, which links several trails in a single loop throughout the park. The 10 kilometre loop combines ocean lookouts with beautiful forested tracks for a brilliant overview of the area.

Killcare Heights NSW

5.2 km away

Spa View Killcare

Spas and Retreats

Spa View Killcare

Perched above Killcare Beach, Spa View Killcare is a private ocean-view day spa offering a calm, personalised experience on the Central Coast of NSW. Just 90 minutes from Sydney—or a scenic ferry ride from Palm Beach—this boutique spa is set within the natural beauty of Bouddi National Park. Surrounded by bushland and sandstone formations, expansive ocean views stretch towards Sydney's Northern Beaches, creating a peaceful coastal setting to unwind and recharge. Guests can enjoy tailored massage, couples treatments and restorative facials designed to ease tension, support wellbeing and leave you feeling renewed. Health fund rebates available for remedial massage.

Killcare NSW

5.3 km away

Sandy beach bordered by a rocky shoreline and cliffs, with waves rolling in from the ocean — Image credit: Destination Central Coast

Natural Attractions

Killcare Beach

Located on the spectacular Central Coast, Killcare Beach offers a relaxed coastal escape just 90 minutes' drive from Sydney. With its beautiful sandy shoreline and laid-back atmosphere, it's an ideal spot to unwind and enjoy the natural surroundings. Professional Central Coast Council lifeguards patrol Killcare Beach from Monday until Friday, with Surf Life Saving volunteers patrols on weekends and Public Holidays. Please check website for current beach patrol dates and times. A designated dog off leash area is in the centre section of this beach. People with a disability will now find it easier to access Killcare Beach with a Sand Cruiser wheelchair available for bookings. Contact Killcare Surf Club for bookings.

Killcare NSW

5.5 km away

Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place

Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place in Brisbane Water National Park is a special landscape, rich in ancient Aboriginal rock art. There's a wide range of well-preserved engravings to see; most of them are more than 200 years old with many perhaps ten times that age. Please treat this site with respect and do not walk on or touch the engravings. The name Bulgandry belongs to the large engraving of a man thought to represent an ancestral hero, depicted with an impressive headdress. You'll also see engravings of wallabies, fish, a dolphin and what's thought to be a canoe and a bird. Keep walking to see some stone tool sharpening grooves nearby, or simply take in the site's beautiful bush surroundings. Indigenous sites such as Bulgandry provide valuable insight into Aboriginal traditions, past lifestyles and previous interactions with the environment. These sites are an important part of present-day Aboriginal culture, so please remember to tread carefully and with respect.

Kariong NSW

5.7 km away

Ephemeral Art at the Arboretum — Image credit: Pearl Beach Arboretum

Natural Attractions

Pearl Beach Arboretum

The Arboretum was established on 5.5 hectares of Council Land by the Pearl Beach Community in 1976. It is a sanctuary for rare and threatened plants and animals, devoted to growing plants for conservation, research and education. The Arboretum is named after Minard Crommelin who fought for conservation in New South Wales all her life and who made Pearl Beach her home from 1942 until her death in 1972. You may be lucky enough to see some animals and birds including lyrebirds, bowerbirds, fairy-wrens, tawny frogmouths, kookaburras, bandicoots, goannas, water dragons, swamp wallabies and echidnas. They also have over 50 threatened species, bush tucker plants, and koala trees (sadly no koalas since the 1990s), and promote native bee habitat.

Pearl Beach NSW

5.7 km away

Warrah Trig cycling loop

Natural Attractions

Warrah Trig cycling loop

This cycling loop takes in the best the national park has to offer, crossing several fire trails and pausing for scenic views at Warrah lookout. With so much ground to cover, feel free to do as much or as little as you like. Be sure to make time for birdwatching though, or a relaxing picnic lunch among the famous wildflowers. And keep an eye out for animals – with 270 native species in the park, there’s a good chance you’ll come across at least a kangaroo, and maybe even a koala. Start at Warrah Trig and pedal furiously to Patonga Drive. Tear down Sani Depot and Van Dahls trails, admiring the wildflowers that are scattered along the way. Once you get back to Patonga Drive, you’ll tackle an exciting downhill run to beautiful Pearl Beach, where the Patonga trail will lead you to the Warrah lookout and spectacular views up Hawkesbury River. If hiking is more your style, check out the nearby Patonga to Pearl Beach walking track.

Patonga NSW

5.9 km away

Bells Day Spa

Spas and Retreats

Bells Day Spa

Bells Day Spa is imbued with that same East Coast Hampton's elegance, that you've come to expect at Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Restaurant and Spa. This sanctuary is a haven for guests to de-stress and unwind with spa treatments that have been thoughtfully designed to re-balance the synergy between mind, body and soul. Using the purest grade essential oils and the highest quality native plants, flowers, fruits and mud these products used in conjunction with unique Indigenous Australian healing techniques, deliver a spa experience that will deeply relax, restore and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Open 7 days a week, by appointment.

