Terrigal is a good choice as your "base camp" for a Central Coast holiday

Until the late 1980s, Terrigal and the rest of the New South Wales Central Coast, was still considered to be "country" New South Wales. It was a great area to visit during the summer months, but became quiet throughout the rest of the year. All of that changed with the completion of the F3 Freeway in 1987. Now Terrigal, always one of the more popular Central Coast tourist spots, is busy 365 days a year.

While Terrigal has never been a populous suburb, it has always been thought of as the Central Coast's most upscale community. This reputation was cemented further when the Peppers Resort (now Crowne Plaza) was erected. The establishment of this large, upscale resort changed the face of the village, leading to the establishment of many trendy boutiques, gourmet restaurants and other businesses. However, they never pushed the older establishments out of town and you can still enjoy fish and chips from a sidewalk cafe or buy your surfing gear from a surf shop that has been established for 20 years or more.

The fact that upscale tourist amenities and older local establishments peacefully coexist together in Terrigal is one of its biggest attractions.

There's nothing pretentious about the town. You can come straight off the beach and sit down for a gourmet lunch wearing nothing but your swimsuit and sandy feet and not feel out of place. If you want to feed the whole family for peanuts, you may have to wait in line, but you can return to the beach with a big serving of fish and chips while the kids frolic in the waves, carefully supervised by the local lifeguards.

Another great thing about Terrigal is the fact that, unlike so many urban beaches, you don't even have to get in your car and drive in order to find a quiet stretch of beach to relax. Simply walk up the beach towards Wamberal and before you know it, you're in a different world; the world the locals enjoy. There seems to be a magical dividing line between Terrigal and its primarily residential neighbour: cross that line and you can really feel the difference.

Its central location and many amenities makes Terrigal a perfect place to make your home while you're vacationing on the Central Coast. From there, you can easily reach the other Central Coast communities, each of which has its own distinctive atmosphere. For example, Avoca Beach, just south of Terrigal, is one of Australia's most famous surfing towns. Like Terrigal, Avoca has become busier over the years, but, also like Terrigal, it has a haven of tranquility within easy walking distance at North Avoca.

Traveling in the other direction, you come to the Entrance. The Entrance is a well-known and very popular family vacation destination.

While you can stay in a luxurious Terrigal accommodation if you want to, there are plenty of family and budget accommodations as well. There is something for everyone in Terrigal or one of its neighbouring beach communities. Make Terrigal the base for your Central Coast vacation: from fish and chips to scampi - Terrigal has it all.