Last verified 02/26
The Entrance is one of the easiest and most reliable family days out on the Central Coast. With calm water, open space, playgrounds, bike paths and seasonal rides, it’s built for kids.
If you’re looking for the best things to do with kids at The Entrance, this guide covers the spots we return to year after year. Whether you’re visiting from Sydney or live nearby, these are the activities that consistently work for families.
On this page
For beaches, walks, places to eat and practical visitor information, see our full The Entrance Visitor Guide.
Vera's Water Garden
At a Glance
- Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
- Cost: Free
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Busy times: Midday in summer
If you’re visiting The Entrance with younger kids, Vera’s Water Garden is an easy win. It sits right on the waterfront near Memorial Park and works well for a quick, low-stress stop.
Why it works
- Bright sea-themed sculptures and gentle ground-level water jets
- Shallow water, ideal for toddlers and preschoolers
- Open space nearby for parents to sit and supervise
What to know
- Busy from late morning in summer and school holidays
- Limited natural shade, bring hats and sunscreen
- Public toilets and cafés close by
- Parking fills quickly on peak days
You can easily combine this with the playground and boardwalk, all within walking distance.
Playgrounds and Amusement Rides
At a Glance
- Best for: Ages 3–10
- Cost: Playground free, rides paid
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Busy times: Weekends and school holidays
- Note: Rides are seasonal
Memorial Park is the main activity hub at The Entrance. On weekends and during school holidays, it feels like a small waterfront fairground.
You’ll find two playgrounds with climbing structures and slides, plus seasonal amusement rides set up along the foreshore.
During peak periods, expect:
- Ferris wheel
- Jumping castles
- Carousel
- Small touring train
- Other temporary rides
Rides are not year-round, so visit during school holidays or long weekends if that’s your priority.
Mornings are usually calmer. Toilets, cafés and the splash park are all within walking distance.
Pelican Time
At a Glance
- Best for: All ages
- Cost: Free
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes
- Time of day: 3:30 pm (weather permitting)
- Location: Memorial Park waterfront
Pelican Time is a free wildlife experience at Memorial Park. It runs at 3.30pm every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. It also runs daily during NSW school holidays.
Why it’s popular
- A long-running local tradition
- Volunteers explain pelican behaviour and conservation
- Short, engaging and easy for kids to follow
When to arrive
- Get there early during school holidays
- Viewing area is on the waterfront near the splash park and playground
For many families, this becomes the highlight of the afternoon.
The Entrance Baths
At a Glance
- Best for: All ages, especially mixed-age families
- Cost: Free
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Patrolled: Seasonally
- Good alternative: When the beach is rough
Why families choose it
The Grant McBride Baths have been part of local life since 1938 and remain one of the safest places for kids to swim near the ocean.
The 50-metre ocean pool gives you the feel of the surf without rips or strong currents. There’s also a smaller lap pool and a shallow toddler pool, making it suitable for mixed-age families.
When it’s better than the beach
If the surf is rough, the baths are usually the safer option. Lifeguards often patrol from September to April.
Facilities include change rooms, toilets, showers and a small kiosk. You can easily combine a swim here with the beach, boardwalk or playground, all within walking distance.
The Entrance Beach
At a Glance
- Best for: Easy family beach access
- Patrolled: Summer months
- Conditions: Can change with tides and swell
The Entrance Beach is a small, central stretch of sand, about 300 metres long. It’s one of the easier family beaches on the Coast, though conditions can change with tides and swell.
Lifeguards patrol in summer, and it’s safest to swim between the flags. If the surf is rough, the nearby ocean baths are usually the better option.
What makes this beach appealing is its convenience. You’re steps from Memorial Park, cafés, toilets and the boardwalk. Kids can move between the sand, splash park and playground without needing to relocate.
If you’re after bigger surf or a wider beach, Terrigal or Soldiers Beach are better choices. For an easy, central family setup, this one works.
