Pearl Beach (May 6)

This is the day that sparked the idea of creating this blog. It was a belated birthday lunch with a local friend of mine that I've known for over twenty years.

It's a pretty little spot. I would go as far as to say that it is the nicest beach on the Central Coast. I should know seeing I've walked around (and photographed) practically all of them since 2012. PB and nearby Patonga, though accessible via public transport, have a limited number of services available so it's far easier to visit them if you have a car, or better yet - a boat. I suppose you could even parachute in but that would be tricky considering all the bush, rocky ridges and water about.
My visits prior to May 6, when I finally did have a chance to dine there, have been limited to delivering newspapers for a local publisher ten years ago. Five minutes dropping off a bundle meant for both hamlets then getting in and out via the winding road around Mount Ettalong was generally all I saw of the place. Nearly all of the street names are of (semi) precious stones and they're narrow, with some restricted to a single direction. Parking near the beach is very limited as well.

The beach is confined by local residences and the Brisbane Water National Park. In geographical terms it is a half-heart beach or a logarithmic spiral beach, meaning it develops in the direction under which it is sheltered by a headland. (Yeah, just couldn't help myself there with the geeky term.) From the shore one can view nearby Umina Beach further around to the northeast or gaze eastwards at the vast emptiness of the Tasman Sea. The beach is hardly tainted by rubbish (being a regional winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach challenge in 2009 and the locals have obviously kept up the good work) and there's rock shelves to clamber around and a pool amongst them as well. If you're after anything else to do near there, well there's a native arboretum, tennis courts and lawn bowls (book in advance) and plenty of bushwalk trails, though one needs to be careful accessing those.
Currently, only Pearly's Cafe (and general store) is open for business. (Though I have heard talk that the beach-side restaurant may be re-opening there, which will require an update if that is true.) The venue was pleasant, staff were polite, and the background music was just loud enough to identify rather than drown out conversation. The only fault I could find was that they weren't so quick in clearing used plates from vacant tables even when they weren't too busy.
The main reason why I restrict my choices to something relatively simple is because I'm a finicky eater. One really can't go wrong with a burger, and I opted for a spicy chicken creation whilst a friend of mine went for the beef. Chips were included and both meals were adequately sized. We were quite impressed with the fare, my friend declaring that his burger was just as good as anything he had eaten at Grill'd. (I must say it would be a good comparison to use. I have eaten at various outlets of theirs in the past and have found that all the burgers, though a trifle expensive, are consistently good. Be advised, this is not an endorsement of their brand, just an observation.) As for me, I don't usually go in for anything spicy, but it wasn't overwhelming the taste buds and I found it quite nice. I felt that so far, it was the best burger that I've eaten this year. For the time being it'll be my benchmark when judging burgers.
Hopefully, I'll get a chance to go back there for a second bite and/or visit Patonga around the corner. It was just considerably too busy there that day to examine its sandy shore or lone cafe.

Link correct at time of posting.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2023.

Taree (April 4)

Earlier this year I took a little trip up to Taree, a lovely town on the Manning River 16km inland which I've visited on several occasions, mainly to catch up with an old high school chum that works and lives there, and the parents of a second friend whom I've known for a year longer. Needless to say, I've always got a bed, a couch or floor space to sleep on any time that I visit. It's very convenient. I can hop on the train at Gosford and be there in 4.5 hours. If you're not in a hurry, one can take a thrice daily service for a 9-hour trip up to Brisbane.

If you want a good walk, I recommend going by the riverside all the way out to the botanical gardens which are pretty easy to find. In fact, the town is quite easy to walk around, though you'll need wheeled transport if you want to go further out, like to Club Taree (which was my choice for this trip) or to any number of the little hamlets and beaches nearby, including Forster which gets an entry as well.
The club is a combined services and golf club, with the course bordered by the Sydney-Brisbane rail-line on one side. It is very modern and very pleasant inside and seeing it was bucketing down outside I didn't want to be anywhere else. If you're not interested in a meal one can have a coffee or a drink and take it easy. The staff are quite friendly and chatty once you get to know them.
This was my farewell lunch, seeing I was travelling back home the next day. I couldn't help myself and selected the parmigiana, though opting for a smaller serve rather than the larger one. Just as well – I struggled to finish it. Though the crust was a little burnt it was still rather nice, though it lost a point for having the ham and melted cheese on top of it. (It's rare to find a place that actually has the cheese and ham inside the crust. I think I've only come across one since I've been on the coast.) The salad was adequate, the chips crunchy and I washed it all down this time with a large glass of pineapple juice. Needless to say, I didn't really need dinner that night, but I did have desert.
Taree might feature often enough here seeing there are plenty of places to dine within a stone's throw of the river and I try to get up there once a year. You might get a bit bored of all the shots of the Manning River though. lol

Link correct at time of posting.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2023.

