Mulled aperol, whale watching, and all the gin: The ultimate Central Coast weekend away

Aperol spritzes and summer basically go hand-in-hand, but what if you could have your daily dose in the winter sunshine (or rain) too? If you're after a cheeky weekend away, with the right mix of relaxation and adventures, the Central Coast is calling your name.

The newly launched 'Pacific Club' in the Crowne Plaza Terrigal is bringing a new meaning to coastal relaxation and luxury, with its refurbished look, ocean views, and the added touches of personal concierge and in-room wellness kits to make your trip away feel like a complete rejuvenation of mind, body and soul.

From fine dining at the Meribella restaurant to enjoying mulled Aperol in a cosy cabana at Terrigal Beach House (or 'The Beery' as locals call it), whether it's a girls' trip away, a romantic night or two with your partner, or you just want to treat your mum, going to the coast shouldn't just be saved for a summer vacation.

Here's how to spend a long weekend in Terrigal

There's something extremely nice about being able to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for a weekend and enjoy a cheeky coastal retreat and pretend you're off to start a new, luxurious life for yourself even if it's only for 2-3 days.

While sometimes it's hard to prioritise self-care and relaxation, the lure of trying a mulled Aperol spritz really piqued my interest when deciding to drag one of my mates to Terrigal for a winter weekend escape.

Friday: Arrive and fine dine

We arrived around 4pm, handed our car over to the concierge for the valet parking (like the fancy ladies we are), and arrived at the absolutely stunning Pacific Suite room at the Crowne Plaza.

From the robes, to the skincare kits in the bathroom, to the incredible view, and a bottle of sparkling wine ready to pop, we were basically living our hot girl summer fantasy right in the middle of winter.

The Friday mood was in 'treat yourself zone' from the get-go. We wandered upstairs to the drinks section of the Meribella restaurant for some oysters and a frozen vodka shot (don't ask, just say yes) before heading in for a seven-course dinner with matching wines. Yes, seven courses. Yes, we basically had to be rolled out of there.

After all the delicious food (my recommendation is the Barramundi with pumpkin and fennel... I'm still thinking about it), it was time to robe up, face-mask up, and pass out in a food coma.

Saturday: Boozin' and cruisin'

Chances are you may not be hungry yet, but the breakfast buffet at the Crowne will have you salivating again anyway. Whether you choose to get a freshly made omelette, or just take your pick of fruit, danishes, or hot food, it's a hearty start to the morning before taking off to the high seas.

Late winter and springtime is the perfect time to go whale watching on the Central Coast and Terrigal Ocean Tours will provide you with an up close and personal experience of watching the Humpback Whale migration.

Post the excitement of whale-watching, it's a good time to take a leisurely stroll along the beach or esplanade, and then a little hair of the dog at Distillery Botanica, a gin distillery owned by Phillip Moore.

To put it simply, the distillery is magical: with three acres of tranquil gardens, with the flowers and plants set out perfectly to transport you to a blue and orange-hued paradise and to showcase the fresh ingredients used in the popular gins, the distillery offers tastings, tours, and cocktail-making classes. You don't have to be a huge gin drinker to appreciate the smooth taste of the gins on offer, plus try some of the white rum too for good measure — it's impossible to leave the distillery empty-handed.

From here, it's time to freshen up at the hotel before the very small stroll downstairs to check out Terrigal Beach House and its famous Mulled Aperol.

We did the cabana experience, where we enjoyed the sun, a charcuterie board, and the mulled Aperol — and here's the biggest selling point I can possibly say. I am not an Aperol Spritz girlie at the best of times. I find it bitter and weird to drink in summer and would much prefer a rosé or marg. But this mulled edition of the drink? Game-changing. Delicious. Warming. Sucked all the bitterness out of me.

So I must admit, I stand corrected. It was an absolute treat and whoever invented it should be commended.

After a day of exploring, sampling drinks, and still being full from dinner the night before, it's a good time to enjoy your fancy suite and order room service. Live your best lazy girl life tonight, sis!

Sunday: Recovery brunch and oysters galore

Look, I'm a simple gal who just loves a breakfast buffet at the end of the day and there's no chance I was leaving Terrigal without another attempt to sample most things on offer.

From there, if you're heading back Sydney way, we recommend Broken Bay Pearl Farm, where you can get an oyster shucking demonstration, sample a range of oysters, and maybe even treat yourself to some jewellery if you want to top off your fancy weekend with an extra little treat.

Other tips and tricks:

The Crowne Plaza also features an Endota Spa so if you're not a drinker, not big on water adventures, or really just want to spend the weekend lounging and decompressing, robe and all, we'd recommend booking in a treatment or two for maximum relaxation!

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