Forster Travel Guide: Ocean Walks, Lake Views & Fresh Seafood

Forster is a beach and lake town on the NSW Mid North Coast, around 3 hours and 30 minutes and 311 km from Sydney. Twin town Tuncurry sits just across the bridge, and together they sit between the Pacific Ocean and Wallis Lake in the Great Lakes region. Ocean baths, calm water for kayaking and boating, and a network of coastal walks make Forster an easy town to visit, plus it’s also large enough that there’s an excellent, varied local dining scene and plenty of accommodation options.

Although Forster is well set up for visitors, it feels very much like a town with an active local community. From the early morning swimmers to the groups brunching in the cafes, it gives the impression that people live there and love it and it’s not just a tourist town.

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Yes, especially if you want a lakeside base with beaches, ocean baths, coastal walks and easy access to water activities. Forster has plenty to fill a few days, including the Bicentennial Walk, nearby Cape Hawke Lookout, a choice of beaches and sheltered swimming at the Ocean Baths or The Tanks. Our last visit was at the end of winter and there was still plenty to do for a relaxed but active weekend.

The town sits right next to twin town Tuncurry across the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge, so a visit can combine Forster’s beaches and walks with Wallis Lake cruises and fresh local seafood on either side.

Local history: Forster is named after William Forster, the 4th Premier of New South Wales, even though his entire premiership lasted only four months – one of the shortest in NSW history.

• Swimming options for every level of swimmer, from the ocean baths and sheltered rock pool at The Tanks to the waves at Forster Beach and One Mile Beach.
• Bicentennial walk linking Forster Ocean Baths, Second Head Lookout, Pebbly Beach, The Tanks and Bennetts Head Lookout.
• Wallis Lake on the doorstep, with dolphin and whale-watching cruises, kayaking and boat hire.
• A good mix of local seafood, Turkish and Middle Eastern, Mexican and Italian dining across Forster and Tuncurry.
• Cape Hawke Lookout, with coastal views across to One Mile Beach and the sand dunes.

Distance from Sydney	Around 3 hours and 30 minutes, 311 km
Best for	Families, walkers, foodies and lake-and-beach breaks
Known for	The Bicentennial Walk, Forster Ocean Baths, Cape Hawke Lookout and Wallis Lake
Ideal stay	2–3 nights
Best time to visit	Any time of year, with warmer months for swimming and May to November for whale watching.
Accommodation	Our favourite: Dorsal by the Sea Hotels & motels: Booking.com Holiday homes: Stayz

• Half a day: Start at Forster Ocean Baths, walk to Second Head Lookout and back, then swim at The Tanks or Forster Beach.
• Full day: Add the rest of the Bicentennial Walk to One Mile Beach, lunch at Si Senorita or Thirty Three Degrees and spend the afternoon on the lake with hired SUPs or kayaks.
• Weekend: Spend a day around the Bicentennial Walk and Ocean Baths, then add Cape Hawke Lookout, a Wallis Lake cruise and dinner at one of the local restaurants.
• 2–3 nights: A more relaxed option with time for the breakwater and Memorial Drive walk, a lake cruise or kayak hire, and a couple of the area’s better restaurants.

Follow the Bicentennial Walk

The Bicentennial Walk links the town’s best-known spots in one route, including the Ocean Baths, Pebbly Beach, The Tanks and One Mile Beach and is the perfect way to start your visit in Forster.

The walk starts at Forster Ocean Baths and then climbs through bushland to Second Head. From there, stairs lead down to Pebbly Beach, and the walk continues along the foreshore past the popular Tanks swimming area to Bennetts Head Lookout, another good vantage point for dolphins. The walk then carries on to the One Mile Beach sand dune, where you can continue along the beach towards Palmgrove Park and the more secluded Burgess Beach.

The full walk is 4 km but, if your time is limited, you could just do the partial walk from the Ocean Baths to One Mile Beach for the best views.

Personal note: We started right from Forster Ocean Baths and found it’s a great way to see most of the town’s main attractions in one go, taking in the beaches, lookouts and The Tanks along the way.

