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Things to do in Dubbo

June 3, 2021 / Australia, Central West, Dubbo, NSW, Travel / 0 comment

Things to do in Dubbo

Visit the vibrant regional city of Dubbo. Go wild at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and discover the region’s history and heritage. There are plenty of things to do in Dubbo!

Taronga Western Plains Zoo

The highlight for us of all the things to do in Dubbo, and indeed to prime reason why many people head to this city, would have to be Taronga Western Plains Zoo. The 6km circuit of animals is a huge outing, often requiring two days to cover.

We highly recommend staying onsite at the Zoofari Lodge if your budget extends to it. You can read about our experience at the Zoofari Lodge here, and at Taronga Western Plains Zoo here.

Old Dubbo Goal

Old Dubbo Goal is a heritage-listed tourist attraction built in the 19th century and home to historic buildings and artefacts telling of its former life as a courthouse lockup and goal. The Goal features a large range of animatronics and holographic displays to create a realistic look into its brutal history.

olddubbogaol.com.au

Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden

Enjoy 10 hectares of green space at Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. Features include a traditional Japanese garden.

drbg.com.au

Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Experience

Learn about the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service with hands-on, interactive displays that cover topics including aviation, communication, history and healthcare.

Founded in 1928 by Reverend John Flynn, the Flying Doctor is an invaluable service to people living in rural and remote areas of Australia. From emergency medical care and evacuation to regular clinics for remote communities,

flyingdoctor.org.au

Dubbo Observatory

Explore the universe at Dubbo Observatory. Far away from the smog of big cities, stars, planets and galaxies can be seen at night through one of six telescopes.

dubboobservatory.com

Wellington Caves

Discover an ancient, underworld landscape, home to the first megafauna discovery in Australia at Wellington Caves. Book ahead in peak times like school holidays as the cave tours do book up.

wellingtoncaves.com.au

Dubbo Regional Adventure Playground

Let the kids run wild at this exciting playground, located next to the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. The Dubbo Regional Adventure Playground has 40 elements to explore, including a flying fox, giant slide and basket swing. The playground includes a barbecue facilities, toilets and accessible elements including a wheelchair-friendly Liberty Swing.

Coronation Drive, Dubbo

Where to stay and eat in Dubbo

We enjoyed dining at the Dubbo RSL which has an excellent indoor kids’ play area.

dubborsl.com.au

We stayed at the Best Western Bluegum Motel. We highly recommend this 4.5 star property that was quiet, friendly and catered extremely well to families with large rooms and plenty of beds, plus removal of items in minibars, a kitchenette and free milk.

bluegummotorinn.com

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Things to do in Parkes NSW

June 2, 2021 / Australia, Central West, NSW, Parkes / 0 comment

Things to do in Parkes NSW

The world-famous Parkes Radio Telescope ‘The Dish’, the Henry Parkes Centre, Peak Hill Open Cut Experience and vibrant street art are just a few things to do in Parkes.

The shire of Parkes is best-known for the Parkes Radio Telescope ‘The Dish’, however there are plenty of things to do in the town and surrounding area to justify more than an overnight stay.

The Dish

The CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, star of the movie ‘The Dish,’ (2000) is located 20km north of Parkes, a a short 5km detour off the Newell Highway. It’s free to enter the Visitor Discovery Centre to explore the world of astronomy and learn about the role The Dish plays in ‘listening to the stars’.

The hands-on exhibits will entertain the kids, as will the scavenger hunt activity option. There is also an excellent gift shop with a wide range of astronomy and space science books, DVD’s, science toys and souvenirs and a 3D theatre that runs every half hour (additional fee applies to watch the film).

A snack at the Dish Cafe is an excellent way to enjoy the view of The Dish while recharging with brekkie, lunch, morning tea, coffee or a milkshake.

The Discovery Centre is open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 4.15pm.

Newell Highway, Approx 20km North of Parkes
http://www.csiro.au

The Henry Parkes Centre

The Henry Parkes Centre incorporates four museums and the Parkes Visitor Information Centre.

The King’s Castle Elvis Exhibit and Parkes Motor Museum adjoin the Visitor Information Centre. One pass gives entry to both collections. A separate admission fee applies to access to the Henry Parkes Museum and Antique Machinery Collection, which feature exhibits from traditional family history collections and agricultural machinery and equipment.

The Kings Castle is a collection of Elvis’ personal artefacts owned by Greg Page, the original ‘Yellow Wiggle’, expressing some of Elvis Presley’s life and career highs and lows.

