Despite being arguably the Coast’s top surf-spot, with a Surf Life Saving Club that are the tough-to-beat powerhouses of the Coast’s SLSC competition, anyone who visits Avoca Beach can still experience the laid-back charm of a coastal town.
It has a village-feel, incredible cafes and the most iconic stretch of beach on the Central Coast, only rivalled by its glamorous neighbour, Terrigal.
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Avoca has year-round appeal and a sophisticated edge which makes it popular with both tourist and locals alike.
Here’s your guide to getting the best out of your time in Avoca.
Eat & Drink Avoca Beach
It’s the café scene that shines in Avoca, with almost ten spots packed into this charming suburb. When it comes to Avoca Beach restaurants, the offering might be less than busy suburbs like Terrigal – but what it lacks in numbers, it more than makes up for in quality and character!
RELATED: The Best Seafood Restaurants on the Central Coast
Avoca Beach Cafés
Like Minds
Found outside of Avoca, on Round Drive if you’re coming from Terrigal, Like Minds is a bit of an institution in the area. It’s one of the few zero-waste cafes on the Central Coast, with a firm eye on sustainability. They’ve even used the bottles from the milk to create an incredible whirling art display that snakes around the ceiling. Food wise, it’s all freshly cooked and in-season. Inside seating is limited but there’s a big garden. And on Fridays, the owners host falafel or pasta nights.
352 The Round Drive
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Avoca Sands Café & Bar
This is our #1 breakfast spot when visiting Avoca Beach. Found right on the beach, Avoca Sands Café & Bar does the best bacon and egg rolls in the area. There, we said it. They’re heaving with the good stuff, including a homemade relish which is incredible. The guys here have their own coffee blend and we reckon it’s up there with some of the best on the Coast.
85 Avoca Drive
The Point at Avoca Beach
And the Avoca café with the best view goes to The Point at Avoca Beach. Found right on the beachfront, this licenced café is great at breakfast but even better at lunch. The menu is more restaurant-style, with soft shell crab tacos and poke bowls. And big jugs of cocktails. There’s plenty of seating inside and out.
10 Vine Street
Ludos Avoca
A bit of a hidden gem, but in the backstreets is the incredible Ludos Gourmet Kitchen. A bakery that creates the most brilliant desserts, croissants and flaky savoury quiches. The coffee is also outstanding, with a small seating area on the outside to enjoy it. But most grab it and go, driving down to the beach.
8 Cape Three Points Road
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Avoca Beach Restaurants
Avoca Beach Hotel
Just a couple of k’s from the beach, tucked into the hillside, you’ll find the family-owned Avoca Beach Hotel. Surrounded by 15 acres of lush gardens and bushland, it feels like you’ve escaped the crowds – but you’re still only a few minutes from the surf. And while they’ve got accommodation on site, it’s not just for out-of-towners. Locals know this place is a bit of a hidden gem. The laid-back Saltwater Bar & Bistro dishes up all the pub classics you’re craving… burgers, schnitties and seafood, with a solid kids’ menu and heaps of room to stretch out. Enjoy a long lunch on the terrace in summer, or find a spot by the fire during winter. There’s even a courtesy bus to get you home.
Wander down the hill and you’ll find Treetops Café, a relaxed little spot that feels like a secret, even though it’s open to everyone. Grab a table in the sun, order a coffee, and ease into your day with a hot brekkie and decent coffee. It’s the kind of place where you don’t have to think too hard… just eat, sip, chill.
They also host all kinds of events – weddings, birthdays, work dos, you name it. No stress, no drama, just a team that knows how to pull things together and a bunch of different spaces to make it happen. Add in the sports bar, drive-through bottle-o and regular live music, and you’ll see Avoca Beach Hotel has a lot going on… in the best kind of way.
