Last verified 02/26
Looking for the best family beaches on the NSW Central Coast?
After living here for over 20 years, we’ve tested them all. Below you’ll discover the most popular spots with local families, along with our personal favourites that we’ve returned to with the kids year after year.
We’ve focused on beaches with the best ‘parent-friendly’ facilities, like toilets, great coffee nearby, and fenced playgrounds, so you can actually relax while the kids play.
1. Avoca Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Rock pool
- Fully fenced playground
- Surfing & surfing lessons
- Cafes & restaurants
Avoca Beach is perfect for kids of all ages. The cafes, beach and playground are all next to each other. It makes it easy to spend many hours at the beach comfortably with kids.
2. Terrigal Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Small rock pool
- Surfing & surfing lessons
- Cafes & restaurants
Terrigal Beach is the most popular beach on the Central Coast… There are many boutiques and great cafes and restaurants right beside the beach. The waves here are gentle, and it’s a good spot to learn to surf.
3. Macmasters Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Ocean pool
- Surfing
- Cafe
MacMasters Beach sits at the foot of Bouddi National Park, so the atmosphere is relaxed. Kids like to swim in the ocean pool or between the flags, and it’s an excellent beach for a picnic as well.
4. Copacabana Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Rock pool
- Small playground
- Surfing
- Cafes
Copacabana Beach has a rock pool, cafe and playground. The lagoon is a fun place to splash about, and there’s also a small skateboard park. It’s a perfect beach for everyone in the family.
5. Pearl Beach
Features:
- Ocean pool
- Small playground
- Cafe
Pearl Beach is located in Broken Bay and is bordered by Brisbane Water National Park. The beach has a relaxing, holiday atmosphere. Families swim at the southern end of the beach where the water is calm and sheltered. There’s also an ocean pool.
6. Umina Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Surfing & surfing lessons
- Big playground
- Cafe
Umina Beach is a great family beach located in Broken Bay. The beach is protected from the big swell and there’s a large playground beside the beach. Younger children can play in the shallow water at the southern end.
7. Ettalong Beach
Features:
- Calm water
- Small playground
- Cafes & restaurants
Located on Brisbane Water, Ettalong Beach is best for small children… The water is calm and shallow and there’s a small playground, a picnic area, a cafe and toilets beside the beach.
8. Killcare Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Rock pool
- Surfing
- Cafe
At Killcare Beach kids can swim between the flags or in the rock pool at the foot of Bouddi National Park. There’s ample space on the beach for the kids to run around.
9. Putty Beach
Features:
- Calm water
- Parking fee
Putty Beach is my paradise beach… clear, blue and calm water surrounded by the natural bush of Bouddi National Park. The beach is unpatrolled but the water is usually calm. Take your snorkels and inflatable boards.
10. Toowoon Bay
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Surfing lessons
- Playground
- Food kiosk
Younger children have fun riding the small and steady waves at Toowoon Bay. The surf here is protected by the big swell. Take boogie boards, paddle boards and snorkels.
11. The Entrance Beach
Features:
- Lifeguards
- Ocean pool & wading pool
- Family attractions in town
The Entrance is a perfect place to go if you’d like a bit more to do than just the beach… There are several family attractions in the town like Pelican Feeding. Kids can swim between the flags or in the 50-metre ocean pool and kid’s wading pool.
12. Norah Head Rock Pool
Features:
- Rock pool
- Playground
- Cafe
The large rock pool at this beach is best for toddlers. The water here is clean and there are toilets beside the rock pool. Walk up the path to a relaxed cafe and a playground.
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