The Parkes Motor Museum is a collection of motor vehicles owned by the Parkes Antique Motor Club representing all heritage motoring eras. Up to 24 cars, 10 motorcycles and other motoring memorabilia are in display including 1914 Alldays and Onions, 1940 Holden bodied Oldsmobile Convertible, 1986 Jaguar XJ6 Paris Show display car.

Learn about Sir Henry Parkes inside Moat Cottage, a replica of where the Australian Statesman and ‘Father of Federation’ was born in Country Warwickshire, near the city of Coventry, England. The 20 min free theatre experience inside Moat Cottage tells the story of Sir Henry Parkes and his connection to Parkes.

The Henry Parkes Museum and Antique Machinery Exhibit depict early life in Parkes through objects, photos and historical information. A collection of historic buildings are houses on the site including a wooden schoolhouse and two churches, blacksmith shop, Silver City Comet carriage and 45 tractors.

Newell Highway

Kelly Reserve

A lovely green space with covered BBQ area, picnic facilities, off-leash dog park, play equipment and a 3075 ‘S’ Class steam locomotive.

Cnr Newell Highway and Thomas Street

HARS Parkes Aviation Museum

The HARS Parkes Aviation Museum is currently housed in a former RAAF hangar from the airport’s time as a World War Two air force base. Exhibits on display or being assembled include a Bell AH-1 Huey Cobra, De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (A4-275), De Havilland DH.114 Heron (VH – AHB) and Convair 580 (VH-PDW).

It’s a truly fascinating experience to wander around the museum and watch the exhibits being restored and assembled.

End of Muzycuk Drive at Parkes Airport

Public Art Trail

Download the Public Art Trail map to your phone and wander the Parkes CBD to enjoy public art installations that represent the region’s local culture and icons.

Big Fish Fossil Hut

Drop by the Big Fish Fossil Hut to enjoy a collection of specimens that lived across Eastern Australia over 700 million years ago. On display are trilobites, ammonites, seastars and arinoids through to fish, amphibians and dinosaurs. The collection includes the largest fossil fish on display anywhere in Australia – the Xiphactinus, which lived during the time of the dinosaurs and is about 4.5 metres long.

Peak Hill Caravan Park, 2 Ween Street.

Peak Hill Gold Mine Experience

The historic Peak Hill mine operated from 1893 to 1917. Redeveloped in 2002 as a tourist attraction, the Peak Hill Gold Mine Experience is a great way to learn about mining techniques by strolling along the self-guided walking trails.

Mingelo St, Peak Hill

Where to eat and stay in Parkes

We really enjoyed dining at Bellas Cafe & Licensed Italian Restaurant (245 Clarinda St, Parkes). It’s extremely family-friendly and serves great food.

We stayed at the Station Motel (82 Peak Hill Rd, Parkes). The Station Motel features comfortable basic rooms with free WiFi, ac/heating and parking.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

A Day trip to Historical Canowindra

May 24, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

A Day trip to Historical Canowindra

The historic village of Canowindra is home to hot air balloons, colonial history and a fascinating collection of prehistoric fish fossils.

Drop by this pretty little village (promounced kuh·nawn·druh) and meander through its heritage-listed centre with a few bushranger tales to tell.

In 1863 the entire town of Canowindra was held hostage in a pub for three days by bushranger Ben Hall and his gang. Visit the Canowindra Historical Museum, housed in a former school building, to learn more about the fascinating history of the town, or join Blind Freddy’s Bushranger Tours for an exciting retelling of the myths of Hall and his gang, and stories about life in the 1860s gold-rush era.

The best way to see the town is by air – Canowindra is known as the hot air balloon capital of NSW – so if you have time, take a look at joining a flight with Aussie Balloontrek or Balloon Joy Flights.

Walk a little beyond the town to find this swinging bridge and some lovely countryside.

An absolute must-visit in Canowindra is the Age Of Fishes Museum, home to thousands of rare Devonian fossils uncovered by chance in 1955.

Set aside at least an hour, but more if you have the time, to explore the most bizarre fish fossils from 360 million years ago.

These fish with armoured shells and jaws like crocodiles lived in the rivers of the Central West long before dinosaurs roamed the earth. They belong to the Devonian Period – the ‘Age of Fishes’.

The Age Of Fishes Museum has an indoor component with permanent exhibitions and a kids education and activity area plus an outdoor section containing a geological time-walk in the picnic ground and a giant games board.

Kids can do a scavenger hunt that concludes with a prize.

