Things to do, places to go, games to play around

Green Point, Pacific Palms & Forster

What's on & what's coming up around the Great Lakes

Click on the link to the Barrington Coast website below. It lists a current guide for art, music, markets & more around the Manning & Great Lakes region.

• Whats on around the Barrington Coast?

 Below is a link to the Visit NSW website that has a great list of activities such as fishing, surfing, whale watching and eating out around Forster and surrounds.

• Visit NSW

We also provide a link to your own Guest Guide link when you confirm your booking. Every house also has its own hard copy information book with much of the information provided here and more.

My favourite things to do

1. Early morning kayak
2. Walk down to Seven Mile Beach
3. Ride my mountain bike through Booti Booti National Park
4. Have a swim at Tuncurry Rock pool and an egg and bacon roll at Beach Bums
5. Go to Seal Rocks for a snorkel
6. Take a hike out on Treachery Headland
7. Watch the sunset behind the hills over the lake with my grandson

BEST BEACHES

Smoke House Beach (Green Point) This beach is right in the village on Wallis Lake and is ideal for young children or just to paddle around. You can walk into the lake up to 200 meters till the water reaches hip level. Access down path between 97 & 95 Green Point Drive. Watch out for the occasional sting ray or blue swimmer crab! (3 minutes away).                                                                      The Sailing Club A hidden gem. A lake side beach that is very safe for young children and sheltered from summer winds. Great sandy beach and no rips or nasties. (5 minutes away).

Elizabeth Beach (Pacific Palms) Looking north up Seven Mile Beach the view towards Cape Hawke is very picturesque. During peak periods Lizzie Beach can get terribly busy. Take your own refreshments as there are no shops. (8 minutes away).

Shelly Beach (Pacific Palms) Shelly Beach is probably the best beach for swimming in the area as it is very sheltered. You’ll probably need to cool off as well after the ten-minute stretch to reach the beach. Be prepared to go ‘au naturale’ as this is the local nudie beach (why do they always find the best beaches?). Shelly is one of my favourite places and the view is stunning. (10 minutes away).

Boomerang Beach (Pacific Palms) One of the best beaches on the coast (in my opinion). Very picturesque and always a spot somewhere to enjoy a walk, a wave or just a paddle. (10 minutes away)

Blueys Beach (Pacific Palms) Named after ‘Bluey’ the Cow who fell to her death from the paddock at the southern end of the beach, Bluey’s Beach must be one of the East Coast’s finest with its vista of Seal Rocks Lighthouse and the rolling hills of littoral rain forest. (10 minutes away).

Cellito Beach (Smiths Lake) The locals best kept secret. A bit of an effort to get to but well worth it. Best conditions for surfing is during north easterly or even in due easterlies when all the other breaks are closing out. The walk along the beach south towards Seal Rocks is worth the effort with Smiths Lakes on one side and the ocean on the other. A favourite haunt for local surfers. (20 minutes away)

One Mile Beach (Forster)A well patrolled beach with good swimming at the southern end. Some big surf further up the beach for the big boys (and girls). (10 minutes away).

Main Beach (Forster) A popular swimming beach that can get very busy in peak times. A tidal swimming pool is also available. The beach is patrolled most of the times and is relatively safe but very exposed in summer north easterlies.  The coffee at Beach Bums is great and so are the bacon and egg rolls. (10 minutes way).

Burgess Beach (Forster) There are two beaches here. One is rocky with lots of pools to fossick around in with lots of rock pools. The other one is off to the right and has a lot more sand. Great for families.

The Rock Pool (Tuncurry) Great for the kids to paddle in and swim in but stay close to the shore. Out near the nets the tidal currents can be very strong. A good picnic area with a kiosk for breakie, light meals cold drinks and ice creams.  (20 minutes away).

WALKS

All Trails is invaluable resource for hikers, walkers and strollers. Its available as an ap or on your PC. I've listed some of my favourite tracks below.

Booti Booti National Park Starts at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach. Park at the beach end of the Ruins camp site and walk through to the beach. Turn right along the beach and look for the walkway up into the hillside. A fair level of fitness is needed up through the littoral forest, but the flora, birdlife and views are well worth it. Follow the path to Lethbridge Road (about 3 Km) and then turn right and right again until you get to the Lakesway. Turn right along the Lakesway and follow the track along by the lake. This loop track will take you on a very scenic path back to the Ruins. At a fair pace you are looking at a two-hour plus stretch.

