Overview
Winter might be dialling up the chill, but that doesn't mean things are starting to slow down. Across New South Wales regional hubs are stepping it up, with a packed lineup of events to keep locals and visitors alike buzzing through the cooler months. This month, the Central Coast is getting in on the action, serving up a fresh run of festivals and events that'll have you planning your next trip before the week's out.
The Central Coast is an easily accessible day trip or weekend destination for Sydneysiders. The towns along the coast are peaceful enough to not feel overcrowded, yet lively enough to ensure there is always something new to see or do.
We've rounded up some of the can't-miss events happening on the Central Coast this winter, so you can add them to your itinerary for your next drive up north.
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Set smack in the middle of Australia’s food bowl, the Central Coast hinterland is home to an incredible array of local produce. On Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, Harvest Festival will celebrate this bounty and the farming communities that are responsible for it. You can choose your own adventure, with over 35 activations taking place at local farm gates across ten picturesque rural suburbs. There’ll be plenty of ways to experience the festival, with live music, markets, fruit, flower and nut picking, plus much more.
Highlights include the Glenworth Grazing Festival, which takes place across both days and features over 100 local vendors, some of the region’s best restaurants, craft breweries, wineries and distilleries, as well as entertainment for all the family.
What else is there to do? Visit the Australian Reptile Park to catch Elvis the saltwater crocodile enjoying double daily feedings for the weekend, buy a waratah plant at Waratah Farm (the only legal retailer of the plant in the country), enjoy high tea in the flowering peach orchard at The Orchard House, try your hand at archery in Tuggerah, or just explore the local towns and let the fun come to you.
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Spice is big business, and chilli lovers want their tastebuds more than tickled. If you’re a fan, it’s the perfect time to participate in “The Hottest Day on the Central Coast”. This free event celebrates all things capsaicin.
Come down to Memorial Park at The Entrance on Sunday, June 15, to peruse the food trucks, taste an array of chilli products and — the biggest draw of them all — take part in (or watch) the chilli-eating competition.
If you prefer your meals a little lower down the Scoville scale, there’s plenty of milder food for you to enjoy, as well as a selection of wines and beers. Plus, there’s live music throughout the day and a range of market stalls, meaning there’s plenty for spice lovers and newbies alike.
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Lace up your running shoes and join the Central Coast’s biggest running event, the Bay to Bay Running Festival. Now in its 21st year, this charity run raises funds for local community organisations. The one-day event offers something for everyone, from a five and 12-kilometre fun run to a two-kilometre kids run and a 21-kilometre half marathon.
Whether you run, jog or simply enjoy the leisurely route at your own pace, this community event is a great way to get active while supporting a good cause. Over two decades, the Bay to Bay Running Festival has become a much-loved Central Coast tradition, and continues to bring the local community together through fitness, philanthropy and the great outdoors.