Read more about things to do in Canowindra.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Heifer Station Winery & Petting Farm Orange, NSW

May 20, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Heifer Station Winery & Petting Farm Orange, NSW

The Heifer Station was built on land that was once one of the biggest cattle stations in Orange. In 2016, Heifer Station opened their cellar door in a 100 year old wool shed, nestled in a beautiful garden with farm yard animals dotted around (or free roaming).

Book yourself for a wine tasting in to enjoy this lovely experience, with the farm animal petting area free to roam for customers of the cellar door. Little kids will love the chickens and Tilly the mini Shetland pony.

There is a huge open green space out the back dotted with picnic tables and benches. It’s a fantastic spot for kids to run around – just remember sunscreen and hats.

Tilly is a very friendly mini Shetland pony who is happy to get some pats.

There is a sandpit for kids to play in as well.

The free roaming chickens are a beautiful mix of breeds.

We booked in for a wine and cheese tasting that came with a fantastic cheese and fruit platter with crackers and bread.

heiferstation.com

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Nine unusual things to discover in Cowra NSW

May 19, 2021 / Australia, Cowra, NSW, Travel / 0 comment

Nine unusual things to discover in Cowra NSW

Discover Cowra’s stunning Japanese Garden, military history and outdoor activities. Visit in spring to experience fields of gold canola!

Cowra is a medium-sized country town with a fascinating history. The site of the largest Prisoner of War breakout in modern military history, Cowra has several sites to visit that speak to the town’s role in WW2.

Cowra is also well known for their tranquil Japanese Garden and beautiful fields of canola in spring.

Canola fields

It’s hard to miss the canola fields surrounding Cowra in spring, but you can opt for a Fields of Gold canola tour if you’d like to tag along with the experts to see the fields in full bloom. Remember to keep out of the fields and take photos from the roads only!

Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

The Garden is a must-visit at any tie of year, but is particularly stunning in spring. Opened in 1979, the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre is a tangible monument to peace and reconciliation between two countries.

The Garden is a stunning example of Japanese design with its traditional landscaping, and was created to support and advance the cultural relations between the people of Cowra and the people of Japan.

Read more about visiting the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre.

Cowra POW Campsite

The Cowra POW Campsite has interpretive signage and an audio presentation to help visitors visualise what once stood in this field, and the events that unfolded in 1944. On August 5, more than 1000 Japanese prisoners launched a mass ‘suicide attack’ on their Australian guards to overcome the disgrace of capture.

Approximately 300 Japanese POW armed themselves with crude weapons and threw themselves on barbed wire fences and into the firing line of machine guns.

All of the escapees were captured, with a total of 107 POWs wounded, 234 prisoners killed as well as five Australian soldiers.

POW Hologram Theatre

To get an understanding of the 1944 breakout, I highly recommend watching the POW Hologram Theatre presentation, located inside the Cowra Visitor Information Centre. The 9-minute presentation of the Cowra Breakout and its aftermath is told through the eyes of “Claire”, a local girl.

Visitor Information Centre, Mid Western Highway, Cowra

Australian World Peace Bell

The Australian World Peace Bell was awarded to Cowra in 1992 for its contribution to world peace. It is the only It is the only World Peace Bell in the world that is not located in a city, and was made from melted down coins donated by 106 member countries of the United Nations.

Civic Square, Darling Street, Cowra

War Cemetery

The only Japanese War Cemetery to be retained in Australia, it was established in 1964 and contains 523 graves including the remains of the 231 Japanese soldiers who were killed in the 1944 Cowra Breakout and all Japanese Nationals who died on Australian soil during World War II.

Doncaster Drive, Cowra

Cowra Sculpture Park

Located at the John Moon Arboretum opposite the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, the Cowra Sculpture Park features sculptures from both nationally and internationally acclaimed artists.

Len Whitely Drive, Cowra Peace Precinct

Indigenous Art Murals

Beneath the Lachlan River Bridge you’ll find the the Cowra Bridge Pylons which are covered by a set of stunning indigenous murals by local Aboriginal artist, Kym Freeman. The murals the history of the Wiradjuri people, who inhabited the Cowra area before European settlement. The murals are a short walk from the Visitor Information Centre down to the river.

Beneath Lachlan River Car Bridge, Cowra

Bellevue Hill Reserve and Cowra Nature Based Adventure Playground

This beautiful reserve, which is located next to the Japanese Garden, is one of the areas’ most popular parks. Containing shaded picnic facilities, free bbqs and public amenities plus the massive Cowra Nature Based Adventure Playground, Bellevue Hill Reserve is a beautiful spot well worth visiting.

From the top of the hill you will have a lovely view of Cowra below.

The Cowra Nature Based Adventure Playground has play area for kids of all ages, with little and big kids both catered for. The playground includes a nine metre climbing frame and a flying fox.

