Every now and again it's great to be surprised! First time at the Ocean View Hotel Umina has been…read morejust that and more. It's still being renovated while it still looks really Good. It's got the space ..... modern outlook ....... well presented indoor and outdoor areas plus a sensible area to eat indoors if preferred. The Drinks menu covered all the favorites plus extras ...... the food passing me by looks yummy and exactly what you want whilst enjoying a lazy pub atmosphere. Based on what I experienced, I will be happy and looking forward to coming back and finding more surprises.

Awesome place to stay, delicious food, great staff LOCATION…read moreLOCATION LOCATION Breathtaking I can't wait to stay again

Terrigal is one of those beachside locations we'd be happy to return to time and time again. We…read morelove the beach, the fish and chip stores, the friendly locals and being able to stay in some great accommodation to make the most of the stay. We love the reliable and comfortable Crowne Plaza Terrigal. Absolute beach front with sweeping views of the beach, it's the perfect little getaway. The property is expansive, with 199 rooms, leisure facilities including a pool, table tennis, gym and Endota Day Spa. There's also three ocean front restaurants and bars so you don't even need to leave the property if you don't want to. If you're up in the area for work, there's meeting rooms and conference spaces too. The local area has boutique shopping, coffee shops, fish and chips, and plenty of places to explore. We stayed in an ocean front King room, with a balcony. The room was spacious, complete with a lounge, ottoman, workspace, mini bar and tea and coffee making facilities. A huge bathroom, with plenty of products, hairdryer and bathrobes. Free wi-fi is throughout the property and parking can be utilised underground for $25 per day. The hotel had a good mix of customers from groups of friends, to couples, singles and families with children. Come up to Terrigal, on the Central coast and enjoy your little slice of paradise to relax and unwind away from hustle and bustle of the city. In less than 2 hours from Sydney, it's the perfect weekend getaway. Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific Pinetree Lane, Terrigal, NSW, 2260 https://terrigalpacific.crowneplaza.com

Great hotel, a lot of outdoor and indoor space, awesome atmosphere, nice food. On a Sunday…read morelunchtime only 40 people here. Parking was the biggest pain.

Lunchtime and mid week on a sunny day! Although, if you have the kids I am assured weekends are…read moreworthwhile as there is a playground with chooks and ducks. The outdoor dining area is fully covered and big with plenty of tables. Don't drop your keys or coins as it will go through the floor. The view is pretty good too. There were four of us and we all had something different. The quiche was "lovely"; the sauce on the hamburger was good; plenty in fisherman's basket but the pot pie was the pick. It is a bit of a drive from civilisation so make a day of it. Remember it is cash only and no cards.

We took a ferry from Palm Beach NSW to the Boathouse in Patonga on the recommendation of family. We…read moreenjoyed the ferry immensely and recognized Lion's Head in the distance. There was a small sparsely populated beach next to the ferry dock and the restaurant was just ahead. They serve lunch from 11 am to 1:30. Another area called the Kiosk has breakfast from 7:00 to 11:00. We were there for lunch. Both of us opted for chicken Parmesan aka parmi, a staple on many Aussie menus. It was a big piece of white meat coated with some kind of crumb, deep fried and served with cheese, ham, and tomato sauce on top. Definitely not in the health food category, but definitely tasty and filling. It was paired with well-made chips(French fries) and a very fresh green salad. The generous portion was impossible to finish and we agreed we should have split the order. We sat outside, but there's also indoor seating. It must be very popular with locals as there was a table of ten friends having lunch and drinks next to us. There were various pastry treats and muffins on the counter where we ordered, and I thought I might get a dessert from those, but the parmi left no room for afters. Soon it was time to take the ferry back to Palm Beach.

This place has nailed the wow factor. Stunning location, adorable decor, classy and preppy…read moreambiance, awesome food. Going here is a must, especially at the end or middle of the Pearl to Patonga walk. Such a treat! My favorite thing on the table was the Trout Platter - the smoked trout and creme fraiche with fresh herbs and lemon on rye toast was so refreshing. Also come with trout pate which was a bit too salty for me. 2nd fav item was the garlic rosemary flatbread with manchego. Thin, fluffy flatbread and the're generous with the manchego which I appreciate. The ceviche was fine and fresh but not a highlight and something I'm happy to skip next time. They had edible flowers as garnish and presentation was outstanding. The chai latte with Tumeric can be missed. It was actually thin and bland and the cinnamon made a gorgeous anchor picture but was not that nice of a complement taste-wise. Location is the biggest highlight here and would absolute come again. The vibe is excellent and food is above average. Even the bathroom is outdoors and has a line of plants and another fountain to make you feel regal.