Saltwater Headland Saltwater is Biripi country and just a short drive from Old Bar (takes a good 50 minutes from Green Point). It has an amazing estuary and surf break for either a northerly or southerly breeze/swell. There are some great short tracks through the bush, by the estuary and along the beach.

Janie's Corner You’ll have to drive to Janie’s and then walk out along the bottom of the cliff face to Shark Rock, where you can climb onto several rock platforms to enjoy the ebb and flow and watch the porpoise play. After climbing down walk along the smaller beach (Shark Beach) to the end where, if the tide is out, you can walk into a large cave that recedes into the cliff for around 30 to 50 meters depending on the sand level. I read that Seven Mile Beach was voted in one of the world’s top 25. But then you can’t believe everything you read…. Can you?

Cape Hawke track: Best to drive the car to the southern end of Burgess Road and follow the well trodden track over to Cape Hawke. There is a lookout at he top of the hill. If you have still got some steam left keep, there’s a track down to McBride’s Beach to cool off.

Whoota Whoota One of the most spectacular lookouts in the area, if not the entire coast. There is a track you can reach on the Coomba Road but it is a little hard to find. The track will take you through some dense rain forest and then a steep climb up to the forest road to the lookout. Total walking time is around ninety minutes return at a brisk pace. The track is well shaded and meanders over streams and gullies. It is a very pretty walk. 

Booti Booti Green Point Great for an early morning stroll. Take a left down Wharf Road (left off Green Point Drive). Just keep following the track to the very end. There is some great bird life including pelicans, sea eagles and black swans. If you are into yoga, it’s an idyllic place to have a stretch as you are surrounded on three sides by water and away from passing traffic.

Treachery Headland  It is a wild and stunningly beautiful location with views north to Sugarloaf Lighthouse and south over the Gibber, the most uninhabited coastline in New South Wales. After Byron Bay its Australia’s most easterly point. It’s an easy one hour stroll out and back with a big bang for your buck.

DRIVES

Lakes to lookouts

The extraordinary coastal lakes and headlands of our treasured national parks are matched with picture perfect beaches of white & gold. Inland you’ll discover forests of deep green including the tallest of the tall.

Myalls of beaches

Explore the superb southern precinct of Myall Lakes National Park. Wander coastal woodlands bounded by long isolated beaches and dig your toes into the white sands on the southern shores of the Barrington Coast.

Historical hinterland

Follow the footsteps of the European pioneers from the Australian Agricultural Company. You will explore the pretty valleys and villages of their renowned one-million-acre estate that now forms the Barrington coast.

Barrington explorer

Explore the world heritage wilderness of Barrington Tops. At the highest point of the Barrington Coast you’ll find trails leading to ancient forests, noisy cascades, lookouts across endless green and even snow in winter.

Valley to falls

Exploring the beautiful rural landscapes of the Manning prepares you for the spectacle of Ellenborough Falls, easily one of Australia’s top ten waterfall. Potaroo Falls is a delicious second course on this waterfall menu.

Sea to summit

From sea shore to mountain top.discover the beauty of the Barrington Coast. You’ll explore sancturies for abundant wildlife, deserted beaches, coastal wetlands, waterfalls & lookouts across our boundless splendour.

FUN PARKS

The Big Buzz Looking for things to do on the Mid North Coast, NSW? Visit The Big Buzz Fun Park! The amusement park is located between Forster-Tuncurry and Taree and offers a huge range of activities for the entire family. Explore the spectacular water park that offers water slides and swimming pools, or indulge in some outdoor activities including putt putt, laser tag, go karting and more! 

Forster Kids Spot Kids driving you crazy and it’s wet, damp and ‘orrible outside? Try The Kids Spot! The Great Lakes ONLY indoor Play Centre/Cafe.

Features include mega climbing maze, ball swamps, slides, jumping castle, toddlers area.

Billabong Zoo, Koala & Wildlife Park Highly recommended! Billabong Zoo is a 10-acre (over 4 hectares) wildlife park and koala breeding centre located in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. It was opened in 1986, primarily as a breeding centre for koalas, together with a wallaby and kangaroo hand-feeding area – a great favourite with children and adults alike. it’s now world-renowned for its koala breeding program and is also a significant regional zoo with a diverse range of Australian and Exotic animals and birds. It has been voted the region’s Top Attraction on a number of years as well receiving other Awards for service and value. 

Wallis Lake is your back garden, playground and Zen space. This video is of one of our neighbour's who regularly sails down to Pacific Palms Recreation Club for a cold beer and lunch when conditions are right. A friend captured this drone footage on his return to Green Point for an afternoon nap!