(77 km north to the Central Coast from Sydney)

Trip duration: one day or longer.

On the road
From Sydney, drive north along the Pacific Highway onto the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (F1). This passes through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and over the Hawkesbury River.

Must see

From the F1, turn-off at the Gosford exit to explore the small seaside townships and white sandy beaches along the Central Coast, such as Killcare Heights, McMaster Beach, Terrigal.

At Gosford visit Eric Worrell’s Australian Reptile Park and Wildlife Sanctuary on the Pacific Highway, with the taipans, pythons, goannas and platypus. Askania Park and Willy Wombat’s Rainforest Walk is a subtropical rainforest, with 120 specimens of rainforest flora identified along a 3.5km walk. Also of interest is Henry Kendall’s Cottage and Museum, built in 1838 as an inn, where the poet lived till 1874. Old Sydney Town, 9 km west of Gosford is an early pioneer settlement, re-created from carefully researched pre-1810 material. Somersby Falls, near Old Sydney town is an ideal picnic spot. Sara Lee Bakeries one of the most modern bakeries in the world, is near here were over 500 000 cakes are produced weekly. Tours last about an hour.

Woy Woy, 90km north of Sydney and 6km south of Gosford, offers boating, fishing and swimming on the Brisbane river. It is the centre for the Brisbane Water National Park, 3 km south west, noted for spring wildflowers, bush- walking, birdwatching and Aboriginal rock-art.

The Fragrant Garden at Erina, has old fashioned fragrant plants and herb gardens to browse through and a fine selection of potpourri and fragrant oils to purchase.

The Ferneries, Oak Rd, Matcham, 11km north east is a sub-tropical rainforest in the Matcham Valley where staghorns, elkhorns, palms, native orchids and many varieties of ferns thrive in their natural state.

Bouddi National Park, 17 km south east for bushwalking, camping, fishing and swimming.

The Entrance is a major lakeside and ocean resort centre on Tuggerah Lake, which is great for fishing, boating and water sports.

Toukley, situated on the peninsula between Tuggerah and Budgewoi Lakes, offers a holiday experience of pollution-free beaches and breathtaking scenery. Local attractions include the Toukley open-air markets, every Sunday at the shopping centre carpark. The Azalea Festival is held in July every year. Visit the rock pool at Cabbage Tree Bay and Norah Head Lighthouse, 5 km east of Toukley. There are many bushwalking trails in the Munmorah State Recreation Area, 10 km north.

Wyong, pleasantly situated on the Pacific Highway between the Tuggerah Lakes and the State Forests of Watagan, Olney and Ourimbah.

Wyong District Museum, Cape Rd; recalls early ferry services across lakes, and forest loggings.

The Hinterland is popular for bushwalking and camping. Burbank Nursery, at Tuggerah; 20 ha of Azaleas, open daily, flowering time July-Sept.

Tuggerah, visit the annual Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras Festival, held in the first week of December.

For further information, contact:

Visitor Centre
200 Mann Street
GOSFORD NSW 2250
Phone: (043) 25 2835
Fax: (043) 23 4475

The Entrance/Tuggerah Lakes Visitor Centre
Marine Parade
THE ENTRANCE NSW 2261
Phone: (043) 32 9282
Fax:(043) 33 1763

Lake Macquarie Tourist Information Centre
72 Pacific Highway
BLACKSMITHS NSW 2281
Phone: (049) 72 1172
Fax:(049) 72 1487

Acknowledgement

Images courtesy of Tourism New South Wales

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