Avoca or Terrigal Beach?

[Mariner Girl]

As you my know, I have relatives on the Central Coast in Ettalong and Umina so spent lots of holidays there.
This passed weekend I stayed with friends at Gorokan and they showed me all the northern area of the Central Coast. I took The Entrance Road home and dropped into Terrigal and Avoca Beaches for a look around (played tourist).

My question is this - instead of the usual Ettalong or Umina stays when I come up, which is better - Terrigal with all the vibe etc or Avoca Beach?,  which to me looked like a really nice spot and less crowded.

They are both reasonably in close driving distance to Bluetongue, and a great alternative to the usual  :-\
Your thoughts are greatly appreciated  verhead:

 

[Aimeee]

I prefer Avoca, I've just always thought of Terrigal beach as a hole. =/

 

[dibo]

avoca's a nice spot and is a much better beach. terrigal's a carpark with a beach that drops away really sharply so you've just got shorebreak and not much else.

 

[rosko]

Avoca without a doubt.. Still get the tourists, just not as many as Terrigal. Close to Terrigal if you want to venture over there too...

 

[FFC Mariner]

N Avoca

 

[~Floss~]

The only positive with terrigal is more places to drink. But they all suck compared to sydney or the kendall anyway. So do the crowds, parking etc.

Avoca's beach is better too, there's just not as much to do at night.

 

[cruiser]

Avoca for sure. Terrigal is too much like Bondi on the Central Coast. Avoca also has the rock platform which makes for an interesting walk around to the cathedral like cave and Burger Girls, which makes the best burgers in the country!

 

[serious14]

Soldiers - best beach on the Coast bar none.

 

[Mariner Girl]

Thanks Guys, looks like Avoca Beach wins hands down. You have confirmed my gut feelings. 's

Soldiers - best beach on the Coast bar none.

Serious 14, Thanks - you have given me nightmares (LOL) I remember getting dumped an absolute beauty at Soldiers Beach when on Chrissy Hols when I was in my teens. We went to Soldiers Beach for the day and the waves were huge!!

 

[serious14]

and the waves were huge!!

Hence why it's the best - not to mention that the break is absolutely gorgeous and it's absolutely awesome to surf...... better than either Terrigal (hasn't been the same since the beach was 'fixed' during the surf club redo) or Avoca (decent waves, but too sandbar-ish for my tastes).  About the only beach down this way that compares to Soldiers is either Wamberal or Shelly, but only when it's not too windy and the break gets destroyed.

Gnarly man.    verhead:

 

[skilbeck]

I like Copacabana or McMasters the best, but out of Terrigal and Avoca Id say Avoca is the best although north Terrigal and Wamberal are alright

 

[rosko]

Im with you Skilbeck, Copa is a great beach and I think the break at Copa would rival Soldiers. Its got a great point and the beach has plenty to offer too....

 

[Mariner Girl]

What's the Entrance Beach like? - I've heard it's the next area to boom 

 

[rosko]

I dont know where the Entrance can boom to.. Its totally built out, unless you like units... The Entrance is very similar to Terrigal. The beach itself is a better surf beach than Terrigal.

 

[Bex]

What's the Entrance Beach like? - I've heard it's the next area to boom 

The Entrance Beach is good but it depends what you want to do. If you surf, its not one of the best around but under the right conditions it gets a good wave. Its a long beach so its pretty exposed to wind. Great beach if you want to do a lot of lazing on the beach/sunbaking and get wet occasionally. Its normally not too crowded and you can certainly find a reasonably quiet spot if you try.

Of course, you don't have to go to The Entrance beach to swim as there is a large entrance channel to Tuggerah Lakes which has some nice shallows suitable for toddlers or older people who aren't keen on the waves. Just choose a spot where the flow is slow as there are some strong currents in places that can take unsuspecting tourists out to sea. At this time of year there are literally millions of tourists hanging around that area, but at other times of year its fairly quiet.

As for The Entrance itself, its a more relaxed and family oriented version of Terrigal. As opposed to Terrigal, you can actually find a parking spot in the school holidays. Just don't park under a pine tree or the pelicans will crap all over your car. The Entrance town centre foreshore is beautifully landscaped with a large park located right on the channel. At this time of year, they have a small carnival in the park. On the weekends, they have stalls selling that junk that women tend to like and they often have a live band playing in the park.

There are lots of retail shops, cafes, takeaway shops and restaurants overlooking the park. There is a childrens water garden and large shaded play area for the kids. The Entrance Hotel serves a nice lunch for a reasonable price and you can get a covered table outside with views of the Entrance channel.

There are buses that go from The Entrance to Gosford.

Anyway, you can see more here: http://www.theentrance.org/

 

[thanman]

theyve spent time doing avoca up enough to make people want to be there more.

now they are doing it to terrigal.
apparently council approved the plans of an underground carpark under where the old newsagent/supermarket is.. and they are putting in shops the same style of development seen in port macquarie way..
i remember seeing something about it not too long ago in the paper.. it was just last month but i dont remember the date.

 

[MattSimon]

Avoca - full of pretentious Sydney gits (and pretentious Central Coast gits).
Terrigal - everyone knows it's shite, we still wonder why people go there.

For God's sake stick to Gorokan / Ettalong / Umina you're on a good thing already!
Yes! The Entrance is good too! But it's turning into little Beirut.

 

[Davo]

Soldiers - best beach on the Coast bar none.

Definitely the best beach on the Central Coast and I can probably say that most people from the southern side of the Coast have never been there before. 

 

[Jimmy]

Soldiers - best beach on the Coast bar none.

Definitely the best beach on the Central Coast and I can probably say that most people from the southern side of the Coast have never been there before. 

Im not that enthused about beaches, but out of all the beaches ive gone to, soldiers is deffinatly the best on the coast.

 

[bjw]

Ocean Beach not to bad either