Love Local List: Happy Holidays

Our local shops keep our town centres vibrant, our community connected and create local jobs – all while providing their amazing services! Your valuable pressie purchases with local businesses this December will help them. 

There are countless ways to support local small businesses this holiday season – one of the best is to choose to buy your fresh produce platters and poultry locally, by shopping for a festive frock or suit at local boutiques or celebrating New Year's Eve at your favourite restaurant.

We hope you enjoy our latest Love Local Guide to the festive season on the Central Coast…

Avoca Beachside Markets Twilight Edition – Saturday 9 December

Come and celebrate the Christmas season with FIXX events family friendly night market on the stunning waterfront at Avoca Lagoon. Be delighted by the local bands, sample delicious food and shop the 90+ bespoke stalls selling glorious handmade seasonal gifts. More info.

Bells Christmas market - Sunday 8 December

Support the local community this year and get all your holiday shopping done in one place, at Bells at Killcare. Join local artists, and makers and creators at the annual Christmas Market in the conservatory. More info.

Central Coast Christmas Fair - Saturday 30 November

Soak up the Christmas spirit this November at the Central Coast Christmas Fair. Shop over 100 handmade stalls full of Christmas gifts and ideas, treat yourself to delicious food, listen to live music from local musicians, enjoy a festive 'cheers' at the licensed bar ad keep the kids entertained at the animal farm. Listen to carollers, dance along with the elves and keep an eye out for Santa, and maybe the Grinch too!  Find out more  

Christmas Under the Stars - Sunday 22 December

Christmas Under the Stars is back for 2024. Share the joy of Christmas and enjoy a fun filled evening of carols, entertainment and fireworks.  More Info here. 

Deluxe Christmas wreath making workshop - Thursday 19 December

Make a beautiful everlasting Christmas wreath for your front door at Angel Sussurri in the picturesque Yarramalong Valley using fresh flowers under the guidance of Deborah Buckley. Afterwards, enjoy a beautifully curated lunch in the restaurant. Book your tickets here.

Christmas on the Coast - December

The region's town centres will come alive with the magic of Christmas during December. From carols and festive window displays to photos with Santa and Christmas themed town centres, Christmas on the Coast will spread some festive cheer around our region. 

NYE Fireworks - Tuesday 31 December

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Entrance and Gosford. Live Music at The Entrance includes Baker Boys Band, The House Band and Sons of Murray and at Gosford, Joe and Co, Joy Band and Blue Vinyl. Enjoy live entertainment, activities, food stalls and see the sky illuminated with fireworks from 9am at The Entrance and after the game concludes at Gosford.  More Info

Meantime on The Entrance, The Entrance

Gather your family and friends for a joyful buffet feast filled with all the festive favourites. From scrumptious starters to delicious desserts, let Meantime on The Entrance make your Christmas lunch one to remember. Book here.

Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford

Enjoy mouthwatering Christmas luncheon at Wildwood Dining with hot and cold buffets featuring all those holidays trimmings and while you dine, be entertained with live entertainment to make your day extra special. Book your table here.

Gosford RSL, Gosford

Celebrate Christmas in style in The Garden Terrace with a Christmas buffet lunch while the Soul Train Trio provide live entertainment to a create a memorable Christmas day. Book here.

Lago Cucina, Budegwoi

Sit back and relax whilst you dine on a 3 course festive feast set in a beautiful Italian trattoria by the lake. Choose from a delicious array of dishes per course and there is even a special Chrissy meu for the kids! Book your table here.

Mercure Kooindah Waters, Wyong

An all-inclusive gourmet traditional and contemporary buffet feast to share with family and friends. For those staying at the resort order a Christmas hamper filled with festive goodies to take home with you. Bookings essential. Book your table here.

Pullman Magenta Shores, Magenta

Take all the stress out of Christmas and enjoy a special seafood buffet feast with your family and loved ones as you overlook the lake and golf course. Book your table here.

Avoca Beach House Restaurant

Bring in the new year with a 5 course feast and live entertainment from DJ Dynamix to dance the night away while overlooking the stunning Avoca beach. Find out more.

Beachcomber

GOOD AS is back at The Beachie this NYE. Party into 2024 with Winston Surfshirt, Yolanda Be Cool, Mowgil May, Felixx, Dyl Barrie and FRASHN. Book your tickets. 

