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Smiths Lake Smiths Lake township is on the western rim of Symes Bay and from the verandah of the boatshed it is possible to look east across to Sandbar, literally a sandbar which separates Smiths Lake from the ocean. Smiths Lake is separated from the ocean by a spit of sand which forms Sandbar Beach (fabulous for ocean fishing and surfing). It is one of the safest and most popular holiday destinations for families and water sports enthusiasts, with shallow salt water on a sandy bottom, that is ideal for swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing or sailing. Smiths Lake has a small town centre with a bakery, butcher, grocerer, liquorshop, take-away and hairdresser. The Pacific Palms Bowling Club is also located at Smiths Lake, and is great for sit-down and take-away meals. |
Sandbar and Cellito Beach If you have a motor boat or 'tinnie' it will take a couple of minutes across the water from the back of The Noreaster to Sandbar beach. Cellito beach is the closest surf beach, taking 5 mins by car. This beach is part of the same stretch of beach as Sandbar Beach. You take the SandBar Caravan Park road, drive past the golf course, and then enter Cellito beach through a beautiful sub-tropical rainforest boardwalk. Alternatively, if you have a 4WD and a permit you can enter the beach through the entrance within the Sandbar Caravan Park. |
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Blueys and Boomerang Beyond the centre and up Headland Drive is Boomerang Point overlooking Boomerang Beach. Blueys Beach is on the southern side of this headland. In recent times Blueys (which is reputedly named a after a cow which fell of the southern cliff) has become a fashionable and expensive destination for Sydney-siders seeking a quiet retreat. These two beaches and their hinterland make up the core of Pacific Palms and have a combined population of 500. They are both noted surfing beaches. At Boomerang Beach's northern end is Charlotte Head, a massive rocky headland which rises up above the ocean. It is the southern tip of Booti Booti National Park, a popular coastal reserve of scenic lookouts, surf beaches, rainforest walks, thick scrub, beach and rock fishing, sailing, windsurfing, boat-fishing, prawning, skindiving, camping, picnicking and an abundance of wildlife (mostly nocturnal). Elizabeth Beach is the most northern beach in Pacific Palms. |
Seal Rocks Seal Rocks Seal Rocks is a small, sleepy and rather isolated beach town south of Smiths Lake. Its fame rests largely on its beautiful lighthouse, Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse - which overlooks an unspoilt beach and the group of offshore rocky outcrops which give the area its name. There are two main beaches at Seal Rocks. They are frequented by families as well as those that need boats launched - a tractor is used to push motor boats out from the beach. There is a small local shop for grovery supplies and take-away. |
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Frothy Coffee Cafe and Boat Hire There is a hire service at the Frothy Coffee Boatshed at Smiths Lake, located at the southern tip of the headland. Aside from a truly exceptional coffee you can obtain catamarans, motor boats, paddle bikes, flipper skis, canoes, surf skis, aquabikes, windsurfers and bait. Adjacent the boatshed is John DeBert Reserve, a grassy lakeside spot where there is a boat ramp, as well as picnic, barbecue, childrens payground and toilet facilities. |
Golf at the Sandbar A public 9 Hole country golf course is located near Sandbar Camping, on the road to Cellito’s beach. The course is surrounded by bush and wallabies and kangaroos are often seen on the course. |
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Forster Dive Forster Dive runs about 6 different dives in the Seal Rocks area. The one that everyone talks about is the dive at Jimmy's Cave, part of complex underwater cave system that rivals anything similar in Australia. It is the favourite site of many local divers. Grey Nurse Sharks, huge cod, jewfish and giant lobsters are all found here. Also they have "The Pinnacle" which is rated in the top ten dive sites in the world plus many wrecks to see in the area as well. For the full list of dives go to |
Aboriginal Art Gallery - The Tobwabba Story Tobwabba art group is a 100% owned Aboriginal art gallery, retail outlet and working art studio developed by the local Worimi Aboriginal artists. The business has been in operation for over eleven years and is the first and currently the leading Aboriginal merchandising organisation in Australia. Tobwabba merchandise is distributed throughout Australia and internationally, while the artworks produced from the workshop are sold throughout Australia and sold internationally through exhibitions and consignments. |
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Alderley Creek Wines A love for Alderley House, the local STROUD area, the history and the art of wine growing has inspired Tony, Sandra and family to restore the Alderley Creek property. Alderley Creek Wines features two grape varieties Chambourcin (red) and Verdelho (white). Alderley's winemaker is David Fatches. David divides his time between the Hunter Region and Bordeaux, in France. Alderley Creek Wines has benefited from David's experience in two great winegrowing regions of the world. |
