Local Escapes

11 Dreamy Central Coast Stays For An Epic Vacay In 2025

Written by: David Congram
An infinity pool beside an architecturally designed home in Pretty Beach.

At a little over an hour out of Sydney, the Central Coast is an ultra-popular weekend getaway offering some seriously lush accommodation options and, once you've visited once or twice, we bet you'll be hooked.

This vast catchment of coastline is home to stretches of stunning beaches, pristine waterways, beautiful bushland, and a signature laidback vibe you simply won't find in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. 

Whether you’re looking to luxuriate and relax, get adventurous and explore, hang with mates, or lock in a romantic escape, Urban List has done the hard yards to pull together a list of the best accommodation on the Central Coast. 

Pretty Beach | Sleeps 2 Pretty Beach House

A view of the pool at Pretty Beach House one of the best accommodation options in the Central Coast
Image Credit: Pretty Beach House | Supplied

Just 90 minutes north of Sydney, Bouddi National Park is the Darkinjung People’s paradise of rugged bushland and unspoiled beaches. Now this Central Coast spot boasts one of the country’s most coveted bushland lodges—Pretty Beach House

The main guesthouse accommodation and additional pavilion feature world-class facilities including an open-plan kitchen and dining, a sandstone open fireplace, a guest lounge and library, an open bar, a wine cellar, a private day spa, an outdoor infinity pool, and poolside pizza oven for casual al fresco dining.

Mackerel Beach | Sleeps 4 The Little Black Shack

An exterior view of the The Little Black Shack on the water, some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: The Little Black Shack | Airbnb

The Little Black Shack, once an old fisherman’s shack, has been transformed into a private eco-retreat, and great news, your accommodation is only an hour from the heart of Sydney. If it’s no roads, no cars and no shops you’re after, this beauty is perfect. 

Surrounded by bush, it's a mecca of relaxation. A weekend away at this Central Coast cabin means you’ll get to soak up the bubbles in a giant stone bath, read a good book on the window box couch, warm up in front of the fireplace, crack some oysters, and down champagne at the sandstone terrace, go kayaking, bushwalk to Resolute Beach and even go fishing on the shoreline.

Killcare Heights | Sleeps 2+ Bells At Killcare

Sunloungers by the pool at Bells At Killcare some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: Bells At Killcare | Booking.com

Bells at Killcare takes its cue from the famous coastal cottages of the Hamptons and we're here for it. Think wicker pool loungers, driftwood walls, and wide-striped navy awnings.

With a range of accommodation, including suites and private villas, the best bits at Bells include the multi-award-winning bar and dining, a luxurious day spa, a crystal-blue pool, and a range of available activities including Central Coast hikes, yoga and pilates, luxury cruising, and sailing, croquet, mountain biking and more.

Forresters Beach | Sleeps 2 Loulou Beach House

A view of Loulou Beach House right next to the beach. It's some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: Loulou Beach House | Airbnb

If you check in at Loulou Beach House you’ll be literal footsteps from the sand. So close, in fact, that it’s hard to know where this pad ends and the pristine golden sand begins. This Central Coast Airbnb is small but mighty, offering a romantic self-contained studio that’s completely separate from the main house upstairs. 

Inside you’ve got an open-plan kitchen and living space that looks out onto the rolling waves. We suggest throwing open the huge glass doors and letting the sunshine spill inside. If you’re not out building sandcastles, we expect you’ll be snuggled up around the fire pit on the deck, or firing up the barbecue for an alfresco feast because, well, those views...

Matcham | Sleeps 2 Deck and Spa Tiny House

Two guests around the fire pit at Deck and Spa Tiny House Airbnb, some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: Deck and Spa Tiny House | Airbnb

We just can’t look past an adorable tiny home that’s five minutes from Wamberal Beach and less than ten from the Central Coast hotspot of Terrigal. And if you have a penchant for tiny houses too, you’ll be stoked to note that this one comes with an outdoor spa. Hurrah! Your accommodation is set on a country property and helpfully has reverse cycle air conditioning so you’ll be comfortable whatever the weather. You’ll sleep in a queen size bed in the loft, which is craftily accessed via a pulley-controlled ladder, and wake to some seriously good views from the huge picture window.