Bellevue Hill, Binni Creek Road

Get more info on visiting Cowra here and here.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

May 19, 2021 / Australia, Cowra, NSW / 0 comment

Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

The five hectares of garden were created in the style of a Kaiyushiki (strolling) garden, by Ken Nakajima, to symbolise the Japanese landscape. The two lakes, streams and waterfalls provide a safe haven for local birds, as well as Koi carp whom can be fed from one of the viewing platforms overlooking the lake. We saw plenty of ducks, including a mum and her babies.

Other special features of the Garden include a traditional Edo Cottage, an authentic open-air Tea house and a Bonsai House. The Cultural Centre joins the main building, featuring exhibitions from local and regional artists.

We enjoyed brunch at the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre, with a beautiful view over the Garden. The Cafe serves modern Australian and Japanese cuisine and offers both indoor air conditioned and outdoor terrace dining.

http://www.cowragarden.com.au

Check out more things to do in Cowra.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Carcoar, the town that time forgot

May 18, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Carcoar, the town that time forgot

Visit the historic village of Carcoar in the NSW Central Tablelands. Take a walking tour of the preserved 19 century buildings set amongst picturesque green hills.

The tiny town of Carcoar can be found 260 km West of Sydney, and approximately 40 minutes equidistant from Bathurst, Orange and Cowra.

The third-oldest settlement west of the Blue Mountains, Carcoar is a beautiful spot to visit year-round, but particularly during autumn when the leaves are changing colour.

Nestled in a valley alongside the Belubula River, Carcoar is an historic gem with a large number of well preserved 19th century buildings. A walking tour is the best way to enjoy the town, with maps available from the National Trust.

The oldest building in the village is believed to be the 1849 convict-built stables of Stoke House, which is now a museum full of interesting historic gems to peruse.

Highlights also include well-preserved Georgian buildings along the main street, St Paul’s Anglican Church built in 1848 and the century-old courthouse.

The buildings now house museums, shops and cafes, with the highest capita of museums to people of anywhere in Australia. If you wish to stay the night, Carcoar has a wide range of accommodation options, from restored heritage buildings to boutique B&Bs.

Carcoar was settled by Europeans in 1821. There was extensive bushranging in the area particularly after the discovery of gold (which is still mined commercially in the area). The first daylight bank robbery in Australia occurred in Carcoar in 1863, at Carcoar’s Commercial Bank. Today, the building is home to a private toy museum with over 2000 toys of various kinds on display.

To reach Carcoar, take the turn-off on the Mid-Western Highway, the A43.

Get more information on Carcoar here, here and here.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Millthorpe Day Trip: How To Spend A Day In Milthorpe

May 18, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Milthorpe Day Trip: How To Spend A Day In Millthorpe

The perfect day trip in the Orange region, Millthorpe is a heritage-listed village with historical buildings, restaurants, shops and wineries. There are plenty of ways to spend a lovely day in Milthorpe.

A stroll through Milthorpe is like taking a step back in time to the 1900s in regional NSW. The cobblestoned streets are lined with relatively unchanged 19th century buildings that now house contemporary restaurants, boutique homewares stores and charming accommodation.

For a detailed look at Millthorpe’s past, take a tour of the Golden Memories Museum, or download the village walking map to your phone and take a gentle walk around the streets while soaking in its charm.

We enjoyed dining at the Railway Station Cafe and browsing the Millthorpe Chocolate shop inside. The Millthorpe Railway Station is a fine example of 19th century building that has been well maintained.

Millthorpe Chocolates is a locally grown business using the finest Belgian Couverture Chocolate and ingredients. The chocolate is hand tempered and is hand crafted.

Millthorpe Chocolates is a locally grown business using Belgian Couverture Chocolate. The chocolate is tempered and crafted by hand.

There is a lovely lolly shop on the main street that is impossible to walk past without buying something.

How to get to Millthorpe:

The historic town is 20 minutes’ drive southeast of Orange, 10 minutes from Orange Airport, and 30 minutes west of Bathurst. The drive from Sydney is 3 hours 30 minutes.

By train: the Western XPT arrives every day from Sydney at 11.48am on its way to Dubbo, then departs at 4.11pm. Book tickets online with NSW Trainlink or by phone 13 22 32.

Read more about Millthorpe Village here and here.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

6 Things to do in Orange NSW

May 18, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Six Things to do in Orange NSW

Orange is a large regional centre with art galleries, wineries, hikes and leisure activities. There are plenty of things to do in Orange on a regional NSW road trip. Here are three of our favourite discoveries:

Lake Canobolas

Lake Canobolas is a man-made reservoir located near Orange, a popular spot for recreation since the 1970s.