Killcare Heights NSW

5.9 km away

Bouddi Coastal Walk — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Bouddi Coastal Walk

The eight kilometre Bouddi coastal walk runs from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach. Boasting beaches, boardwalks and birdlife, it’s known as one of the most beautiful central coast walks. This relatively easy hike is characterised by sweeping views, shady rainforest and inviting picnic spots. There’s a photo opportunity around every corner on Bouddi coastal walk. You might see wildflowers or migrating whales from Gerrin Point lookout, along with the Bouddi National Park Marine Extension and the PS Maitland shipwreck at the eastern end of Maitland Bay. Stay overnight before you set off at Putty Beach campground or stop along the way at Little Beach campground. Prefer a shorter walk? Break the walk into shorter sections - Putty Beach to Maitland Bay (three kilometres); Maitland Bay to Little Beach (3.5 kilometres); or Little Beach to MacMasters Beach (1.7 kilometres).

Killcare Heights NSW

6.3 km away

Warrah lookout — Image credit: Remy Brand

Natural Attractions

Warrah lookout

Warrah lookout offers spectacular views across Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River, making this a great spot to visit all year round. Put your eyes to the test and see if you can make out the finer details of Broken Bay inlet in the distance. The rustle of the eucalyptus trees around you and the lapping of the waves below will provide the perfect soundtrack for your visit. Did you know waratahs are the state emblem for New South Wales? You won’t want to miss their stunning late-winter bloom on display at Warrah lookout. Known as Waratah Patch by locals, this is one of the best places in the park to see these fiery-red flowers. Although the track to the lookout has steps and some rough ground, it is an easy and short walk from the carpark.

Patonga NSW

6.4 km away

Bouddi Ridge Explorer — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Bouddi Ridge Explorer

Bouddi Ridge explorer is the longest mountain biking trail in Bouddi National Park. The trail is a 10 kilometre loop, combining several other park trails - Strom loop, Rocky Point trail, Daleys Point trail and MacMasters Ridge trail. Bouddi Ridge explorer offers real variety for mountain bikers. Strom loop and Rocky Point trail sections are easy going, while the undulating Daleys Point trail needs more effort and MacMasters Ridge trail is steep in parts, requiring greater fitness. Park your car at Maitland Bay Information Centre and start riding Strom loop, following park signage. Return along Strom trail, or make a loop via The Scenic Road and Turkey trail. Stop and enjoy the view from Allen Strom lookout at the end of Rocky Point trail.

Killcare Heights NSW

6.6 km away

Maitland Bay Track — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Maitland Bay Track

Maitland Bay track is one of Bouddi National Park’s most popular bushwalks. This short, steep walking track begins at Maitland Bay Information Centre. It then winds downhill to the secluded Maitland Bay, past the Bullimah Spur track junction, rock landings, gullies, Hawkesbury sandstone and Bouddi Grand Deep rainforest. Stop to swim, look for shells or simply dip your feet in the water. If it’s low tide, head to the bay’s eastern end to see remains of the PS Maitland, tragically wrecked in 1898. Allow 15 to 20 minutes to walk down the hill and 30 to 40 minutes to get back up. Some find it tough going on the return, so you may wish to walk the flatter three kilometres to Putty Beach and have someone pick you up there.

Killcare Heights NSW

6.6 km away

Patonga to Pearl Beach Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek/NSW Government

Natural Attractions

Patonga to Pearl Beach Walking Track

The Patonga to Pearl Beach walking track follows the Great North Walk through the beautiful red gums of Brisbane Water National Park. Bring your swimmers and a towel – this walk begins and ends on a beach, with plenty of opportunity for a refreshing dip or a spot of fishing. From the end of Patonga Beach, follow signs to the national park. You can head to Warrah Trig from here, while following the steep trail up and over the hill will take you past the spectacular Warrah lookout with views of Hawkesbury River and Pacific Ocean. Pause for a snack, then return to the fire trail, following the Pearl Beach signs past sandstone caves with a natural hanging garden of native ferns. Be sure to keep an eye out for bush turkeys and an ear open for kookaburras. Your exit is marked at Crystal Avenue. Follow the sounds of crashing waves to find a beautiful stretch of sand on the edge of the bush. You can enjoy a picnic, or take advantage of the small cafes nearby.

Patonga NSW

6.7 km away

Bullimah Spur Track — Image credit: Photo: John Yurasek

Natural Attractions

Bullimah Spur Track

Beginning from Maitland Bay Information Centre, Bullimah Spur track offers a medium difficulty walk through Central Coast bushland, flanked by some of the park’s most impressive panoramas. Descend along Maitland Bay track and down the stairs to Bullimah Spur track, which branches off to the right. The track junction is well-marked, so it’s easy to navigate your way. Follow the ridgeline past a forest of towering red gums and note the lovely understory of ancient ferns. Along the way you’ll see spectacular views overlooking Putty Beach, Tallow Beach, and all the way out to Lion Island and even Sydney. Near the end of the track you can see sweeping views over Putty Beach and the coastline to the south and the expansive Pacific Ocean.

Killcare NSW

6.8 km away

Brisbane Water National Park

National Parks and Reserves

Brisbane Water National Park

Brisbane Water National Park is on the central coast near Gosford, north of Sydney. The park offers a range of wonderful experiences, making it a great daytrip or weekend away from the city. Come to see colourful spring wildflowers, ancient Aboriginal engraving sites and scenic views from the park's lookouts. There are great fishing spots to discover, along with walking and cycling trails that cross rainforest and rugged sandstone country. The park's waterways are a great place to spend a day on the water, so don't forget your kayak. Head to one of the coastal towns, like Umina Beach to organise your lunch before finding your own scenic picnic spot, or make a stop at Patonga for some tasty fish and chips and a beach view.

Kariong NSW

6.9 km away

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