Most people head to the Central Coast for a weekend or holiday dose of fun in the sun, but if you like to mix your sun, sand and surf with a little bit of shopping and fine art, then the galleries found in the green rolling hills and beachside villages of the Central Coast are just what the doctor ordered.

Gosford is the first town most people get to when they arrive on the Central Coast, so your first stop on the arts trail should be the Gosford Regional Gallery at East Gosford. The three gallery spaces here show a range of interesting exhibitions of contemporary and traditional art, with a mixture of major Australian artists and local artists. Exhibitions change regularly so there is always something new to see. The gift shop is a great place to find unusual presents, with locally made, and very affordable, hand-crafted pieces.

The gallery is also home to the Edogawa Japanese Gardens, one of the best examples of a traditional Japanese garden in regional Australia. The garden was a gift from the city of Edogawa in Japan. There are free guided tours of the Gallery and Garden available for pre-booked groups, or you can simply wander the meandering pathways by yourself. If it's lunch time, the Caroline Bay Brassiere inside the gallery is one of the nicest places in town to relax with a glass of wine while you gaze over the peaceful gardens and fish-filled ponds.

From Gosford, head east towards the sea at Avoca, where you'll find Cape Three Points Studio. Featuring the work of local artist Aleida Pullar, her stunning canvases and ceramics are inspired by the coastal waters, tides, headlands and skies of nearby Avoca Beach. Work ranges from wallpieces, tiles, bowls and platters to exhibition pieces.

The Mousehole Pottery and Crafts, also in Avoca, has a range of locally handmade pottery, glass, babywear, jams and cards.

Next art stop is the Neale Joseph Fine Art Gallery at Erina Heights, which features beautiful landscapes by one of Australia's best emerging artists. Neale's impressionistic, light-filled oils of local beaches are being snapped up by collectors and investors, including George Bush (senior) who hung one of his paintings in the White House, the late Arthur Boyd and the Prime Minister, John Howard.

Neale, who is self taught, enjoys meeting visitors to his restored cottage gallery. "I don't believe in creating barriers between the artist and the public," he says. "We have regular 'meet the artist' afternoons here in the gallery gardens, where we can enjoy the art together with nibbles, champagne and music, often a string quartet. It's a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon", says Neale, with a grin. He clearly enjoys talking to people about his work and inspiration.

From Erina, take a drive through the Matcham Valley (eight kilometres from Terrigal) to the Ken Duncan Gallery, the largest privately-owned photographic collection in Australia. Many of his most well-known panoramic landscape photographs are on display in the two-roomed gallery, as well as a changing display of magnificent limited edition prints. All of Duncan's books are available at the gallery, as well as a large selection of uniquely Australian gifts.

Twenty minutes further north, at Toowoon Bay just south of the Entrance, is the Toowoon Bay Gallery, where you'll find a wide range of pieces created by leading Australian artists, potters and glassmakers, including original oils and water colours and limited edition Australiana prints, at quite reasonable prices.

From Toowoon Bay, head inland again to Kulnura, deep in the farming hinterland of the coast, for the last stop on this trail, Bumble Hill Studio. Set in lovely park-like cottage gardens, which are part of the Open Garden Scheme, the gallery was originally built to house and show the hand-made and pit-fired raku pottery of owner, Val Taylor. It has since grown to show and sell paintings, sculpture glass and other works by a wide range of Australian artists.

From Kulnura, you can head east along Yarramalong Road to join the F3 Freeway around 20 km away, snake you way south again on back roads via Central Mangrove and Peats Ridge, or simply head straight back to any one of dozens of sea side villages to catch up on your sun, sand and sea