This itinerary is inspired by local creators and makers Marcia Leone met on a road trip to the Coast with her family. Her business, Not So Mumsy, is a platform that connects, celebrates, and inspires a community of modern mamas around the world, and donates a percentage of every sale to charities. As a proud adventuress, this is just a small edit of the many beautiful experiences Marcia and her family discovered on the NSW Central Coast.

_{Photography: by Dawn & Folk}

First stop the beautiful Glenworth Valley. The older girls went on a 2 hour trail ride through parts of the 3000 acre unspoiled wilderness, while Marcia led her daughter Poppy on a pony ride. In addition to horse riding there is quad biking, stand up paddle, kayaking, abseiling,and much more. A highlight is the ‘Man From Snowy River’ running of the horses, from 4 pm daily.

After working up an appetite the family headed to Bar Botanica in Erina. This cute garden café gelato bar is operated by the Mr Goaty Gelato team - founded by Dan Hughes, formerly of Three Blue Ducks and now living and working from the Central Coast where he creates his award-winning gelato. The kids gave the gelato 10/10 … And Marcia can personally vouch they have 'the best G&T you'll ever have' thanks to the onsite distillery!

The family checked into The Cottage at The Boathouse Hotel Patonga for the evening. With one road in and out, the Hawkesbury and Brisbane Waters surround this idyllic little coastal town. The Cottage is a four bedroom house that can accommodate up to 10 guests with a kitchen, open plan living, outdoor deck + garden, fire pit + a swimming pool. Casual but chic, and well set up for children.The Hotel next door offers waterside eating and drinking, and takeaway fish + chips.

Woy Woy's music scene is showcased in two edgy cafes with hearty brunch menus. The Link and Pin cafe launched their coffee shop inspired by the connective mechanism of railway carriages - enter via a red door on Railway Street, or red gate on Blackwall Road for their secret garden. Take a visit to friendly Say When Cafe on Chambers Place, a rock-inspired coffee stop supporting the local live music scene, but serving quirky classics too like 'Creams of the Scone Age'.

The headquarters of Australian street, surf and skate wear brand, drøm Clothing Co, lives on Woy Woy’s Chamber Street. With each item created, designed and printed on the NSW Central Coast, you can shop here all year round for the perfect fashion souvenir to remind you of your local adventures on the East Coast.

Woy Woy connects well to neighbouring suburb Koolewong, where a special kept secret waterfront dining option awaits. Perched right on the Brisbane Water marina, the Boathouse Bar & Dining is run by Cecile An and Jay Hainsworth and has lunch seatings available between 12-3pm Thursday to Sundays. Stroll along the marina and foreshore after lunch to soak up the exceptional river valley views.

Find everything you would expect from a country club at Everglades. Choose from tackling an 18-hole golf course, to catching live entertainment on their green, or enjoy fresh coffee at their on-site café. Have an early dinner before heading home at their inhouse restaurant or the brand-new Vibes Alfresco dining area. The Everglades Country Club is designed to make your last day in Woy Woy simple and sociable.

Only a 6-minute drive from Woy Woy, Daleys Kitchen is a secret gem on the Coast with locally sourced fresh produce. If you’re after something sweet, there’s a large range of home-made cakes with great coffee. Starting near Wards Hill Road, Daleys Point walking track is a moderately easy post-breakfast walk with spectacular scenic views.

The beautiful Bouddi National Park is located on the other side of Brisbane Water just 8 km from Woy Woy. It offers spectacularly diverse landscapes with the Box Head Track being a favourite for panoramic views and whale watching if you visit during migration seasons. Explore Bouddi National Park to experience one of Australia’s first marine protected areas, significant Aboriginal sites (guided tours available), an old paddle steamer shipwreck or 10km of mountain biking trails.

For a secluded neighbourhood, nearby Killcare offers an impressive handful of foodie options. If you’re the type that likes a picnic, Hardy’s Bay offers several tables on a grassed, waterside reserve with The View Pizza offering tasty, woodfired takeaway options. For world-class hospitality featuring locally sourced produce try The Wild Flower Bar + Dining. Internationally renowned chef Sean Connolly crafts seasonal menus from their kitchen garden, starring freshly shucked oysters and crayfish caught off Macmasters Beach.

From Woy Woy, you’re never more than a few minutes’ drive to Ettalong, Ocean and Umina Beaches, local favourites during summer with calm waves for an afternoon swim and excellent SUP opportunities. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, join a SUP pilates, yoga or ball class with local owner, operator and fitness trainer Karl from Bombora. Karl also runs SUP lessons and guided tours or you can hire a board if you prefer to explore on your own.

Arguably in one of the best waterfront spots on The Peninsula, The Box on the Water is part daytime beach kiosk café and part evening restaurant with smart-casual dining. It is situated in prime position on the newly redeveloped foreshore in Ettalong Beach. From local tap beers and refreshing afternoon Aperols alongside modern Australian cuisine, this is a fine spot to enjoy a sundowner in style peering across Broken Bay.

^{Photo credit Destination NSW}

Indulge and rejuvenate in one of our favourite holiday homes boasting a relaxed indoor/outdoor waterfront living, a dream kitchen, open plan living room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the waterfront and a private upstairs alcove to enjoy a morning coffee or read a book. Located less than 500 metres away along the cyclepath, is Lions Park with seating, BBQ facilities and a play area.

Stop in at one of Wyong’s many cafés to grab a coffee and breakfast before heading back to the hinterland for a day of adventure and fun. Albert’s Café and takeaway, Fibonacci Coffee, Justine's Coffee Bar or North Grounds Co will all be able to provide you the sustenance you need for the day ahead.

