Terrigal, NSW 2260

We moved to Terrigal just over 7 years ago from the Northern Beaches and absolutely love the place.
Having lived on the Northern Beaches we were looking for that mix of beach and cosmopolitan lifestyle and that is what we found. The restaurants and cafés have certainly improved since we first came with a lot more choices and increased fine dining. The town itself is beautiful and there is now a board walk going from the beach around to the Haven.
Some of the best private schools are located within 15 minutes of Terrigal and Terrigal High is considered the best state school apart from Gosford Selective on the Coast.
I believe local transport is ok with buses going to Erina and Gosford fairly regularly however we drive so not really sure. We work from home and commute to North Sydney via the new North Connex and the trip is now 1hour and 15 door to door. We travel just outside of peak hour so our trip is generally traffic free.

The wider Central Coast also has so much to offer and we really didn't realise how expansive and beautiful the coast is.

Too busy and noisy

I live 10 minutes from Terrigal, and our family enjoy the seaside lifestyle here on weekends, we love to exercise, walk the Skillion, in and around the Haven, Terrigal beach and dining out or takeaway form the local cafes and restaurants. It is a great holiday area, easy to get to, and now with a multi level carpark too. (Kelley Seaton, Director/Property Manager, The Leasing Network, 0400 454 531, [email protected])

chicken shops serve great hot tasting chicken

An absolute fabulous place to live ,I would not consider living anywhere else . We are so near to Erina and all the amenities that we require to our daily life .

Terrigal Is a really nice beachside town that really offers outdoor living.

The advantages:
1. Its beautiful Beaches and Parks
2. Many shops and Cafes (Close to Erina also)
3. Clean and Neat
4. Pleanty of "outdoorsy" things to do like climbing the skillion, water activities (boating, skiing), running and walking (parks and oval), loads of swimming etc.
5. Nice homes, n=most are renovated and modern
6. Happy atmosphere

Could be better qualities:
1. The road in and out (there is only one) and its congested at peak times
2. It can be expensive
3. Its very "Yuppie" (as in people come to the cafes for a latte just to be seen there) - the community spirit lacks a little.
4. Its a major holiday destination (and that a good thing for business) but if you live there it can become crowded in holidays and summer time.
5. If it is holiday and summer time (esp weekends) say goodbye to easy parking.

All that aside, i think it a beautiful place to live. I cannot afford it myself, but i go there often and i love it. Id move there with no hesitation.

Read above line

I will try and be as factual as I can as each and everyone of us will have a different perspective and requirement of where they live.
I have lived around here for 38 years with an interlude on the Gold Coast in between. Came back to Terrigal in 2004 for family reasons.
Looking back I was impressed with the dual lane (Wyong Shire) road from Tuggerah to The Entrance road, as of when I left, this was a future plan. This and other under construction improvements around the Gosford Shire lead me to beleive that finally they where progessing, but 7 years on this has been a mirage.
If thinking of moving to Terrigal, take a good hard look at the Central Coast, as with any holiday area, it always looks good when on holiday, but in reality your problems will come with you.
If you live in Sydney's west, you will think is it heaven, If you are used to infrastructure, you will find it hell. The Central Coast is the forgotten land by all levels of Govt and it's not looking good for at least another 7 years according to Sky News Property Guide.
Sure the beach life is cheap compared to Sydney, but beach culture is rife as well. Lets face it, if you or I were on the dole, would'nt it be better to be beside the beach?
The ABS stats show a high % of tradespeople for the CC, so if you fall under this, look elsewhere as most have to travel to Sydney for work. On this point, get up early, head up to Terrigal and leave the beach for Sydney at 5.30am. This will give you a good indication of how much work is around here and don't forget to do the trip back in the PM to experience the traffic jam from Kariong through to Terrigal/Avoca. Oh and also do the train thing, better get there early or you will miss a seat.
Transport options are irregular if non existant and are frustrated more by roads from the1800's.
Basically one way in and out for 150,000 pop (Gosford Shire) to move around, especially for Terrigal/Avoca/ Copacabana residents.
Again depending on where you are coming from will determine you priorities, but remember to set the bar low.
Eating out in Terrigal will be your first disappointment compared to Sydney as the choice is Thai/Thai/Thai. Tongue in cheek, yes, but you will get what I mean when you sample.
Beach access in winter is excellent, but so is Bondi. In summer or weekend/holiday periods forget it, Terrigal is just to small to accomodate all who come.
Finally, Terrigal is the jewel of the Central Coast's, well, crown? and has some fantastic beaches and bush areas and if you can overlook the failing of Local Govt to provide basic services, then it's the place for you!

