The Pandemic has heightened our focus on supporting local businesses

What started as an influx of Sydneysiders escaping the city during the COVID-19 pandemic as grown into a paradigm shift. Balancing ‘working from home’ with office time is the new normal for many. With its plentiful, unspoilt open spaces, enriching cultural activities and close proximity to Sydney and Newcastle, the NSW Central Coast has become a highly desirable destination for sea-changers and many locals have a new appreciation for the amazing lifestyle the Coast offers.

This increase in Sydneysiders combined with ‘Coasties’ wanting to support local businesses led to a dramatic increase in demand for locally-produced food and drink. After all, indulging our taste buds was one of the few pleasures during the pandemic. 

Behind-the-scenes tours, food making and tastings with Central Coast producers 

The Central Coast has been home to talented growers and creative providores for decades, but they mainly worked quietly in the background. They supplied to cafés and restaurants and sold directly to locals through weekend farmers markets. As the hospitality scene dried up during the pandemic, we got to know our local producers through Facebook and Instagram stories, home deliveries and click and collect. 

Our providores and artisans delighted us with their passion. They reinvented their relationship with the public. Local producers innovated and crafted new food and drink experiences for us to enjoy as the Central Coast opened up… behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on food making and tastings.

Now we are ready to share our makers with the wider world. Indulge yourself on a relaxing self-drive Makers Trail and fall in love with the new Central Coast. With a flexible itinerary and exquisite experiences, you can visit the Central Coast especially for the trail or combine it with a beach trip, bushwalk or visit to friends.