Budgewoi Hotel

Say cya to 2023 by celebrating with acoustic sessions from Jason Bone and Brendan Watson before kicking into party gear with Fleetwood Nicks and DJ Vista. Find out more. 

Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific

Dine at Gosford's newest venue, Meribella and enjoy a vivacious New Year's Eve party showcasing a 6-course tasting menu by emerging culinary talent Joshua Mason. Optional matching wines.  Book your tickets here.

Drifters Wharf

See the New Year in with Sneaky Sound System at Drifters Wharf in Gosford. Dance the night away to their chart topping songs on the waterfront. Book your tickets here. 

Hotel Gosford

Celebrate the New Year with 3 nights of DJ's! Enjoy happy hour cocktails, karaoke, sets from Gossy Good Times where you can party under a disco ball!  Find out more.

KEFI

Ring in the new year Mediterranean style at Koolewong's newest Greek venue. Enjoy roaming canapes, followed by a 3 course menu and 2 hour beverage package. Dance the night away to live music and enjoy plate smashing at midnight. Book your tickets. 

Lago Cucina

Celebrate the New Year with views of the lake and indulge in delicious Italian inspired dishes from the A la Carte menu enjoying $15 cocktails specials throughout the night. Book your table here.

Margarita Daze

Take in the last sunset of the year and spend NYE's by the beach with live music from Daxton from 4-8pm and drinks until 9pm. More info here. 

Meribella

Join Terrigal's newest glamourous coastal dining and celebrate the New Year top shelf entertainment and a 6 course tasting menu by emerging culinary talent Joshua Mason. Pair with matching wines. Book your tickets.

PAV Pop-UP

Terrigal's newest venue will be hosting a NYE party, seaside style! Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival then party the night away with East London's Riva Starr and local DJ's playing throughout the evening. Book your tickets.

Swells

Celebrate NYE overlooking the ocean with a glass of bubbles on the balcony followed by canapés and a delicious 4 course meal. Book your table here.

Terrigal Beach House

See in 2024 in a vibrant and colourful celebration! Party like you are in Rio at the Carnival goes Coastal at Terrigal Beach House. Live entertainment featuring DJ Jove.  Book Tickets here.

Terrigal Hotel

Countdown to midnight and dance the night away with beats of ZONE sound system in Terrigal Houtel's newly renovated beer garden. Enjoy the vibrant flavours of their new summer food and drinks menu. Find out more.

Aussie Ark

Aussie Ark, every $20 donation or more supports precious wildlife which helps safe guard habitat and populations of Tasmanian Devils, Eastern Quolls and koala, building a balanced ecosystem for future generations to thrive in.

Walkabout Park

This Christmas a $25 donation to Walkabout Wildlife Park, will provide supplementary feed for the free range kangaroo's for the day and $270 will cover the coast of off site leaf cutting for koalas for the week. Give a gift to help our wildlife. 

Take 3 for the Sea

Give the gift of cleaner oceans. Take 3 for the Sea donation gift cards pledge to support cleaner and thriving oceans. Each card purchased steps towards healthy oceans and the marine life that inhabits it. 

Whether you’re searching for stocking fillers, one-of-a-kind items, or want to gift an experience to remember – the Central Coast is filled with exciting options! We're extremely lucky to be part of a diverse community of Makers & Creators who call the Coast home, and many of them are on hand this month to craft and curate specialty presents and experiences you can buy for loved ones.

Baked with festive cheers from around the world

Burnt Honey Bakery at Copacabana and Long Jetty have a Christmas biscuit tin box to take you on a a trip around Europe without living your veranda. Enjoy Speculaas, the Dutch spiced biscuit, rich Swedish shortbread, kourabiedes from Greece, the delicate shortbread of diamants au violette from France. A great gift with local at heart.

Fashioning Sustainability this Christmas

Give a one of kind gift from repurposed and discarded clothing. Local Avoca Beach maker Virginia Riley fashions pre-loved items and accessories she has collected over the years into beautiful earrings. These stunning pieces are made from electrical wire, yarn, recycled beads to hand pressed local flowers. Support slow fashion and local makers and creators.

Giving new life

Secondlife recrafted repurpose there stunning collection of chopping board from local unwanted wood. Being the wood back to life, this local maker from Saratoga has a unique range of wooden décor items that perfect to give to lower your footprint.

Local gin distillery originals

Give the gift of sweetness and gin this holiday season. Distillery Botanica's 'We Three Kings' dry gin is distilled with edible gold flakes, aromatic Frankincense, Myrrh and blended with the owner's Christmas pudding recipe. The perfect locally sourced gift this Christmas.  