326 Avoca Drive
Avoca Beach Seafoods
Open from morning until night seven days a week, the award-winning Avoca Beach Seafoods hands down has the best fish and chips in the area, if not in the whole of the Central Coast. Drop by to taste the fried NZ mussels after a dip in the ocean, or settle in for a lavish lunch paired with a crisp glass of wine (if you sit outside, it’s BYO!)
85 Avoca Drive
Avoca Beach House
When it comes to Avoca Beach restaurants, none has a finer view than Avoca Beach House. Found above the Avoca Sands café, this second-level restaurant has panoramic views of the full stretch down to North Avoca. There’s a balcony and if you can pre-book a table on there then do. The menu is broken down into large mains, with a true seafood influence, and tapas. Go for the tapas. Fried zucchini flowers, oysters, fish tacos and pan-fried cauliflower. They also do a killer seafood platter.
Level 1, 85 Avoca Drive
The Surf Club Avoca Beach
Looking for a casual eat but with that same view? Then a favourite with locals is the upstairs restaurant & bar at The Surf Club. It’s kid-friendly, has a huge balcony with plenty of seating and you’ll get all the pub favourites like fish and chips, burgers and pizzas – but with fresh, seasonal ingredients – and cheap drink deals.
10 Vine Street
Best Shopping in Avoca Beach
Weekends Store
If you could happily spend your life in a linen robe with a coffee in hand (same) then you need to pop into Weekends Store in Avoca. It’s the kind of shop that just feels like a slow morning — all soft sheets, coastal tones, cosy reads and beautiful things you never knew you needed… but suddenly can’t leave without.
Need a pressie? Sorted. After some earrings, a card, or a candle that smells like actual heaven? They’ve got you. Or maybe you’re just killing time before your brunch booking and feel like a wander – honestly, whatever the excuse, Weekends is always worth a stickybeak. It’s got that treat-yourself energy we fully support.
Oh, and you know that thing you’re obsessed with, but have no clue how to make it work in your space? The team now offer an interior styling service, so you can sit back and let the pros work their magic to pull it all together. Insta-worthy styling without the stress or second guessing? Genius.
177 Avoca Drive
Flora Folia Studio
For blooms with a bit of personality, Flora Folia Studio brings the art back into floristry. Tucked away in the backstreets of Avoca, this floral design studio is known for its sculptural arrangements – the kind that feel a little wild, a little romantic, and completely one-of-a-kind. Founder Adrienne Gibbs has a Fine Arts background, and it shows – her bouquets feels more like artwork than your standard bunch of flowers. They’re expressive, full of character, and we can’t get enough.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. Everything is made to order using seasonal blooms, with sustainable practices in mind. After something bold and moody? Or maybe you want soft and earthy? Whatever your vibe, the team leans into what’s in season and lets the flowers speak for themselves – and they always get it spot on.
Weddings, events, or just because (you don’t need an excuse with blooms like this!). It’s floristry with feeling – and once you’ve had a Flora Folia bunch in your hands, it’s hard to go back.
10 Hillside Road
The Mousehole
A true Avoca classic, The Mousehole has been supporting local makers since 1972. This cosy little nook is packed with handcrafted products, from babywear and jewellery to pottery, jams, chutneys and more. It’s old-school in the best way, with shelves full of gifts you won’t find anywhere else.
184a Avoca Drive
ABA Antiques
Tucked just off the main strip, ABA Antiques is home to one of Australia’s largest collections of antique and vintage jewellery – plus all sorts of rare & unique gifts.
173 Avoca Drive
Head to the markets
You can catch the Avoca Beachside Markets on the 4th Sunday of the month at Heazlett Park Foreshore – stalls galore, live music and plenty of space for the kids to kick a ball around. This is one of our faves!
