The Central Coast has quietly become one of New South Wales' most exciting craft beverage regions, and Forresters Beach sits right in the middle of it. Within a 20–30 minute drive of the cottage, you can tour a working microbrewery in Kincumber, sip botanical wine in the rolling hills of Holgate, or sample small-batch gin at a cellar door in Erina. It's a far cooler scene than most Sydney visitors expect — and a lovely way to spend a lazy afternoon while you're staying at Forries Beach Cottage.

Where to start: If you only have time for one stop, make it Six String Brewing Co. in Erina — the Coast's original craft brewery and just 12 minutes from the cottage. Their taproom on The Entrance Road runs regular live music, has a relaxed industrial vibe, and pours everything from their flagship Pale Ale to limited seasonal releases. Pair a tasting paddle with a wood-fired pizza and you've got a perfect Saturday afternoon. For something more boutique, Block 'N Tackle Brewery in Kincumber offers 12 rotating taps, ciders, and brewery tours in a fishing-themed taproom that locals adore.

For wine lovers: The Coast is small but mighty when it comes to wineries. Firescreek Botanical Winery at Holgate (about 20 minutes away) is genuinely unique — they craft wines from native Australian botanicals, fruits and flowers rather than grapes, and their immersive garden tours and chocolate-pairing experiences have won national awards. Bookings are essential on weekends. Just down the road, Distillery Botanica in Erina is a gin-lovers paradise — the multi-award-winning Mr Black Coffee Liqueur was born here, and the landscaped gardens make for a beautiful long lunch.

Plan a brewery trail: A great day out is to combine three or four venues into a self-drive (or designated-driver) loop. A typical Coast trail starts at Bay Rd Brewing on Gosford's waterfront for lunch, heads north to Big Little Brewing in North Gosford for an experimental small-batch tasting, then loops back via Hawkesbury Brewing Co. in Lisarow for sundowners — all within a 25-minute radius. If you'd rather not drive, several local operators including Central Coast Brewery Tours and Coast Eats run guided minibus tours from Terrigal and Avoca on weekends, with pickup available from Forresters Beach by request.

Family and dog-friendly tips: Most taprooms welcome well-behaved kids until early evening, and Six String, Block 'N Tackle and Native Botanical Brewery all have outdoor areas where dogs are welcome on leads — handy if you've brought the family pet to the cottage. Check individual websites for live music nights, food-truck schedules and seasonal release events, which often sell out fast on summer weekends.