Holiday houses in Umina Beach

This holiday hub is named for its long stretch of sandy shoreline at the southern end of the New South Wales Central Coast. Sitting on sheltered Broken Bay, at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River, Umina Beach is a popular destination for families. The waves at the two patrolled beaches here are relatively gentle compared to the ocean-facing beaches to the north, but still pack enough power to make surf lessons fun.

The area is also popular with nature lovers: The waterways and bushland of the expansive Brisbane Water National Park are waiting to be explored on foot, by bike, or by kayak behind Umina Beach, and Bouddi National Park is a short drive across the bay. You can also check out neighbouring Ettalong Beach to the north and the smaller Pearl Beach to the south. Or head to the secluded beachside village of Patonga, a 10-minute drive through Brisbane Water National Park, for lunch or dinner on the waterfront.

The Central Coast is a popular getaway for Sydneysiders, so it can get crowded during the holiday season and on long weekends. Try to avoid driving in at the start of a weekend, or leaving at the end of a weekend, when traffic can back up. The warmer months from September through to the end of March are ideal for making the most of the water. In October, Umina Beach, Woy Woy, and Ettalong Beach host the four-day LGBTQI+ arts and culture festival Coastal Twist, which wraps with an inclusive fair day at Umina Beach. Autumn and winter are made for hiking in the national parks, and whales migrate north past Bouddi National Park from May until August.

Patonga to Pearl Beach walking track

Walk among red gums and eucalypts on the track between Pearl Beach, the next beach south of Umina Beach, through Brisbane Water National Park to Patonga. The return journey takes three to four hours. If you’ve brought mountain bikes, tackle the three-hour Warrah Trig cycling loop from Pearl Beach to Patonga.

Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place

Brisbane Water National Park has been home for the Darkinjung people for thousands of years. At Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place, a 20-minute drive from Umina Beach in the national park, you’ll find a series of intact ancient rock engravings depicting ancestral figures and wildlife. Some of these engravings are estimated to be up to 20,000 years old.

Bouddi National Park

Head to Bouddi National Park, a 20-minute drive from Umina Beach, to do the spectacular Bouddi coastal walk. This epic 3.5-to-4.5-hour walk, one way from Putty Beach at the southern end of the park to McMasters Beach to the north, takes you through rainforest and past lookouts and inviting little beaches.