Food & Drinks

Food on the Central Coast of NSW is best experienced at the source: Hawkesbury River oysters shucked in front of you at Mooney Mooney, a seafood dinner on a sand island in Lake Macquarie, or a picnic you collect from local artisans by following clues. These are food experiences you book ahead, rather than restaurant tables. For more on the water, see Central Coast cruises.

Oyster tastings on the Hawkesbury River

Oysters are the Central Coast food most worth planning around. Broken Bay Pearl Farm sits at 12 Kowan Road, Mooney Mooney, on the lower Hawkesbury River, and its Shellar Door runs oyster sessions where a guide shucks and explains the differences between the oysters. The Broken Bay Pearl Farm Oyster Tasting is a 30-minute session on land with Sydney Rock, Pacific and Akoya oysters, depending on availability. Bookings are essential, and it goes ahead in all weather.

To see where they grow first, the Hawkesbury River Cruise and Oyster Tasting pairs a 60-minute cruise to the oyster leases with the 30-minute tasting. It is available Tuesday to Sunday at 11.30am and 12.30pm.

Pearls, oysters and the story behind them

The farm is a pearl farm as well as an oyster farm, so a longer session teaches you where both come from. Shell to Showroom is a 2-hour cruise and tour that visits an oyster lease and the pearl grading room, with a look at how oyster farming benefits people and the planet. You can also buy Australian South Sea and Akoya pearls farm-direct.

Seafood dinner on a sand island

Showtime Kayaking pairs food with an evening paddle on Lake Macquarie. The Lake Macquarie Night Kayak with Dinner is a 3-hour trip for two from Naru Beach in illuminated kayaks. You land on a sand island for a gourmet seafood picnic dinner with live acoustic music, and stargazing stories follow once it's dark.

Picnics you collect clue by clue

The Mystery Picnic NSW is a 4-hour self-drive day. You follow clues and riddles on your smartphone, collect gourmet items from local artisans along the way and finish at a scenic picnic spot. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available, and a wine option can be added. The starting location arrives by email the night before.

Planning a Central Coast food day

Oyster sessions are short, so they combine easily with a cruise or another activity at Mooney Mooney. The kayak dinner is an evening plan and the picnic is a day plan, and both need a bit of organising beforehand. The Central Coast activities page has more for the rest of the day.

Frequently asked questions

Which oysters can you taste at Broken Bay Pearl Farm?

The Broken Bay Pearl Farm Oyster Tasting serves Sydney Rock, Pacific and Akoya oysters, subject to availability. It is a 30-minute guided tasting with a shucking demonstration at Mooney Mooney.

When does the Hawkesbury River Cruise and Oyster Tasting run?

The Hawkesbury River Cruise and Oyster Tasting is available Tuesday to Sunday at 11.30am and 12.30pm. It combines a 60-minute river cruise with a 30-minute oyster tasting.

Can you have a seafood dinner on the Central Coast?

Yes. The Lake Macquarie Night Kayak with Dinner is a 3-hour trip for two that includes a gourmet seafood picnic dinner on a sand island, with live acoustic music.

Does the Mystery Picnic NSW cater for dietary needs?

Yes. The Mystery Picnic NSW offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and a wine option is available. You need a mobile phone with internet access to follow the clues.

Pick oysters on the Hawkesbury River for a short stop or a night-time seafood dinner on Lake Macquarie for a bigger occasion, and book Central Coast food and drinks ahead.