30 Things to Do on the Central Coast with Kids

Looking for things to do on the Central Coast with kids?

There’s plenty here to entertain the whole family.

Below, you’ll discover our best things to do with kids including free and rainy day activities.

The activities are listed in no particular order. 

1. Family Beaches

There are great beaches on the Central Coast that offer safe swimming conditions like lifeguard patrol, ocean pool or shallow water. Toilets, picnic spots, playgrounds and cafes are also located nearby.

Discover our best family beaches.

2. Laser Tag

Laser Tag is as much fun for adults as it is for kids. Check out these laser tag venues on the Central Coast:

Laser Tag Central Coast, Wyoming 

Laser Tag Mania, Gosford 

3. Flip Out

At Flip Out, kids can burn off some of their inexhaustible energy by leaping from trampoline to trampoline.

And they love propelling themselves into foam pits. Some trampolines are on an angle allowing kids to jump against walls. At the wall runner, kids jump off a trampoline and try to run up a wall. Smaller children can bounce in the under 10 area.

Flip Out is a hit with our kids.  

Open 9am - 2pm Mon and 9am - 6pm Tue to Sun; $18 per hour; booking recommended; 10 Hely St, West Gosford

Find out more.

4. Indoor Play Centres

It’s wet outside, and the kids are driving you crazy at home? Head to an indoor play centre! These play areas offer colourful and fun soft play equipment for toddlers as well as older kids.

Monkey Mania, Gosford

Clip 'N Climb, Gosford

Jump N Jungle, West Gosford

KidsWorld Play Centre, Erina

Inflatable World, Charmhaven

Kincumber Indoor Sports, children aged 0 to 6, Kincumber

5. Australian Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park is the most popular attraction on the Central Coast. It’s a must-see attraction.

Kids will encounter Australian native animals in a bush setting. They’ll see snakes and spiders up close and watch compelling shows. Make sure you attend crocodile feeding which runs on weekends—an impressive show! There are also alligators, dingoes, koalas.

And kids can feed kangaroos which bounce free. 

Open daily except Christmas day; 9am - 5pm; $125 family pass; 69 Pacific Hwy, Somersby

Find out more about the Australian Reptile Park.

6. Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures

Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures offer exciting adventures for the whole family.

Young children can ride ponies. Children aged 7+ can kayak, horse ride, play laser skirmish and abseil. And kids 12+ can ride squad bikes.

Check out their school holiday activities. You’ll get your children back exhausted at the end of the day.

69 Cooks Rd, Glenworth Valley; booking required

Find out more.

7. Central Coast Aqua Park

Kids enjoy this inflatable challenge on water as they walk and slide on a floating obstacle course. There’s lots of climbing and sliding, jumping from one obstacle to the other, and slipping and falling in the water. 

Central Coast Aqua Park is real fun for kids and accompanying parents. 

One session runs for 50 minutes, but you can add more sessions. 

A local’s tip: You can combine a session at Central Coast Aqua Park with a bicycle ride from here to Woy Woy along the shore of Brisbane Water.  

Runs over summer only. 

42 Masons Parade, Gosford

Find out more about Central Coast Aqua Park.

8. Treetops 

Treetops offers three fun activities for kids:

Treetop Adventure Park – traverse an obstacle course high in the trees like wobbly logs and ziplines. There are courses for children age 3+ and others for older kids and adults. It will get your adrenaline pumping.

Treetop NetWorld – bounce in nets perched high in the trees. It’s super fun for kids! 

Early Bouncers – have energetic little ones? Let them bounce in the exclusive NetWord session for 1-5 years old!

Open 7 days; 1 Red Hill Rd, Wyong Creek; Booking recommended

Find out more.

9. Aquafun

Hire a kayak, a pedal-boat, or a stand up paddle board at Aquafun on the shore of Avoca Lake.  Glide around the lake and Bareena Island. Kids enjoy jumping out of the boat into the water. If they’re old enough, they can go by themselves.

Swap the boats as often as you wish. For example: begin with a kayak, swap for a pedal-boat, finish up on a stand up paddle board (stand up paddle boards are for 12+ years old).

$60 for 30 min, $90 for 60 min or $120 for 90 min for a family of four. 

Open 10am - 5pm in summer from September through April on weekends, daily in school holidays and public holidays except Christmas Day. 

15 Ficus Ave, Avoca Beach

Find out more about Aquafun.

