The Entrance NSW

The first time I ever saw The Entrance NSW was a typical summer day in Australia...

The sun was shining. The water was a clear aqua. Dozens of pelicans and anglers dotted the channel. I was amazed by the natural beauty of the area. Beautiful beaches, pelicans, fishing & prawning and fun things to do for kids draw many visitors here each year. Find out more below about our favourite things to do at The Entrance NSW and the best places to stay.

View of The Entrance on the other side of the channel.

The Entrance is the English meaning of the aboriginal word Karagi. It means the ocean enters Tuggerah Lake.

Contents:

Attractions

Memorial Park

Memorial Park is fabulous for families with children. This Ferris wheel is usually there during school holidays...

The place comes to life during weekends and school holidays. It transforms from a sleepy town into a buzzing place. There's entertainment young children love: carousel, jumping castles, rides, a little train. Plus small children love to splash in Vera’s Water Garden, a wading pool.

See more photos of Memorial Park in the photo gallery at the bottom of this page.

Find out more here about our favourite things to do at The Entrance with the kids.

Pelican Feeding

The biggest attraction here is Pelican Feeding. Feeding occurs every single day of the year at 3.30 pm at the foreshore next to Memorial Park.

It’s your chance to get up close with dozens of pelicans. Arrive between 2.45 – 3.00 pm to get a good seat and watch pelicans turn up one by one and congregate. I think it's the best part of the show.

In any case you’ll see plenty of pelicans in the channel at any time of the day.

Learn more about Pelican Feeding.

The Entrance Beach

The 300 m patrolled beach is just at the end of the boardwalk. The beach is patrolled from the beginning of the September school holidays to the end of the April school holidays. It's also popular for surfing.

The Entrance Baths

The Entrance Baths are on the other side of the beach. The baths are a great place to swim at The Entrance if you like calm water. You'll find a 50 m lap pool and toddler pool.

Walking Along the Channel

Walk on the boardwalk and admire the view of the channel, the Tasman Sea, and Tuggerah Beach.

If you like history, read the signs along the boardwalk. The boardwalk is part of the Heritage Walk. The walk displays 75 signs and photos along Marine Pde and The Entrance Rd. You can download an app on your phone here.

Cycling Along Tuggerah Lake

Picnic Point is the start of the 12-km shared walking and cycling track. It follows the edge of Tuggerah Lake, and it's one of the best bicycle paths on the Central Coast.

Learn more about cycling along Tuggerah Lake.

Markets and Festivals

The Entrance Market is held every Saturday.

Besides, many events and festivals happen in Memorial Park:

Blues and Jazz Festival (July)
Chinese Cultural Festival (September)
Country Music Festival (November)
Half-marathon (November)
Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras Parade and Festival (November)
Carols by Candlelight and New Year’s Eve (December)

Find out more about these annual events.

Coast to Lake Walk

The Coast to Lake Walk is an interesting and varied walk. It follows the beach from here to Toowoon Bay. Then goes through town and along Tuggerah Lake back to The Entrance. The walk takes 1.5 – 3 hours depending on your pace and it's well signed.

Edith Ring Rest

Just on top of the hill above the baths are Edith Ring Rest. A man built this seat in 1936 after his wife Edith Ring passed away. She used to sit at this spot to enjoy the view of the ocean. Sit there and enjoy the view, too.

Attractions Nearby

Beaches Nearby

There are beautiful beaches close by…

Toowoon Bay is perfect for young children because the water is calm and there’s lifeguard patrol. For a sense of seclusion visit Blue Bay (not patrolled). For surfing, head to Shelly Beach, North Entrance Beach, Forresters Beach or Soldiers Beach.

Long Jetty

Visit Long Jetty if you like retro, vintage and second-hand shops and hipster cafes. It's on a noisy road but I like the shops. It's often referred to as a mini-Newtown.

Learn more about visiting Long Jetty.

Norah Head

Visit Norah Head Lighthouse. You can walk to the top of the lighthouse for a few coins. The guides are friendly and the stories are compelling. Norah Head is a lovely village to hang out. Norah Head is only a few minutes' drive from The Entrance.

Learn more about visiting Norah Head.

The Entrance North

Visit the Sensory Garden at Terilbah Reserve at The Entrance North. The garden has different species of Australian native plants and trees. Walk around the pathways and enjoy views of Tuggerah Lake from the platform.

Wyrrabalong National Park

Walk Wyrrabalong Coast walking track and visit Crackneck Lookout in Bateau Bay. It’s an easy but beautiful walk.

Two other walks in Wyrrabalong National Park are located in Magenta, on the north side of the bridge... The Lillypilly loop and Red Gum trails offer glimpses of Tuggerah Lake.

Learn more about these walks in Wyrrabalong National Park.

Accommodation

Booking.com is a great website to search for accommodation in The Entrance NSW. It allows you to compare the cost of accommodation. It also allows you to cancel most rooms up to what should have been the first night.

For an outstanding motel-style accommodation, we recommend Ocean Front Motel. The motel is located metres from the beach and 15-minute walk to town. The motel stands on top of a cliff with rooms facing the ocean – the sunrises are amazing. The rooms have a spa bath inside or outside on the balcony. And the rooms on the lower grounds have a courtyard which is great for small children. Check rates & availability here.

For fully self-contained and spacious apartments, we recommend Sandy Cove Apartments. It's located a 5-minute walk to the cinema, kids attractions, beach and restaurants. Also, many apartments offer great ocean views and there's a swimming pool. Check rates & availability here.

For resort-style accommodation with great facilities, we recommend Pullman Magenta Shore Resort. The apartments are self-contained and there's an excellent golf course. There are also swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurants and bars onsite. It’s located a 10-minute drive to The Entrance. Check rates & availability here.

For visitors on a tight budget, we recommend The Lakes Hotel. There are rooms here starting at just over $90. Check rates & availability here.

Oaks Waterfront Resort is popular with visitors who like to stay right on the waterfront and beside everything. Location can't get any better than this. They have studios and apartments, some with stunning ocean views, and a swimming pool. But many visitors find the rooms dated. Check rates & availability here.

Find more detailed accommodation options on this page.

Getting There

Located on 1 hr 30 min north of Sydney via the M1 and 1 hr 10 min south of Newcastle via Pacific Highway. Follow the directions on Google map. The GPS will direct you to the free car park beside Memorial Park which is a central location.

You can also park beside Picnic Point, in the free car park on Duffys Lane, and beside the Surf Life Saving Club.

I hope you enjoy your visit.