Copacabana Attractions and Activities
Making the most of your Copacabana beach holiday (NSW)
Introduction to Copacabana attractions and activities
You will be pleased to know that from Sydney’s northern suburbs, it takes only one hour of easy driving to start your Copacabana beach holidays. The small, and usually quiet Copacabana beach hamlet is fortunately situated between two other Central Coast beaches – Avoca to the north and MacMasters to the south. This is important because each beach has a different orientation and therefore different surf conditions. Fortunately, MacMasters is only a 20 minute pleasant walk down the beach while Avoca is just a short drive over the headland. This means that you can enjoy the best local surf conditions with minimal inconvenience. You can also care for your children’s needs because each of these beaches has a nice sandy-bottomed rock pool.
Copacabana attractions and activities close to Copa Beachside
Ducks and Turkeys
Leaving the front door of Copa Beachside you only have to walk diagonally across the road to arrive at Cochrane Park on the shore of the Cochrane Lagoon . The importance is threefold – firstly, the area is populated by hungry duck and feeding them is an absolute delight for the nippers.
-secondly, it is a beautiful place to sit and watch the sunset while enjoying an evening,
-thirdly, exploring 50M into bush on the western side will disclose an absolutely enormous brush turkey nest. No doubt this will also fascinate the children.
Cochrane Lagoon
A short walk in the opposite direction (towards the beach) reveals a short sandy track leading to the main Lagoon leisure area. This is one of the best Copacabana areas because, with a clean sandy surround the water is still, shallow and warm – a wonderful combination for nippers and pets.
The whole area is ideal for young children to paddle, play and swim.
Kayaks, sometimes windsurfers and often dogs are seen swimming to fetch sticks or balls The edge of the lagoon is usually separated from the surfing beach by a sandbar. On the MacMasters side of the lagoon are some rocks. Water in this area, perhaps because it is deeper, has proven to be a fertile fishing spot. Again, a very exciting area for young children on family holidays.
Special Copacabana attractions and activities just for you and your pet.
Between the Lagoon and the surf is an area designated “off leash for dogs“. This is just one of the best spots because, here the dogs can run free, chase sticks or balls, dodge the surf waves, play with children or other dogs and swim in the Lagoon.
Copa Beachside to Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach is only a flat 5 minute walk from Copa Beachside and another 20 mins walking will bring you to MacMasters Beach. A 5 minute drive over the headland delivers you to Avoca Beach. All three beaches are patrolled during summer and each has good, sandy bottomed rock pools for children.
Holiday activities down the beach include
Surfing, Boogey boarding and Board-riding
Snorkeling around the rocks at the northern end of the beach
Beach fishing (yes, fish are caught here – particularly at dawn or dusk)
Building sand castles etc.
Walking back to the Lagoon or to MacMasters Beach
Taking the children to search for critters in the small rock pools on the northern part of the beach
A profitable challenge for everyone is a morning walk up the beautifully renovated Del Monte Place to the Captain Cook Lookout on the tip of the headland. There you will see diagrams of Cook’s visit. In addition, you will have a chance to see migrating whales when the season is appropriate (north May – late July, south September through November).
The round lookout trip takes about one hour but is well worth repeating each day for the exercise workout.
Down at the Shops
Copacabana Beach has a small shopping centre catering for your holiday needs
LadyCopa Pizzeria de Birris serves pizza and craft beer. Often busy so book ahead. 4309 653
Ocean-Bar Cantina. Good position. Some outdoor seating. Specialises in Tapas. 43656616.
Burnt Honey is a Bakery/coffee shop (always a que outside so be prepared to wait- opens 7am).
Copacabana Cellars – usual wine, beer and spirits at reasonable prices. 438 21162
Havana Hair and Beauty – for your holiday needs. 4309 6534
Copa Supermarket – contains most holiday requirements.
Bees Knees. Pleasant Coffee and snack shop in the main street.
Waves Copacabana. Also a pleasant Coffee and Snack shop next to the above.
Arties at the Surf-club is a good choice for coffee or a snack because of its position and tasty options. 0438900061
Lukus’ Chemist. 4308 6600
All Malay. This restaurant is in Avoca, but is a particular favorite. 4381 2885
Hardy’ Bistro (at Hardy’s Bay). Also worth a mention if you love scrumptious pancakes!
Copacabana attractions and activities specifically for your children.
