12 Best Things to Do in The Entrance NSW
The first time I ever saw The Entrance NSW...
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.
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The Entrance is the English meaning of the aboriginal word Karagi. It means the ocean enters Tuggerah Lake.
Find out more below about our favourite things to do here and nearby and where to stay.
Attractions In and Near The Entrance
1. Memorial Park
Memorial Park is great for families with children. A 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The Entrance Baths
The Entrance Baths are at the end of the beach. The baths are a great place to swim if you like calm water. You'll find a 50 m lap pool and toddler pool.
5. Cycling Along Tuggerah Lake
This town is at the start of a 12-km shared walking and cycling track. The cycling track follows the edge of Tuggerah Lake, and it's one of the best bicycle paths on the Central Coast.
6. Walking Along the Channel
Walk along the waterfront 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.
7. Markets and Festivals
The Entrance Market is held every Saturday.
Besides, many events and festivals happen in Memorial Park:
- July - Blues and Jazz Festival
- Sept - Chinese Cultural Festival
- Nov - Country Music Festival
- Nov - Half-marathon
- Nov - Tuggerah Lakes Mardi Gras Parade and Festival
- Dec - Carols by Candlelight and New Year’s Eve
Annual events on the Central Coast...
8. Coast to Lake Walk
The Coast to Lake Walk is an interesting and varied walk...
The walk follows the beach from here to Toowoon Bay. Then goes through a 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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. It's located a few minutes' drive from The Entrance.
12. 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.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book a holiday rental in The Entrance with Airbnb. If it’s your first time with Airbnb, here’s a $55 discount on your first stay. If you’d like to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com to compare prices and check what’s available for your dates.
Our favourite places to stay in The Entrance are:
- Sandy Cove Apartments – these fully self-contained and spacious apartments are hard to beat. They’re located minutes’ walk to the beach, and many units offer stunning views of the ocean.
- Ocean Front Motel – this motel-style accommodation is located metres from the beach and a short walk to town. You get beautiful ocean views and a spa bath inside or on the balcony.
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.
More: The Entrance in photos
Hi! I'm Christine and I'm here to help you discover the stunning Central Coast Australia.
Hi! I'm Christine.
When we moved to the Central Coast from Sydney 15 years ago, we struggled to find thorough information about the beaches, bushwalks and hidden gems, so we set out to explore as best as we could. Now that we have visited every town, beach and secret spot, I'll help you discover this stunning region!
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