Make a cuppa in your fully-equipped kitchen downstairs, and you can sip it at the breakfast bar while looking out over the paddocks (binoculars provided for close-ups!) The deck here is a standout, not only because of that bath (robes provided), but thanks to its lovely outdoor seating and stairs that lead to a grassy area with a fire pit and gas barbecue. Grab some extra firewood from the rustic outhouse if you need it, and while you wait for the flames to do their thing you might fancy breaking out the croquet set provided for a quick pre-dinner game.

Patonga | Sleeps 2+ The Boathouse Patonga Hotel

Two chairs and a table on a balcony at The Boat House Patonga some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: The Boat House Patonga | Airbnb

From The Boathouse family, The Boathouse Hotel offers Central Coast waterside accommodation located in the coastal village of Patonga, including one, two, and three-bedroom apartments for couples, families, and groups, along with an additional cottage.

With water views of Patonga Bay’s fishing villages, this hotel and restaurant are rightfully renowned for embracing all the very best a beachside lifestyle has to offer. Do not forget to visit the hotel restaurant to sample the region’s best catches of the day.

Terrigal | Sleeps 2 The Outlook Cabana

A view across the pool to The Outlook Cabana some best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: The Outlook Cabana | Airbnb

If you're after a romantic escape for two, The Outlook Cabana promises a carefree vibe and plenty of space. As well as its views across Avoca Beach, you have access to the property's 18 hectares of gardens filled with native flora and fauna and livestock grazing in the fields beyond.

Located just a five-minute drive from Central Coast hotspots Avoca and Terrigal, your fully-serviced acommodation can sleep a maximum of four, with endless tourist activities and attractions nearby to keep everyone entertained—including wine tours, scenic mountain hikes, local markets, and more. 

Blue Bay | Sleeps 2 Nest At Blue Bay

The white bathtub next to the window at Nest At Blue Bay Airbnb, some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: Nest At Blue Bay | Airbnb

Base yourself in a top spot between two of the Central Coast’s most spectacular bays at this uber cute couples’ pad. You’re a five-minute stroll from Blue Bay and Toowoon Bay here, and you’ve got trendy cafes and boutique eateries within 200m. 

We love the fact that the peeps that own this Airbnb provide a couple of bikes for adventuring on, plus a picnic rug and basket so you can take that 20-minute walk to the lake for sunset drinks. Later, you can relax in the beautiful bathtub, or head out to the shared pool which you’re welcome to use. Come nightfall, we reckon you’ll want to power up the Ziegler & Brown barbecue on the deck and get those snags sizzling.

North Avoca | Sleeps 4 The Vue

A view across the pool at sunset at The Vue Airbnb some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: The Vue | Airbnb

The Vue is a secluded two-bedroom Central Coast studio, complete with an enormous 15m mineral lap pool and a panoramic view across Avoca Bay which is pretty swish.

You and your pals can live your best indoor-outdoor life, with large sliding doors, a roomy terrace, and barbecue facilities. Keen to get pampered? Enquire with your host for in-room massage and beauty treatments. 

Holgate | Sleeps 2 The Stables

A view to the huge outdoor deck from the kitchen of The Stables Airbnb some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: The Stables | Airbnb

Hammock for lounging on? Check. 180-degree private bush views? Yep. 10-minute drive to Terrigal and Avoca beaches? Sure thing. This one-bedroom Airbnb sits in a lovely semi-rural Central Coast spot, so you’ll get heaps of peace and quiet while still being close to the action.

Your accommodation is designed for indoor/outdoor living and has a huge undercover deck area where you can laze away some days (and nights thanks to the outdoor heating) with no trouble. We recommend a stint in the big outdoor bath. Separated by a privacy partition, it’s big enough for two and offers lovely countryside views. (They look even better when paired with a glass of bubbles.)

The Entrance | Sleeps 2 Kims Beachside Retreat

A view of the water through the doors of a room at Kims Beachside Retreat some of the best Central Coast accommodation
Image Credit: Kims Beachside Retreat | Booking.com

Each of the 34 rainforest bungalows at Kims Beachside Retreat is its own private getaway. With a smart cocktail bar, prime beachfront location, day spa services, private pools, outdoor hot tubs, and the golden shoreline of Toowoon Bay at your doorstep—this is a truly special spot.

Kims Beachside Retreat also offers dog-friendly accommodation in select rooms for relaxing Central Coast stays with your four-legged friends.

Contributors: Katherine Davison

Main media credit: Pretty Beach House | Booking.com

Editor's note: Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, and if you purchase something through the links in this article, we will earn a commission from those partners. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.

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