Last verified 09/26
The Central Coast has dozens of beaches but I can tell you that no two beaches on the Coast are the same.
As a local, I don’t just go to ‘the beach’. I pick a spot based on the swell, whether it’s safe to swim, if it’s good for surfing or if we just want to get away from the crowds.
This is my breakdown of where to go and why.
Whether you’re looking for a safe spot for toddlers or a hidden trail to a secret cove, I’ve pulled together this list to help you find the exact right sand for your day.
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Best Family-Friendly Beaches
Safe, easy beaches with calm water, amenities nearby, and space for kids to play.
Ettalong Beach
Ettalong Beach is ideal for families with young children. It’s more like a giant bathtub than an ocean. You can actually relax while they splash around. It was our favourite beach when the kids were very young.
Facilities are excellent, with toilets, a playground, picnic areas, cafés and easy parking located right beside the beach.
Pearl Beach
Pearl Beach is a favourite with families due to its protected location, gentle water and ocean pool, which adds an extra layer of safety for kids.
Everything is close and convenient, including a playground, café, toilets and parking just steps from the sand.
The southern end of the beach is the calmest and safest spot for swimming.
Toowoon Bay
Gentle waves and regular patrols make Toowoon Bay a reliable choice for families.
Facilities are well set up, with a kiosk, toilets, barbecues, picnic tables and a large playground located in the park directly behind the beach.
Best Patrolled Beaches
Popular ocean beaches with surf life saving patrols and flagged swimming areas.
Umina Beach
Umina Beach is a long, open stretch of sand that appeals to families because of its regular patrols and generally manageable surf, making it suitable for swimming and beginner surfers.
Toilets, cafés, picnic areas and a large playground sit just behind the beach, with easy parking along the foreshore.
Macmasters Beach
Macmasters Beach suits families with a mix of options, including a shallow, toddler-friendly ocean pool and a patrolled main beach popular for swimming and surfing.
The ocean pool, picnic tables and Barefoot Café are positioned right at the edge of the beach, with easy access parking nearby.
Terrigal Beach
Terrigal Beach works well for families, offering regular patrols, manageable surf conditions and access to surf lessons for kids and beginners.
Facilities are extensive, with toilets, cafés, restaurants, shops and parking all located along the beachfront promenade.
Soldiers Beach
Soldiers Beach is a favourite for its wide stretch of white sand, backed by the bushland of Wyrrabalong National Park, which gives it a relaxed, holiday feel.
The beach is patrolled during the warmer months and is popular for swimming and surfing, with a food kiosk, café, toilets and parking nearby.
Killcare Beach
Killcare Beach stands out for its dramatic scenery, framed by the rocky headland of Bouddi National Park, and is also family-friendly with regular patrols and a dedicated kiddies rock pool for toddlers.
Toilets, parking and a café are all close to the beach, so it’s easy to spend a relaxed few hours here.
Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach, or “Copa” to locals, is a spacious ocean beach that is a good option for families with its regular patrols, rock pool and plenty of room for swimming and surfing. Locals know that when the crowds at Avoca get too much, you just head over the hill to ‘Copa.’ It has the same great vibe but half the struggle for a parking spot.
Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach attracts families and locals who enjoy a more unspoilt feel, with clean water, open surf and sand dunes that give it an untouched feel. It suits confident swimmers and surfers rather than young toddlers.
Facilities have improved with the upgraded forecourt, and there’s a café, toilets, parking and the nearby golf course overlooking the ocean.
Best Surfing Beaches
Open ocean beaches known for reliable waves and great surfing conditions.
Wamberal Beach
Wamberal Beach is a favourite surf beach with consistent waves and a more relaxed feel than nearby Terrigal. It’s a good spot to go if you want a bit more room to breathe and fewer people in your way.
The beach is patrolled during the warmer months, so it’s suitable for swimming when conditions are right.
Facilities include toilets, parking and access to the nearby lagoon, where kids can paddle on calm days, plus cafés and shops a short walk away.
Avoca Beach
Avoca Beach is the classic choice. It’s where the heart of the Coast’s surf culture is. This spot is known for its consistent waves, wide sandy shoreline, and relaxed coastal vibe.
The beach is patrolled during the warmer months. It’s suitable for confident swimmers and families who stay between the flags.
Facilities are excellent, with toilets, cafés, parking, and picnic areas nearby. At the southern end of the beach, the rock pool and lagoon provide calmer water for younger kids when conditions are right.
Forresters Beach
Forresters Beach is a long, open surf beach that’s popular with surfers and locals who enjoy a quieter stretch of sand with strong coastal scenery. It feels less crowded than nearby beaches, especially outside peak times.
Facilities are limited, with basic parking access and no major beachfront amenities, which helps keep the beach feeling uncrowded and natural.
Best Calm Bays & Sheltered Beaches
Protected coves and bay beaches with gentler water and minimal swell.
Terrigal Haven
Terrigal Haven appeals to families with small children thanks to its sheltered cove and minimal swell. Perfect if you want to try snorkelling or stand up paddleboarding, or if the main beach is a bit too rough.
Facilities are close and convenient, with a café, toilets, picnic areas, walking paths and parking all located around the foreshore.
The water is usually calmest in the morning, and the areas closer to the rock edges are popular for snorkelling when visibility is good.