Cycling, sailing, canoeing, walking, swimming, triathlons and dragon boating are some of the sports/activities held here.

Kids will love the Apex Adventure Playground on the eastern bank.

Bring a picnic or bbq lunch or grab a bite from the Lakehouse kiosk.

There is a walking track around the lake that is great for bird watching and wildlife spotting.

Be sure to walk over the top of the reservoir, it’s a great view of the water gushing over the side.

Lake Canobolas is open daily from early morning until sunset. Dogs are permitted within the park but must be on a lead.

Heifer Station Winery

Get more info on visiting the Heifer Station.

heiferstation.com

Cook Park

Enjoy the stunning seasonal colours of Orange in Cook Park, a 4.5 hectare park in the centre of Orange named after Captain James Cook.

The park was laid out in a traditional Victorian design in 1873, with straight paths and rows of trees.

Cook Park also features duck ponds, kids’ swings, an aviary with birds, the Lattice Fernery and Cook Park Guildry.

Cook Park is an easy 10 minute walk west of the Orange CBD via Summer or Kite Streets.

Spilt Milk Gelato

You must try this delicious gelato made with the best ingredients from Aussie farms.

spiltmilkbar.com

Racine Bakery

This bakery is a must-visit – if you can manage to find it! Racine Bakery can be found behind a strip of shops, with the entrance in the Woolworths car park. They sell the most delicious bread, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, salads, pies and sausage rolls, all hand-made on site.

Entry via woolworths carpark, 166B Summer St, Orange

racinerestaurant.com.au

Gracie Burger

We loved these brightly coloured burger and fries meals from Gracie Burger, with an option for a chickpea patty in lieu of meat for adult and kids meals.

Fantastic fries and shakes, too!

gracieburger.com.au

Accommodation

We stayed at the Mercure Orange during our stay. The hotel was clean, conveniently located and well run.

Get more info on visiting Orange.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Avoca Beach NSW Australia: Great for kids and dogs!

May 13, 2021 / Australia, Central Coast, Dog-Friendly Sydney, NSW, Pets, Travel / 0 comment

Avoca Beach NSW Australia

Enjoy the sparkling water of Avoca Beach, the perfect spot on the Central Coast for families (and dogs!).

Located about 30 minutes from Gosford, Avoca Beach is a popular spot for locals and Sydney-siders. Avoca Beach stretches 1.7km, with a beautiful shallow rock pool at the southern end.

There are plenty of cafes to enjoy a hearty brunch at the southern end also. The cafes all feature outdoor seating, making this a fab spot for families and dogs to enjoy casual meals right by the water.

We love to grab snacks or smoothies from the Avoca Beach Kiosk next to the life saving club, or a delicious meal at Point Cafe.

Point Cafe offers all-day breakfast, a kids’ menu and a variety of dishes to suit dietary requirements.

There is a large, fenced playground behind the surf life saving club, and a grassy park next to it.

A large bathroom block is located next to the playground.

Keep walking past the rock pool and you’ll find a rock shelf with more little rock pools that are great for exploring.

For more aquatic fun, hire a kayak, pedal boat or stand-up paddleboards from Aquafun Avoca Lake and splash around the lagoon.

The official off-leash dog area is from the surf club parking lot down to the North Avoca end of the beach on the opposite side of the lagoon. This is technically the space between two beaches, Avoca Beach and North Avoca Beach.

Avoca Lake backs on to the beach. Hire kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddleboards from Aquafun Avoca Lake and splash about the sparkling waterway or paddle to the large island in the middle of the tranquil lagoon.

If the weather isn’t in your favour, catch a movie at the Avoca Beach Picture Theatre, which opened in 1948 and is a lovely little single screen vintage theatre.

The fourth Sunday of every month you’ll find the Avoca Beachside Markets creating some extra bustle in town, with lots of local food and crafts on offer.

Avoca Beach NSW is an easy 90 minute drive north of Sydney and an 80m drive south from Newcastle. To reach it by public transport is a bit of an effort but do-able – catch the train from Central to Gosford or Newcastle to Gosford, then change to a bus to take you to Avoca Beach. It will take around 2 hours to reach Avoca Beach via public transport.

I’d suggest staying a few days either at Avoca Beach or in the general area to explore all of the Central Coast gems.

Avoca Beach NSW is located at the end of a long no-through road. There is limited parking so allow time to find a spot if you are on a schedule, or arrive early to ensure an easy park.