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4 Stunning Picnic Sites on the Central Coast NSW that Will Make You Love Picnics!

No day is too cloudy for a heartwarming picnic on the Central Coast of New South Wales. 

The famous Central Coast is undeniably one of the most sought-after places in Australia. It houses countless best picks of historical sites, captivating beaches, tourist destinations, holiday retreats and weekend getaway spots in NSW. No one says no to what the Central Coast has to offer! 

Spending picnics is a popular family bonding activity in Australia. The gorgeously striking creation set on the Central Coast cannot be left unnoticed, and picnics are just one of the ways people do show admiration for it.

The moment your feet land on the Central Coast, please never leave without experiencing picnics in this location north to Sydney. You won’t get to sleep for days because of regret if you do! Going on picnics brings great benefits to people especially to families. Make your experience an unforgettable one as you spend it on the Central Coast. 

Keep reading, and discover these 4 stunning picnic spots on the Central Coast of New South Wales that will make you love picnics so much! The list’s specially for you, so finish it well!  

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1 –  Crackneck Lookout, Bateau Bay

Crackneck Lookout - Central Coast NSW
Photo credit: WeekendNotes’ website

Taking you closer to nature appreciation and love, the Crackneck Lookout will keep you staring and wondering how divine this creation is! 

On the south of the Wyrrabalong National Park, this lookout and picnic spot is worthy of stopping your car and dropping by. The charming coast views can’t be skipped, sweetie. You will be missing so much from your trip if you just pass by! The Crackneck Lookout wants you to know that! 

The picture-postcard sights that encompass various Central Coast beaches will leave you astounded! What’s more, this place allows you to witness the spectacle of whales voyaging through the waters as they migrate. It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity because it’s seasonal, so if it happens that you’re present in one of those special periods, that’s extremely awesome! Don’t forget clicking for those golden snapshots!

There are picnic tables and benches you may use, but if you want the more traditional picnic mood, then get ready to uncoil your picnic mats over the grassland. Your picnic foods can’t get any more delicious with views nobody can’t get enough of!

After your lunches or snacks, stroll along nature-embraced walking tracks while releasing your stresses and unleashing your worries! Sweat off and get energized! Also, surfers and hang gliders can be seen while you’re on the lookout — some extra entertainment over the water and under the air.

The free entrance to the Crackneck Lookout just makes you super grateful for their generosity having such unmatched possession!

2 – McKenzie Reserve Playground, Budgewoi 

McKenzie - Central Coast NSW
Photo credit: Australia247’s website

Hush-hush picnics also work if you don’t want to go exposed out there under the sun and seen by all! McKenzie Reserve’s covered picnic areas will keep you wanting to come back! 

The place is so broad that your heart will overwhelmingly flutter because the comeliness of nature is even more highlighted. The picnic setting will definitely be more than enough, you can even have a big reunion in the form of a picnic because of the spacious site! Several barbecue areas in it are by the waters. That’s just so refreshing, isn’t it? 

Next to the grassy field where you may also lay flat your picnic mats is a mini sandy area for teenyboopers. And next to it is already the water where fishing is well-liked as well as kayaking and paddle boarding. Besides that body of water, McKenzie Reserve is not far from the beach. You can hit two birds with one stone in a one-day picnic trip.

The playground facilities are exceptional. What’s heartwarming is their freshest feature, the Liberty Swing, that can cater to persons with different abilities and special needs.

Toilets are operational and comfortable. Parking spaces are just in front, truly convenient even if you forget something in your car. Trash bins can be seen and used throughout the place, and it is a must for all to be responsible with regards to respecting the cleanliness of the reserve. McKenzie Reserve is clothed with trees, so you will definitely have a revitalizing picnic time! 

Don’t dare leave McKenzie Reserve without crossing its renowned Budgewoi Footbridge. This bridge leads to Dunkey Island where more amazing wildlife and nature can be encountered! And oh, did you know? Budgewoi Bridge Park is McKenzie Reserve Playground’s famous name to locals.

3 – Umina Beach

Umina - Central Coast NSW
Photo credit: Central Coast Australia’s website

A coastal village and a suburb on the Central Coast that lies on an astonishing foreshore locus, Umina Beach is truly a must-visit picnic spot. 

When you want a revitalizing and unwinding picnic time with your loved ones, you will not regret choosing Umina Beach. It is an undisturbed haven of a shimmering beach, family-friendly playgrounds, vibrant beach markets, holiday parks, bushwalks and lookouts. Vast as it is, Umina Beach can’t be overcrowded. It’s beauty is too much for people to occupy. 

The sandy shore of the beach where the sunlight strikes directly is where picnics famously happen. Make sure to coat your skin with sunblock if you don’t want to get tanned in no time but insist to have your picnic on top of the sand! Meanwhile, you may choose grassy areas if you prefer to rent picnic tables.

As a picnic spot, Umina Beach is surely safe and secure for families with kiddos. There’s a huge playground that doesn’t discriminate ages! You can be young or young-at-heart, and it won’t matter if you roll! Toddlers can safely and comfortably play while fences protect the area. Older kids and adults can leisurely cycle and skate with paths specially designed for these activities, climb up and down a big climbing net and fly with the flying fox ride!

Add to these the fabulous vibe crafted by arts and music on seasonal markets by the beach. That’s absolutely a grand picnic you got there! With just less than 2 hours of driving from Sydney, you can reach Umina Beach. Even when it’s a spontaneous road trip you are having, this alluring beach won’t let you down!

4 – Rumbalara Reserve, Springfield 

Rumbalara - Central Coast NSW
Photo credit: Mapio.net’s website

If you want to stand from an exclusive angle to witness the subjacent Central Coast, go to Rumbalara Reserve in Springfield. No need to worry, it’s highly accessible! 

The Rumbalara Reserve must be on your top list if you are on for some sweaty walking adventures before or after a picnic! There are a number of lookouts which are totally nice and clean. The picnic areas are spacious and scenic. Picnic tables are available too. The parking areas are just close to the picnic spots, so no hassle! It is generally not difficult to find the way.

A precious jewel stored in the Central Coast, the Rumbalara Reserve offers you utmost tranquility in the bustling city’s core. It’s just above Gosford, another star in the scene of fantastic holiday and weekend getaways in NSW. This reserve is loved by walkers for the diverse access points that challenge them to be tougher. While walking, the stunner lake will wave at you and local plants will decorate your path.

The Rumbalara Reserve will delight you even when you get lost in it. And if you don’t get lost in the route, you will get lost in awe of the wowing creation in front of you!

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LOVING THE CENTRAL COAST PICNICS

There’s so much to love about picnics done on the Central Coast. See and feel it for yourself! 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. Quality and well-researched writing is her worthwhile avenue to enlighten and delight others about things that matter. She is a daytime writer for Kims, a beachside retreat in Australia offering awesome beachside lodges like no other. Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.

Nicole Ann Pore

Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. She finds quality and well-researched writing as a worthwhile avenue to enlighten and delight others about things that matter. For her, it’s restoring and fulfilling to the heart and a great way to clear the mind while loading it up with fresh learning. Film critiquing and filmmaking are among her interests too. Giving all the glory to God, Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.

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