Bushwalking Pacific Palms borders, Myall Lakes National Park, Booti Booti National Park and the Wallingat National Park. As you can imagine there many superb trails in the area. Surrounded by water and national parks, Pacific Palms offers a truly beautiful coastal scenery, sub-tropical rain forests, pristine white beaches and three independent lake systems. The recommended walks from the locals are 1. The Elizabeth Beach to Shelly Beach walk. Short and beautiful. Walk from Elizabeth beach to Shelley Beach and finish it off with a Skinny dip and then explore the fossilized beach now to be found 100mtrs inland at Shelley beach. 2. The ruins (seven mile beach) to Elizabeth Beach walk. Over a large coastal headland. Booti booti national park entry to the ocean side of this walk is at `the ruins' camping ground at the southern end of seven mile beach. A short walk takes you to the top of flat rock. Be careful of the steep grade. Combined the ocean and lakeside walks cover 3.2km. This ocean walk is suitable only if you are fit. An easy entry is on lethbridge road, elizabeth beach. This walk gives a birdseye view of elizabeth beach and the coastline. The walk along the lake is recommended for the less energetic. 3. Tallest tree in New South Wales. This is the tallest tree known in NSW, and it is a 'Flooded' gum (Eucalyptus Grandis) located about 100 metres east of Stoney Creek Road. The tree is 84.3 metres high and measures 2.7 metres through at breast height. It is estimated to be about 400 years old and would have been quite a large tree when cook sailed up the nearby coast. 4. Visit the magnificent Sugar Loaf Point Lighthouse at Seal Rocks and enjoy the natural rock formation, when the seas are high the rock produces a spectacular blowhole just below the light house 5. Climb to the top of Cape Hawke for 360’ panoramic views of the Great Lakes |
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Sugar Creek Toymakers Sugar Creek Toymakers specialise in exquisitely crafted wooden toys. All of the toys are hand-made on the premises, some of local corduroy beech (one tree lasts them 7 or 8 years). There is also a little eatery that is tasteful, clean, and tidy. The toy shop is located 2.5 km beyond Seal Rocks Rd, on Sugar Creek Rd and is clearly sign-posted.
Recreation Club The Recreatio Club is located in Pacific Palms, set right on the shores of Wallis Lake. The club is great for families,as it has a large grassy area, and outsoor seating. For those looking for entertainment, many touring bands make the 'Recky' a stop over for bands on tour - and many big name bands play.
Great Lakes Aquatic and Leisure Centre The Great Lakes Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Forster NSW can provide you with a plethora of activities and workout programs suited to your lifestyle and to assist you in performing the exercises that are best suited to your body and fitness level. They also have Creche and child minding service for parents wanting a more relaxed work out. www.greatlakesaquaticcentre.com
Amaroo Dolphin Watch Cruises Amaroo Dolphin Watch Cruises departs daily on a scenic 2 hour dolphin watch cruise which includes free morning or afternoon tea. They are a family owned and operated business and have been taking visitors and locals cruising in the Forster area since 1978. Forster, New South Wales, is home to magnificent scenery and wonderful marine life including dolphins, sea turtles and sharks living in the most pristine, crystal clear turquoise water that you will ever see! They often see whales in season and beautiful birdlife is as abundant as the dolphins are, ALL YEAR ROUND. |
The Big Buzz Fun Park 25 Acres of Adventure & Fun, Toboggan Run, 3 Open Waterslides, Jumbo Slide, Toddlers Slide, Speed Karts, Mountain & BMX Bikes, Mountain Boards, Scooters, Half Court Tennis, Beach Volley Ball, Shoot for Basket, Volley Ball, Trampolines, Swimming Pool, Swings, 9 Hole Chip + Putt Short Course Golf, Undercover Seating, Kiosk, Free Gas BBQ's, Shaded Picnic Area. Admission Prices; • 8 years and over $25 all day • 3-7 year olds $15 all day • Non active admission $6 Open 10am-4pm - every weekend, public holidays and every day of school holidays. Address; The Lakesway Rainbow Flat, Phone/Fax: (02) 6553 6000
Myall Lakes National Park & Wallis Lake The great lakes district not only includes Smiths Lake, but Myall and Wallis lakes. 'Myall' is an Aboriginal word meaning 'wild'. One of the state's largest coastal lake systems with 40 kilometres of beaches and rolling sand dunes make Myall Lakes one of the most visited parks in NSW. The Myall Lakes National Park incorporates 31 562 ha of headlands, forests, swampland, forest fringes to the west and 10 000 ha of coastal lagoons south of Wallis and Smiths Lakes. These lagoons - Myall Lake, Boolambyte Lake, Two Mile Lake and The Broadwater - are linked by narrow straits which form a continuous waterway joined to Port Stephens by the lower Myall River. To the east, between the lakes and sea, are high sand dunes with a good and varied vegetation cover. Along the seaboard are 40 km of almost unbroken beaches. This natural combination has produced one of the largest, most complex and most interesting lake systems in Australia. |