My wife and I love Terrigal. We both grew up on Sydney's Northern Beaches but when we were ready to buy a house, we realised all we could afford was a shoebox! So we looked North, and discovered Terrigal was a great place to start a family and we purchased a beautiful home on a big block of land for the same price for a hole in the wall on Sydney's northern beaches. Terrigal reminds me of Manly where I spent a lot of time growing up, but without the hustle and bustle of the big city. It shares similarities like a great cafe scene, beachside pub's, restaurants, beautiful beaches but without the crowds and has a great community feel. Its close to Erina fair which is fantastic for shopping. The thing I like most about living here after living in Sydney, is at night all we can hear are the waves crashing, not traffic and sirens, its just so quiet like you are a million miles away. We love it and we cant wait to enjoy the rest of our lives here. There are great surf spots scattered north and south of Terrigal too which for me was a major tick. Awesome little town.

Terrigal truely is the heart of the Central Coast.

If you need to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, there any many places to stay to relax and enjoy your holiday. If your a permanent resident, you already know how easy life is in Terrigal.

We have lived in Terrigal for 10 years and love the area. The best high school on the Central Coast
by far, fabulous amenities, including Basketball Stadium, Parks and Recreation.
It is like being on a permanent holiday. We are just 800 m from the water....the perfect distance
and we go to sleep by the sound of the surf. Great fishing, kayaks and lagoons for the kids.
Weather is very mild all year round. Fabulous life style for any age group. There is something for everyone and we haven't even mentioned the kilometres of pristine beaches.
Can't type more, off for a walk to the beach and stop at my favourite cafe.
Highly recommended.

This is the best place on the central coast, it has beautiful beaches, good restaurants and cafes. It could get busy on holidays and weekends, but it's never too busy and you can always find parking close to the beach and restaurants.

Terrigal's esplanade is the excellent with shops, restaurants, cafes and crowne plaza hotel, which often has life music playing, from one side and beautiful beach from another. There is a good mix of people living in Terrigal with a lot of families, beach lovers and retirees.

dirty,busy and full of wannabes

Not too quiet, yet still relaxing and perfect for families!

I think this little beach town is an excellent getaway from the urban jungle that Sydney is, without getting too far from Sydney. It has restaurants, fish and chip shops, pie shops and cafes along the main street with enough variety to keep you interested for the weekend.

The beach is really nice and large enough so that you can find a nice spot away from the crowds. It can get busy here but never as busy as Bondi or Coogee. Somehow there does not seem to be all that much parking along the street, but there is enough to ensure that you will find something eventually.

With Terrigal an hour away from Sydney, it is easy to get there, but you have to watch out for the Sunday jam back to Sydney. A one hour trip always seems like two to three hours with all of the Sydney siders trying to get back before dinner.

Terrigal is a major coastal suburb of the Central Coast of NSW, very popular as a holiday destination for Sydneysiders and also for rural holiday makers. There has always been a strong attraction to this area for holidays. The beaches are superb and the town is very laid back and a very relaxed lifestyle for those living here.

It used to be a smallish area but has grown into quite a large fairly densly populated area, mostly along the coastal strip. As Sydney has grown so too has this area attracted more permanent living.

The beach and coastal lifestyle is the main reason for people coming here. Only 12km away is the city of Gosford which has all the conveniences that are needed.