Miscellaneous Activities

• Mt Penang Gardens. There are over 6 hectares of contemporary gardens to explore, with a ‘puddle garden’ that kids can have a splash about in. These gardens are interesting but there are few seats along the way, so if you plan a picnic, take a rug. The Waterfall cafe is located at the front entrance and offers coffee and light meals. Located: Parklands Rd, at Mt Penang Parklands KARIONG 2250 Entry prices: Child (5 - 16 years) $3.00, Concessions: $4.50, Adults: $7.00, Family Pass $18. Children under 5 years admitted free. Open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm each day (except Christmas Day)
  
  
• St Fiacres Garden Cafe and Distillery. This was formerly the Gragrant Gardens. It is now a cafe, set amongst fragrant gardens with a mud brick gift shop and also a very interesting distillery, brewing herbal liqueurs inspired by Europe but made from Australian plants. Plenty of room for the kids to run about and explore. Located: 25 Portsmouth Rd, Erina.ph 02 4365 3968. Website: http://www.st-fiacredistillery.com
  
  
• Hawkesbury River Ferry Rides The riverboat postman is a unique ferry service providing a vital link to water-access only settlements along the hawkesbury River. The trip takes 3 to 4 hours and departs from Brooklyn Wharf, just next to the Hawkesbury River railway Station, 9.30am (returning about 1.15pm), Monday to Friday (no public holidays). Includes morning tea and fish and chip can be provided.
  • Dangar Island and Wobbly Beach ferries. Click here for timetable
  • Brooklyn and Patonga Beach Ferry Coffee Cruises run on Sundays 11.30 and 1.30. Bookings essential. For more information and time tables visit: http://www.hawkesburyriverferries.com.au
    
    
  • Central Coast Ferries A ferry ride can be a fun way to go to pack up and go for a picnic or have fish and chips on the beach. Central Coast ferries operate a regular ferry service between Woy Woy, Saratoga, Davistown and Empire Bay, travelling up and down Cockle and Lintern Channels and accross Paddy’s Channel to Woy Woy. A round trip takes about an hour. For more info visit: http://www.centralcoastferries.com.au. The Cockatoo Ferry runs between Woy Woy, Saratoga, Hardy’s bay, Ettalong and Wagstaff. For more info visit: http://www.centralcoastferries.com.au/cockatoo_ferry.html
    
    
  • Whale watching on the Central Coast
    From May through to the end of July, hump back whales can be seen travelling North on their annual migration. The best time of day is early morning and evening. Take binoculars. Good spots to see them are:
    • Bateau bay – Crackneck Point Lookout;
    • Copacabana – Captain Cook memorial Lookout;
    • Foresters Beach – Wyrrabalong Lookout;
    • Munmorah State Conservation Area – Snapper Point or Wybung head;
    • Norah Head Light house;
    • Terrigal – The Skillion
    
    
    National Parks and Wildlife Service are planning a Free Whale Watching Programme which will begin in June 2009. This will be held at Crackneck Lookout, on Hilltop Street, Bateau Bay. Each day the program will open up around 9am and close down by 3pm. A display trailer will be on view with interesting information about whales and many other marine mammals; Whale information presentations will be held at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm each lasting about 20 minutes. For more information, visit: http://www.visitnsw.com/town/Bateau_Bay/Whale_Watching_on_the_Central_Coast/info.aspx
    
    There are also whale watching cruises. Fantasea Adventure Cruising offer whale watching tours in June / July and also in October, departing from Ettalong Beach. Pricing: Adults $65, Concessions: $55 (Senior or Aged Pensioner) Children 5 to 15 years $30, Children under 5 years FOC and Family (2 adults, 2 children) $165. For more information visit: http://www.cctourism.com.au
    
    
  • The Entrance – pelican feeding 3.30pm daily
    
    
  • Mini Train rides - Central Coast Steam Model Co-op, Showground Rd, Narara (Rides 1st Sat of month)
    
    
  • Mini Putt Putt golf (older kids) – at Mingara and Swingers Putt Putt Golf at Foresters Beach
    
    
  • Greta Drive-In www.drive-in.com.au
    
    
  • Erina Ice Arena (older kids) www.erinaicearena.com.au
    
    
  • Shopping centre school holiday entertainments (check local newspaper for details)
    
    
  • Pet shops and aquariums
    
    
  • Op Shopping – discover the humble pleasures of op shopping, the kids will love it. There are all sorts of treasures to be found – A plethora of trashy dress ups, feathered hats, glittery gloves, beads and necklaces, high heeled shoes and and glowmesh purses for the girls. Old CDs, toys and tools for the boys. In the yellow pages, look up Charities, Recycled clothing or Secondhand dealers.
    
    
  • Car boot sales, fetes and markets
    
    
  • Pony rides - Bensville, Glenworth Valley
    
    
  • Treetop Adventure Park, Ourimbah Forest (3 years and over)

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