Swim in the Forster Ocean Baths

The Forster Ocean Baths (known locally as the Bull Ring) stay busy through the day, even in winter, with people doing laps or a leisurely swim in groups. There are changing facilities close by, and the Dorsal by the Sea restaurant sits across the road for coffee, breakfast or lunch afterwards.

The pool is emptied and cleaned once a month. Check the current cleaning schedule before you plan a swim.

Personal note: The breakfast servings at Dorsal by the Sea, right across from the baths, are enormous, so go in with an appetite after your swim.

Cool off at The Tanks

The Tanks is a natural rock formation just off the beach that forms a calm, shallow swimming area, well suited to kids. At high tide, waves wash over the rocks; at low tide, more sand is exposed and the water is shallow enough to wade. There are picnic tables and toilets close by.

Relax at Forster Beach

Forster Beach runs between the Ocean Baths and the Breakwall, with a headland walk beside the surf club that adds ocean lookouts to a beach visit. Beach Bums Cafe, right next to the surf club, is a casual spot for coffee or breakfast afterwards.

Personal note: On a late August visit we watched whales with their new calves passing close to shore on their return migration south, followed by a pod of dolphins once the whales had moved on.

Walk the breakwater and Memorial Drive

Another level walk follows the breakwater, a good spot for dolphins and whales, then continues past the marina and under the bridge to Memorial Drive.

Memorial Drive continues down to the Lake Baths, with views across Wallis Lake and Miles Island. Cafes and restaurants line the way, including the Waterline Boathouse Seafood Restaurant and Bar, a good stop for fresh oysters.

Get out on the water

Wallis Lake is the base for several boat and kayak hire operators, along with lunch, sunset, dolphin and whale-watching cruises. Aussie Boatshed hires boats, kayaks and paddleboards with no licence required, while Free Spirit Cruises runs lunch, sunset and wildlife cruises on the lake.

Take in the views from Cape Hawke Lookout

Cape Hawke Lookout sits within Booti Booti National Park, around a 10-minute drive from Forster. From the car park, it’s about a 15-minute walk uphill to the summit, mostly on stairs, and the track can get slippery when wet. At the top, a lookout tower adds three more flights of stairs to a viewing platform.

Personal note: The views were quite built out with trees in most directions on our last visit, but we could still see north to One Mile Beach and the sand dunes.

Extend your trip to Pacific Palms and Seal Rocks

Forster sits at the northern end of a stretch of coast, with Pacific Palms around 20 km south, about 25 minutes along The Lakes Way. There is then a cluster of beach villages including Boomerang Beach, Blueys Beach and Elizabeth Beach.

Booti Booti National Park sits between Forster and Pacific Palms and includes the Cape Hawke Lookout, and the Booti Loop Walk, an 8 km loop with ocean views and beaches, starting from Elizabeth Beach.

Seal Rocks is further again, around 45 km and 45 to 50 minutes south of Forster, and has a quieter, more remote feel than Pacific Palms. Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is the main drawcard, along with Number One Beach and Boat Beach nearby.

Personal note: Seal Rocks is very quiet – the lighthouse, two beaches, a shop and a coffee cart. It’s a gorgeous beach for a swim or a walk to the lighthouse but you won’t find other activities or restaurants nearby.

Forster and Tuncurry have plenty of good dining between fresh-caught seafood and Turkish and Middle Eastern share plates. Book ahead for the busier spots, especially on weekends.

• Fresh seafood and oysters: Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Co-op.
• Lake views: Thirty Three Degrees, across the bridge from the main township.
• Our pick for dinner: Si Senorita, with lake views and a menu including chicken wings, corn ribs and nachos. Popular, so book ahead, especially on weekends.
• Asian fusion: Spice Monkey, almost next door to Si Senorita.
• Turkish: Anatolia Turkish Cuisine, great for eat-in or takeaway, and worth a stop just for the Turkish donuts or a takeaway pack of Turkish delight.
• Big breakfast or lunch: Dorsal by the Sea, in the base of the hotel of the same name, with huge servings and a following among locals on weekdays.
• Middle Eastern share plates: Mezza, popular with locals.
• Gin tasting and dinner: Wharf Street Distillery, with gin tasting paddles and a restaurant.
• Fresh oysters with a view: Waterline Boathouse Seafood Restaurant and Bar, on Memorial Drive.

