Traditionally, Woy Woy has gotten more airtime as a punchline than a destination. Comedian Spike Milligan lived here for years, famously calling Woy Woy “the world’s largest above-ground cemetery” on The Goon Show for laughs.
Cute joke, but we’re proud to say the Woy Woy that we know backs up nothing like that reputation. There’s plenty of things to do and see in Woy Woy – a working wharf, a foreshore perfect for bikes, prams and bad hips, a gorgeous ferry route, friendly pelicans, two playgrounds, and enough food options that you could make a day of it within a five-minute radius of the station.
Here’s how to actually spend a day in Woy Woy.
How do you get to Woy Woy?
Train — Easiest option if you’re coming from Sydney or Gosford. Woy Woy sits on the Central Coast and Newcastle line, so it’s a direct run with no changes. From Sydney it’s about an hour and a half, from Gosford more like 15 minutes. The train pulls in right next to the wharf and the main strip, and pretty much everything is walkable from there.
Car — About an hour up from Sydney via the M1, then Woy Woy Road down off the highway. There’s parking around the station and along the foreshore, or at Deepwater Plaza.
Bus — Busways runs several routes through Woy Woy connecting to Umina, Booker Bay, Ettalong and Gosford, handy if you don’t want to drive.
Ferry — Yep, you can arrive by boat too. More on that below.
Woy Woy from the water
This is a bit of a local secret, but one we think everyone needs to know about.
Central Coast Ferries run a regular passenger service out of Woy Woy Wharf up through Davistown and Saratoga to Empire Bay, and it’s such a nice way to see the water.
If you want something a bit more organised, they also run the Brisbane Water History and Heritage Cruise on the Sorrento, departing Woy Woy Wharf at 9.35am and running about three and a half hours. There’s live commentary the whole way plus old photos and footage playing on a screen onboard, covering the waterway’s history back through both world wars. Route loops out via Empire Bay and Gosford before heading back to Woy Woy. Morning tea’s included, cost’s $45 adult, $40 concession, $25 kids, and bookings are essential – it also needs a minimum of 30 passengers to actually run, so worth checking their socials before you plan your whole morning around it.
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Where to eat and shop in Woy Woy
Once you’re back on dry land and hungry, you’re not short on options. Young Barons Food Store is a five minute walk from the wharf, now trading more as an Italian grocer and pasta bar than a full sit-down restaurant, open Tuesday to Saturday, roughly 8am to 2.30pm. Good coffee, good pasta, small menu that changes depending on what they feel like making.
Milk Bar on Blackwall Road does the gelato run if you’ve got kids in tow (or if you’re an adult who wants gelato, no judgement). Or head to the The Cnr for the most epic toasties you’ll get on the Coast – the Cubano’s the one people talk about, cross your fingers it’s on the menu when you go.
Woy Woy is also a hub for op shops and the odd crystal-and-incense type store, so if you’re one for a rummage, budget an extra half hour. Gnostic Corner has multiple shops you’ll be drawn into, plus there’s Vinnies, Lifeline and the Cottage Op Shop on Blackwall Road, plus a few others within a few minutes’ walk of each other.
Best walks in Woy Woy
The Woy Woy Foreshore path is the move if you want to stretch your legs without much effort. Flat, sealed, fine for a pram or a bike, starting at the wharf and running along the water out toward Blackwall. It’s an out-and-back rather than a loop, so budget for roughly 7km if you’re doing the full there-and-back, though you can turn around whenever. Two playgrounds bookend this one, which makes it an easy sell if you’ve got kids in tow.
For those feeling energetic, bolt on the climb up to Blackwall Mountain Lookout from the end of the path. Short, steep, and worth it for the view over Broken Bay, Ettalong and Lion Island.
Discover and explore more with at Love Central Coast’s Woy Woy Neighbourhood Guide. And, don‘t forget to snap pics of your adventures, tag #lovecentralcoast and follow @lovecentralcoastnsw
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