10. Skateparks

If you’re looking for great skating on the Central Coast, check out:

• Slam Factory Indoor Skatepark, 93 Gavenlock Rd, Tuggerah 
• Umina Beach Skate Park, Sydney Ave, Umina
• Wadalba Skate Park, 595 Pacific Hwy, Kanwal 
• Bato Yard Skate Park, 460 The Entrance Rd, Bateau Bay 
• Banjo's Skate Park, 1 Terrigal Dr, Terrigal 

11. Escape Rooms

Older children and you will enjoy trying to escape the escape rooms at Escape Reality.

Locked in a mystery room, you have one hour to solve challenging puzzles and clues to find the key to escape. It takes a lot of thinking! Bring friends with you for extra brainpower.

4/15 Anzac Rd, Tuggerah

Find out more.

12. Breakfast with Alpacas

Kids will enjoy feeding alpacas and Wiltipoll sheep at Iris Lodge Alpacas in Jilliby.

Upon arriving, a friendly alpaca will meet you and will want you to feed him a banana.

You can hand-feed the alpacas, sheep, cows and horses. So bring lots of bananas and sliced carrots!

Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and welcoming hosts, Sean & Sharon.

Open daily; $55 per person; 33 Dunks Lane Jilliby

Find out more.

13. Playgrounds

There are many good playgrounds around the Central Coast.

These are the best and biggest playgrounds for all ages:

• Speers Point Park – huge playground located at Lake Macquarie 
• Peninsula Recreation Precinct, Umina Beach

These are also great but smaller playgrounds:

• Memorial Park, The Entrance
• Broadwater Park, 12 Sea Breeze Ave, Kincumber
• Saltwater Creek Park, The Entrance Rd & Tuggerah Parade, Long Jetty
• Bill Sohier Park, Shirley St, Ourimbah
• Wairakei Road Playground, Wamberal
• Ross Park Playground, Avoca Beach

14. Marine Discovery Centre

Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre is a great place to spend a couple of hours in Terrigal with the kids. They’ll learn a thing or two about the local marine life.

Children can view sea animals, touch some creatures like coral and sea sponges and learn about the local marine life. Then they can have fun creating arts & craft in the dedicated area.

There’s also a coffee kiosk and a playground next to the centre.

Open daily (except public holidays) 9:30 am - 3:30 pm; $44 family of four; booking not required; 11 Terrigal Drive, Terrigal

Find out more.

15. Family Bushwalks

Whether you have a baby in a pram or an older child, we’ve got you covered!

Enjoy fresh air, exercise, breathtaking views and whale watching. The walks range from easy strolls to more challenging hikes. You’ll enjoy stunning coastal views, secluded beaches, Aboriginal rock art and waterfalls.

Discover our best family walks.

16. The Entrance

There are fun attractions for children at this stunning seaside town.

Kids will enjoy playing at the playgrounds, seeing the pelicans and swimming at the beach.  

Children enjoy the amusement rides, the jumping castles and the carousel. The water fountain is also popular with little ones. Older kids can ride their bikes along Tuggerah Lake past playgrounds. 

Memorial Park, The Entrance

Find out more about The Entrance.

17. Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is a sanctuary with native Australian animals living in their natural habitat. Kangaroos and wallabies hop around and Emus roam free. You can have a picnic among them.

You can also see animals in enclosures like koalas and dingoes. Kids love cuddling the rabbits and guinea pigs. And there’s a short bushwalk with Aboriginal cave paintings and rock carving. 

Open 9:30am - 5pm daily except Christmas day; $96 family (2a & 2c); 1 Darkinjung Rd, Calga

Find out more about Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park.

18. Amazement Farm & Fun Park

Amazement Farm & Fun Park is a lovely farm in the countryside where children can interact with farm animals.

Kids will enjoy seeing farm animals up close and from the train ride.

There are also pony rides and petting shows.

Kids will also be entertained by the hedge maze and various games around the site.

Open daily; $110 family pass plus extra for animal encounters; 170 Yarramalong Rd, Wyong Creek

Find out more about Amazement Farm & Fun Park.

19. Day Trip to Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a relaxing village on the shore of the Hawkesbury River. Have a picnic or fish and chips, swim in the protected pool and let kids play in the playground.

Children like catching the train from Woy Woy to Hawkesbury River Station—the train passes through tunnels and over a bridge.

Brooklyn makes for a relaxing day out with the kids.

Find out more about Brooklyn.

20. Somersby Falls

Somersby Falls are popular waterfalls in the region. Children able to walk will enjoy heading down the bush track and viewing the two waterfalls. You can also have a picnic. There are barbecue facilities.

