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Review
The beating heart of the Central Coast, linking the quickly-growing coastal region to the centre of Sydney via a (pretty damn scenic) direct train line, Gosford is on the up and up. And Voco Gosford – a brand-new 28-storey tower in the centre of town – is leading the charge. There is, undeniably, something that feels a little strange about the presence of a sparkling metropolis in such a sleepy town, but after spending a night here, it’s hard to deny that this well-appointed mega venue is a huge boost to the area.
Rising up into the sky in the heart of the small town, Voco Gosford is a coastal-inspired hotel overlooking Brisbane Water – home to 130 rooms, six food and drink venues and plenty of spaces for events. It’s a seriously polished base for exploring the Central Coast, with the foreshore, beaches and national parks all within easy reach, and a huge rooftop pool primed for slow holiday mornings.
Ranging from King Standard and Bay View rooms to Premium Balcony rooms, Queen rooms and King Suites, there’s a whole lot to choose from on the rooms front – meaning it’s a really great option for big groups looking for a base on the Cenny Coast. Lots of the rooms have private balconies and water or mountain views, and the influence of the surrounding area is beautifully evident in the design: all sandy tones and touches of ocean blue. Designed by Melbourne-based interiors firm Hecker Guthrie, the simple aesthetic feels like it will genuinely stand the test of time, and the features (notably the brass-toned raindance showers and thoughtful lighting) make the rooms seriously comfy spaces to call home for a weekend.
There’s more than one: the hotel is home to six food and drink venues, including Italian restaurant Paolo’s, pub-style Archies and Ironbark, breakfast spot Saltfire and Astra Rooftop, which serves on-point Japanese eats and cocktails with Brisbane Water views. During our stay, we filled up on a seriously good Italian lunch at Paolo’s (order the squid ink pasta, you won’t regret it) and masterfully-prepared share plates at Astra. While the food was genuinely excellent at both venues, it was the vibe of Astra that struck me the most – high up on the 28th-floor with floor-to-ceiling windows framing a sparkling, almost NYC-coded space, the room was buzzing with groups of joyful locals celebrating birthdays and engagements. The food was deeply flavoursome and carefully prepared and the drinks were spot-on, but it was the pocket of exciting city energy overlooking this laid-back coastal town that felt particularly special.
Service during our stay was standout, particularly from the team at the restaurants.
Yes. The hotel has a fully equipped gym, and there’s a short walking trail along the foreshore if you’re keen to get your steps in outdoors.
You’ll find the pool on the fifth floor, and it’s a pretty key feature – surrounded by comfy loungers that catch the sunshine from mid-morning through the afternoon. There’s also a swim-up bar, though opening hours of this one can vary so don’t plan your trip around a poolside Spritz.
There’s no spa, but there’s a sauna open to guests until 9pm every night.
The hotel is in the very centre of Gosford, with the Gosford foreshore an easy walk from breakfast, and the Central Coast’s beautiful beaches and nearby national parks making up the local day-trip drawcards. Pearl Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand surrounded by bushland, is our top pick for a beach day in the area. The hotel is also around an eight-minute walk from Gosford train station, making it fairly easy to reach without a car.
Address: 108 Donnison Street, Gosford NSW 2250
Price per night: From $211 per night
Closest transport link: Gosford Train Station – an eight-minute walk from the hotel (around 500 metres).
Book now: Over here.
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