Hidden in the Hinterland, the villages of Mount White and Glenworth Valley as both a gateway to the Central Coast Hinterland and a well-loved adventure getaway.

Located in the Southern part of the Central Coast just an hour from Sydney, the area around Glenworth Valley and Mount White has been a crossroads for thousands of years. The country here has a number of sites significant to the Darug and Darkinjung peoples.

While the road here was once a major artery for traffic heading from Sydney to Newcastle, after the opening of the F3 Pacific Motorway in the 1980s the area became a backroad portal to the Central Coast: a pathway for motorcyclists, a paradise for horse riders and a bush oasis untouched by time.

1. Get into the action

Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures has been synonymous with the region  since the late 1960s, when it started off as a horse riding operation. Nowadays, along with 200 horses, the property has evolved into one of the Central Coast’s biggest wilderness and adventure hubs, offering camping, kayaking, quad biking, axe-throwing, laser skirmish and an events centre.

2. Walk through history

The eucalypt forest of Popran National Park has been an important site for indigenous communities for thousands of years, with sandstone shelters, foreshore middens and rock engravings found throughout the park.

3. Explore the scenery

The 248 trail through the Popran National Park is popular with Mountain bikers and horse riders, while visitors with 4WDs can visit the Ironbark picnic area and continue up a steep track to the Mount Olive lookout, which gives a panoramic view over the Popran Creek.

4. Paddle the river

A tributary of the Hawkesbury River, Popran Creek idles through the bush and is a favourite kayak, canoeing and paddleboard spot for experienced paddlers, known for its seclusion and tranquility.

5. Take a dip

Inside the park, wild swimmers can follow the Hominy Creek walking track for around five kilometres to reach the Emerald Pool, a deep, freshwater swimming hole perfect to cool off in.

6. Have a bite to eat

If you’ve worked up an appetite in the park, iconic local eatery The Old Road Cafe, which has been a Pacific Highway landmark for years. Order a fresh coffee and sandwich and dabble in a little admiration and envy at the bikes parked outside. Open daily, it’s a favourite place for motorcyclists to break up their ride.

7. Take the old road

Winding through the  bush, the old Pacific Highway, known as the Old Road, is a favourite day trip for many motorbikers. Running from Hornsby up to Gosford, it is known for its winding turns that can challenge even experienced bikers.

8. Hinterlands eats

The arrival of Saddles Mount White, a meticulously appointed new gourmet eatery and bakehouse, signals a shift in the area: from pastoral land, bush and bikes to a more sophisticated, country club style offering. Set on 28 acres, the meticulously designed bar and eatery will be complimented by a seventeen bed lodge next year.

9. Hop on the Harvest trail

Held every June long weekend, the Glenworth Grazing Food and Wine Festival, part of the Harvest Festival Central Coast, features live music, kid’s entertainment, pony rides and petting farms, alongside over 90 boutique wine and food stalls

10.Get your groove on

Get your groove on with Lost Paradise, a multi-day music festival, held deep in the valley over New Years Eve. House, techno, indie rock, disco and dance music all share the stage, while the crowd are known for their incredible dress up efforts.

Mount White and Glenworth Valley are located near the hinterland communities of Peats Ridge, Somersby and Mangrove Mountain.  Located nearby are two of the coast’s iconic wildlife experiences, the Australian Reptile Park at Somersby and Walkabout Animal Park at Calga.

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This article was originally authored by Shaney Hudson, as part of a Love Central Coast grant project brought to you by Destination Central Coast, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. To maintain accuracy, some editorial changes may have been made since publication.

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