Sprouting everything from sustainable seedlings and salons to healing herbs and honey, the annual Ecoburbia festival brings a touch of the ethical and eco to Narara Valley High School. An initiative of the Narara Eco Living Network (NELN), part of the Narara Eco Village, the aptly-named festival is all about suburban sustainable living on the

We’re well and truly hooked on the Central Coast’s sustainable seafood festival – Cast Off. Blessed with summer-in-autumn weather, the festival sprung to life under a powder blue sky, the sun shining down on Woy Woy’s picturesque waterfront as revellers poured into the Boulevarde. The brainchild of the family behind Woy Woy Fishermen’s Wharf (WWFW), it was a

There is a boutique at the eastern end of Ettalong’s main road that sums up the way we feel about Ettalong – Amour Ettalong. We love it. With its trendy cafes, seaside dining, bustling bars and simple, natural beauty, there’s a lot to love about Ettalong. Since its waterfront has been revitalised, we’ve been spending

Ground Control to Major Tom, Mountain Sounds once again lifted off at Mt Penang Gardens with the boutique Central Coast festival of music, art and culture taking on a Bowie bent this year. In its third year at the picturesque Mt Penang Gardens at Kariong, the festival continues to grow and evolve into a must-attend event

On first glance, Drift Home and Living at Forresters Beach appears to be like so many other coastal homeware shops. But as one of the first to set up shop on the Central Coast, Drift has had the advantage of time to develop its own character and style. Even after three or four sweeps of

On the twelfth day of “Coastmas” my true love gave to me… twelve Coastie beaches, eleven swimmers swimming, ten surfers surfing, nine boogie boarders, eight bodysurfers, seven sandcastles, six squawking seagulls, five golden sunsets, four fishermen, three pelicans, two turtles and a paddleboarder on a calm sea. It’s summer time, which means beach time on

They come in trays, one or two dozen a pop, freshly plucked from Brisbane Water and shucked for our eating pleasure. The oysters at the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival are mostly of the locally-grown Sydney Rock variety and so deliciously fresh and plentiful, we’re a bit “shellfish” and devour a whole dozen. The annual festival, now in its

We love an excuse to visit Patonga. It’s worth it for the drive alone. Spotting waratahs as we cruise through Brisbane Water National Park, we descend on the sandy streets of the usually sleepy fishing village. Today it’s alive and kicking thanks to the unseasonably warm weather, the long weekend and one of the Coast’s

From the moment we open the gleaming white and aqua door at The Brooklyn Tuckshop, it feels like we’re being welcomed home by old friends. Greeted with beaming smiles by owners (and self-described ‘pashing pair’) Amanda Gonzalez and Lincoln Donaldson, we get the feeling this café experience will be one to remember. Mini-chic reviewer, Miss

We’re sitting in an historic old building by a fire swilling an Argentinian Malbec. It’s the most posh and romantic Tuesday night we’ve had in a while. It’s a perk of being a Coastie and taking advantage of locals’ night at Terrigal’s new fine dining restaurant – Terrace Grill. While the restaurant is only in

After years working with Stefano Manfredi at Bells, there was always going to be a lot of buzz about what Cameron Cansdell and Hayley Hardcastle did next (Cameron was head chef at Bells and Hayley managed the restaurant). With such an impressive restaurant pedigree, there was a lot of hype around the Killcare couple’s Avoca restaurant but

Long weekends are made for long lunches and that’s exactly how we’re spending our Queen’s birthday Sunday. At 1pm sharp we take our place at one of two long tables in the light-filled Pavilion at The Entrance Hotel and settle in for a feast, fit for a Queen. Located on the edge of the lake,