Central Coast beach luxury gifts

Introducing Alohra Australia, an outdoor beach luxury brand proudly made here on the Central Coast, offering some amazing summer Christmas gifts including umbrellas, sand-free beach towels, chairs and the latest addition - stylish cabanas! Shop their range here.

Sustainable, zero waste Vegan soaps 

The Little Oasis Bath co handmake small batch nourishing vegan soaps and body bars that your body will love and your skin will crave. Guilt free pleasure with no harmful nasties. All lovingly handmade here on the coast. 

Custom-made leather gifts

Beautiful custom sized belts, wallets and more are made to order with Crown & Anchor on the Central Coast, each skilfully created by a local leather craftsman so you can be assured the quality is top-notch.

Paw-tastic gifts

You can’t forget about your four legged friend and  Happy Hound Treats Co at Blue Haven have the perfect stocking suffer for your four legged friend. Whole ingredients. Sold around the Central Coast at local markets. Or try Puppy Christmas biscuit tin treats from Burnet Honey with biscuits made from peanut butter, honey and whole-wheat flour.

Herbie's Spices

Made for the cooks and food lovers, Herbie's Spices is your one stop shop for hard-to-find herbs and spices.  They have created a Christmas Feast Kit which consists of 8 packs of Herbie's spices and 12 recipes to choose from. Wouldn't this be perfect for your Christmas menu this year. 

Craft Brewery

Based at Kincumber, Block'n'Tackle is a small batch brewery and taproom offers unique crafted beer and cider. Their paddle membership is a perfect gift for craft beer lovers and a great way to taste new releases, receive your own paddle and save on return visits to their relaxing lounge.

Lisarow's Award-winning gingerbread

Adri's Gingerbread is local to the Central Coast and Adri's festive collection of European style gingerbread treats are the real deal. Choose from pre iced gingerbread delights or have a go at making your own with their DIY kits. 

Fine dining gift vouchers

Last-minute panic? After months of not dining out once, a festive gift voucher from any of the following fine dining restaurants would make a truly unique experience this year:

• Yellowtail Dining Experience at Terrigal, one of the Coast’s fine dining venues and hatted restaurants.
• The Cowrie at Terrigal, an unforgettable dining experience.
• The Terrigal Pavillion at Terrigal, with exceptional ocean views.
• The Box on the Water offers superb waterfront views at Ettalong and a modern Australian dining menu.
• Bells Killcare gift vouchers let the recipient decide how they'd like to experience Bells. Whether it be in the spa, hotel, restaurant or bakery.
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Bamvino hampers

Beautifully created Festive hampers to get your taste buds zinging. With Naughty & Nice or Sugar & Spice Hampers there is something for everyone. Using carefully sourced boutique produce Bamvino Hamper's include locally made Crooked Creek biscuits from Ourimbah Valley.

Central Coast hampers

The experts in hamper creation, Central Coast Hamper Gifts, will sort you out with a Maggie Beer non-alcoholic sparkling & Grandmas Christmas Pudding set, or a Hawkesbury Brewing Co beer pack complete with nuts and gingerbread. That's just a taste of their huge range, worth exploring to find something to suit your partner, colleague, baby or best friend. 

Claya's festive luxury boxes

Head over to Claya's pre-packed gift boxes for some pamper-themed ideas designed around the personality and lifestyle of who you're gifting, including the Festive, Night Before Christmas and White Christmas concepts.

Corporate & event gifting

Do you have staff who deserve an extra thank you after the year that's been? New to the gifting game is Love Local Creations (which obviously deserves a place in this Love Local Guide), who specialise in deluxe corporate and event gifts that can be customised to suit the occasion. Ideas include cheeseboards, gin distillery packs starring Moore's Dry Gin, and Men Who Scrub skincare with Hawkesbury Brewing Co. beers. 

Salt Pig Deli

Beautifully curated Christmas grazing boxes with fine charcuterie, speciality cheeses, jams, fruits and nuts for every food lover. Salt Pig Deli hamper's are lovingly put together by a local husband and wife duo.

The Chocolate Factory

The perfect gift hamper for all the chocolate lovers, a Naughty but Nice or Waiting for Santa Christmas hamper is a must have this festive season. Packed to the brim with scrumptious locally made chocolatey delights, these Chocolate Factory hampers will certainly get your taste buds excited.