Avoca Beach

Avoca Beach (including Copacabana)
Popular holiday resort and surfing destination on the Central Coast
Located 95 km north of Sydney via the Newcastle Freeway, Avoca Beach is a popular holiday resort and surfing area towards the southern end of a continuous stretch of residential coastline from MacMasters Beach in the south to The Entrance in the north. In recent times the Avoca Beach area has become a popular holiday retreat for the wealthy residents of Sydney's North Shore. Its wooded hills and quietness (it is on a road which does not go anywhere) is seen as ideal for family holidays and outings where the emphasis is on beach activities.

Once occupied by the Awabakal Aborigines the first European land grant in the vicinity was that of Irish army officer John Moore, who had left his homeland under a cloud. He received a 640-acre grant in 1830 which he called Avoca and he built a house on a ridge overlooking Avoca Lake, just to the west of the beach. He planted cereals, fruit and grapes. In 1836 he was charged with cattle theft but was acquitted. He journeyed to the goldfields in the 1850s and, while he was away, his house burned down.

Tom Davis leased the whole of Avoca in the late 19th century in order to exploit the timber. He transported the logs via tram to the mill at Terrigal. Tramway Rd in North Avoca follows part of the old route.

Things to see:  

Avoca Beach from North Avoca

Avoca Beach
Avoca Beach is a lengthy, pleasant and popular beach enclosed at either end by rocky headlands. It is considered a major surfing beach though the surf at the northern end is considered to be for the more experienced. There is a surf lifesaving club. The beach is also ideal for fishing and its length makes it good for beach walking and exercise.

Avoca Lake
Just behind the beach is Avoca Lake, which is quite large and essentially in two sections, separated by the Avoca Drive bridge. A narrow arm extends south of the bridge while, on the northern side it spreads out to the west, the north and east to the beach. Bareena Island sits in the middle. North Avoca lies to the north and east of this northern section of the lake. On the eastern side of the bridge is J.F. Hazlett Park which is a pleasant spot for a picnic or barbecue.

Copacabana Beach
Turn off Avoca Drive into Cape Three Points Rd and follow it south until it winds into Copacabana Drive. As it bends to the right turn left into Pampas St then left into Simone Place which runs along the length of Copacabana Beach, another popular surfing and holiday beach which is patrolled.

MacMaster's Beach

Captain Cook Lookout
Follow Simone Place north along the beachfront then take the road to the right (Del Monte Place) which leads up the steep headland known as First Point. A signposted side road leads to the carpark for the Captain Cook Lookout which lies at the end of a short path. A cairn bears a plaque which explains that, when offshore in 1770, Cook, looking south along the coastline, found it distinguished by three prominent headlands which he named, imaginatively, First Point, Second Point (Mourawaring Point at the southern end of MacMasters Beach) and Third Point (Bombi Point south of Little Beach). The three are readily discernible from the lookout which is one of the best on the coast. Not only are the views to the south excellent but it is possible to look north beyond Avoca Beach to the oddly shaped headland known as The Skillion at Terrigal.

Looking across Cockrane Lagoon towards Copacobana from MacMaster's Beach

Cockrone Lagoon and MacMasters Beach
Cockrone Lagoon lies just behind the beach. A pleasant family spot for a swim or paddle its eastern neck almost reaches to the beach and then expands westwards effectively dividing the hinterland in two. Thus while it is possible to walk all the way along the beach, to circumvent the lagoon and access the southern residential section it is necessary to return to the top of Copacabana Drive, turn left into Cullens Rd, follow it west for over 4 km into Kincumber and then turn into The Scenic Rd, heading south-east for 4 km. Hence the southern section has been given a separate title - MacMasters Beach .

Avoca Art Gallery
If you are heading towards Kincumber you may wish to stop in at Avoca Art Gallery. It is just over a kilometre west of the roundabout, along Avoca Drive, to the right. They are open from Thursdays to Sundays, 11-6 and every day in the school holidays, contact (02) 4368 2017.

