Dreaming Dove's Scenic Central Coast

Looking north across Bateau Bay, Wyrrabalong National Park

Fast Facts - Scenic Central Coast
Click here to view a Central Coast Map

The Central Coast is situated approximately one hour's drive north from Sydney and one hour's drive south of Newcastle, on the east (Pacific) coast of Australia.
The Central Coast stretches from the Hawkesbury River in the south (Brooklyn and Mooney Mooney) to Catherine Hill Bay, near Lake Macquarie, in the north, and west to the Dooralong and Yarramalong Valleys. The Central Coast region of NSW covers 1,854 sq. km.
Average elevation is 40 metres above sea level, although at some scenic lookouts, the ranges can be up to 100 metres above sea level.
Geologically, the southern section of the Central Coast lies on a hard bedrock of Hawkesbury sandstone, while in the north, the sedimentary units contain the coalbeds of the Hunter Valley.
More than fifty beaches span the length of the Central Coast. There are countless waterways in the region including - Brisbane Water, Tuggerah Lake, Lake Budgewoi, Lake Munmorah and the southern end of Lake Macquarie. It isthe only place in the world where five separate waterways meet.

Woy Woy is almost completely surrounded by the lake-like Brisbane Water. Brisbane Water is a broad extensive estuary of the Hawkesbury River, discharging near the mouth at Broken Bay.

One of the oldest towns in the region, originally, Woy Woy appears to have been called Wye Wye, or possibly Why Why; a tombstone in Gosford cemetery marks the last resting place of a resident of Wye Wye Bay, and the Sydney Morning Herald (in 1855) mentioned Why Why Creek. Somehow, over the years, the name became Woy Woy and it has stuck.

Only five weeks (March 1788) after the First Fleet sailed into Port Jackson , Cpt. Arthur Phillip and a party of officers and seamen sailed to what is now known as Brisbane Water, in search of land suitable for growing crops for the early settlement.

The first land grant on the Central Coast was made to an ex-marine of the First Fleet, William Nash, in 1811 but he did not settle there. The first official resident settler was George Peat who received a land grant of 50 acres in 1836 at the site now known as Peats Bight.
Gosford was originally known as the 'Township at Point Frederick'. The name was changed by Governor Gipps who noted on the survey plan "to be called Gosford", presumably after his friend the Earl of Gosford.
Water sports are the most popular activities on the Central Coast. Fishing is a particular favourite pastime. Typical species caught are include Whiting, Snapper, Kingfish, Jewfish, Blue Morwong, Trevally, Flathead, Leatherjackets, Tailor, Bonito, Australian Salmon, Striped Tuna, Teraglin, Dolphinfish, Bream, Nannygai & John Dory.
Residents and tourists of the Central Coast enjoy a temperate climate. Average Annual Rainfall is 1,236mm. Average maximum Summer temperature is 25.1C and the average minimum is 19.4C. Average maximum Winter temperature is 17.1C and the average minimum is 5.3C. Ocean temperatures range between 22C in Summer and 15C in Winter.
210,000 ha of natural vegetation has been set aside for conservation as National Parks, State Forests, recreation areas and other reserves. Vast areas of natural bushland along the coastline have been preserved in Bouddi National Park, Brisbane Water National Park, Yengo and Wyrrabalong National Parks, as well as along the Hawkesbury River. With large areas of bushland, there is an abundance of native bird life, including kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos.
The pelican, symbol of the Central Coast, is the largest of Australian birds that can fly.
The Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, which was founded in 1937, is the oldest maritime Search and Rescue organisation in Australia.
The Central Coast is home to just over a quarter of a million people - Population (Census 1996) 260,839 (Source: ABS Cat. No. 3210.1)
More than 10,000 businesses operate on the Central Coast.
The Central Coast region is governed by two Shire Councils - Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council.
Terrigal's original inhabitants were reputedly the Awabakal or Guringgai Aborigines.

The first European settler was John Gray who arrived in 1826 and called his property Tarrygal, after the indigenous place name, signifying 'place of little birds'.

The most prominent feature of Terrigal is the headland, known as Broken Head. The northern side of the headland is quite wide and flat, constituting an open grassy parkland known as "The Skillion" on the southern side (called Kurawyba by the Awabakal Aborigines).
Attractions on the Central Coast are many and varied. At Somersby, step back in time at Old Sydney Town , situated in Heritage Park. Just 70 kilometres north of Sydney, Old Sydney Town is a re-creation of Sydney Cove as it was in the early 1800's including Sydney Cove, the Tank Stream (Sydney's initial freshwater source), soldiers' huts and other rudimentary buildings with thatched or shingled roofs in a bush setting.

Picnic and enjoy tranquil bush walks at Somersby Falls - A path leads down alongside Floods Creek to three viewing platforms, each a descent in altitude and into an increasingly dense rainforest habitat.

An enormous model dinosaur stands outside the Australian Reptile and Wildlife Park which can be seen from the main arterial road north, the F3 (National Highway 1). The Park, one of Australia's best wildlife sanctuaries, is set in natural bushland.

Snakes and spiders (in particular, the Funnel Web spider) are milked daily of their venom for medical research and antivenoms. The Park's wildlife includes koalas, wombats, kangaroos, dingoes, rainforest birds, emus and platypus.

Forest of Tranquility and Bird Sanctuary - The sanctuary is situated in a beautiful valley at Ourimbah enfolding subtropical and temperate rainforest where you can enjoy peaceful walks in protected, natural rainforest . There are over 134 different species of wild birds, native birds (including lyrebirds, catbirds, satin bowerbirds, bellbirds, brush turkeys, king parrots and eastern whipbirds), wombats and a range of other smaller animals.

The Ferneries at Matcham - offering visitors glimpses of kangaroos, emus an peacocks in a rainforest valley. They have been a family operated property since 1933.

The Fragrant Gardens at Erina - Victorian-style cottage garden of herbs and sweet-smelling plants with an old-world feel.

Pioneer Park at Point Frederick - is a pleasant and tranquil park facing out into Brisbane Water. It contains a number of historic gravestones.

Daily pelican feeding at The Entrance - At 3pm each day, The Seabird Rescue Unit volunteers feed pelicans at The Entrance, on the shores of Memorial Park. The Entrance is located at the opening of Tuggerah Lake.

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