There are steep drops beside the waterfalls, so watch out your children!

Open 9am - 5pm or 8pm during light saving; free to visit and $8 parking. 

Somersby Falls Rd, Somersby

Find out more about Somersby Falls.

21. Virtual Reality Games

If your children asked you to buy them virtual reality game, take them to a virtual reality centre instead. It’s cheaper than buying a virtual reality game.

You'll find a good range of fun games for children over seven and adults. Check out:

Central Coast Virtual Reality, The Entrance

22. Cycling Paths

What’s better than fresh air, exercise and scenic surroundings. Here are our best cycling paths for children:

• Kincumber to Davistown, Carrak Rd, Kincumber
• Gosford to Woy Woy, 42 Masons Parade, Gosford
• The Entrance to Chittaway Bay, Tuggerah Parade, The Entrance

23. Wyong Milk Factory

Wyong Milk Factory is a gem. 

Kids enjoy playing in the rustic playground beside the cafe in the cubby houses, swing and pirate boat. 

Enjoy a coffee while your kids are playing. Taste premium chocolate at Luka Chocolates and gourmet cheese at Little Creek Cheese. Then head to Wyong Milk Tavern and have a drink in beer garden while your kids play in the kids’ zone.

Indulge in local food and enjoy the countryside atmosphere! 

141 Alison Road, Wyong

Find out more about Wyong Milk Factory.

24. Day Trip to Palm Beach

Kids will enjoy catching the Palm Beach Ferry from Ettalong. The ferry departs several times a day, and the trip takes only 30 minutes.

If you have small children, have a picnic near the playground and the calm beach beside the ferry wharf at Palm Beach. If your children are older, head to the main beach for a swim and a surf.

More on Palm Beach Ferry.

25. Avoca Beachside Markets

Enjoy a great family atmosphere at Avoca Beachside Markets. These popular markets offer live music and quality produces.

Kids will enjoy plenty of space to run around, a playground and kids activities. In summer, you can cool down in the lake.

The markets are held next to beautiful Avoca Lake and they attract a crowd.

Held every 4th Sunday of the month; 9am - 2pm; 15 Ficus Ave, Avoca Beach

Find out more about Avoca Beachside Markets.

26. Bateau Bay Ten Pin Bowl

Ten pin bowling is fun for everyone in the family and an ideal activity when it rains.

Bateau Bay Ten Pin Bowl offers a great atmosphere, a cafe, and a venue for birthday parties. Staff can put the gutter guards up so little ones can knock pins down instead of aiming straight for the gutter. 

Book a session, grab shoes and a ball and have fun.

Open 7 days; 1 game $45 for a family of four; booking required; 470 The Entrance Rd, Bateau Bay

Find out more.

27. Laycock Street Theatre

There’s something for everyone at Laycock Street Theatre, a small theatre with great amenities and good prices. They often show captivating plays for children.

5 Laycock St, Wyoming; booking required

Check what’s on.

28. Art Barn Plaster Painting

The Art Barn Plaster Painting is the ideal place to relax and paint.

They have a great selection of plasters, paints and brushes. Kids love choosing their figurine like Star Wars characters, fairies, animals, skulls and heaps more. Just pay for the plaster piece; everything else is included in the price.

It’s a fabulous venue for a birthday party and an activity that caters for all ages. Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee and air-conditioned.

Open on weekends (usually open daily during school holidays); booking not required; 11 Kirrawee Road, Gosford

Find out more.

29. Edogawa Commemorative Garden

Visit the Japanese garden at Gosford Regional Gallery.

Little ones will enjoy feeding the fat koi fish and wandering through the pathways. You can buy fish food at the reception. The pathways meander past a Japanese teahouse, a stone garden, stone lanterns and the pond with the koi fish.

You may also see ducklings.

Then visit the display of art inside the gallery and enjoy a meal at the cafe.

Right next to the gallery is a children’s playground and a walk along the water.

Open daily 9:30am - 4pm; 36 Webb St, East Gosfordl; free to visit

Find out more.

30. Events & Festivals

Many events around the Central Coast are fun for kids. Children will enjoy activities like jumping castles, face painting and more. 

Discover our yearly events here.

Where to Stay with Kids on the Central Coast

There are plenty of great accommodation options for families on the Central Coast. These ones offer swimming pools, play equipment, games room and full kitchens.

• NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Umina Beach
• The Palms at Avoca Beach, Avoca Beach
• Avoca Palms Resort, Avoca Beach
• Crowne Plaza, Terrigal