	Motels
	Bellbird Resort 360 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 2322 Facsimile: (02) 4382 3806 Rating: ***
	Hotels
	Kincumber Hotel Cnr Carrack Rd & Willesee Crt Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 2166
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Avoca Valley Bed & Breakfast 243 Avoca Dve Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: 0404240463 Facsimile: (02) 4368 6316 Email: relax@avocavalleybnb.com.au Web site: http://www.avocavalleybnb.com.au Rating: ****1/2
	Amber House 4 Country View Cl. Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4381 1709
	Avoca Beach House P.O. Box 82 Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 6700
	Avoca Lakeside Bed & Breakfast 9 Cape Three Points Rd Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 1693 Rating: **1/2
	Avoca Treetops Bed & Breakfast 18 Baronga Rd Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3867 Facsimile: (02) 4382 3867 Rating: ****
	Bouddi Beachwalk 426 The Scenic Rd McMasters Beach Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4381 2209
	Broadwater Views Bed & Breakfast 119 Broadwater Dve Saratoga Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 6068
	Cockle Bay House 1 Calool St Kincumber South Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4368 3394
	Figtree Cottage Bed & Breakfast 247 Avoca Dve Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4368 3056
	Pacific Sands Bed & Breakfast 50 Cape Three Points Rd Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 6244 Facsimile: (02) 4382 6299
	Portofino By the Sea Bed & Breakfast 125 Cape Three Points Rd Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 1160 Facsimile: (02) 4382 1163 Rating: ***
	Rileys Bed & Breakfast 370 Avoca Drive Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 2927 Facsimile: (02) 4382 4010 Rating: ****1/2
	Salty Rose Beach House Bed & Breakfast 31 Surf Rider Ave Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4384 6098
	The Round Drive Bed & Breakfast 143 The Round Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4381 0099
	Tinkers Castle 421 Avoca Dve Green Point Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 7769
	Apartments
	Avoca Ocean Breeze 55 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4381 1566 Email: Rossden@bigpond.net.au Web site: http://www.oceanbreeze.com.au
	Bellbird Resort 360 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 2322 Facsimile: (02) 4382 3806 Rating: ***
	Cottages & Cabins
	Avoca Beach Heritage Villas 326 Avoca Dve P.O. Box 192 Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3618 Facsimile: (02) 4382 3361 Rating: ***1/2
	The Green House Weston St Yattalunga Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 43609 1619 Facsimile: (02) 4369 6691 Email: onahill@ozemail.com.au
	Caravan Parks
	Palms Avoca Village Carolina Park Rd Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 1227 Facsimile: (02) 4382 2644 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	A Pizza Please Shop 28, Kincumber Village Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4363 1900
	Avoca Beach Chinese Restaurant 1st Floor, 172 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3939
	Avoca Beach Heritage Villas 326 Avoca Dve P.O. Box 192 Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3618 Facsimile: (02) 4382 3361
	Avoca Beach Pizzeria & Restaurant 172 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3506
	Avocados Restaurant 179 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3666
	Bellbird Resort 360 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 2322
	Cafe de la Gallerie Lot 3, Avoca Dve Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4368 3880
	Dragon Paradise Chinese Restaurant Kincumber Trade Centre, Kerta Rd Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4368 1565
	El Amigo's BYO Mexican Restaurant 200 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 2869
	Feast Restaurant 85 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4381 0707
	Kantara House Theatre Restaurant 431 Avoca Dve Green Point Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 1528
	Kincumber Hotel Cnr Carrack Rd & Willesee Crt Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 2166
	Kincumber Lantern Shop 3, Kincumber Village Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 4884
	Pacey's Restaurant 172 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3588
	Rajdhani Indian Restaurant Shop 9, 37/41 Avoca Dve Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 1277
	The Don's Restaurant Shop 28 Kincumber Village Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4363 1900
	White Sands Restaurant 220 Del Monte Pl Copacabana Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 6666
	Cafés
	Avoca Teahouse 326 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4381 1214
	Avoca Terrace Cafe 170 Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 3327
	Capaccino's Shop 3, 216 Del Monte Pl. Copacabana Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 6100
	Pacific Palms Coffee Lounge Shop 20, Kincumber Shopping Centre Kincumber Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4369 5525
	Prawn Star Seafood 168a Avoca Dve Avoca Beach NSW 2251 Telephone: (02) 4382 1230