From Friday 15 May some of the COVID-19 restrictions will be eased in New South Wales to allow up to 10 people to catch up at an outdoor area. You’re still required to social distance – even from your friends/family (so no hugging just yet) – but you’re now able to picnic together, to take a walk, to find a space on the beach and play in the sand.
There are some wonderful outdoor spaces on the Coast that are always busy, and they’ll likely quickly become quite busy again with this change. In this unprecedented time we know many people are trying to find activities that limit their contact with others, and here on the Central Coast we’re blessed with myriad secret spaces and hidden locations that can be explored and enjoyed – often without seeing anyone else.
Here are some of our favourite places on the Central Coast to escape and explore – all while social distancing.
Kincumba Mountain is a fabulous place to explore. At the large picnic area at the top of the hill you’ll find a mud-brick building (available for hire for gatherings), free BBQ facilities, shelters and public toilets. There’s ample grass spaces for kids to kick a ball or play tip, as well as Honeman’s Rock (aka Honeyman’s Rock) – a large 60m-long and 30m-wide rocky outcrop that just begs exploration.
The nearby Kanning Cave Walk is one of our favourite family hikes as it’s an easy 1km track that crosses bridges and passes multiple sandstone caves. The largest cave is a sacred woman’s birthing place for the Darkinjung People.
Location: Kincumba Mountain Reserve, Kincumber.
For more info, visit the WildWalks website.
Our kids love exploring rockpools – bucket in hand and eyes at the ready. With 41 beaches on the Central Coast there are so many rock platforms to explore, but here are two of our favourites.
Terrigal: The southern end of Terrigal has a tiny ocean pool that’s home to myriad crabs, periwinkles, fish and the odd octopus. If you dart around the front of the fish ‘n’ chip shop at Terrigal Haven you’ll find hundreds and thousands of crabs hiding under the rocks. Just be aware of the tides, so you don’t get stuck.
Bateau Bay: The Bateau Bay Beach rock shelf is home to nodiwinks, brittle stars and waratah anemone. There are sea slugs to spy, star fish to find and sea squirts to push on and giggle at.
Click here to read our feature outlining our “Top 8 Central Coast beaches and rockpools for families”.
The Coast Walking Track, Wyrrabalong National Park
The Coast Walking Track through Wyrrabalong National Park offers spectacular ocean views as it traverses the cliff tops between Bateau Bay Beach and Crackneck Lookout. This walk offers great vantages for whale watching from May to August.
Location: Start at the Bateau Bay Picnic Area.
For more info, visit the Wildwalks website.
Tucked away off Holgate’s Wattle Tree Road is Katandra Reserve – a beautiful section of bushland with easy and moderate walking tracks. The Katandra Reserve Explorer route is a 5.3km circuit that takes in all the area’s highlights, including Seymour Pond, St Johns lookout and the popular strangler figs. If you’re short on time, a return walk to the strangler figs is 2km and takes only an hour.
Location: Katandra Rd, Holgate.
For more info,visit the Wildwalks website.
Bookmark our Homepage, so you can jump to our website whenever you’re thinking, “what should we do today?”
* Readers, we try to ensure that everything you read on Playing in Puddles is accurate at the time of publication, but please understand that businesses relocate, managers move on and places change. Please check prices, opening times and participation requirements with venues before loading your kids in the car.
COVID-19: Restrictions are constantly changing. Before visiting a venue or area, please look at the business’s website directly to view their latest COVID-19 information. Playing in Puddles is not responsible for any cancellations or closures.
* Business owners, have your details changed? If you notice something amiss, please email to let us know.
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