Forster (April 1)

On the coast roughly a 20-30 minute drive southeast of Taree, you'll find this half of the twin towns straddling Wallis Lake. When I visited there on a day trip back in April, I was immediately reminded of The Entrance, with all the tall (dated) apartment blocks near the waterfront. Driving around, I noticed channels and islands which also reminded me of Woy Woy and Tacoma, a small riverside suburb near Wyong. Seeing I've been on the Central Coast so long I generally compare every coastal area I visit to where I live.

One Mile Beach was rather nice (though I suspect considerably short of the old distance measurement), accessible via the Head Street bridge (a rather odd construction) if you're travelling down from Taree. There's an elevated walkway along the carpark off Beach and North Streets, which allows one to admire the view, with a couple of cafes nearby though we didn't stop to try them out.
My hosts had other places to visit, namely a couple of the local op shops and later Stockland Forster Shopping Centre where their preference of cafe was located. I wasn't in a particular hurry seeing it was a particularly nice day, so I saw the sights, thinking it was just like any other large coastal town.
The shopping centre, one level and mostly in a straight line, reminding me of Stockland Bay Village at Bateau Bay. Temptations gourmet takeaway is a rather cozy little affair (next door to the My House store), and my mate's parents had obviously visited here a few times and knew the staff quite well. With a chicken burger on the menu, I was quite satisfied, and the simplistic fare was tasty and adequate enough to fill the hole in my stomach until dinner time. Of course, if that isn't your thing, I'm sure you'll find something else at the centre to tempt your taste buds. 

Link correct at the time of posting.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2023.

Chittaway Bay (May 22)

Naturally there are plenty of places around here that are far easier to get to if you have a car. I was off for a drive on this particular day to pick up a friend that lives in Killarney Vale and along the way we stopped off for a late lunch. In this particular location at the junctions of Lakeside and Bluebell Avenues is a collection of businesses, mostly eateries. One was spoiled for choice straight away.
I just walked into the one that was closest, which turned out to be Lake Edge Chicken and Seafood, a small little takeaway with a couple of round plastic tables out the front. Thankfully there was a far better dining area across the road, namely Bluebell Park, a small lot currently undergoing a transformation at the time with a children's play area being installed in the back half next to the cycle way, which should have been finished by the time I posted this. Seeing it was a nice day we elected to eat there.

The closest I have to a shot of Chittaway Bay is this photo taken from the
other side of Lake Tuggerah at Long Jetty. I'll rectify that when I get the chance.

Once again, my selection was a chicken burger, whilst my host for the extended weekend opted for some battered barramundi. As it transpires, there was an awful lot of chips wasted – we probably could've just shared a small serving between us and still had some leftover. Still, both items off the menu was satisfactory, with the meal for two (including drinks) costing just under $40.
Thankfully I was able to locate the takeaway in a street directory (and confirm it with Google earth) for a return visit seeing I didn't get any pictures. I'm sure I saw a Red Bus pass us when we were parked, so I'll have to investigate what routes run down that road. If my ankles and calves were feeling cooperative, I could walk around the bay to Lake Jetty and catch a Gosford bound bus from the highway, or at the rear of Stockland Bay Village in Bateau Bay.

Introduction

Forresters Beach #1 (c) 2023, which will be featured at
this year's Mental Health Art Works! exhibition in East Gosford.

