Things to do in Gosford, NSW

The best things to do in Gosford, NSW, include playing at the Central Coast Aqua Park, walking in the Rumbalara Reserve and seeing deadly snakes at the Australian Reptile Park.

Gosford, NSW, is the commercial and administrative centre of the Central Coast. And while Central Coast residents might want to go there for shopping and work, tourists tend to skip straight to the beach suburbs. Theoretically, though, Gosford can be used as a base for exploring the Central Coast’s national parks.

However, there are a few things to do in Gosford in you’re passing through. The town is on Brisbane Water, and unsurprisingly, some of the most appealing activities in Gosford are water-based. It’s a popular spot for kayaking and sailing. Kayak Central Coast rents out kayaks for $53 per day and stand-up paddleboards for $65 per day. For an extra $20, they’ll transport them to your starting point and pick up from wherever you finish.

3 experiences to book in Gosford

Australian Reptile Park day pass – learn (safely) about Australia’s snakes and spiders.
Try your hand at flying with a jetpack – or try flyboarding instead.
Soap-making experience – make your own smellies.

Things to do in Gosford, NSW: Central Coast Aqua Park

The Central Coast Aqua Park is also on Brisbane Water, near the Gosford Sailing Club. This Gosford water park only opens seasonally, and is largely aimed at children, but it’s great fun for big kids too. The Central Coast Aqua Park is effectively an inflatable obstacle course on water. Life jackets are provided, so you hurl yourself around the obstacles and are supremely unbothered when you ‘accidentally’ fall in.

What to do in Gosford, NSW: Rumbalara Reserve & Australian Reptile Park

For green space, other Gosford attractions include the Rumbalara Reserve. This hilltop bushland reserve offers picnic areas and a series of walking trails. The challenging 1.65km rainforest walk climbs the hill, while the looping 1.57km Flannel Flower Walk isn’t quite as tough.

The attraction usually singled out as the best thing to do in Gosford isn’t actually in Gosford. The Australian Reptile Park is just off the Pacific Motorway in Somersby. This wildlife park does some of the usual feed a kangaroo and get your photo with a koala stuff, but the emphasis is on the less cute critters. Snakes and spiders are milked for snake bite and spider bite antivenoms here. You can find out how it’s done in between looking at big lizards and some of the most dangerous snakes in Australia.

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