The Makers Trails
Explore for a few hours or an entire weekend
With so many delicious experiences to choose from, be the master of your gourmet destiny.
Escape to the food and drink discovery trail within an easy one-hour drive from Sydney or Newcastle.
Discover the Makers
Your Way
Style your own itinerary and experiences to suit your schedule and your mood.
Half a Day?
The Makers Trail has so much on offer, with casual drop-ins welcome at most places. Even better, treat yourself to a pre-booked immersive experience.
Wonderful Whisky
Approaching from the north? Don’t go past award-winning Amber Lane Distillery in Yarramalong! Amber Lane’s Open Days are for whisky novices and connoisseurs alike. Alternatively, gather a group of friends and book a private discovery experience to become an expert in all things whisky. Meet the skilled distillers, sample top class whisky direct from the barrel and appreciate why these whiskies are taking Australia by storm.
Oyster Experience
Heading up from Sydney? Just 45 minutes north of the CBD, you will find Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. Meet second and third generation oyster farmers, visit the Hawkesbury River oyster leases and taste famous Broken Bay oysters. Treat yourself to the only ‘in-water dining’ experience allowed in NSW. Immerse yourself, quite literally, in water, and enjoy an oyster and prawn tasting at your private in-water table. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
full day?
Mix and match a quick visit to one maker with a behind-the-scenes tour at the next. Or make even more of your day with two artisanal experiences.
Gingerbread and Gin
From the northern end of the Central Coast, call into Adri’s Gingerbread at Lisarow for exquisite European-style gingerbreads, lovingly hand crafted and covered with royal icing. Create your own sweet treat on a factory tour. Now your tastebuds are awakened, take the scenic Ridgeway road to Distillery Botanica in Erina. Set amidst three acres of meticulously crafted gardens, explore a range of award-winning Moore’s Dry Gins, Mr Black and Distillery Botanica’s Vodka and Liqueurs. Book a tasting or a tour, make a flamboyant cocktail or craft your very own 700ml bottle of gin.
Pearls and Chocolate
From Sydney, take a short drive up the freeway to the hidden gem of Broken Bay Pearl Farm. Browse locally grown pearls, shells and jewellery at the Shellar Door, or book a tour to discover the rare Australian Akoya Pearl. After this spot of culture, you’ll be ready for the all-day brunch, savoury sensations and exquisite patisserie items at The Chocolate Factory in Gosford. Home to the famous Nougat Limar, Bon Bon Fine Chocolates and The Sydney Marshmallow Co, harness your inner child and rejoice. Adult and junior workshops, factory tours and high tea await.
entrie weekend?
Indulge in the full Makers Trail experience. Stay overnight at one of the Central Coast’s many hotels, resorts, private apartments, country cottages or beach campsites.
Spices, Wine, Cocktails and Cheese
Travelling from the north, visit Herbie’s Spices in Charmhaven to navigate through the exotic waters of spice trade history. Take your cooking to the next level with 100% natural and authentic blends. After you have spiced up your life, book a Saturday afternoon personalised behind-the-scenes tour at Firescreek Botanical Winery in Holgate, or join the ‘Flawless Cocktail Making Class’ at Distillery Botanica in Erina. On Sunday morning, enjoy ‘The Cheese Experience’ at Little Creek in Wyong, with a private cheese tasting and hands-on session making ricotta and paneer to take home.
Brews and Sips
Setting off from Sydney on Friday morning, head to Legend Coffee and Culture at Gosford for their ‘Legend Cupping Sesh’. Learn how to taste and evaluate coffees. Find out how the place of origin, variety, processing and fermentation method can impact a coffee’s flavour. After a blissful lie-in on Saturday, discover how beer is made and sip on a local brew at Six String Brewing Co in Erina or Block ’n Tackle at Kincumber. Finish your weekend in style at Firescreek Botanical Winery in Holgate with a ‘Chocolate and Wine Pairing’ or ‘Foraging and Mixology’ experience.
Choose Your Makers
Come on a journey along the Makers Trail. Delight in authentic storytellers, boutique artisans and fine producers who call the Central Coast home.
Discover the secrets of pearl farming
Book a private or group tour and learn about the history and secrets of pearl farming from our passionate guides. Grade a pearl and take a scenic cruise to marvel at the delicate and rare Akoya pearl oysters growing in the local waterway. Make your day extra special and upgrade to a seaplane experience. A Broken Bay Pearl Farm tour will be an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike.
Unique immersive experiences to engage all your senses
Engage your senses and go behind the scenes touching, smelling, foraging, mixing and making. Meet the winemaker and learn about life as an organic farmer. Sample bush tucker and learn from a local Darkinjung elder about local culture and traditions. Family-friendly tours and romantic wine pairing make Firescreek a must-see stop along the Central Coast Makers Trail.
Tour the factory, inspire a Junior Chocolatier or create your own chocolate bar
Book a guided factory tour to learn how such decadence comes to life or inspire your pint-sized chocolate connoisseurs with a fun-filled Junior Chocolatier workshop. Design your very own chocolate bar with the latest Create-a-Bar experience. Choose your favourite chocolate, select from over 30 toppings, mould and set! *Create-a-Bar launches on 9th April 2022.
Go behind the scenes to make and taste award-winning cheeses
Discover the history and passion behind Little Creek Cheese and cheese making. Indulge in the complete cheese experience and make your own ricotta and paneer to take home and impress the neighbours. If tasting is more your style, book a private tasting of 10 fine cheeses while meeting the skilled cheesemakers.
The freshest oysters you’ve ever tasted!
Take a boat tour to the oyster leases on the Hawkesbury River, harvesting the freshest oysters you’ve ever tasted. Sydney Oyster Farm Tours runs the only in-water dining experience allowed in NSW!
Brewery tour and meet the maker
Visit the Central Coast and uncover the history of Block ’n Tackle, learn about beer making, meet the head brewer and enjoy a 4-beer paddle of core range beers. Discover the ingredients that go into these amazing small batch beers. Bring your questions and your curiosity!
Full sensory brewery tour and tasting experience
Book a brewery tour and discover the latest and greatest beer fermenting in the Six String 4,800 litre tanks. Learn what goes into brewing on a commercial scale, and meet the makers as they take you through the brewery. Touch, smell and taste the ingredients at the heart of the Six String craft beers and explore different styles of Central Coast beer in a guided tasting.
The ultimate spicery experience - tour and spice appreciation workshop
Get hands-on at Herbie’s Spices with this 2.5-hour Central Coast visitor experience. Go on a journey through the exotic waters of the spice trade history. Learn about the myriad of spices, their origins and how they are processed and traded. Make your very own blend to take home. Discover how a herb or spice can turn a dreary healthy food into a taste sensation!
Trail experiences tailored for you
Along the Makers Trail, each producer has curated experiences to suit your tastes from family foraging to sophisticated couples luxury. Indulge in tempting tipples or create your own sweet and savoury sensations.
