Central Coast celebrates wave of award-winning experiences

In the last month alone, several highly respected annual award ceremonies have unveiled an inspiring cohort of Central Coast winners who are driving the region forward with their innovation, resilience and commitment to quality tourism experiences for guests.

If you haven't sampled some of these business yet, now is the time to check out what they're achieving at a ground roots level, with the vote of confidence from a panel of expert independent judges to back up each of their award-winning experiences!

Without further adieu, let’s dive in and take a look at the local menu of businesses and organisations who’ve taken home the trophies for 2023 in some of the most prestigious and highly vaunted awards in the state…

The Central Coast has confirmed its place as a leading New South Wales destination, with the exciting announcement the region has taken home three golden wins in the 2023 NSW Tourism Awards! The state’s peak tourism organisation, NSW Tourism Industry Council, powered by Business NSW hosted in partnership with the NSW Government and Destination NSW, with the ceremony held on 8 November at White Bay Cruise Terminal, Balmain attracting 500 tourism professionals.

**Drumroll** And our three Central Coast Gold Winners are...

🥇 Destination Central Coast led by Central Coast Council - Gold Winner in the Local Government Award for Tourism category

🥇 Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific - Gold Winner in the Business Event Venues category

🥇 Australian Reptile Park at Somersby - Gold Winner in the Major Tourist Attractions category

💚 Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures were also a finalist in the Award for Visitor Litter Prevention category presented by Long Jetty-based organisation, Take 3 for the Sea.

Recognition at a state level in these highly-respected annual awards confirms the Central Coast is on such an exciting path of growth for a more sustainable tourism industry! It also confirms the innovative, collaborative work being done by smart, resilient professionals both within local government and the local tourism industry is not only consistent, but now standing out among some of the Industry's best.

NSW Tourism Industry Council, powered by Business NSW, a peak policy and advocacy body representing businesses in NSW since 1826, proudly announced the winners of the 2023 Central Coast Business Awards in October in front of a captive (and fancily dressed) audience of 320 business leaders.

Amazingly, ECO Certified tourism business, Sydney Oyster Farm Tours located at Mooney Mooney, took out the top gong and was crowned Central Coast 2023 Business of the Year. As a mother of four, face of the business and the driving force of its journey to achieve accreditation with Ecotourism Australia, Sheridan Beaumont explained to the audience how she can't wait to get back into Brisbane Water to deliver her famous immersive dining experience.

🥇 Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, Mooney Mooney – Central Coast 2023 Business of the Year and Excellence in Sustainability

🏆 Arc Ento Tech, Somersby – Excellence in Innovation and the State Excellence in Innovation Award!

🏆 Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jilliby – Excellence in Micro Business

🏆 SecondLife Recrafted – Outstanding Start Up

🏆 Broken Bay Pearl Farm, Mooney Mooney – Excellence in Visitor Experience ​​

🏆 Australian Reptile Park, Somersby – Outstanding Young Business Leader - Caitlin Vine

The annual AHA awards honour the achievement of excellence in NSW hotels across a variety of categories including accommodation, dining, entertainment, marketing, social media, community service and talented employees. The AHA Awards are grouped into three key categories – Experience, Property, Food – with various sub categories within each. Check out the 2023 Winners below and jump on their website to reserve your table...

Experience awards

🏆 Drifters Wharf, Gosford – Best Live Music Venue joint category Winner with the Tourist Hotel in Queanbeyan

🏆 Hotel Gosford – Best Regional Local

🏆 The Lakes Hotel, The Entrance – Best Wagering Venue

Property awards

🏆 The Entrance Social Club – winner of Best Regional Redevelopment 

Food awards

🏆 Elanora Hotel, East Gosford – winner of the Best Steak in NSW

🏆 Hotel Gosford – Best Regional Casual Dining

The Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence gives restaurants, cafes and caterers well-deserved recognition for their hard work, exceptional food and outstanding service in this vibrant industry, recognising operators in metropolitan and regional centres. 

🏆 Mexicoast Cantina, Toukley – Winner of Best Regional Restaurant and Winner of Family Dining

🏆 Spices 29, Woy Woy – Winner of Best Indian Restaurant in Regional NSW

You may not know, but the Central Coast is home to a number of high-end restaurants awarded a Chef Hat by The Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG). The Guide of independent, anonymous reviews is written by a panel of trusted restaurant critics and recognises the best Australian restaurants nationally, setting a standard to help you plan the perfect culinary trip away to the Coast. Or simply the perfect evening.

👨‍🍳 L’isle de France, Terrigal
🍽️ Best known for? Magret de Canard: crispy skin duck breast, confit beetroot, apple, smoked onion purée and balsamic jus.

👨‍🍳 Yellowtail, Modern Australian at Terrigal
🍽️ Best known for? Snapper sashimi, green chilli, finger lime, galangal, coconut, eschalot. Duck and mushroom pie, creamed parsnip, quince and beetroot jam.

👨‍🍳 The Cowrie, Terrigal
🍽️ Best known for? Menu that's strictly based on locally sourced and seasonally driven produce.

👨‍🍳 Safran, Ettalong
🍽️ Best known for? Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, lemon, garlic, thyme, jus braised freekeh and grains and charred cabbage.

👨‍🍳 Osteria il Coccia, Ettalong
🍽️ Best known for? Bistecca - dry aged rib eye [120 days] black angus, 600gr on the bone, marble 3, ranger valley farm, mixed leaves, balsamic or the Gnocchi - potato gnocchi, mushrooms, cheese fondue.

👨‍🍳 The Wild Flower Bar & Dining, Killcare
🍽️ Best known for? World-class hospitality with a strong focus on Mediterranean flavours, simplicity and sustainability.

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards 2024 were revealed on 23 October 23, and the Central Coast proudly has one of its signature fine dining restaurants awarded a respected hat for a second year running! 

But what is a 'hat' in the foodie world, you ask? For these particular awards, restaurants are visited anonymously by independent foodie critics, who review each venue uniquely. The nominated restaurants are then given a score out of 20, with scores north of 18-20 gaining three hats, 16-17.5 out of 20 gaining two hats, and 15-15.5 out of 20 gaining one hat.

👨‍🍳 ONE HAT - Osteria il Coccia

Chef Big Boy cooks from memories of his grandmothers rolling the pasta in the kitchen. He remembers them cooking the best lunches for him when he was going to school and he wants to share his two favourite regions with you - Beaujolais to The Rhone Valley where he grew up, and the South West where his mother lives.​​

The Central Coast's renowned Ettalong fine dining restaurant, Osteria il Coccia, was awarded one hat for the second year in a row, with chef and co-owner, Nicola having this to say upon receiving the accolade:

“Words can't express how incredibly proud we are of our phenomenal team. From our dedicated chefs crafting culinary magic in the kitchen to our warm and welcoming front-of-house team, each and every member has poured their heart and soul into making our Osteria a place where unforgettable memories are made. We're truly lucky to have such a talented and passionate crew who share our love for creating exceptional dining experiences.”