READ MORE: Epic Central Coast Markets to Visit
Things to Do in Avoca Beach
Avoca Beach Theatre
You can’t visit Avoca without catching a show at one of the oldest cinemas in Australia. The family-run, award-winning Avoca Beach Theatre has been entertaining locals since 1948 – and while it’s steeped in history, this place is anything but stuck in the past. Sure, they’ve kept the nostalgic gold trims & chandeliers, but they’ve paired them with plush new chairs, a high-res laser projector, full surround sound, and a seriously impressive lighting setup that brings concerts and screenings to life. It’s the best of both worlds – all the charm without compromising on a quality experience.
You’ll find everything from new releases and indie gems to cult classics and docos… but it’s the live gigs that’ll really surprise you. They’ve got live music from legends like Alex Lloyd and Richard Clapton, tribute nights that’ll have you belting out every lyric, even full-blown concert experiences – all without having to leave the Coast. There’s comedy, community events, film festivals… it’s kind of wild how much they fit into one venue. Grab a drink at the on-site wine bar or relax with a coffee in the café (with a focus on local produce).
Honestly, it’s one of those local spots you take for granted until you go back and think “we’re so lucky to have this”.
69 Avoca Drive
Avoca Beach
A visit to the beach is kind of a no brainer. The natural rock pool is brilliant for little kids during low tide and for bigger kids during high tide. The main stretch is patrolled during the summer months and depending on the surf condition it’s great for bodyboarding, surfing and swimming. Climb around to the south and you’ll find the Avoca rock ledge & blowhole – a popular place for fishing, but please watch the tides & be safe. Best bet is to check out the Avoca Surf cam before heading down.
Fish and Chips on the Beach
It’s an absolute right of passage that if you visit the area you have to have fish and chips on the beach from the award-winning Avoca Beach Seafoods. We like to enjoy them with a cold wine in hand as we watch the sun go down over the beach. An incredible end of the day.
Walk to North Avoca
Avoca Beach is a total of two kilometres, with the beach connecting you to Avoca lake about halfway and then onto North Avoca. North Avoca’s waters are often a little rougher for swimming but there’s brilliant rockpools for little kids. And sometimes they’re deep enough for a plunge for adults also.
Aquafun Avoca Lake
To get to the lake, it’s best to park in the town rather than the beach. The lake can be accessed from Heazlett Park, and this is where you’ll find Aquafun Avoca Lake. There’s row boats, SUP and kayaks all available to enjoy on the expansive lake which is safe for all. And if you’re a Coasties Card member, you can get 30 minutes free when you book 30 mins or more.
Note that they close during winter.
15 Ficus Avenue
Avoca Bowling Club
Not just the perfect spot for lawn bowls – the in-house bar and restaurant at Avoca Bowling Club always has entertainment on. They also do the best happy hour in the area, with $4 drinks between 4pm and 6pm daily. A winner of an afternoon. Grab a seat on the courtesy bus to take you back into Avoca’s town centre.
362-364 Avoca Drive, Kincumber
Avoca Beach Accommodation
Avoca Waters Retreat
If you’re looking to rent a full home for your stay then the Avoca Waters Retreat is a brilliant option. It sleeps eight with four beds, three baths, a swimming pool and views of Avoca Lake. It’s pretty central to the village and all amenities. Stays start from $400 a night.
293a The Round Drive
Wabi Sabi
Our favourite Airbnb Avoca Beach property has to be Wabi Sabi, which has all the feel of a retreat with bright lit rooms. It’s a one-bedroom apartment within walking distance to the beach. And the cost is from $200 a night depending on the season.
162 Avoca Drive
Did you know?
“Avoca” is an Irish name meaning “great estuary” or “where the river meets the sea”, and is also the name of a town in County Wicklow, Ireland
Getting About
Not close to a train station and minimal public transport. Your best bet to get about in Avoca Beach is by foot, once you’ve driven in. Parking can be tricky near the beach at high season but there is a carpark overflow behind Avoca Beach Theatre.
Property Prices
This is one of the affluent areas on the Central Coast, with the average property price in April 2025 sitting at $1.7 million. Rent is around $890 a week.
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