Patonga on the NSW Central Coast is one of my favourite weekend escapes. Situated at the tip of National Parklands, this small fishing town is accessed via the Palm Beach ferry or 90 minutes drive via Woy Woy from Sydney. Positioned at the river mouth with water on three sides, the pace of life here is slow and the numbers of people few. Relaxation seems to wash over you as you take off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes.
Kayaking, boating, fishing and walking on one of the national park trails mean there is always enough to do when you grow restless. The Great North walk is accessed from the left side of the pier, no more than five minutes walk from the Boathouse, an upscale pub and take away kiosk. This is a big change from the previous pub and fish and chip store. It feels as though Palm Beach has colonised the tiny hamlet with nice dresses and boat shoes replacing flipflops and tank tops. The food is considerably more expensive, yet excellent and worth the increase in price.
Patonga is accessed by a winding road through the National Park, which means you will often find car clubs out for their weekend drives. Spotted on various trips have been a collection of Daimler SP250’s and Lamborghini’s ranging from a grey 1960’s Miura to a matt black Aventador and a magnificent Austin Healey.
