'I've lived in Sydney my whole life. I can't believe I didn't know about this weekend destination.'

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Something about me you might not know — although don't worry, you're about to find out — is that I consider myself a bit of a master of the Sydney weekend getaway. 

Look, it's no big deal or anything, but if there's a holiday destination within driving distance of the Sydney CBD, you best believe I've driven there for a cheeky two-night stay.  

Put it this way: I've got a standard order at the Berry donut van, and I know exactly the place my ears pop when driving up the Blue Mountains. I consider the Hunter Valley my hometown (I'm not from there — just, like, spiritually), and I have a favourite whale-watching tour company in Nelson Bay. 

This is why I was a little bit confused when my good friend suggested a girls' trip to Killcare on the Central Coast recently. I know about the Central Coast, obviously. It's a popular choice for families moving out of the city and looking for more space. A lot of my friends grew up there, and a bunch of them have started to move back there. I've been a few times, for baby showers and engagement parties, and thought it was perfectly lovely. 

I had just never really thought of it as a holiday destination until now.  

Honestly, I was initially reluctant. We take a girls' trip together every year — side note, I can't recommend this enough, especially if you live in different cities — and our previous destinations have fallen a little more squarely into what I consider "holiday" destinations (I even wrote about our trip to Port Stephens last year). My friend really had to sell Killcare to me. 

A toast to another successful girls' trip. Image: Supplied.

Well, when I say "really sell", she sent me a photo of the incredible bronze free-standing tub at her proposed accommodation, Bells at Killcare, and I was a goner. 

Fast-forward a couple of months to one of the rainiest weekends that the Greater Sydney Area has ever experienced, and we arrived on the Central Coast. Obviously, a beach holiday in August was already a stretch (give us a break, one of us is pregnant and the other has two kids. Scheduling is tricky, to say the least). I'd been imagining coastal walks, sunny coffees and evening drinks on our balcony, but the relentless rain had other plans. So trust me on this: when I say we still had a magical time, it says a lot for our destination. 

Watch: Modern travel etiquette. Article continues below.

Where to eat in Killcare.

We started with lunch at The BOX on the Water, where I ate a massive bowl of mussels with a sauce that was so delicious I scooped it out of the bowl like a soup. Objectively, I know that was a gross thing to do, but I can't describe how good this sauce was. I would have dunked my head in this bowl of sauce if nobody else was watching! The food was phenomenal, and the views were about as good as you could get given the pouring rain. On a sunny day, this would be an unbeatable spot for lunch. 

We had drinks at dinner at The Wildflower Bar and Dining, located inside our hotel. Because I am a terrible person, I went nuts on oysters and red wine in front of my pregnant friend, but honestly, how could I resist? We both ordered steak with mashed Gruyère potatoes on the side, which were so good I almost cried. If you're staying in the area, lunch or dinner here is a must. There's also the added benefit of getting to peek at the beautiful Bell's grounds, which is otherwise reserved for guests. 

Oysters and red wine at The Wildflower Bar and Dining. Image: Supplied.

To finish, I swung by The Boathouse at Patonga. I'm a huge Boathouse fan — as it happens, I got married at the Palm Beach venue, which has tragically since shut down. The Boathouse Group has a knack for choosing some of Sydney's most gorgeous venues, and despite the rain, Patonga was no exception. 

Where to stay in Killcare.

My friend's instincts were correct — Bells at Killcare is an insanely gorgeous hotel. The grounds are huge and the service is wonderful. Nothing was too much trouble — they picked us up from our villa to drive us to dinner in the rain, despite it being only 300 metres away, and happily offered us ideas for wet weather activities.

For a child-free girls' weekend, our Lakeview Villa had everyone we could want, from a huge bath, to a fireplace, to a TV we could watch from our beds. The pool was so tempting I nearly threw caution to the wind and got in, but I settled for drinking a margarita in the bath (yeah, not having kids around is actually quite nice sometimes). 

Next time…

On that note, I don't know if it calls itself an adults-only hotel, but Bells definitely has that vibe — I would suggest keeping your guests above 18 for maximum enjoyment. 

What to do in Killcare.

Look, did I mention how much it was raining? A return visit is definitely on the cards for 2026, because there are incredible beaches and coastal tracks that I need to go back and experience. Luckily, there was enough good food, coffee and wine to keep me very happy this time around. 

How to get to Killcare, NSW from Sydney.

It is rare for a person to comment on the drive home from their holiday as a highlight, but being able to speed back to Sydney in under 90 minutes was the cherry on top of a great mini-break. I always find an hours-long slog back to reality after a holiday so depressing, but this time, I basically blinked and I was back in the CBD. Was I on Domain moments after I pulled into my garage, trying to find out what a holiday house in Killcare would set me back? Well, so what if I was?! 

Feature image: Supplied.