The aptly named Coastal Road on the main road in Toukley is filled to the brim with quality homewares and furniture that will slot straight into chic but relaxed homes around the coast.

In Norah Head, Frankie Lifestyle is the place to go for fashion and accessories that will take you from beach to barbecue to bar.

And over in Wyong, be sure to stop at Scout + Trader, a curated collection of artisanal wares and gifts in the town’s heritage Chapman Building. The building is also home to House of Ellery, where you can shop beautiful blooms and plants or book into a creative workshop of flower arrangement or macrame making and more.  

Heading a little further south, Long Jetty is an energetic social hub, with an ever-growing shopping scene. Shop vintage cool at Tiki La La, where you can source anything from a Mid Century rattan sideboard to an original ’90s band T-shirt or a low rider bicycle. Or head to Sorry Grandma for nostalgic knick-knacks and vintage fabrics that have been repurposed into handmade kids’ clothes and cushion covers. If you have a penchant for modern pieces, seek out Plains Janes and Shadow Bang.

The quiet enclave of Bateau Bay is home to Blackbird, a lifestyle store with a mix of contemporary fashion, vintage pieces, homewares and gifts. 

A little further down the road, in Forresters Beach, Drift Home & Living is a treasure trove of exotic wares for the home, as well as fashion and accessories.

Passionate about connecting people to nature, Dan Jee founded Hikeandseek, an Ecopass-licenced adventure and itinerary guide focusing on tours around New South Wales, including the Central Coast. Dan’s been lacing up his boots and regularly setting off on hikes since 2013, and it's from discovering wild places that his desire to guide like-minded travellers grew.

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The Central Coast has plenty of great lookouts for winter whale watching, and Dan suggests getting up high for the best views. One of his favourite spots - and easy to reach for holidaymakers - is The Skillion at Terrigal Haven. Scale the stairs to a wide platform with views south to Avoca Beach and north towards Forresters Beach.

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Whether you love coastal tracks or heading into the bush, find fun, fascinating trails to take kids on. Dan suggests Brisbane Water National Park where you’ll find Girrakool loop track. The 2km trail features pretty waterfalls, an Aboriginal rock engraving site and takes 30 mins to 1 hour, depending on the age of your children. For keen hikers, Dan recommends the Patonga to Pearl Beach trail, a challenging 3km one-way route for up to 2 hours.

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If you’re seeking peace and stillness, Dan recommends heading to the secluded Emerald Pool in Popran National Park, west of the Pacific Motorway, near Mount White. He says the picturesque swimming hole is named after its emerald coloured water. There is a two- to three-hour round walk through bush to get there, so pack a snack.

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If you love camping but want easy access to your car, there's several picturesque choices, like Putty Beach Campground in Bouddi National Park. Easy to reach from Sydney, at the southern end of the Central Coast, it's only steps from a quiet beach. It’s also a great base for visitors eager to explore the national park’s hiking trails, near the start of popular 8km Bouddi Coastal Walk, from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach.

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Fill a hamper and grab a blanket to discover one of the Coast’s top picnic spots in Strickland State Forest. Turn off the Pacific Motorway at Somersby to immerse yourself in a landscape of vibrant rainforest and towering eucalypts. There are extensive walking tracks through this relatively small pocket of forest, and afterwards you can enjoy lunch at Banksia Picnic Area (with tables and firepits).

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Further north, Dan says there are some great grassy picnic spots along Tuggerah Parade, in Long Jetty. There are also a handful of playground toddlers will love and the big wharf that gives the suburb of Long Jetty its name.

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