Hi. My name is Geoff. I've been living on the NSW Central Coast for over 23 years. My interests are many and varied, with three out of the top five being writing, blogging and photography. I already have two blogs with their respective 18th anniversaries this year - one dedicated to my gaming activities, the other being more of a personal online diary. This one is going to tie in all three in a different way.
I came up with the idea for this blog back in May 2023 when I was out with a mate having a belated birthday lunch. I ran it by two people – a good friend in Bendigo that I've known since high school and my psychologist. Both liked the idea, so I set about keeping a little journal of places I've eaten at this year with the best intentions of posting them online. Being someone who procrastinates quite a lot, it is now September, and I still haven't posted it. So, seeing the weather today is particularly nice and inspiring I figured I'd get stuck into it.
The Central Coast has many beaches, lakes, bays, etc. as well as an overabundance of places to eat. When I'm out with Monet (my camera) exploring an area, I'll generally work up an appetite and a thirst. The closer to the site the better, but if someone's recommended a place nearby then I'll give it a try.
The basic choice is the burger, a chicken burger preferably if it's around the middle of the day. If the venue is a bistro, a hotel or a club, then I'll no doubt upgrade to a schnitzel meal or my favourite, the parmigiana. All three are meals you should find at any eatery. They're standard fare and if you can't do them right, then perhaps you shouldn't be in hospitality business. Of course, the meal can change depending on the time of day to something more appropriate or due to the ethnicity of the eatery. The sites I mostly visit are not going to be three- or four-star places; more likely they are going to be local (with the emphasis on local) fish and chip shops, cafes, clubs even mobile food vans. There's always a chance that I'll eat somewhere a little more up-market though. I won't post material about dining at fast food chain restaurants, seeing I try to avoid them as much as possible, though I might use them as a point of comparison. Some might even pop up in the advertising. Seeing I don't know how that works I can't say for sure.
I should point out, I'm not a professional food critic, just an amateur who has a specific diet who knows what he wants to eat. If I dine somewhere, I'll write about the place and I'll be as honest as possible. If I like the place I'll be back, if I don't, I won't. I'll include links to where I go and pictures as well seeing that's the whole purpose of going there in the first place.
By the way, I won't limit myself to the Central Coast either. If I have a holiday and visit a place with some sort of watery vista with somewhere to eat nearby, guaranteed it'll end up here.
Before I finish, all pictures featured in this blog are taken by myself and shouldn't be reused without my permission. 

Enjoy. Cheers!

Geoff G Turner

27 September 2023

All links correct at time of posting.

Woy Woy (Sept 8)

Over 70 years ago Woy Woy was advertised as the 'Venice of Australia'. Legendary comedian, author and longtime visitor to the area Spike Milligan, lovingly referred to the place as 'the armpit of NSW' and 'Australia's largest above ground cemetery'. For his environmental and literary efforts (he did write three books whilst sojourning at his parent's place in nearby Booker Bay, including one volume of his WW2 diaries) a pedestrian/cycle bridge was named after him, though I strongly felt it should've been the local library instead. One can find a small display of his personal memorabilia there though.
Like Umina, it has improved in recent years with an upgrade in facilities (especially medical) and the establishment of a variety of eateries. You still have to be careful with the traffic however, but at least the cyclists now have plenty of bike tracks to utilize.
Woy Woy (or Deep Water as the original inhabitants of area called it) may not have beaches like Umina and Ettalong, but the watery vistas are just as pleasant. Local ferries ply their trade to nearby Davistown (a trip I shall take one day), Ettalong and Empire Bay via the channels and if you want to fish, this is a great place for it. The area is quite flat and walking around is quite easy; a decade ago when my legs were less injured from sporting accidents, I could manage a stroll from the Woy Woy waterfront through Blackwall and Booker Bay, all the way around to Ettalong. The town is connected by road and rail, with Gosford 10-15 minutes away and twice hourly rail services will see you at Central Station in Sydney in 80-90 minutes.

During Spring and Summer one of my mental health support groups meets at the waterfront (just down from the memorial park) seeing the weather is generally much more pleasant. Be advised, the weather can be rather fickle here. Yesterday, when I was there catching up with other members of the group, the weather was rather nice and warm. Today I've been stuck at home for most of the day due to the rain. Such are the 'joys' of living on the coast.
I've eaten at quite a few places in Woy Woy, but my preferred one nowadays is a little Thai restaurant on The Boulevarde called SaTanG-Thai. It is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, and open for dinner Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. A friend of mine from Bendigo treated me to dinner there on my birthday in 2022 and I have been back there ever since. Western meals, such as the ubiquitous chicken schnitzel burger are available, or you can even have a coffee or a smoothie and enjoy a pastry there which a lot of people do.
Me personally, I'm a sucker for Chicken Pad Thai. Seeing I've been a finicky eater practically all my life, it has taken me a long time to get the nerve to try something different, and when I tried this particular dish for the first time several years ago (when away at an interstate gaming tournament) I was hooked. So, if I dine at a Thai restaurant, that's what I'll go for. This place does it particularly well, it is reasonably priced at $15, and I generally find I just can't quite finish it all off but leave very full indeed. I'm such a regular there that the lady that runs it knows me by sight and knows exactly what I want to order. One day I'll surprise her with something else or even dine with a guest.