Tuggerah Lake Cycleway
At a Glance
- Best for: Bikes, scooters and prams
- Distance: Up to 12 km (flat path)
- Time needed: 1–3 hours
- Start point: Picnic Point
If your kids have bikes or scooters, the Tuggerah Lake Cycleway is one of the safest and easiest ways to burn off energy at The Entrance. The shared path runs along the lake and is mostly flat, making it ideal for younger riders.
The stretch near Picnic Point is especially family-friendly, with playgrounds, picnic tables and toilets along the way.
From here, you can ride toward Long Jetty or continue toward Chittaway Bay if you’re keen. A popular option is cycling to Saltwater Creek Reserve in Long Jetty, which has a playground and BMX track. You’ll also pass the iconic Long Jetty, one of the longest jetties in NSW.
It works year-round and is especially nice in the late afternoon when it’s cooler and quieter.
For more details, see our full Tuggerah Lake Cycleway guide.
The Entrance Boardwalk
At a Glance
- Best for: Prams and scooters
- Time needed: 20–40 minutes
- Highlight: Pelicans and channel views
- Connects: Splash park, beach and cafés
The Entrance Boardwalk runs along the channel from Memorial Park to the Surf Life Saving Club. It’s flat, pram-friendly and wide enough for scooters, making it one of the easiest walks to do with kids.
Along the way, you’ll often see pelicans on the sandbanks and anglers fishing from the edge. The views stretch across the channel toward the ocean and it’s a good photo spot, especially in the late afternoon.
Because everything is close together, the boardwalk works well as a connector. You can move easily between the splash park, playground, beach and cafés without needing to get back in the car.
Virtual Reality Games
At a Glance
- Best for: Ages 8+
- Cost: Paid sessions
- Time needed: 30–60 minutes
- Weather: Great rainy-day option
- Location: 26 The Entrance Road
If the weather turns or the kids need a break from the beach, Central Coast Virtual Reality is a solid indoor option just off the waterfront.
It offers multiplayer and single-player VR games for ages eight and up, making it popular with older kids and tweens.
Sessions are timed, so booking ahead during school holidays is recommended. There’s seating inside for parents, making it an easy stop between outdoor activities.
It works well as a short indoor break rather than a full-day activity.
Skatepark
At a Glance
- Best for: Older kids and teens
- Cost: Free
- Time needed: 30–90 minutes
- Busiest: Afternoons and school holidays
- Nearby: Picnic tables and lake path
The Entrance Skate Park sits at the corner of The Entrance Road and Tuggerah Parade, about a five-minute walk from Memorial Park. It overlooks the lake, giving it one of the best views of any skate park on the Coast.
It’s popular with skateboarders, scooter riders and BMX kids, especially in the afternoons and during school holidays. The open layout makes supervision easy, with space nearby to sit.
Close by are picnic tables, barbecues, playgrounds and shared paths, so siblings of different ages can all find something to do.
For teens and confident riders, this is often the highlight. For younger kids, it pairs well with the nearby lake path.
Explore Nearby Beaches
The Entrance Beach is central and convenient, but if you want a change of scenery, several excellent beaches are just minutes away.
- Usually quieter than The Entrance
- Good for relaxing
- Just a few minutes south
- More sheltered
- Calmer water
- Popular with families
- Bigger waves
- Wider stretch of sand
- More open, natural feel
If you’re staying for more than a few hours, it’s easy to explore a couple of these nearby spots. For a full list, see our guide to the best beaches on the Central Coast.
Plan Your Visit to The Entrance
Best time to visit
- Busiest: 11 am–3 pm during school holidays and summer weekends
- Quieter: Early morning or late afternoon
- Note: Amusement rides often run on weekends and peak holidays only
Parking
- Street parking near Memorial Park
- Extra spots along The Entrance Road and nearby streets
- Free multi-storey car park in the town centre
- Arrive early during holidays and long weekends
Toilets and facilities
- Public toilets and change rooms near Memorial Park and the ocean baths
- Showers available
- Cafés, takeaway shops and convenience stores nearby
Shade and sun
- Limited natural shade near the splash park and waterfront
- Bring hats, sunscreen and water in summer
How long to allow
- Half a day is comfortable
- Full day if you add cycling, beach time or pelican feeding
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