There are options across Forster and Tuncurry, from beachfront hotels to family-friendly holiday parks. We’ve included a few of our favourites below, or check Booking.com for hotels and motels and Stayz for holiday houses.

Dorsal by the Sea

Dorsal by the Sea sits directly across from the Ocean Baths and Forster Beach, around a 10-minute walk from the restaurants on Memorial Drive.

Personal note: We stayed here on our last visit and found clean rooms, excellent views and a great location, with friendly check-in and a restaurant on site. If your budget allows, a room with ocean views and a balcony is definitely worth the extra expense. The hotel sits right across the road from the beach and ocean pool so you can watch dolphins play in the waves and keep an eye out for migrating whales from your balcony.

Beaches International

Beaches International offers apartments rather than hotel rooms and is an excellent option for families or groups who are looking for 2 or 3-bedroom apartments. The location is fantastic (close to the beach) and the views from the apartments, particularly from the higher levels, are stunning.

Hotel Forster

Hotel Forster is a slightly cheaper option than Dorsal by the Sea and offers family room options, a pool onsite and clean and comfortable rooms. The hotel is further away from the beach (around a 5-minute drive).

More accommodation options

For more options, check accommodation across both Forster and Tuncurry rather than limiting the search to one side of the bridge. Booking.com is a good option for hotels and motels, and holiday houses are widely available on Stayz.

• Summer: Best for swimming, with the busiest period and peak school-holiday crowds.
• Autumn: Milder walking weather, with water still warm enough for a swim.
• Winter: Quieter, and prime time for whale watching along the headlands.
• Spring: Good for coastal walks and the tail end of the whale-watching season.

2-day Forster itinerary

Day 1: Start at Forster Ocean Baths and follow the Bicentennial Walk to Second Head Lookout, Pebbly Beach, The Tanks and Bennetts Head, finishing at One Mile Beach. Swim at the Ocean Baths or The Tanks along the way, then book dinner at Si Senorita.

Day 2: Drive to Cape Hawke Lookout for coastal views, then walk the breakwater and Memorial Drive down to the Lake Baths. Book a Wallis Lake cruise or hire a kayak in the afternoon, then finish with fresh oysters at the Waterline Boathouse.

Forster is a busy family holiday town rather than a quiet boutique escape, and the centre gets crowded over summer and school holidays. Outside the peak summer weeks, Forster is noticeably quieter, so shoulder-season visits suit anyone after a slower pace.

Forster is around 311 km north of Sydney by road, with a typical drive of about 3 hours and 30 minutes via the Pacific Highway and M1.

A car is the easiest way to get around and explore Wallis Lake, Cape Hawke Lookout and the walks. Trains and buses run from Sydney via Newcastle or Taree, but journeys typically involve a transfer and take considerably longer than driving.

• Check the MidCoast Council cleaning schedule before planning a swim at the Ocean Baths, as the pool is emptied and cleaned once a month.
• Book cruises, Si Senorita and the Waterline Boathouse ahead, especially on weekends.
• The Bicentennial Walk can be done in sections. Start at the Ocean Baths if you only have an hour or so.
• Cape Hawke Lookout involves a steady uphill climb on stairs and is slippery after rain, so wear good shoes.
• Whale watching from the headlands runs May to November. The best time to spot whales is at the tail end of this season, when the whales migrate south with their calves, as they often swim closer to shore.

Is Forster worth a weekend?

Yes, particularly if you combine the Bicentennial Walk and Ocean Baths with a Wallis Lake cruise or kayak and a seafood dinner.

Should we stay in Forster or Tuncurry?

Forster has the Ocean Baths, main beach and the Bicentennial Walk, while Tuncurry sits just across the bridge with its own beaches and a quieter feel. Both are close enough that staying on either side works well.

Can you swim in Forster?

Yes. Forster has the Ocean Baths near the town centre, the sheltered rock pool at The Tanks, and Forster Beach itself. Check local conditions and any patrol information before swimming at the beach.