The Entrance's Pelican Feeding: A Free Daily Ritual at Memorial Park

What is the pelican feeding at The Entrance, and why does it matter?

At precisely 3:30 pm, seven days a week, volunteers step onto a low timber platform at Memorial Park and begin distributing fish to an assembled congregation of Australian pelicans. The birds know the routine better than most tourists do — they begin arriving well before the volunteers, settling on the water and the grass with the unhurried authority of regulars who have earned their table. The feeding has been running for decades, organised by a community group that has turned a simple act of wildlife care into one of the Central Coast's most consistent public experiences.

What makes it worth a dedicated journey, particularly for a solo traveller who has seen a few things, is the scale. Australian pelicans are large birds — wingspan up to 2.5 metres — and when forty or fifty of them are gathered in one place at eye level, the effect is genuinely arresting. There's no fence between you and them. You stand on a flat lawn a few metres from the platform, and they simply go about their business. It's the kind of encounter that reminds you why wildlife experiences in the open beat any zoo.

Arriving smart: why 3:15 pm is the right time to get there

The feeding draws a crowd, especially on weekends and during school holidays. Arrive at 3:15 pm and you'll find a comfortable spot on the lawn with a clear sightline to the platform. Arrive at 3:25 and you may be looking over shoulders. The viewing area is flat and grassed, with no steps or uneven surfaces — straightforward for anyone who prefers to keep things level. There's a low fence bordering the platform itself, but the best viewing is from the open lawn rather than pressed against it.

Portable seating — a lightweight folding chair or a small stool — is worth considering if you'd rather not stand for the full twenty to thirty minutes of the feeding. There are some bench seats nearby, but they fill quickly. The park has public amenities close at hand, and shade trees along the lawn edge provide relief on warmer afternoons. Autumn and spring afternoons, when the light sits low over the water and the temperature is comfortable, make for particularly good visits.

The waterfront walk: Memorial Park to Marine Parade

The pelican feeding is the anchor, but The Entrance rewards a longer afternoon. From Memorial Park, a flat, paved path follows the water's edge north along the foreshore, connecting to Marine Parade — the town's main strip of cafes, fish-and-chip shops, bakeries and small retailers. The walk is around 700 metres, entirely level, and offers uninterrupted views across the Tuggerah Lakes system toward the low hills of the Central Coast hinterland.

Marine Parade itself is pleasantly low-key. There are several cafes suited to a long lunch before the 3:30 feeding — places with outdoor tables where you can watch the water and take your time. The Entrance has none of the self-conscious bustle of a resort town trying to be something it isn't. It's a working coastal community that happens to have a remarkable daily ritual at its centre, and the waterfront reflects that: practical, well-maintained, easy to navigate.

For those who want to extend the walk, the foreshore path continues south toward the channel entrance where the lake meets the ocean — a longer stroll of around two kilometres return that's still flat and manageable. The channel itself is worth seeing: the narrow gap where lake water pushes into the sea is a favourite spot for local fishermen and the occasional curious pelican.

Bringing grandchildren? The splash park at Memorial Park

Memorial Park includes a water play area — a ground-level splash park with jets and sprays that operates during warmer months. It's positioned close enough to the pelican feeding platform that grandparents can watch both simultaneously, which is either convenient or chaotic depending on the ages involved. The play area is fenced and supervised by parents in the usual way, and the flat surrounding lawn gives grandparents plenty of room to sit comfortably nearby.

For a solo traveller visiting without family, the splash park is background colour — the sound of children is part of the park's afternoon atmosphere. But for those planning a grandparent visit to The Entrance, the combination of the pelican feeding, the water play and an ice cream from one of the Marine Parade shops makes for a full and satisfying outing that works for genuinely different ages at once.

Getting to The Entrance from Victoria and from Sydney

From Melbourne, The Entrance is most practically reached by flying to Sydney (around 90 minutes) and then travelling north by road or public transport. A hire car from Sydney Airport gives the most flexibility — the drive to The Entrance via the M1 Pacific Motorway is roughly 90 to 100 minutes in moderate traffic, though peak-hour Friday afternoons on the M1 are best avoided. Allow time for the toll roads and confirm current e-TAG requirements before travelling.

By public transport from Sydney, the most reliable route is a train from Central Station to Gosford on the Central Coast Line — trains run regularly and the journey takes around 75 to 90 minutes. From Gosford, bus services connect to The Entrance via Shelly Beach Road; confirm current timetables on the Transport NSW journey planner at transportnsw.info, as connections require some planning. The walk from the bus stop to Memorial Park is short and flat. An Opal card works across both train and bus legs.

For travellers already based on the Central Coast or in Newcastle, The Entrance is an easy self-drive of thirty to sixty minutes. Newcastle visitors should allow around 75 minutes. There is free and paid parking near Memorial Park — arrival well before 3:00 pm on weekends secures a closer spot without stress.

Staying overnight: making a night of it at The Entrance

The Entrance doesn't have a five-star hotel, and that's fine. What it has is a range of motels, holiday apartments and caravan parks that cater to independent travellers who want a clean room, a waterfront view and somewhere to have breakfast without a queue. Several motel options sit within walking distance of Memorial Park, and self-contained apartments along the foreshore are well-suited to travellers who prefer to cook their own meals. Indicative motel rates run from around $130–$200 per night; confirm current availability and pricing directly with accommodation providers.

An overnight stay opens up the morning as well as the afternoon. The estuary at sunrise, before the day-trippers arrive, is a different experience entirely — quieter water, better light for photography, and the pelicans already on the move well before their scheduled afternoon performance. The town's bakeries and cafes open early, and the foreshore walk is particularly pleasant in the cooler part of a morning.

Practical notes for over-50 travellers

The Entrance is one of those places that suits a deliberate pace. The pelican feeding is at 3:30 pm, which means a late lunch followed by a short walk to the park is a natural rhythm. There's no need to rush, and no advantage in arriving much earlier than 3:15. The flat terrain throughout the park and along Marine Parade means very little physical demand — comfortable walking shoes are sufficient, and there's no terrain that requires poles or specialised footwear.

Sun protection is worth taking seriously, particularly on the open lawn at Memorial Park in the warmer months. A hat, sunscreen and a light layer are sensible. Public amenities in the park are accessible. For travellers with mobility aids, the paths between car parking, the park and Marine Parade are sealed and level — though it's worth confirming current conditions with Central Coast Council if specific accessibility requirements apply.

Travel insurance for domestic trips is worth considering regardless of age, and particularly relevant for travellers with pre-existing conditions who may need to cover unexpected medical costs. Check that your policy covers cancellation and medical expenses before travelling.