click here for Map.
Or look at bikely map.
We took the 743 am train (check - may have changed) on Sunday from Central to Woy Woy. Turn right out of the station and follow signs to Ettalong and Umina along flat roads. If you need to, go into Ettalong for some food or a late breakfast. Nice cafes. You can catch the ferry from Ettalong to Wagstaffe or back to Palm Beach for some other interesting rides, but for this one, head back north to Maitland Bay Drive, turn right with care (T intersection) and head east over the Rip Bridge.
Follow this undulating road all the way to Kincumber and turn right at Cochrone Rd at a roundabout then right again onto The Scenic Drive to McMasters Beach. Just before McMasters Beach, take Lakeside Drive to the left around Cochrone Lake and come out at the beach end of the lake, which is normally closed off from the ocean. A short walk and bike carry over the sand around the edge of the lake and across a grassy strip behind some houses (see bikely map for detail) will bring you to the roads in Copacabana. There are cafes and shops here on the beach front and a handy tap for rinsing any sand off- use water bottle. There is a steep hill out of Copacabana, whichever way you try. Take Del Rio Drive and Del Mar Drive, up a valley to the right of the main road. This is a bit easier.
Keep going straight ahead at the top of hill, on Cape Three Points Rd, towards Avoca. A sharp right turn at Austral Av above Avoca will bring you down a steep hill to a right turn on the flat to Avoca South, where there is a good swimming beach and a cafe (optional). Then head back north the short distance to Avoca Lake. From the car park walk around the lake edge (again, not far, and sand near lake's edge is hard) to a drain which is near a walkway through to the roads of North Avoca - again rinse sand off if necessary. This little walk saves several km of backtracking to get to Terrigal by the main roads. Up the hill out of North Avoca and turn right down the hill to Terrigal. Many shops and cafes for lunch in the main beach side street, also try one street back.
After lunch, head north for Wamberal, via a bridge over Terrigal Lake. Follow the road to a point just past Wamberal Lagoon. Just before a steep hill turn right at Warakei Dr then right, left and right to a set of lights at Pitt St on to the Entrance Rd. Turn right here and follow the main Entrance road, which has a good cycle shoulder, to a right turn to Bateau Bay. Keep heading north past Bateau Bay, Blue Lagoon, Shelley Beach and Toowoon Bay to the entrance of the lake - no particular route, just keep the ocean on you right and do a few side trips to see the sights. If this is a bit confusing, and the beaches are a bit hard to see because of huge caravan parks, just take the main road into the Entrance instead of the Bateau Bay turn off.
The waterfront at The Entrance where the lake runs out is picturesque and a new park and pedestrian precinct is very popular at the end of the main shopping street. Time for a break here before heading west over to the lake side, where you will find the Tuggerah Lake cycleway easily. Follow this back south past Long Jetty and then west around the lake. Usually a lot of pelicans and other birds along here. If you reach the end of the cycle path you have gone a bit too far, but never mind, you can follow Chittaway Rd back to the main Tuggerah/Wyong Rd. It is better to turn left off the cycleway a km or two before this to get a more direct route to Tuggerah, but the exit isnt all that obvious. Look over to the left occasionally to see if the main road is visible and accessible, and maybe ask a local.
The main road is busy and there are a few big roundabouts. Negotiate these with care and a few kms heading northwest will bring you to a right turn at a roundabout to Bryant St, which leads to Tuggerah Station past a Supa Centre. This right turn is just before the road bridge over the railway and not signposted to the station (or I didnt see it). Phew, made it. This last section is probably the hardest, traffic wise.
Trains run about twice every hour back to Sydney at 241, 247, 340 357 440 457 etc - check the times, timetable may have changed. Trains originating from Wyong may be less crowded than Newcastle trains.
