Narara Central Coast, New South Wales
Narara railway station
Narara
Coordinates	33°23′53″S 151°21′4″E / 33.39806°S 151.35111°E / -33.39806; 151.35111
Population	8,471 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	1,436/km2 (3,720/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2250
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Area	5.9 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Location	4 km (2 mi) N of Gosford 87 km (54 mi) S of Newcastle 79 km (49 mi) N of Sydney 23 km (14 mi) SW of The Entrance
LGA(s)	Central Coast Council
Parish	Gosford
State electorate(s)	The Entrance Gosford
Federal division(s)	Dobell Robertson
Suburbs around Narara: Somersby Niagara Park Niagara Park Somersby Narara Wyoming West Gosford Gosford North Gosford

Narara (/nəˈrærə/ ^ⓘ) is a suburb just north of Gosford on the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Central Coast Council local government area.

The suburb is mostly residential but also holds Narara railway station on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. It also contains a number of parks, sporting grounds, and a concrete public skatepark. It is the home of Narara Valley High School, a NSW government public high school, and St Philips Christian College Gosford, a private school educating children from kindergarten to year twelve.

It is also home to the Narara Ecovillage, which aims to research, design and build a stylish, intergenerational, friendly demonstration Ecovillage, blending the principles of ecological and social sustainability, good health, business, caring and other options that can evolve from our well-being.^[2] Narara also hosts the annual Ecoburbia festival, awarded Best Community Event by Gosford City Council in 2015.^[3]

The name 'Narara' can be traced back to the local Aboriginal term for 'black snake', which appears on the official emblem of Narara Valley High School and the scarf of 1st Narara Scout Group.^[4][5]

The Narara Music Festival was held nearby in Somersby in 1983 and 1984. The Angels, an Australian rock band, produced a live album recorded at the festival, Live at Narara.

Narara largely consisted of orchards and small mixed farms. Water from the small dams that used to be accessible from Narara Creek Road was piped in wooden piping across Narara Creek to the Railway station to supply steam trains. The dams were also a popular swimming spot especially when the ladder and walkway still existed on the lower dam wall.

Narara sits in the traditional lands of the Darkinjung people, whose name of the area means black snake.

In the early 19th century, the arrival of Europeans dramatically changed the landscape and lifestyle of the Darkinjung people. European settlers, primarily engaged in agriculture, began to usurp on Indigenous territories. The land around Narara was part of the early colonial expansion of European settlers in New South Wales.^{[citation needed]}

In the mid-1800s, the Central Coast region experienced a slow development, as Europeans established farms and industries. Narara, in its proximity to the Pacific coast, was initially valued for its agricultural drive, and the area took shape as part of the wide Central Coast development.^{[citation needed]}

Narara grew into a residential suburb in the 20th century, following the arrival of the railway in the region. The Main North line reached through Narara in 1887, facilitating easier access to Sydney and the surrounding regions, bringing more people to the area and spurring residential development.^{[citation needed]}

In the mid-20th century, Narara transformed from a rural farming community to a more suburban area as urbanization spread across the Central Coast. Housing estates and infrastructure projects were established, and Narara's population grew. As it was more connected to the rest of the Central Coast and to Sydney, Narara became an increasingly popular area for families and retirees seeking a quieter, more suburban lifestyle, in closeness to the city.^{[citation needed]}

• Narara Valley High School website
• St Philips Christian College Gosford website
• Narara Ecovillage
• Narara Eco Living Network