Gritty Pretty founder, editor-in-chief and beauty influencer Eleanor Pendleton grew up amongst the magic of the Central Coast, New South Wales – just 1.5 hour’s drive from the hustle and bustle of Sydney. She lived in St Hubert’s Island (where her parents ran the local newsagents!) until she moved out of home to attend university in Sydney, living in Bondi Beach.
Eleanor’s husband, Mathew, also a grew up nearby in Terrigal, which is where the couple decided to call home when they moved back to the Central Coast about a year ago after their son learnt to walk. Since then, the young family has painstakingly restored a 100-year-old cottage, transforming it to fit their contemporary, coastal lifestyle, while retaining its period charm.
‘The beach lifestyle was very much a major part of my childhood. Now, it’s a huge part of our family life,’ Eleanor says.
‘We love the people here – they are so friendly. It’s a lot busier than it was when I was growing up, which I love, but it still has that community feeling and soul to it.’
The family spends every opportunity they can at the beach – frequenting the ‘gorgeous’ rock pools in Killcare, or visiting local farms in the area and exploring the more than 560km of land and coastline that make up the serene Central Coast.
Photos don’t do the pristine stretch of protected national park coastline justice, and it’s only made better by the relaxed vibe that radiates across the region, from renowned surfing haunts like Terrigal and Avoca and the friendly faces of locals.
To help inspire your next roadtrip or long weekend away, Eleanor’s compiled a list of hot spots and must-see places in the Central Coast. And you know they have a local’s tick of approval!