Honestly, if the weather is fine, I thoroughly recommend grabbing some takeaway and eating it on the waterfront. Be advised, if you do do that, you will acquire the interest from the local wildlife. Yesterday the seagulls outnumbered the ducks. Other days the ducks will outnumber the seagulls. Local council recommends that you don't feed them, but people invariably do. Some visitors go out of their way just to be photographed with them.

Links correct at the time of posting.

Photographs taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2023.

Kincumber (May 12)

The suburb of Kincumber is currently a semi-regular haunt of mine, seeing my psychologist has an office there. If I get motivated enough, and the weather is fine, I'll make sure to pay the broadwater a visit either before or after my appointment. In the past, when I wasn't having problems with my calves and ankles, as a result of several seasons of grade soccer in Sydney, I've walked to neighbouring Yattalunga or taken the long hike all the way around to the central wharf at Davistown. Yes, there are regular services there throughout the day (even a ferry service from Woy Woy), but the walk around there is well worth it. If you're a birder like me, there is plenty to keep you occupied on that trek and not just coastal birds either.

Local boat-builders monument, Kincumber

The section of the waterfront I accessed is a short walk down Carrack Road, almost directly across Avoca Drive from Kincumber Village. The area has an abundance of schools and retirement villages and has three bus routes running down the main road – the 64, 66A and 66C. On this particular day I took a leisurely trip from Woy Woy on the 64, visiting waterside suburbs like St Huberts Island, Empire Bay and Bensville, all three which were on my paper route ten years ago. The ride was nearly seventy minutes, but it wasn't as if I had anything else to do that morning. I quite enjoyed reacquainting myself with these places, especially Empire Bay seeing I made a dedicated trip there years ago with Monet to wander around there and the neighbouring Cockle Bay nature reserve.
Though there are plenty of cafes, fast food restaurants, takeaways and even a supermarket near the waterfront, there's hardly enough space around the jetty for lunch, with locals opting to sit inside their cars in the small carpark whilst dining. (I'd say the large number of ducks and seagulls nearby would often deter people from dining alfresco. Even when they are snoozing the rustle of food-wrapping would soon wake them up.) I wouldn't recommend packing a hamper for a picnic, seeing there's a lack of open space about, but there are benches at random points along the waterfront so perhaps some takeaway or a packed meal and eating it a bit further up the path, via Algona Avenue (also off Avoca Drive) wouldn't be a bad idea.
For me, well I decided to utilize one of the eateries in the immediate vicinity. Having dined there many years ago after one such photography stroll, I decided to pay a second visit to the Kincumber Hotel and see what had changed. The answer was nothing, though workers were renovating some of the outdoors dining area, though that may well have finished by the time this gets posted. The venue has a separate bar room and bistro, though you don't have to walk far to get a drink. It was a pleasant enough day to eat outside (and plenty of people were), but if there's a telly switched on a sporting channel, I'm more tempted to park myself in front of it to dine, especially if I have nobody to talk to.
I ordered a chicken schnitzel that day and was quite surprised that my meal was ready in about ten minutes, considering the amount of people there at that time. The schnitzel dominated the plate, resting on a decent serve of chips and not buried in a jungle of salad. I was delightfully pleased that it was as close to perfect as it could possibly be. The crust was crunchy, wasn't burnt and the schnitzel itself was still quite juicy when I bit into it. It was quite possibly the best one that I've ever had. Even better that the meal cost $15 and was washed down with a nice tap cider. Staff were quite pleasant and friendly and one of them had my plate cleared within a couple of minutes of me finishing it.
Gees, a quality burger and a schnitzel within a week. How good is that?

Link correct at time of posting.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2023.

Ocean Beach (August 24)

It's a bit confusing when you look at it on a map. There are two beaches in Umina and two surf-lifesaving clubs. Umina Beach SLSC is at the end of Ocean Beach Road, with the beach curving around the front of the recreation reserve and the tourist resort, whilst Ocean Beach SLSC is nestled between the end of Trafalgar Avenue and The Esplanade, the latter continuing around to Ettalong which I really must do at some point. It is a short walk from the main street where buses, namely the 50, 54 and 55, regularly visit on their way around the peninsula.

Lion Island in the centre.

