Katandra Reserve
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs
Getting there: From the Pacific Highway at Lisarow, turn into Macdonalds Road. Follow this up the hill and then turn right into Tapley Road and the left at its intersection with Taylor Road.
Activites: Have a barbeque, go for a bushwalk, visit the lookout.
Points of interest: Views of the ocean
See also: Gosford Councils page on bush reserves
Kincumba Mountain Reserve
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs
Getting there: Turn into Bungoona Road at Kincumber Shopping Centre and then turn left onto Kincumber Street. This street turns into Island View Drive and takes you all the way to the top of the mountain.
Activities: Have a cuppa, a picnic or a barbecue, play on the grass, go for a bushwalk.
Points of interest: Distant views of Brisbane Waters, interesting tunnel-like cave a short walk from the picnic area.
See also: Gosford Councils page on bush reserves
Rumbalara Reserve
Facilities:Toilets, BBQs
Getting there: From Wells Street at Springfield, turn into Springfield Road and then left into Dolly Avenue. Follow this road up the mountain to the Yaruga Lookout picnic area.
Activities: Have a picnic or barbeque, admire the views, go for a bushwalk on the track that starts near the toilets.
Points of interest: Great views of Brisbane Waters and Gosford from different lookouts. Bronze statues of Australia explorers along some of the walking tracks.
See also: Gosford Councils page on bush reserves
Somersby Falls
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs
Getting there: From Kariong take the Old Pacific Highway (Wisemans Ferry Road) and turn left at the second round-a-bout to Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park.
Activities: Have a cuppa, picnic, or barbeque and then go for a walk to see the falls.
Points of interest: A valley with several beautiful waterfalls.
Girrakool
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs
Getting there: From Kariong, take the Old Pacific Highway and turn left at the first round-a-bout. Take the sign-posted turn off on the left to Girrakool Picnic Area in Brisbane Water National Park.
Activities: Have a picnic or barbeque and go for a walk to the lookout beside the waterfall.
Points of interest: Nice bushwalks and some aboriginal engravings.
Strickland State Forest
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs
Getting there: Access is from Mangrove Road, Narara
Activities: Have a picnic or barbeque and go for one of the scenic walks through the forest.
Points of interest: Beautiful forest scenery and creeks.
Gosford Waterfront
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs, shop (at swimming pool)
Getting there: This area is off Masons Parade, south of Gosford
Activities: Playground, swimming, picnics.
Points of interest: Next to Gosford Swimming pool and on the edge of Brisbane Water.