Forster: A Water Lover’s Paradise
Fresh water, salt water or both, if you love the water, then Forster, in the NSW Great Lakes area, is where you want to go. Since it is only about a three hour journey to this magical part of the state, it is also an accessible paradise.
Australian fishermen don’t need to be told about Forster. The region was first settled by fishermen and shipbuilders. After the bridge over Wallis Lake was completed in 1959, the two largest towns, Forster and Tuncurry, were merged into one and are now referred to as Forster-Tuncurry, though most people still just say "Forster." Aside from being an ideal location for fishing and shipbuilding, oysters were one of the original attractions of Wallis Lake and the oyster farming industry is still going strong there. Thanks to that, Forster restaurants have some of the best oyster dishes in Australia.
When surfers say they are going to "Forster," what they really mean is that they are going to one or more of the incredible surfing spots in the region. The beaches in the area are peppered with so many great spots for surfing, nobody who goes on a "surfing safari" to the area just goes to one of them. Some, like One Mile, are easier to get to than others, but surfers looking for uncrowded waves have innumerable secret and semi-secret spots to choose from along the 28 miles (45km) of coastline on the Forster coast.
The surfers will frequently criss-cross Booti Booti National Park in search of waves, taking the main road, Lakes Way. Take the drive along Lakes Way and you will discover some beautiful vacation spots that are popular destinations for both young surfers and fishermen and their families.
Boomerang Beach, Elizabeth Beach and Bluey’s Beach are three popular holiday spots in the Forster region. They are all great places for families, fishermen and surfers. With easy access to both Wallis Lake and the Tasman Sea, fishermen can go freshwater fishing one day, rock fishing the next and beach fishing in between. Boomerang is probably the most popular surfing beach, both because of its easy access and quality of waves, but those who are looking for uncrowded waves don’t need to drive far to find them.
Seal Rocks is a quiet, isolated community on the southern end of the Forster/Great Lakes region. To get there from Boomerang Beach takes you on a long, picturesque journey around Smiths Lake. It is still only about a half hour drive away, but when you get there, you feel like you’re in another world. There is a small community at Seal Rocks, but it has a fantastic feeling of isolation. One of the greatest things about the Forster area is that in the course of a single day, you can move from a large town with everything you want for a comfortable vacation to a tranquil village "far from the madding crowd."
Sydneysiders with limited time who want to get away from the big city love Forster. It’s only about 3 hours by car, bus or train from the city, so is ideal for a weekend getaway. If you have the time, though, stay longer, because you won’t want to leave. Forster accommodation ranges from some of the best campgrounds in NSW to luxurious resorts, so you won’t have trouble finding a comfortable place to stay.
