Iconic Australian photographer Ken Duncan has called the Central Coast home for three decades and his purpose-built gallery has been a mainstay since 1990. Wander through the changing exhibition of breathtaking landscape images and enjoy a bite to eat afterwards at Kew Dining, the tranquil café next door.

KAB Gallery has specialised in collectable and investment art for a decade in its beachfront position at Terrigal. Here you can purchase exclusive Australian art, and seek art styling, valuation and restoration services. Tucked away in Hudson Lane, Bobbie P Gallery is the creative hub and working studio of local landscape artist Robyn Pedley. View her original artworks or book in for a group workshop or one-on-one studio session.

Gosford Regional Art Gallery is renowned for its first-class exhibitions such as the Archibald Prize, as well as the annual Gosford Art Prize and Emerging Art Prize. Showcasing a variety of styles, from visual art to photography, sculpture and design, the gallery hosts touring exhibitions, as well as celebrating accomplished local artists in The Foyer Gallery. Afterwards, wander through the on-site Edogawa Commemorative Gardens, laid out in traditional ‘shuyu’ Japanese style.

Visit the vibrant ‘Welcome to Long Jetty’ mural and get a photo infront of the extremely Insta-worthy, collectively created by artists Dan Coy, Brent Smith and Nathan Pickering.

In Toukley Village Green discover the iconic art container housing local artists as they take up residency thoughout the year as part of the Central Coast's Creative Spaces program. Discover artist exhibitions, workshops and activations that bring the community together.

Start your art-filled journey with a visit to the Coast’s oldest art gallery, within Brisbane Water National Park. Bulgandry Art Site is rich in ancient Aboriginal art with a range of well-preserved rock engravings thought to be at least 200 years old. Join a tour with Darkinjung Cultural Tours to learn more about these artworks and local indigenous heritage.

The Public Art Gallery showcases a monthly-changing collection of pottery by teachers and students of Centered Ceramics, a creative hub that hosts pottery workshops and courses. Come to browse the handmade pieces or sign up yourself to learn how to hand-build ceramics or throw pots on a wheel.  

Next head to Bay Gallery in Ettalong, that displays a revolving exhibitions of fine art oil paintings, digital works, abstracts and more. If you’re browsing Galleria Ettalong Beach, an undercover market of boutique stores, you’ll find James Art Studio (impressionist paintings), The Other Artist (paintings and pottery) and Salty Art by Mia (original watercolour prints).

Hop over to Killcare to visit Bouddi Gallery a social enterprise where you’ll find authentic arts and crafts produced by indigenous artists from remote Aboriginal Art Centres across the country. The gallery works to ensure that indigenous artists directly benefit from all sales, so it’s a win-win.

Pull over when you see the giant high-heel sculpture on Avoca Drive for a browse through Green View Gallery. This gallery specialises in fine art by local artists, and the adjoining café is a serene spot to ponder your purchases afterward with a cuppa.

The Petal Sisters is a florist tucked away in a cute-as-a-button store in Kincumber, with stunning blooms, as well as gifts for the special people in your life. 

Purchase unique gifts at Bouddi Gallery in Killcare, which sells arts and crafts made by Indigenous people across the country, with profits directly benefitting these artists and communities. You’ll also find Moochinside in this seaside village, which stocks a consciously curated collected of pieces for the home and everyday life.

In Ettalong, browse the quality children’s clothing and products at Milli and Me and a wide range of coastal-style fashion, homewares and trinkets at Goddess by the Sea. A little further along the main road stop by Galleria Ettalong, a large undercover market where you’ll find more than 40 stores to peruse.

Home-grown brand Bohemian Traders blends classic, fashion-forward pieces with bohemian styling; its store at Erina Heights is a chic cavern of beautiful clothing and accessories. A couple of shops along, it’s easy to lose time in Haven at Home perusing its eclectic and quality items such as homewares and furniture, jewellery, candles, fragrance and more.

Whether window shopping or need to refresh your wardrobe, there are boutiques aplenty in Terrigal. From trend-focused fashion at Kiana The Label to relaxed chic clothing at Antigua Collective and enduring pieces for modern women at homegrown label Aryele. Surfers and beach lovers will feel home at Ocean Haus, or if you’re after quality clothing and toys for the little people in your life, head to Zarlak Kids and Precious Little. Make health and wellness a priority at Love & Tonic, which stocks foods, supplements, books and has nutritionists and naturopaths on hand to help.