In addition to activities down the beach such as building sand castles, wading in the rock-pool, playing with their pet and generally running around, there are three other areas specifically designed for children:
Firstly, the Copacabana SLSC Carpark/Skatepark just behind the Copacabana carpark.
Secondly, you have the recently developed imaginative and inclusive Susan Fahey Park situated in Pueblo Street. In keeping with children’s imagination it is dominated by the Black Tower…….
The third is the Shaun Brinklow children’s park, just behind the shops.
All handy and great for the kids.
Bushwalking
There are many picturesque bushwalking trails around Copacabana Beach including:
Five Lands 15Km walk from Avoca to Terrigal.
Bushwalks starting from the Buddi Buddi Rangers Station, A particular and spectacular favourite is the walk from Maitland Bay to Pretty Beach.
Now we can include our physically disadvantaged family or friends in our beach fun.
Copacabana holiday activities further away.
Travel to adjacent beaches such as Avoca, Terrigal, Wamberal, Fosters, MacMasters,. Kilcare, Umina, Woy Woy or Pearl Beach.
You could enjoy an interesting half-day by hiring a boat at Kilcare Marina and then taking your family/friends fishing, or relax and explore Brisbane Waters (surprisingly inexpensive).
Definitely not to be missed is the beautiful Japanese Gardens and Cafe at East Gosford. Well worth while.
What about the Surf Clubs at Copacabana, MacMasters and Avoca. Each of these have associated cafes.
Arties, which is located on the side of the Copacabana Surf club provides an excellent range of snacks as well as coffee. Mac’s Beach Cafe also provides a delightful range of foods and drinks with emphasis on Asian variants (only open daytime). To complete the triad, we also have the renown Avoca Pointe Cafe which has a marvellous position near the Avoca Rock Pool (which has been recently renovated). Copacabana and Avoca Surf Clubs also provide evening dining but it is best to ring for timing and bookings. There is also a lovely Surf Club at Wamberal – a lovely place to visit for lunch.
What if it is wet?
Many places have games and puzzles for wet days. Alternatively, you could consider taking in a movie at the historic Avoca Theatre or the Hoyts complex at Erina
Don’t overlook golfing, or other Copacabana attractions and activities
Golfers are probably aware of the numerous surrounding golf courses including Gosford, The Everglades, Terrigal, Magenta Shores, Shelley Beach and Kooindah Waters. You could also drop into The Springs at Peats Ridge on your outward or homeward trip. If you are golf tragic you will be interested in visiting the Kincumber Golf Range.
As a unique experience, taking your family at the Australian Reptile Park (Gosford/Somersby) is well worth considering. Not cheap but concessional prices are available for families, senior card holders, students and also with online bookings. For years to come, you are sure to remember this experience!
In order to finish your Copacabana Beach Holidays on a happy note try stopping for a tasty lunch at Saddles, Mt. White. It has a lovely setting and delightful food available at reasonable (but not cheap) prices. This small detour is well worth the effort, even if only to get a coffee. Alternatively, while driving through Kincumber, you could stop off at the Post Office Cafe’ for lunch. Also worth the stop with good food and a nice setting for lunch.
A more exciting stopover for the younger family members involves a visit to Treetops Adventure (involves a small backtrip towards Wyong). Here, you climb through the tree-tops while safely attached to a rope- quite safe and definitely memorable.
Conclusion – our experience and preferences. Best:
Copacabana Family accommodation: Copa Beachside with Annex – sleeps 10 (prejudiced! but probably true).
Restaurant: 1. All Malay, 2 . LadyCopa Pizza, 3. Ocean Bar Cantina.
Coffee and snacks: 1. Arties at Copa Surf-club – best position, 2. Bees Knees, opens at 6am., 3. Burnt Honey- always very popular.
Walks: 1. Del Monte Pl. to Captain Cooks’ Lookout (daily), 2. Walk to MacMasters Beach, 3. Buddi Buddi Rangers to Kilcare.
Value: 1. This has to be the “freebys” i.e. the fun directly related to the beach, 2. Hire a tinny from Kilcare Marina and explore Brisbane Waters.
Hidden gem: Japanese Gardens at East Gosford.
Adventure: 1. Treetops Adventure, 2. Australian Reptile Park.
Travel stop: 1. Saddles, 2. Kincumber Post Office Cafe.
Golfing: 1. Gosford (reasonable), 2. Everglades (lower standard but closer and cheaper), 3. Magenta Shores (for more serious golfers), 4. Kincumber Golf Range.