The patrolled beach is one of Umina Beach’s greatest assets – its waters are calm and shallow, so ideal for families and water activities. There’s a dog-friendly section, food kiosk, public tables and BBQs, plus the biggest playground on the Central Coast. Combined, this is an extremely friendly beach that offers something for everyone who visits.

With easy access to the neighbouring suburbs of Ocean Beach, Ettalong Beach and Woy Woy, Umina Beach is also framed on one side by Brisbane Water National Park, making it a brilliant base for exploring hiking or biking trails from nearby Pearl Beach, Patonga or along Woy Woy Road. One of the most popular short walks is to Mount Ettalong Lookout for panoramic views of Broken Bay.

1. Family weekender at NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort
Voted as one of the 10 best holiday parks in NSW for families, NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort offers a choice of Glamtainers, cabins, villas, townhouses, cottages, caravan spots and tent plots. All accommodation is available to rent for a weekend or longer, perched right on the shores of Umina Beach. You can literally hear the sound of the waves! Choose to stay here for amazingly convenient facilities for families, including multiple pools, water play areas, jumping pillows and playground, all within walking distance to the Surf Life Saving Club and kiosk, state of the art recreation precinct, esplanade walkway, bike hire and local shops. Don’t miss catching the east coast sunrise just a minutes from your doorstep.

2. Pooch party at Umina Beach
Both the northern and southern end of Umina Beach are dog-friendly, off-leash areas. Meet the local doggos or take your pooch for a beach run, from sunrise to sunset. Not only is this great news for families who want to bring the whole crew out for a sunny beach day, it’s excellent for getting your dog interacting and playing with some new mates.

3. Taste award-winning pies
Family-owned Bremen’s Patisserie on West Street has been in Umina for over 30 years and is renowned for its multi-award-winning selection of sweet and savoury pastries, cakes and slices alongside fresh coffee. They’ve claimed Australia’s National Gourmet Pie Winner for their ‘Flaming Ron’, a chilli pie created with the Carolina Reaper chillies. We’d recommend starting with a classic chicken and veggie mornay pie!

4. Harness your water skills
Umina Beach is patrolled from school holidays in September through to April. This is one of the best places to learn to surf on the Central Coast. Umina’s waters are calm and the swells never get overwhelmingly large for beginners. To start mastering the board, book some casual lessons with Academy of Surfing accredited instructors such as Sals Surf School, or Mana SUP who offer lessons at Kiddies Corner, where you can paddle on the calm water while enjoying the surrounding Broken Bay scenery.

5. Riding, skating, activities galore. 

You can't miss out on playing in the biggest playground on the Central Coast, the Peninsula Recreation and Active Lifestyle Precinct. Located near the Surf Life Saving Club, there's a range of fun activities for kids, including a BMX track, skate park, large climbing net, flying fox, bouldering climbing rocks, fully-fenced playground for small children, and a cycling path surrounding picnic tables and BBQs as well as futsal, tennis and basketball courts. Beside the playground is Jasmine Greens Park Kiosk, a delightful outdoor café for adults to unwind while watching their kids. They serve delicious brunch-style food, coffees, smoothies and sweet treats. Bask in the sun with an ice cream.

6. Hike up to Mount Ettalong Lookout
To reach Mount Ettalong Lookout, drive along Mount Ettalong Road toward Pearl Beach, or walk from the southern end of Umina Beach to the car park. You will see the road climbs steeply to the top of the headland, where there is a small car pull-in bay, or if you’re on foot walk carefully up the first hill and where the road hooks take the left-hand side trail until you reach the edge of the headland. This is an amazing viewpoint of the entire bay, encompassing Lobster Beach, Ettalong, Ocean Beach and Umina Beach, plus Lion Island and beyond.

7. Escape the daily grind
Stroll along West Street and the esplanade to discover Umina's friendly hangouts, from quaint book shops serving coffee and tea, to pottery studios, florists and boutique stores with fashion finds and hidden treasures. Ruby’s Café & Books is a haven for booklovers and those who want to enjoy a quiet coffee, tea and that quaint feeling of second-hand bookshops. Sit among hundreds of hardcovers that line the walls, and hunt for your next read. Centred Ceramics offers pottery classes and workshops. You can even sip on a wine while you try your hand with clay in their 'sip and spin' clay-throwing sessions or book the kids in for a children's pottery workshop.  

8. Hire bikes and cycle from Umina Beach to Ettalong Beach

See more of The Peninsula by travelling swiftly between Umina Beach, Ocean Beach and Ettalong Beach via The Esplanade shared pathway. There are several bike hire opportunities nearby including Boomerang Bikes, Ettalong Bike Hire (near The Box on the Water and Ettalong Diggers), and Ride Ettalong who also have e-bikes available for hire. This is a great way to work up your appetite and cool off with a swim!

9. Sunset drinks at beachfront bars. 
Margarita Daze beachfront restaurant bar is the ultimate location to have a drink and watch the sunset across Ocean Beach. It has a charming outdoor courtyard, craft beer menu, colourful cocktails, huge chicken schnitties, and live music. Get there around 5pm to nab the best seats, as this local gem is the place to be in Umina Beach on Saturday evenings.

10. Big flavours and big serves at these local eateries

Don Pedros is a local favourite for a Mexican fiesta with a large dose of Latin American vibes, tacos and tunes. Step back into the eighties at BMX Burgers, who go all out on their mammoth burgers. Enjoy traditional Indian dishes from The Saffron Table. 

11. Lazy Sunday at the local markets
On the third Sunday of each month, Umina Beach Markets pops up beside the Umina Surf Lifesaving Club. Beachside stalls showcase a colourful range of goods from local makers and creators. Browse the region’s fresh produce, clothing, art, jewellery and fresh foodie items. Live music adds a real positive vibe to this monthly community event, where you can take up a picnic space on the grass and enjoy your spoils. Check their Facebook page for the latest event info.

Umina Beach is ideally located on The Peninsula, so you can easily visit the beautifully remote Pearl Beach either by walking around the Mt Ettalong headland, or driving the winding road for a few minutes to reach this slice of paradise. Frequented by Sydneysiders as a quieter alternative to popular Northern Beaches haunts, Pearl Beach features one restaurant, one general store, one swimmable rockpool, but a million dollar view from its pristine shores. Neighbouring Ettalong Beach also offers an attractive handful of beautiful boutique shops, cafes and artisan restaurants, with the nostalgic Galleria a must-visit for those exploring this creative enclave on the Coast.