Central Coast Wetlands
Tucked away in Tuggerah, this is one where you can get your swamp thang on! It’s a beautiful place to spend an hour or more - stroll around the pathways, over bridges and through native vegetation, visit the community garden or sit under a fig tree to watch the abundant birdlife. Originally a swamp land, and later a dairy, the site is now cared for by volunteers and maintained as both a natural habitat and a slice of Central Coast history.
The highlight is definitely the birds - we saw swamp hens, egrets, swans, swallows, ducks, chickens and even an eagle! Plus there were the more familiar suburban birds like plovers and peewees. We could hear frogs, and the kids loved discovering the very fluffy bullrush plants lining the cute bridges. We saw a bee hotel and possum boxes high in the trees too.
There’s plenty of room to have a picnic or kick a ball, and if your kid is one for mud, bring your gumboots along after rain because the potholes are plentiful here!
One thing to be mindful of is the safety cautions at the site - watch out for snakes, ticks and unfenced bodies of water. Don’t be put off though - on our visit the lawns were well maintained and there was no bushbashing required.
Secret Nature Business
Getting to known their local wildlife helps kids develop a sense of place and care for their environment. We were able to discuss the plants we saw, including some tall Bunya Pines, Moreton bay Figs and Blackbutts. And, we definitely enjoyed the chance for kids to run off some hyperactive energy! Nature kids are calmer kids after some unhurried time outdoors.
Getting To: Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah
You'll find the entrance to the wetlands on South Tacoma Road, Tuggerah, just past a bridge over the highway. It's on a dirt road with the most potholes I think I've seen for quite some time. Luckily it's not long before you'll reach the carpark and can start exploring on foot. There are plenty of signs around to show you which way to head. There are restrooms available in the hall and lots of picnic tables.