Less than an hour from Western Sydney, East Gosford is a delightful and easy day trip perfect on a sunny weekend. On Darkinjung land, the area is located on the Brisbane Water estuary which is a lovely shimmering background for this coastal area.
If travelling from Western Sydney, head to East Gosford on the M1 through the new NorthConnex tunnel for a smooth easy journey. You’ll enjoy the beautiful views of Gosford to East Gosford along Brian McGowan Bridge as you head straight to the town centre on York Street. A train ride is also magical and arrives in Gosford city centre right on the edge of Brisbane Water.
There are plenty of lovely cafes to make your way to in East Gosford. We recommend Bouffant for a fresh croissant to start your day. East Gosford Fish Café is on the corner and is a very popular café and restaurant doing great coffee by Goliath Coffee Roasters – a must-visit place in East Gosford, just ask the locals.
Once you’ve dosed up on caffeine, wander down the main road. In not a very large area, you’ll find quite a range of homewares and lovely boutique shops. We love the small-town feel of East Gosford here set in a stunning location of such natural beauty.
Magnolia is one of these boutiques. You’ll find an assortment of fashion labels, candles, bath & body products, and other aesthetic trinkets. There’s also the very quaint and cosy florist and homeware story Piccolo Pear further down. Step inside and smell the fragrant aroma of fresh flowers inside this small but colourful store. Pick up a bouquet, some soaps, or something else special.
Other stores to visit here are Tandem, Fig & Little, and the East Gosford Vinnies. Take it slow, as you explore the great retail small businesses here on the Central Coast.
After some time, you might be ready for a bite to eat. Head to Laneway & Co, a very trendy and fun café that does your café favourites and Brazilian food.
Tucked away in Gumtree Lane just behind York Street, Laneway & Co is bursting with colour and character. You’ll love the bright mural by local artist Brent Smith that lights up this converted garage. Owned and operated by locals Bruna and Anthony, this café is inspired by Bruna’s Brazilian heritage, with a menu filled with delicious South American goodies and all your café favourites.
We love the Brazilian BBQ plate with rump steak, beans, rice, and delicious salsa. Of course, they also do an excellent Acai bowl packed with fruit, coconut, and granola - Bruna tells WEST that Brazilians eat this every day, not bad! And for dessert, you’ve got to try the Brigadeiro which are tasty Brazilian truffles.
After lunch at Laneway and Co, it’s time to visit the Gosford Regional Gallery a little further down the road, and on the shores of Caroline Bay. With free entry, this gallery is a very popular tourist attraction on the Central Coast.
There’s always something to see at the gallery, with a diverse program of local, national, and international exhibitions showcased throughout the year. Visit and enjoy works from many different artists using a variety of mediums.
The Edogawa Commemorative Garden is also located at the gallery precinct and is free to enter. In 1988 Gosford and Edogawa, Japan formed a Sister City Agreement, with Edogawa gifting East Gosford the garden. The garden is based on the Japanese ‘shuyu’ garden (strolling) and incorporates many Japanese features including a roofed pavilion, Japanese teahouse, and raked dry stone garden.
Meander this peaceful garden and enjoy the green plants and blossoming flowers. If you’re visiting with children, they will love feeding the fish in the Koi Pond and bags of food are available at the gallery shop. We love that this garden is a place of tranquillity open to anyone.
After the gallery and gardens, head to the Gosford Sailing Club on the shores of Brisbane Waters at Point Frederick. With incredible 180-degree views of the water, this is a great place to sit and watch the boats go past while enjoying an afternoon beverage on the deck. Take the time to relax and unwind here, you’re bound to also spot the sailing boats coming into the marina.
For dinner, there are some excellent restaurants in the club and nearby. Up on Victoria Street is the popular Italian restaurant, Fedele’s, which serves authentic, and house-made pizzas, pastas, and delicious secondi.
You might also want to visit East Gosford Fish Café for a seafood dinner and another great coffee. Since East Gosford is so close to the ocean, it’s only natural this excellent restaurant serves super fresh oysters, prawns, or the East Gosford seafood platter.
There’s simply so much to see and do in this charming area of the Central Coast. And you can easily spend a whole day out and about exploring the places locals know and love here in East Gosford.