It's fair to say that of all the beaches around the Central Coast, this is the one I've been to the most. When I first moved to the Woy Woy Peninsula in 1999, I was often tempted to wander down to the beach just for something to do, even if it was just to sit on the beach and watch the waves crash in. Some days I took a journal with me or worked on a story. Now that I'm back here I have a camera in hand and even though I must've taken hundreds of shots of the beaches, I still find new subject material. On this particular day I had business to attend to in town and once that was concluded I continued down the avenue for some breakfast, opting to go to a little spot called Cafe M which is located in a corner of the Ocean Beach SLSC.

The little cafe is conveniently placed, and it does save you having to wander up the street for a coffee or a cold drink. The fair is simple and reasonably priced, and you can dine there whilst admiring the view of Broken Bay and beyond. Winter was a good time to visit – there were no seagulls about, though there were a few curious sparrows picking up a crumb or two. (Sparrows are a rare sight around here – this is the only place where I've seen them.) On this visit I purchased an egg and bacon roll with a popular brand of soft drink for $14. I have tried a schnitzel burger there on another occasion, with both being on par with most of the other eateries located in and around West Street. The roll was tasty enough and did its job to sate my hunger for the time being.
The beach went through a lengthy recovery period after extensive storm-related erosion several years ago and is now quite wide. If one is feeling energetic enough, you could easily walk around to Ettalong Beach or go right round to Berrima Crescent to the end of Umina Beach where the rock shelves are. It's probably the easiest of the 'three beach' walks that I've done. It's patrolled by lifesavers on weekends and public holidays, with council lifeguards stationed there from September to the following end of April.
Much like other Central Coast suburbs, there'll be multiple postings seeing the number and variety of eateries has grown significantly. Umina has changed considerably in twenty years and has become more tourist friendly, though you do need your wits about you to dodge all the cars cruising down the main street or inconsiderate cyclists riding on the sidewalks.

Links correct at the time of posting.

Ettalong (Sept 27)

Ettalong, much like every other place on the Central Coast, may get multiple posts seeing there's plenty of places to dine at. In my honest opinion, of all the places on the peninsula, it has changed the most. When I first moved here it was a dingy, old-fashioned coastal hamlet whose main centres of business were the pub in the main street, the two-screen Cinema Paradiso and the Centrelink office. There was an unused giant waterslide, a rather dull-looking serviceman's club (and it wasn't much better on the inside) and a lot of run-down waterfront houses.

All that has changed in twenty years. Rather than passing through (or by-passing it completely) the suburb is picking up plenty of tourist trade. The cinema has become a multiplex, Centrelink and the waterslide have been bulldozed and are now upscale apartment blocks, the pub has had generous makeover, and the club is now the star attraction, turned into a massive ziggurat which locals view as their own Taj Mahal. Where it once used to detract visitors from spending time there, it now welcomes them with open arms. The cinema is now part of a vibrant market complex complete with restaurants, cafes and all manner of stalls. The old waterfront houses are being demolished one-by-one to make way for more upmarket townhouses and villas for those wanting to escape the city. Even the iconic netball courts off Bangalow Street have been spruced up as well as has the actual waterfront. A walk down there is a lot more pleasant, but it's rather more congested with foot traffic. The birds like it though seeing there's more discarded food to eat, though Gosford City Council does order you to not feed the ducks.
Ettalong Diggers, the aforementioned star attraction, is part hotel, part tourist information centre but mostly entertainment venue. Whilst sitting in the spacious I watched a replay of a 1990 NRL play-off match and saw advertisements for upcoming Motown (direct from the USA), Boney M and 70's tribute shows. Meals, once ordered, are brought to your table and there is hardly a wait at the bar if you're feeling thirsty.
I couldn't resist having a chicken parmigiana today and I'm pleased to say that I won the battle, albeit taking my time to demolish the generous fare provided. The salad, rather than arranged on the side of your plate is served in a small bowl, allowing you to pick through it or ignore it at your leisure. (I must say I prefer it that way.) You are given the option for ham and/or pineapple to accompany your schnitzel, though I stuck with the ham which was buried under a melted layer of cheese on top. The crust was crunchy, much like the small serving of chips to go with it, and just a little burnt, though that was restricted to the first bite that I had. It wasn't bulbous and thick like the offering at the leagues club on Sept 20, with the chicken being tender and rather tasty.
I must say I have experienced five rather delicious schnitzels so far this year, with four of them being on the Central Coast. Admittedly, it wasn't the first time that I had eaten at these places, but I'm pleased to say that the quality hasn't changed over time or across venues. It's going to be quite hard for this particular diner to find a schnitzel to top the others.

Links correct at time of posting.

Photograph taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2023.