Michelle: Having grown up in country NSW, moving to the Central Coast at the age of 17 was incredible!  I instantly loved the beachside lifestyle and everything the coast has to offer.  After spending a few years in Sydney during my 20’s, the Central Coast is where I chose to settle down, raise my family and build a career in real estate.

Linda: I have lived on the Central Coast for approximately 40 years. My parents relocated here from the Northern Beaches when I was 6 months old.

As Buyer’s Agents, we find ourselves all over the Central Coast, which allows us the luxury to try many different eateries.  It’s also a great opportunity to introduce clients relocating to the Central Coast to a local business and community.

Some of our faves are:

Restaurants

• Arc Est, Terrigal
• Suq, Wamberal
• The Wild Flower Bar & Dining at Bells, Killcare
• Osteria II Coccia, Ettalong Beach
• Amalfi, Pearl Beach

Cafes

• di Matteos, Forresters Beach
• Three Donkeys, Wamberal
• Modern Organic, Long Jetty
• Surf Café, Terrigal
• The Pantry, Forresters Beach
• Daley’s Kitchen, Daley’s Point
• Flour & Co., Toowoon Bay

Love a delicious cocktail?  There are many wonderful locations to enjoy cocktail hour, here are just a few:

• Maew Maew – Terrigal
• Margarita Daze – Umina Beach
• Mumbo Jumbo’s – Terrigal
• Shady Palms – Kincumber
• The Savoy – Long Jetty
• Bar Toto – Ettalong Beach
• Daley’s Bar – Daley’s Point
• Little Miss Mezza – West Gosford
• Pocket Bar – Terrigal

Breweries

If you’re into beer there are a number of craft breweries on the Central Coast including:

• Six Strings
• Block N Tackle
• Bay Rd Brewing
• Central Coast Brewery
• Hawkesbury Brewing Co.

Michelle: The beaches are one of the biggest drawcards to the Central Coast and you can always get a car park without walking a mile!  The popular tourist suburbs such as Terrigal and Avoca Beach get very busy in the holiday season but certainly not in comparison to the Sydney beaches.

If you prefer somewhere a little quieter there are numerous options to choose from, many of which allow you to take your dog for a walk.

I prefer the calmer beaches so Terrigal, Blue Bay and Toowoon Bay Beaches would be my favourites!

Linda:  The Central Coast is home to an abundance of stunning, pristine beaches. Many are also dog friendly, or at least a section of them are.  Depending on what you like, there is something for everyone, although it is hard to choose a favourite.

Bouddi National Park offers seclusion. After a hike, there is either Bullimah Beach or Maitland Bay Beach to enjoy a rest and a swim.

Bateau Bay, Shelly Beach and Toowoon Bay are family favourites, they also have close toilet & café facilities.  There is also a park for kids to play at Toowoon Bay.  Other safe beaches include Norah Head Rockpool, Ettalong Beach, Killcare, Terrigal and Spoon Bay.

Forresters Beach is dog friendly and great for both surfing and fishing.

Other popular surfing spots include Copacabana, Avoca Beach, North Avoca, Wamberal and Soldiers Beach.

Fisherman favour Budgewoi, North Entrance, Ocean Beach and Patonga, along with others mentioned above.

Michelle: There are some fabulous camp sites on the Central Coast! Whether you prefer a holiday park environment, a countryside or hinterland retreat or the perfect beachside position in one of our stunning National Parks, there is something for everyone!

Little Beach Campground is one of my favourites, tucked into a pretty cove surrounded by nature with a view of the ocean.

Michelle: We are lucky to enjoy a great sense of community on the Central Coast, particularly given the number of young families moving here from Sydney.

We are often given feedback from our clients that they are surprised by the warm welcome and sense of community they receive when they move to the area.  It’s so nice to feel connected to community you live in and there are always activities on offer to enable you to get out and meet the locals.

Linda:  Growing up as a teenager in the 80’s, the Central Coast felt a lot more regional and industrial,  there wasn’t a lot to do.  We couldn’t wait to be old enough to move to Sydney for some excitement.

Since then, the Central Coast region has grown and evolved to become a lot more diverse, mulit-cultural and is more connected to Sydney via new motorways and improved public transport, which makes it feel less regional and more metro.

One of the driving forces of this evolution has been the migration from overseas and north from Sydney/Melbourne of families looking for more affordable and better quality living, bringing with them innovation and creativity to start new businesses such as cafes, restaurants, homewares, fashion, entertainment, events, trades and so on…..

The thing that has always remained however, is the family oriented community.  No matter which suburb you reside in, there is a local community vibe where people are brought together via various meeting hubs from parks, shopping centres, cafes, restaurants, events, sports, schools and so on.  Just about everywhere is child friendly….now many places are also dog friendly.  You walk down the street and strangers walking past, will generally acknowledge you and say hello.  If in need of assistance, people rally together or literally drop everything to lend a helping hand.

It’s interesting that many of us now in our adult life have moved back to the Central Coast with a new found appreciation. Today, there really isn’t any great reason to want to leave!

Michelle and Linda: There are so many fabulous things to do on the Central Coast, here are a few to choose from:

Stroll along Terrigal Boardwalk established in 2021.  This seaside icon connects the main street beachside promenade directly over the waves to The Haven and it’s surrounding parkland and The Skillion.  You will enjoy stunning views and perfect photo opportunities along the way.

The Bouddi Coastal Walk is a relatively easy hike offering sweeping coastal views, high sandstone cliffs and stunning beaches.  There are options to break the 8.5km hike into smaller hikes if you prefer.  This is one of the most beautiful hikes on the Central Coast.

Hike and/or swim through one of the National Parks – Bouddi, Brisbane Water, Wyrrabalong and Dharug.

Somersby Falls is the most well-known waterfall walk in the vast bushland of the Central Coast, definitely worth checking out, especially after a rainfall!

Bike ride around Tuggerah Lakes from Berkeley Vale to The Entrance.

Tree Tops Adventure Park is a fabulous way to spend a few hours with the kids climbing, zip lining and navigating obstacles courses in the tree tops.  A fun, adventurous outing for all the family!

Glenworth Valley Horse Riding is one of Australia’s largest horse riding and outdoor adventure centres, located in the hinterland of the Central Coast on 3000 acres of unspoilt wilderness.  Adventures include guided or free range horse riding, quad biking, kayaking and abseiling.  Glenworth Valley also provides a unique camping experience under the stars alongside Popran Creek with tents and tipis for hire.

Picnic at Terrigal Haven and walk up The Skillion

Visit the Australian Reptile Park, a great day out!

Visit a shipwreck – for the divers out there!  The ex-HMAS Adelaide lies 1.4km from Terrigal in 35 metres of water.  Swarms of marine life now call the wreck home and you can book a dive to expore this underwater adventure.

Local Central Coast Markets

There are quite a number of markets to choose from on the Central Coast. A special mention goes to Gosford Farmers Market, where each Sunday morning you can stock up on beautiful fresh produce for the week.

We also enjoy the Avoca Beachside Markets on the fourth Sunday of each month.  It’s not only a stunning location but a great way to enjoy a spectrum of stalls showcasing local produce, wares and art….. even the doggos on a leash are welcome!