Driving towards Avoca, La Boheme Lifestyle is an absolute gem for luxury bohemian fashion (think Spell and The Gypsy Collective) and homewares. A stone’s throw from Avoca Beach, Weekends Store is stocked with relaxed women’s fashion and coastal-style homewares.

East Gosford has a handful of specialty stores selling everything from luxe homewares, jewellery, baby products and fashion including Magnolia Home & Gift, Fig and Little and Piccolo Pear, the latter which doubles as a florist and a merchant of vintage and fine wares.

The aptly named Coastal Road on the main road in Toukley is filled to the brim with quality homewares and furniture that will slot straight into chic but relaxed homes around the coast.

In Norah Head, Frankie Lifestyle is the place to go for fashion and accessories that will take you from beach to barbecue to bar.

And over in Wyong, be sure to stop at Scout + Trader, a curated collection of artisanal wares and gifts in the town’s heritage Chapman Building. The building is also home to House of Ellery, where you can shop beautiful blooms and plants or book into a creative workshop of flower arrangement or macrame making and more.  

Heading a little further south, Long Jetty is an energetic social hub, with an ever-growing shopping scene. Shop vintage cool at Tiki La La, where you can source anything from a Mid Century rattan sideboard to an original ’90s band T-shirt or a low rider bicycle. Or head to Sorry Grandma for nostalgic knick-knacks and vintage fabrics that have been repurposed into handmade kids’ clothes and cushion covers. If you have a penchant for modern pieces, seek out Plains Janes and Shadow Bang.

The quiet enclave of Bateau Bay is home to Blackbird, a lifestyle store with a mix of contemporary fashion, vintage pieces, homewares and gifts. 

A little further down the road, in Forresters Beach, Drift Home & Living is a treasure trove of exotic wares for the home, as well as fashion and accessories.

Passionate about connecting people to nature, Dan Jee founded Hikeandseek, an Ecopass-licenced adventure and itinerary guide focusing on tours around New South Wales, including the Central Coast. Dan’s been lacing up his boots and regularly setting off on hikes since 2013, and it's from discovering wild places that his desire to guide like-minded travellers grew.

_{Image: Dan Jee}

The Central Coast has plenty of great lookouts for winter whale watching, and Dan suggests getting up high for the best views. One of his favourite spots - and easy to reach for holidaymakers - is The Skillion at Terrigal Haven. Scale the stairs to a wide platform with views south to Avoca Beach and north towards Forresters Beach.

_{Image: James Vodicka}

Whether you love coastal tracks or heading into the bush, find fun, fascinating trails to take kids on. Dan suggests Brisbane Water National Park where you’ll find Girrakool loop track. The 2km trail features pretty waterfalls, an Aboriginal rock engraving site and takes 30 mins to 1 hour, depending on the age of your children. For keen hikers, Dan recommends the Patonga to Pearl Beach trail, a challenging 3km one-way route for up to 2 hours.

_{Image: Dan Jee}

If you’re seeking peace and stillness, Dan recommends heading to the secluded Emerald Pool in Popran National Park, west of the Pacific Motorway, near Mount White. He says the picturesque swimming hole is named after its emerald coloured water. There is a two- to three-hour round walk through bush to get there, so pack a snack.

_{Image: James Vodicka}

If you love camping but want easy access to your car, there's several picturesque choices, like Putty Beach Campground in Bouddi National Park. Easy to reach from Sydney, at the southern end of the Central Coast, it's only steps from a quiet beach. It’s also a great base for visitors eager to explore the national park’s hiking trails, near the start of popular 8km Bouddi Coastal Walk, from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach.

_{Image: James Horan}

Fill a hamper and grab a blanket to discover one of the Coast’s top picnic spots in Strickland State Forest. Turn off the Pacific Motorway at Somersby to immerse yourself in a landscape of vibrant rainforest and towering eucalypts. There are extensive walking tracks through this relatively small pocket of forest, and afterwards you can enjoy lunch at Banksia Picnic Area (with tables and firepits).

_{Image: Isaac Tseng}

Further north, Dan says there are some great grassy picnic spots along Tuggerah Parade, in Long Jetty. There are also a handful of playground toddlers will love and the big wharf that gives the suburb of Long Jetty its name.

_{Image: Dan Jee}