Amazement Farm and Fun Park is a tonne of fun for the whole family. Explore magical mazes, zoo encoutner, meet and greet friendly farm animals, learn about native and exotic wildlife species and animals, jump onboard the maze express train, experience pony rides and petting shows, and wander through botanical gardens.

Enjoy lunch at the Wyong Milk Factory Tavern, an eclectic multi-level interior with plenty of seating, pub classics, and large bar with plenty of beers on tap. In you visit on the right day you might catch some live entertainment!

Drive out to TreeTop Adventure Park to get up-close and personal with native Australian wildlife and magnificent Gum trees, as you climb, weave and fly through the treetops on self-guided rope courses. Flex your adventurous spirit and test yourself mentally and physically with over 100 elevated obstacles with rope ladders, wobbly bridges, tunnels, cargo-nets and zip lines. 

After a well-deserved sleep in, skip over the hill for a breakfast spot with the locals! We all know that the key to travelling well is to go where the locals go, and that's precisely how you are going to start today. Hardy's Cafe is a local haven known for its delicious baked goods, pastries and, of course, great coffee. Our top pick is the breakfast wrap and a few sweet goodies to enjoy on the road.

Making your way back towards Sydney, your next stop, is a unique experience discovering an incredible Australian story of how pearls are grown right on the Central Coast. Join a tour and go on a boat cruise exploring the pearl farm and learning the fascinating way of how the sublime and rare Australian Akoya Pearl is cultivated right in Broken Bay. You'll be a pearling expert in no time!

Your adventure in the Central Coast is coming to an end, but not before a fantastic lunch at the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed. Located right in the heart of the Hawkesbury, the Oyster Shed is a small local oyster farm supplying produce straight from the source. Enjoy tasty grazing board options, including delicious award-winning cheeses from Little Creek Cheese. 

After a restful night at Boathouse, it's time to take your #emptyesky to Bar Botanica and indulge in garden-inspired breakfast meals. Located in the fragrant gardens of Distillery Botanica and awarded one of the top 5 places to brunch in regional NSW! If you enjoy gin, check out the tasting experience onsite to try Botanica Distillery's award-winning drop. Be sure to get a few bottles for your #emptyesky!

There is no time like the present for a quick wardrobe refresh! This can also be called 'supporting the local economy' if you need to justify any of your new purchases when back at home! La Boheme is a luxury life fashion boutique showcasing some great Aussie labels, homewares and lifestyle products. The team also created their own in-house fashion label called 'La Boheme Girls' featuring limited edition pieces made from luxe fabrics. 

It's time for lunch, and your next stop is just as fun as it is delicious! Mumbo Jumbos is a Caribbean inspired restaurant featuring beach shack vibes, lots of local seafood and unique cocktails, which you can order from the Ice Coconut Bar. Enjoy a Jamaican influenced meal from the kitchen, and sip on your freshly made cocktail while taking in the panoramic views of Terrigal beach. 

After cocktails and reggae tunes with a view, we bet you're wondering how today could get any better. Cue your accommodation for the night! Bells at Killcare is a boutique hotel, restaurant, and day spa luxury stay destination. The onsite suites and villas are elegant and charming with a high attention to detail. The property is situated on pristine Bouddi Peninsula surrounded by National Park and secluded beaches. The KODO signature body massage is highly recommended!

After your relaxing afternoon at Bells, it's time to wander over to the restaurant on premises called The Wild Flower. Inspired by food from the sun, from the Mediterranean to Morocco, and paired with an excellent wine list repeatedly awarded 'Best Regional Wine List'. The Wild Flower is famous for its kitchen garden of orchid trees, beehives, olive trees, free-range hens, and local seafood produce. The Chefs Menu is an excellent option for those overwhelmed by all the delicious choices on offer. 

First on the agenda is a nourishing breakfast in a flurry of native flora. Kew Dining offers an experience cuisine lovers yearn for – a calm, harmonious space that utilises local produce and puts forth straightforward, classic food with an edge of creativity. After breakfast, wander through the Ken Duncan Gallery, situated next door.

Fires Creek Winery understands wine and how well it pairs with chocolate! So grab your #emptyesky and get ready to experience a tantalising chocolate board with a selection of matching Fires Creek Wines served in crystal glassware to enjoy while overlooking the vineyards. The winery also offers a unique foraging experience where you'll get to pick and select your own spectacular garnishes to create Instagram-worthy cocktails. 

What's for lunch? How does absolute waterfront dining sound! Your next stop is Box on the Water, a fun, stylish and modern Australian restaurant offering spectacular views and delicious food. Renowned by locals for ​their signature dishes include The BOX seafood sharing plates, the drunken pâté, the house craft ale-battered flathead and chips, and the whole fried tamarind snapper. Enjoy a long lunch and soak up the views!

Once you've finished enjoying your excellent long lunch, wander down to the Ettalong Foreshore, where you can walk it off and explore the waterfront. It's an easy 7.5 km return walk leading to the Peninsula Recreational Precinct, one of the best playgrounds on the Central Coast. If bike riding is your thing, you can hire bikes from in front of the Mantra Hotel.

Your final stop for today is the stunning Boathouse Patonga, a coastal boutique hotel and restaurant with serious Hampton vibes! Located in the quaint beachy town of Patonga situated right on the waterfront, the hotel has a vast range of beautifully furnished accommodation options. The Boathouse hotel restaurant is an idyllic dinner location with a very European feel. Weather permitting, get an outdoor table under one of the umbrellas and enjoy a glass of wine watching the sunset. 

The Coast Walking Track is one of the Central Coast's most scenic bushwalks. Traversing through Wyrrabalong National Park, climb from Bateau Bay beach lookout to Crackneck Lookout, and onto Forresters Beach water tower viewpoint. Enjoy endless coastal views, in spring you'll spot wildflowers, and from May to November this walk is one of the best for whale watching.