After leaving Lake Macquarie we continue on to the Central Coast and will return to introduce you to the Hunter Valley Winery area.
About CENTRAL COAST
The Central Coast lies between Sydney and Newcastle. The region's starting point, Broken Bay is both the mouth of the stunning Hawkesbury River and the setting for Kate Grenville's famous historical novel The Secret River. Waterski, canoe, sail and row at Tuggerah Lake in Entrance. Feed the pelicans at Pelican Plaza or play a round of golf at Shelly Beach Golf Club.
Crackneck Point Lookout near Shelly Beach is a popular spot for whale watching on the Central Coast, and Avoca hosts a bustling seaside market on the fourth Sunday of every month from May to November. Pelican feeding time at Pelican Plaza in Enrith is a Central Coast favourite. The pelican is Australia's largest waterbird, with a wingspan of up to 2.8 metres, and the flock gathers in the plaza at 3.30pm every day for a feast.
Gosford is a major commercial shopping centre on the Central Coast and sits alongside the Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park. You can stay in one of the zoo's cabins and sleep with Australia's native animals. Not far away is the Australian Reptile Park, where visitors are amazed by a dangerous snake-handling show and a funnel-web spider venom extraction show. On the Central Coast, places like Pearl Beach, Ettalong Beach, Patonga, Avoca and Terrigal are dotted with cheerful villages offering a wide range of activities. Swimming, fishing and surfing are always popular.
Take a coastal helicopter ride and get a bird's eye view of the coast as you walk jungle trails, see the stunning Somersby Falls and get up close and personal with native birds in Brisbane Water National Park. Visit an oyster farm and the only pearl farm in New Zealand. Relax and hike on the secluded beaches of Bouddi National Park. For horse riding, quad biking and kayaking, Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures is ideal, just an hour's drive from Sydney.
Encounter some of Australia's friendliest and deadliest creatures at the Australian Reptile Park and Wildlife Sanctuary near Sydney. These unique mammals include echidnas, platypus, bears, dingoes, kangaroos, pangolins and rabbit-eared kangaroos. There's also the chance to hand-feed deadly creatures including crocodiles, snakes and spiders. You can also enjoy a show of reptiles, bears, kangaroos and spiders, including the daily squeeze of the deadly funnel-web spider. Its venom can be used to make life-preserving antivenin. Antivenom is also made from the venom of deadly poisonous snakes You can take a walk with Hugo, the giant elephant tortoise. Creepy snake and crocodile shows are only available on weekends and public holidays. You'll meet Elvis, a large crocodile known as Australia's most aggressive crocodile, and backstage tours and animal encounters are also available.
Overnight at the Safari
The zoo is located on the Central Coast in Somersby, an hour's drive north of Sydney. The zoo is open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm, except Christmas Day At the Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park near Sydney, you can walk amongst unique native animals and explore important Aboriginal sites, including a giant Emu carving. Overnight in your choice of fully furnished, self-contained chalet in the woodland known in Australia as “Woodlands”. Travellers are provided with a breakfast basket each morning. Reservations are required for night tours and overnight experiences. The zoo is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Experience the world's longest zip line!
Take on the challenge of climbing through the trees and soaring through the air on zip lines at TreeTop Adventure Park near Sydney. Travelling high above the forest on agility routes, bridges and slides into the beautiful virgin forest, the park offers hundreds of challenges, including 20 zip lines or flying fox ropes. There are 4 routes suitable for 3 year olds, including 4 Flying Fox Lines. A rope safety system keeps children securely fastened, so they can climb, swing, jump and fly to their heart's content.
In 1811, NSW Governor Lachlan Macquarie gave the first land grant in the region to William Nash, a former Marine of the first Fleet. The area was not further subsidised until 1821.
As of June 2019, the population of this Central Coast city is estimated to be 334627, growing at a rate of 1% per hour. making it the third largest metropolitan area in New South Wales and the ninth largest in Australia. Geographically, the Central Coast usually encompasses the Horsby River in the south, the Watagan Ranges in the west and the southern tip of Lake Macquarie, which is located in the Sydney Basin.
Politically, the Central Coast Council has governed the area since the amalgamation of Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council on 12 May 2016.In September 2006, the NSW Government released a revised long-term plan to designate the Central Coast as a regional municipality, the NSW Council created a new junior ministerial position; and Scott McDonald served as Hunter and Council Secretary for the Central Coast. The newly amalgamated Central Coast Council held elections in September 2017 . By mid-2020, the amalgamation process had cost close to $60 million.
Indigenous people have inhabited the Central Coast for thousands of years. The local Gurringai people were the first Aboriginal people to come into contact with the British settlers. An Aboriginal man from the area called Bungaree became one of the most prominent figures in the early settlement of New South Wales. He was one of the first Aborigines to learn English and made friends with early governors Philip, King and McGrory. He travelled around Australia with the explorer Matthew Flinders.
