Best Things to do with Kids in the Central Coast NSW

By: Zona Tan-Sheppard, ellaslist

We love it when the holidays come around! Mums- we’ve got a great holiday or short break up the Central Coast planned for the family that is fun all year around.

The Central Coast NSW area covers the landmass between Brooklyn up to the south end of Lake Macquarie. With both mainland and a beautiful coastal region, there are plenty of activities for families with kids of all ages.

The Pacific Motorway is your best friend for all the destinations here – and our picks are all within a 1.5-3 hour drive from Sydney, depending on how far up the Central Coast you’re keen to explore.

TIP! If you happen to be near ‘The Entrance’ around 3.30pm either to or from your destination – stop in and feed the pelicans at this popular daily event.

Avoca Beach

Drive time: 90 mins
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/RW8dD
Stretching for over a kilometre, Avoca Beach is a great spot for families. If you’ve got a bub or ankle biters, the rock pool and children’s playground are the perfect hangout. While families with school kids will have a blast at the popular Aquafun on Avoca Lake, where everyone can go on a water adventure with pedal boats, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards.

Of course the beach isn’t the only highlight of Avoca Beach as a family weekend getaway. The village is lined with yummy cafes and restaurants, the unique 50-year old Avoca Beach Picture Theatre, weekend markets and the beautiful Bouddi National Park.

 

Bouddi National Park

Drive time: 1 hour 40 mins
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/WVsKU
If your ideal weekend away is for the family to connect with nature, then why not camp out at the Bouddi National Park – especially if you dream about camping by the beach! A family camping gem in the National Park, Putty Beach has a scenic beachfront camping ground and full facilities.

Wake to the birds and the sound of the water along the shore, greet native bush turkeys, bushwalk with the kids, go fishing, enjoy a hearty barbecue or just paddle away in the calm pristine waters – you won’t want to come back to reality after this weekend.

 

Glenworth Valley

Drive time: 1 hour
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/b3jTJ
This picturesque hinterland valley is a world away from the Central Coast beach image which most of us are familiar. Yet anyone coming here will not be disappointed, as Glenworth Valley is a terrific hub of activity with a large range of adventures from the mundane to the extreme.

Go on a free range or guided horse riding tour for all ability levels, quad biking on a purpose built track, abseiling, kayaking, fishing, mountain biking, bushwalking, archery, laser skirmish, laser clay pigeon shooting… Or just camp the weekend here to make full use of everything you could do!

Wildlife Encounters

Wildlife encounters always make a memorable family holiday. It’s a bonus that the Central Coast has two good wildlife parks to visit that are conveniently off the Pacific Motorway, and a short one hour drive from Sydney. Head into the Reptile Park if your kids fancy some creepy crawly encounters, or the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park to say g’day to the natives. These two destinations are only 10 minutes apart, so why not make it a day to visit both spots?

Extreme Adventure Fun

If a crazy nature adventure experience is what your kids want on your weekend getaway, then don’t miss this one. Slide down Flying Foxes, move from tree to tree on suspension bridges and enjoy many other exciting activities up to 15 metres above the forest floor at Treetops Adventure Park. What’s even more fantastic is that they even have a course designed for kids as young as 3 years!

Another unique adventure to get yourselves busy would be taking a Segway Adventure Tour in Somersby. Glide about in the historic Mount Penang Parklands on two powered wheels, up hill, down hill – mad fun for school kids! But if you’ve also got little ones in tow – no worries! While the big kids Segway along, go explore one of 12 creatively themed gardens at Mount Penang Gardens.

Amazement Farm and Fun Park

It will be the simplest pleasures that makes a day out at Amazement an amazing one! Let your offspring get lost in one of their six labyrinthian gardens, go face to face with the adorable farmyard friends or get into some silly family fun with sack races, egg & spoon races & 3-legged races. Heaps of fun for toddlers, pre-schoolers and young school kids at this quaint fun park.

Amazement also has farm stay accommodation, if you decide your family needs a bit more time at this lovely spot.

 

Where to stay

If you haven’t decided to camp out at one of our recommended places, get some inspiration for more accommodation choices with Stayz or AirBnB. Additionally, you could also hire a houseboat and stay on the Hawkesbury, or live it up at a Caravan Park at Ocean Beach Holiday Park or a Big 4 Holiday Park.