The Skillion

Climb the grassy headland above The Haven and Terrigal opens up in both directions: Wamberal to the north, Avoca Beach to the south. The walk up takes most people 10 to 15 minutes on a sealed path with a short stair section near the top, a moderate climb rather than a serious hike, and one of the few things to do in Terrigal that costs nothing and takes under 15 minutes.

Between June and November this is one of the more reliable whale-watching points on the stretch, with migrating humpbacks visible from the headland on a clear day. The path down connects straight to Terrigal Haven, and it's from that harbour that boats leave for the Ex-HMAS Adelaide dive wreck, so the three landmarks work as one short loop rather than three separate stops. For anyone with only a morning free, this is the one to prioritise: it covers the most ground in the least time.

Dogs are welcome on the climb itself on a lead, and Council's designated off-leash area sits just below at the Haven, so it's easy to let a dog run free before or after the walk rather than keeping it leashed the whole visit.