Several friends recommended this place, but I knew it would be difficult to book at last minute…read more Fortunately, my family & I were able to get a 2 bedroom suite due to a cancellation. We were there 3 nights! The suite had: * 2 bedrooms (1 room with 1 queen bed, 1 room with 2 single beds) * pull out coach in the living room * kitchenette w/ stove & microwave * 1 full bathroom with shower & tub, * 1 full bathroom with shower * washing machine * mini dryer * TV * balcony The room was very cozy. They provided standard amenities (travel toiletries, towels, tissue, dishes, soap, etc.) They don't do housekeeping until check out tho, that was a bummer. Majority of the staff were friendly at the front desk. Parking is free for guests, but space is limited! It's walking distance from the lagoon (perfect for my toddler niece & nephews), and the pool was nice! Next time, I may want a room with the pool & ocean view. It's also a couple blocks away from a mini shopping area in case you want to buy some groceries, got to a cafe/bar, etc. The nightly rate was quite expensive though, but we did go during summer (after Christmas), but it was work it. I'd suggest to book way in advance to secure your preferred room, and hopefully get a lower rate. I'd DEFINITELY come back =)

If you just go on face value you will be tempted to call this place way too expensive but you will…read morepay more if you go to the units at the camping ground nearby. We opted for a balcony room facing the "mountain" which also overlooks the carpark and village. There are no flyscreens but equally there were surprisingly no flies so we did enjoy wide open door to the balcony. The balcony is pretty big too. The Mantra is on top of the Ettalong Diggers but this was not a noise problem if you shut the balcony doors, The bathroom does not have an exhaust fan so you need to have the door open to have a shower. The shower can be fiddled with so that it will work properly. We had a spa but didn't use it. Kitchenette and laundry (plus powder) are also part of the room. Parking is undercover and shared with the Digger's club but there was no problems getting a park. You can get towels from reception for the pool and beach but don't lose them as it will cost $20.

This place is busy...very busy..as we approach Christmas. There is a choice of accommodation from…read morebringing your own tent to little houses. There is a large building where you can cook and eat under cover. There are fridges and sinks to wash up as well. Entertainment for kids (big & little) consist of organised craft & discos to swimming in the pools. We were able to spend a whole afternoon beside and in the pool. The pool slide looks as if it is a gentle enough experience but some were able to shoot out the end like a bullet. It is very deep at the slide end so little ones need to be caught in the water if they can't swim. It is also a short walk to the surf and a skate park.

Family reunion in late November! We stayed in one of the newer beach suites with three rooms in it…read more Two had queen size beds and one of the room had two sets of bunk beds. This one had a spa bath tub. The beach house was immaculate and lovely furnished. This place had everything you needed to make a comfortable stay, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, bedding, detergent (although limited amount for clothing) and even a washer and dryer for clothing! I loved how the front doors were all accordion style window doors. It made it perfect to open the doors in the morning and in the evening. It does get a little cool at evening so we shut them after about 9 pm. The beds were very comfortable and each room had a fan/heater for when you needed it. The place looked pretty new. Our family had a barn dance at the barn and the staff were kind enough to let us in early to setup, as no one else was renting it. It's very close to town as well: there is a Woolworth's in town and some other good stores and restaurants. There is planty to do for families. The pool was nice and clean, though it got packed at certain times of the day. The bouncing pads were one of the kids favorites, as were the parks, go-karts, and electric bikes. It was a great stay and I would definitely stay again.

A new modern hotel. Clean, modern deign, comfortable bed, the bathrooms are great! One of the best…read morehotels in the Central Coast/Newcastle area. Great location with the club attached. Restaurants, bars, gambling. The pool and gym at the club are included with the hotel room. Free parking in a massive car park very close by.

Great little sandstone country pub with lots of tables outside under the trees to enjoy really good…read moresimple meals & the drink of your choosing. The menu is written on a chalk board & changes all the time but you can usually get most the pub food favourites and a bit more. 21kms from either ferry at Wisemans Ferry, driving from the main ferry is about half dirt/gravel but the road is flat & well maintained so makes a great scenic country drive or better still bring a bike & park at Wisemans & enjoy a leisurely pedal to really soak it all in. They have 4 comfortable but basic cabins if you want to get away to the country without travelling too far.

It's like someone took one of my favourite country pubs from England and plopped it down in the…read moreHawkesbury. Drive to Wisemans Ferry, take the ferry across the Hawkesbury, and drive north another 20 minutes. Just as the bitumen runs out you'll find the tiny village of St Albans. Cross over the one-lane wooden bridge and you'll nearly run right into the Settlers Arms. This is an old convict-built pub. It's a large stone building with little, dark, wooden rooms. They serve pie & mash and fish & chips and ploughman's lunches and other savoury treats. It's a simple, tasty feed. They have a the typical beers and wines and spirits available, but they also have their own hand-pumped ale. Proper, too, just below room temperature and tastes of twigs, like an ale should. I never drink anything else when I'm there. There's a dining room inside, but I imagine it only gets used in the winter. Because everyone sits, eats, and drinks outside. There are dozens of wooden tables and benches outside, under the eaves, under the spanning trees. Dogs meander, children run: it's a great community feel. Out back there's green lawn and more tables and, likely on weekends, someone sining or strumming a tune. If you in April, around Anzac Day, you might catch the St Albans Folk Festival. http://www.stalbansfolkfestival.com.au/ It's held on the grounds just down the lane from the pub, and while it's worth the few dollars entry you can usually catch most of the musicians drinking and eating and playing for free in the grounds of the pub. We'll often go up for lunch, just because it's a really nice drive. Go through Hornsby, and take the Galston gorge road for some hairpin descending turns (some with 5 km/h limits).