New South Wales (Sydney Region)
Brisbane Water National Park
Brisbane Water National Park, immediately south of Gosford, is the site of the Bulgandry Aboriginal engravings, which are of a style unique to the Sydney region featuring figurative outlines scratched boldly into sandstone. The site, no longer frequented by the Guringgai people - whose territory ranged south as far as Sydney Harbour and north to Lake Macquarie - is 7km southwest of Gosford off the Woy Woy Road.
Panoramic views spread from 100m high cliffs overlooking the Hawkesbury River at Warrah Trig and Staples Lookouts. Aboriginal art may be seen on the sandstone landscape with engravings at Bulgandry on Woy Woy Road. Displays of Christmas Bells and Waratah are stunning during November - December. The park is located 9km south-west of Gosford and 60km north of Sydney.

Pearl Beach and Patonga
Surrounded by Brisbane Water National Park, undeveloped Pearl Beach is a small community which expands with holiday-makers on weekends. The place is decidedly friendly and very peaceful - not even a bottle shop - so don't expect wild beach parties. But the very pretty, sheltered beach, popular with families, has a relaxing open access saltwater pool at one end (perfect for a discreet night-time skinny-dip). You can walk from the end of Crystal Avenue to the neighbouring beach settlement of Patonga visiting a lookout and the open access Crommelin Native Arboretum en route. The best day to undertake the 45-minute walk is the last Sunday of the month when the Patonga Beach market is held (8am-4pm) with arts and crafts, food stalls and buskers.

To get to Pearl Beach or Patonga, you can take the Busways Peninsula bus (tel 4362 1030) from Woy Woy train station; you can also get to Patonga by ferry from Palm Beach. If you want to stay, contact Pearl Beach Real Estate next to the general store (tel 4341 7555, fax 4341 9665), a friendly establishment dealing in holiday lets ($400-700 per week). The general store (daily 8am-6pm) also sells petrol and gas, and there are a couple of phones and a post box outside.

Eating
  • Pearls on the Beach tel 4342 4400 bookings advised. Closed Mon-Wed, no dinner Sun. Prime beachfront location offering well-priced Australian fare with plenty of seafood on the menu. Licensed & BYO.
  • Sit 'n' Chats Beach Cafe tel 4341 3686. Daily 8am-5pm, dinner Fri-Sun and daily school holidays. Opposite the restaurant, you can get gourmet burgers, oysters and calamari, or just coffee and cake. There's a special Sunday brekkie for $15 and Sunday afternoon jazz. BYO.