The Long Jetty town centre is a vibrant stretch along The Entrance Road; a showreel of unique art, design, fashion and antiques curated by local makers, creators and collectors. As an entrepreneurial hub, Long Jetty has a progressive crowd who crave those quirky 'Newtown by the sea' vibes – minus that big city buzz. It's also become the place to set up that 'big idea' you've been dreaming about for years, with Long Jetty the launching pad of Blank Canvas Central Coast in 2021, Plain Janes curated fashion, and HQ for the gone-global environmental movement, Take 3 for the Sea.

Long Jetty is a mix of lakeside residential streets branching off to the foreshore, alongside its main street featuring a collection of boutique shops, contemporary gallery spaces, modern cafes and gig spaces, one old school pub, one WWII cinema, vintage op shops and quirky businesses found nowhere else in the region. It also has three jetties that inspired its namesake - Parry’s Jetty, Watkin’s Jetty and of course The Long Jetty.

1. Discover THE Long Jetty

At the end of Archbold Road, you’ll discover exactly how this town got its name. Walk the entire 351 metres (a 700m round trip!) of The Long Jetty, which stretches out into Tuggerah Lake, and spot wetland wildlife along the way. Built in 1915, it’s most popular at dusk when the pink, purple and apricot hues of a Central Coast sunset create one of the most beautiful photo opportunities in the entire region. Too crowded? There’s two more to photograph along the foreshore path.
 

2. Café crawl the trendy high street triangle

The central intersection of Long Jetty features three incredibly unique cafés that each double as a bakery, gallery, gig space or yoga studio. Mr Sha Sha's offers contemporary seating that spills out kerbside, complete with a modern brunch menu and great space to sit with a fresh coffee. Grab a table at Green Tangerine beside the famous ‘Welcome to Long Jetty’ mural, and browse their fresh brunches, sweet treats and handmade bread (prepared using traditional French baking methods). Take a yoga or pilates class at Komuniti and enjoy a green juice in the garden cafe.
 

3. Browse unique boutiques and vintage treasures

Shopping at Long Jetty is a dream for fans of vintage and coastal style. Start at the stunning A-framed building housing Shadow Bang Apothecary and Supply, who sell boutique clothing, rugs, jewellery, organic tea, essential oils and natural wellbeing products plus a pick-your-own dry flower bar. Move on to Sadie Lou, a small boutique featuring beautiful daywear characteristic of the seaside.  Don’t miss the local vintage gems at Tiki La La for stylish retro fashion and furniture, Sound Exchange for vinyl, and Webster's Vintage just around the corner. Nearby you will find boutique wine and craft beer store Upstairs Wines, where they have the quirkiest labels from small batch winemaking - the friendly team give excellent recommendations. Next pop into Plain Janes, run by sisters Amelia and April, who sell popular labels like Nude Lucy, Assembly Label and Levis alongside their curated collection of shades, flowers and ceramics.

4. Green fingers

Take a meander through The Cacti Folk, Long Jetty's very own cacti and succulent shop. Search the walls of beautifully potted cacti in all their different colours and glory to find your perfect prickly plant to show off in your home. What's more, is it's more than just a place for green fingers, the shop boasts cacti paintings, ceramic cacti homewares, cacti themed kids clothing and so much more. 

5. Take the Coast to Lake Walk

The best way to explore the area on foot is this signposted scenic path from lakeside Long Jetty to seaside Toowoon Bay. The Coast to Lake Walk is an easy, self-guided route connecting you to local attractions, landmarks, and public amenities around The Entrance and Long Jetty peninsula, covering 7.6 kilometres. Not much of a walker? Explore the shared pathway on two wheels with Boomerang Bike Hire located at The Entrance Visitor Information Centre.

6. Sips and snacks in a 1950s retro theatre

The Savoy was first built in 1956, the Golden Age of the screen, and after a seriously chic makeover it stands today as a trendy bar and restaurant that still screens films in its historic cinema space. Serving craft beers, cocktails and quality pizza, this is a stylish spot to meet for drinks, catch live music or watch classic movies in their tiered lounge area. Private group experiences are also available, complete with your own designated waiter!

7. Experience international eats

Start early with a visit to Bali or Hawaii at Bowlarama Bowls, serving plant-based smoothies and bowls reminiscent of what you’d enjoy on a tropical island paradise. For lunch, venture to Japan with Yasaka Japanese Dining, serving sashimi, Agedashi tofu and ramen to this end of the Coast. Or try Kaino’s Seafood and Burgers, serving home-made lunches with a middle eastern influence. Wrap up your tastebud tour in Italy via Il Toscano pasta bar, a favourite for locals featuring authentic, handmade pasta dishes from Tuscan owner and chef Matteo, such as their popular gnocchi nights! For a spicy alternative, pop in to Jolly Good Indian Restaurant, a long-standing local takeaway headed up by restauranteurs Raj and Raki.

8. Family BBQ on the foreshore

A beautiful span of green space lines the eastern foreshore of Tuggerah Lake. Long Jetty Foreshore Reserve features a shared pathway designed for strolling, cycling, skating or jogging, and hosts the Shelly Beach Markets on the last Saturday of the month. Grab a picnic spot by one of the lakeside public BBQs, with three long jetties and a children’s playground to explore before the family spread is served.

9. Visit an artisan baker's pantry 

Harbouring a pastry obsession? The Baker's Pantry joined Long Jetty's trendy street collective in 2022, born from Burnt Honey Bakery, which has been a local favourite of Copacabana since opening its doors in 2019. Now owners Hayley and Jo have brought their top notch baked goods and breads to the hip and happening main drag of Long Jetty, with exceptionally unique pastries, pantry items, baking books, cultured butter, local milk and plastic-free wares including fabric bread bags.

10. Long Jetty street photography

In addition to capturing a sunset shot at The Long Jetty, a colourful photograph of yourself at one of Thompson Street’s famous painted wall murals is an essential part of the Long Jetty experience. The vibrant ‘Welcome to Long Jetty’ mural is extremely Insta-worthy, collectively created by artists Dan Coy, Brent Smith and Nathan Pickering.

Long Jetty’s central location grants it a long list of nearby hot spots, most just a few minutes away. Visit The Entrance with great family-friendly options and the scenic spot where the ocean greets the lake. Terrigal is a short drive away, a popular spot for beachside brunch, bars and boutiques. Long Jetty is also the heart of a collection of small seaside villages including Bateau Bay, where professional renovators Kyal and Kara call home, surfer’s haven Shelly Beach, and popular foodie stop and SUP paradise Toowoon Bay .

Within minutes you can also reach Wyrrabalong National Park and climb to Crackneck Point lookout, or head to its northern stretch to walk the shady Lilly Pilly or Redgum loop trails for panoramas of the lake that suddenly emerge from the forest.