Why not go to Terrigal in Winter? It’ll be cheaper than staying in the summer months, and still as beautiful.  We were on our way home from the Hunter Valley getaway for three days over the long weekend, and our 11-week-old was not having a minute of the drive. He slept for 15 minutes at the beginning of the trip and then screamed down the highway until we turned off because we couldn’t handle it anymore.  I’d transferred to sitting in the back of the car between our kids, my toddler was singing at the top of her lungs, while our newborn was belch screaming and my husband, also yelling at all the traffic to get off the road. A recipe for disaster or a sign we needed more time away from the big smoke? 

 Being flexible with our trip was undoubtedly a life lesson with kids. When I was trapped in the middle seat between them, barely fitting my touch between the two giant car seats, it’s easy to wonder if you’d ever make it home, like ever. Or too easy to wonder why you bothered to leave the house. Would I be trapped on the side of the road forever? 

How do we cope?

 We decided it was worth booking into a hotel in Terrigal Beach and just take it as a sign we needed a few more days. 

My husband found the best deal at the Crown Plaza Terrigal, and we were set for another night away. By some miracle, we made it another 20 minutes, and then we were checked into the next hotel. Our three-year-old loved the pretend play and now only refers to every interaction as if she’s a hotel staff member checking you into a hotel. We keep telling her she’s really spoilt, but she’s really got no idea.

Where to stay?

The Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific is stunning. It overlooks the beach, and guests can access the shops and restaurants at night and so many cafes during the day. We had a beach-facing hotel room where we could catch the sunrise and people-watch all the walkers along the beachfront boardwalk around the cliff.

The hotel bar on level one is happily situated overlooking the beach from beautiful archway windows to catch the sunset and stay on for dinner if you wish.  The pool also has gorgeous decor and has umbrellas and sun beds, which would be amazing in summer.

What are the best cafes in Terrigal?

We absolutely love the southern beach cafes that are happily situated across from the beach with amazing brunch food.  The Bellyfish Cafe and Luna are both amazing and great coffee too. If you take a morning walk around the water, you’ll end up at a coffee and pastry nook on the north end.

What should we eat for dinner?

If you’re looking for amazing dumplings, you can’t go past Sea Bay Restaurant. The pork dumplings both steamed and fried were incredible and the fried rice too.

Rhonda’s Pizza, Pasta Rooftop is delicious and a fantastic restaurant. With the pasta and the pizza, you can’t go wrong ordering anything from the menu, and kids’ pasta is huge. Under the Crown Plaza and is is Terrigal Beach House, which is perfect for alfresco dining in the summer but also has some indoor tables for winter. Stunning outlook to the ocean with lots of menu and drink options.  You also can’t miss Aromas by the sea, a perfect cafe for lunch or dinner. Amazing food and perfect views of the water.

Where should you get some sunset drinks?

Visit the Crown Plaza Bar, which overlooks the beach. You can see the sunset from multiple tables on the windows. Its stunning arch windows and decor will have you wanting to come back regularly. The Terrigal Pavilion on the end of the beach faces west, so you’ll see the sunset set from the restaurant. Perfect for a fancy dinner.

Where to find the playground?

A great playground named Terrigal Rotary Park is found at a 15-minute walk from the Crown Plaza but well worth the effort as it has multiple equipment for all ages and a cafe nearby. The cafe is also attached to a The Centeal Coast Marine Discovery Centre which we realised had painting, crafts, treasure hunt and some great activities for all ages.

I couldn’t recommend Terrigal enough. It reminded me we must visit here more regularly, especially in the summer. Its beach cove is protected from significant swell and is perfect for a family vacation in summer or winter.