The Mount Ettalong Lookout is in Pearl Beach, just south of the Central Coast. Starting at a water tower, you'll head towards a number of stunning coastal viewpoints overlooking Umina Beach, Brisbane Water, Bouddi National Park and Pearl Beach.
We're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. This time, with the freedom of our campervan, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots and go slower.
For thousands of years, the Darkinjung people have lived on this land.
The first Europeans came ashore to Pearl Beach in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip landed here. It expanded to become primarily a fishing village and later developed after the First World War into a quiet residential area.
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The Mount Ettalong Lookout is located in Pearl Beach, a cute coastal town just south of Central Coast. The hike to the lookout starts at the water tower; this is the exact Google Maps location.
By car: The best way to reach Pearl Beach and the Mount Ettalong Lookout is with your own wheels. It's about a 45-minute drive south of Central Coast. You can park at Mount Ettalong Lookout for free at the water tower where the hike begins.
By public transport: Take the train to Woy Woy, situated on the Central Coast line connecting Sydney to Newcastle. From the train station in Woy Woy, you can catch bus 50 almost all the way to the lookout. Ride the bus for 12 minutes and get off at Cowper Road at Neera Road; from here it's a 30-minute walk to the start of the hike.
By guided tour: There is a full-day guided tour of the Central Coast that starts in Sydney which includes a stop at the Mount Ettalong Lookout.
To learn more about the Aboriginal history of Pearl Beach, you can join a Darkinjung Cultural Tour, which also includes a visit to the Mount Ettalong Lookout.
Before you reach Pearl Beach, you'll either drive through Woy Woy or you'll get off the train here to transfer to your bus.
I can recommend stopping in Woy Woy before or after your hike to the Mount Ettalong Lookout for a delicious lunch at One Lucky Duck Cafe, an adorable cafe with a plant-filled courtyard. We loved their soup and their cakes to fuel us up before our walk.
When: year-round
Where: the start of this hike begins at the water tower
Difficulty: easy
Length: from the water tower, we hiked a 1.6km return trail which took us about half an hour
Directions: from the water tower, pass the white gate and follow the trail. There are a few different viewpoints to stop at with different angles of Pearl Beach to check out, clearly marked with platforms.
→ Check out my exact route on Strava!
Bathrooms: no
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
