Gosford Getaway

The first weekend of the winter school holidays, I went away to Gosford for a two-night getaway with my husband. Even though it wasn’t that long ago, now that I’m back at work, that relaxing and fun weekend almost feels like a distant memory. Fun times sure go by so fast, don’t they? Anyway, I’m here today to share a recap of our trip and some of the highlights we enjoyed. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Where is Gosford

Gosford is on the Central Coast of NSW, just an hour and a half from Sydney by train. Even though it’s technically a city, it’s often called a town because it has that cozy, small-town feel. The waterfront views are absolutely stunning, and there are so many parks and cute cafes to explore. Big developers have definitely taken notice—construction is everywhere! High-rise apartments are popping up all over; clearly, they are making the most of those beautiful water views. While it’s exciting to see the area grow, it’s also a bit sad to think that skyrocketing property prices might change the character of this cute and charming place where life feels less hurried.

On Saturday, we caught the train from Kingsgrove Station, changing at Central Station for the scenic hour-and-a-half ride. It’s such a relaxing way to travel, and the views get more beautiful as you approach Gosford.

Hotel Gosford

We stayed at Hotel Gosford, which is a short six-minute walk from the station. The hotel has a heritage facade, and with its recent refurbishment, we found the perfect mix of old-world charm and modern comfort. It was so warm and inviting! The hotel has three stories and a staircase with a beautiful wooden handrail. In fact, there is wood everywhere, which I love.

We decided to take the lift, and would you believe it—it was a heritage lift! I’m so impressed with how they’ve chosen to preserve treasures like this from the past. It says a lot about their respect for the hotel’s history and commitment to maintaining its unique character. Steve and I fumbled around a bit, trying to get the lift to go up. There were two doors—one was a folding steel gate (I think it’s called a cage door) that had to be closed before the lift would move, and the other was a glass door. We also had to make sure to insert the room key, turn it, and press the button to go up. It took us a moment to get the sequence right, but once we figured it out, we were all set. By the time we checked out two days later, we were experts!

Our Accommodation

We stayed in a room with its own bathroom. Since it’s a pub, many of the rooms don’t have private facilities, so you might end up using a shared bathroom. I’m really glad we chose to pay extra for a room with a private ensuite! The room was compact but very clean and comfortable. The bathroom looked newly renovated, with modern fixtures and a sleek, fresh design. The walk-in shower was particularly nice, with a rain-head showerhead that had the right amount of pressure and felt very luxurious. I even took some photos of the space and might have said, “Quick, don’t touch anything until I get the pictures!”

When we booked, the website warned us that it gets noisy on Saturday nights because they have a DJ in the pub. And boy, were they right! Haha, it was definitely loud, but the DJ played so many fun hits that I was itching to go downstairs. Steve, still recovering from his knee replacement, wasn’t keen—he’s not much of a dancer anyway, so it was a convenient excuse. But I went with it. He’d better be prepared for the next time we stay because nothing is going to stop me from hitting the dance floor! The hotel had kindly provided earplugs on the bedside table, which we only discovered the next day. Duh!

Earls Kitchen

The first night we stayed, we booked a table for dinner at Earl’s Kitchen, which is located downstairs in the pub. What an amazing meal we enjoyed! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If the accommodation and atmosphere in Hotel Gosford weren’t enough to convince us to come back for another visit, the dinner absolutely sealed the deal! Earl’s Kitchen is such a gem! We both loved the modern yet cozy vibe. The decor blends stylish elements with a touch of rustic charm, and the warm lighting made everything feel so comfortable and inviting.

The restaurant has an open-plan layout with a variety of seating options, from intimate tables for two to larger communal tables. Our table was located near the bar, on the edge of the main dining area. Next time, I’d prefer to sit closer to the centre, near the kitchen, where you can see all the action and soak up the lively atmosphere. It’s always fun to watch the chefs at work creating magic and feel the buzz of the place.

Dinner

It was a cold evening, and we were both craving something comforting—what better solution than to go for carbs? We started with a warm cob loaf topped with delicious melted confit butter.

For mains, we ordered smoked beef cheek, garlic mash, and heirloom Dutch carrots.

The whole menu was packed with delicious options, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan choices. We spent a while trying to decide because everything sounded so good. In the end, we both chose the same dish to avoid dish envy, haha!

For dessert, we shared the steamed dark ale pudding with praline and salted caramel ice cream—it was a mouthwatering finish to our meal! And let’s not forget the wine: we had a brut cuvée that made us feel extra festive and bubbly.

Second Day Exploring Gosford

The next day, I was craving a pie so badly! After a sleep-in, as a result of the late-night disco, we went out for a late breakfast. We walked a short distance to the mall and found a cafe. I had a meat pie (meat pie for breakfast, why not?), and Steve had a ham and cheese croissant. Yum!

Afterwards, we walked about 15 minutes to the Gosford War Memorial. It was such a beautiful sunny day, though it was quite chilly. So I was really glad I had my long black jacket—it was perfect for the weather.

The Gosford War Memorial

The Gosford War Memorial is right in the heart of Gosford’s central business district, and it really made an impression. It’s in Memorial Park and it is a beautifully maintained peaceful spot. The monument is striking with plaques and inscriptions honouring local soldiers from World War I, World War II, and other conflicts.

What really caught my eye was the vibrant poppy sculpture nearby. The poppies were spectacular, and they added a really stunning splash of colour to the greenery in the park.

Not far from the memorial, we discovered a park featuring tall, abstract poles decorated with colourful patterns inspired by traditional Aboriginal art and symbols.

There’s also a huge jungle gym climbing area for kids, and it was wonderful to see so many families out enjoying the crisp but sunny weather.

As we headed back to the hotel, we weaved in and out exploring the quiet streets around Gosford, soaking up the relaxed Sunday vibes. Before returning to the hotel, we stopped by the local Woolworths to pick up some snacks. We ended up with more than we planned—bread rolls, salami, prawns, chips, chocolate, and a bottle of wine. And made a cozy picnic out of it in our room while watching a movie.

We watched Leap Year with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. Have you seen it? It was so good and we both loved it. It’s great that Steve loves a good rom-com just as much as I do.

Our Final Morning in Gosford

Monday morning came around all too quickly, meaning our getaway was over, and we had to check out of our room at 10 am. Before that, we went out for a quick breakfast at a nearby cafe called The Good Bits Co, and it was indeed very good! The staff were super friendly and seemed to know the names of the locals who came in for their morning coffee. It was the cafe where everyone knows your name! We chose a table next to a large sunny window, and it was nice to be surrounded by plants and artwork that made the whole place feel very bright and cheerful.

I had an egg and bacon roll with delicious tomato relish and a flat white. I’m not usually much of a breakfast eater, but give me egg and bacon any time!

Then we went back to the room, packed up our things, and said goodbye to our wonderful weekend in Gosford. It was the perfect mini-getaway, and I’m already looking forward to our next visit. If you’re exploring the Central Coast, you might also enjoy my previous adventure at Avoca Beach from last year. There’s so much to see, do, and eat in this beautiful part of New South Wales!