Bateau Bay Beach
Bateau Bay is a small, sheltered beach that attracts families who enjoy rock pools and gentle exploring rather than open surf. The protected bay and rocky edges make it a great spot for kids to wander, climb and discover marine life at low tide.
Facilities are limited directly on the sand, but toilets, parking and cafés are nearby, and the beach sits at the edge of Wyrrabalong National Park.
Patonga Beach
Patonga Beach is a sheltered bay tucked between Brisbane Water and the bushland of Brisbane Water National Park, perfect for relaxed family days away from the crowds. The shallow water is great for swimming, paddling and fishing.
Facilities include toilets, cafés and the Patonga Beach Hotel, all within easy walking distance of the sand.
Arrive by ferry from Palm Beach for a car-free day out, then swim in the calm bay before lunch at the pub overlooking the water.
Best Hidden & Secluded Beaches
Remote or bush-access beaches that feel tucked away from the crowds.
Little Beach
Little Beach is a peaceful, tucked-away spot that suits families who enjoy quiet beach days, picnics, and gentle exploring instead of busy foreshore areas. It’s hidden within Bouddi National Park and reached via an easy 750-metre walk through rainforest, which adds to the sense of escape.
Amenities are limited, so it’s best to come prepared with food, water and sun protection. Rock pools along the shore are a highlight for kids, and surfers may enjoy the surf when conditions allow.
Maitland Bay
Maitland Bay is often considered the best hidden beach on the Central Coast, with an untouched 600-metre stretch of sand surrounded by dense bushland in Bouddi National Park. Despite being close to urban areas, it feels completely remote once you arrive.
Facilities are limited, as this is a true natural beach accessed via bushwalking tracks. The beach is unpatrolled and best suited to confident swimmers and explorers.
Visit on a weekday or outside school holidays for the quietest outing, and check tide times if you want to spot the remains of the historic shipwreck at the eastern end of the beach.
Maitland Bay is stunning, but remember: what goes down must come up! The walk back up the hill is a workout, so make sure you’ve saved some water for the climb.
Lobster Beach
Lobster Beach is a small, secluded stretch of sand tucked inside Bouddi National Park, ideal for visitors looking to escape crowds and enjoy a quiet beach surrounded by bushland. Its sheltered position within Broken Bay gives it a calm, peaceful feel compared to open ocean beaches.
Amenities are limited, as this is a natural, unpatrolled beach, so it’s best to bring water, food and sun protection with you. Access is via the Flannel Flower walking track or a shorter walk from High View Road near Wagstaffe.
Tallow Beach
Tallow Beach is a remote, unspoilt beach reached via a steep 1.5-kilometre bush track, which naturally limits visitor numbers and keeps it feeling secluded and peaceful. It’s best suited to confident walkers, surfers and those looking for a true escape instead of a casual beach stop.
There are no facilities at the beach, so visitors need to be fully self-sufficient and prepared for changing conditions. The beach is unpatrolled and exposed to ocean swell.
Tallow Beach is popular with experienced surfers and adventurous visitors who plan an overnight bush camping trip.
Best Quiet & Local Beaches
Less-crowded beaches favoured by locals, with a relaxed and low-key feel.
Putty Beach
Putty Beach is a scenic national park beach that draws families who enjoy nature, camping and coastal walks over busy beach crowds. While it’s an open surf beach, the wide shoreline and natural coastal feel make it a relaxed spot to spend the day.
Facilities include toilets, parking (paid entry to Bouddi National Park) and the nearby Putty Beach Campground.
I honestly think this is one of the most beautiful stretches of sand on the Coast. Don’t miss the coastal walk starting from here.
Frazer Beach
Frazer Beach appeals to those looking for a quieter, more natural beach setting, surrounded by bushland in Munmorah State Conservation Area and away from busy tourist areas.
Facilities are minimal, with basic parking available and nearby camping, so it’s better suited to confident swimmers, surfers and families who enjoy nature-based outings over amenities.
Visit outside peak summer and holiday periods for the most peaceful day, and be aware that conditions can change quickly as this is an open, exposed surf beach.
Moonee Beach
Moonee Beach is great for those seeking a truly quiet, untouched coastal spot, with no development and a strong sense of isolation from its bushland surroundings and open ocean exposure.
Facilities are non-existent, as access is via a short bushwalk and there are no amenities.
Spoon Bay
Spoon Bay appeals to those looking for a quieter beach close to Terrigal, with a less developed feel and fewer crowds than nearby main beaches. The open stretch of sand and surrounding bushland give it a secluded feel despite its central location.
Facilities are minimal, with no amenities on the beach itself. Access is via a short bush track from the end of Spoon Bay Road.
Spoon Bay is a great starting point for a coastal walk along the sand toward Terrigal when conditions are gentle.
Pelican Beach
Pelican Beach is a long, open stretch of sand backed by bushland in Wyrrabalong National Park, making it feel remote despite being close to The Entrance.
Facilities are limited, with no cafés or amenities on the beach, which keeps crowds low and attracts mostly surfers and locals looking for space and solitude.
When the main beaches get too hectic in summer, Pelican is where we go to disappear. It feels completely natural and untouched, and there’s almost always a quiet peak for my husband to surf without the crowds.
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