Myall Lakes

Just a few hours north of Sydney and close to the town of Forster, Myall Lakes is a water playground. It’s part of the wider Great Lakes region, a huge network of interconnecting lakes and rivers flanked by some of the best beaches in the state. Things move at a pretty slow pace around here, so expect lazy days fishing from a houseboat, farm gate hopping along a local food trail and sunset drinks with the best views around.

Just a few hours north of Sydney and close to the town of Forster, Myall Lakes is a water playground. It’s part of the wider Great Lakes region, a huge network of interconnecting lakes and rivers flanked by some of the best beaches in the state. Things move at a pretty slow pace around here, so expect lazy days fishing from a houseboat, farm gate hopping along a local food trail and sunset drinks with the best views around.

Where to eat

Start your day with a great coffee and a leisurely breakfast at the Frothy Coffee Boatshed, right on the waterfront at Smiths Lake. The menu is short and sweet, although you’ll usually find specials on during the school holidays. After you’ve eaten, hire one of their tinnies, kayaks or catamarans and have a potter around the lake.

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, head to Kembali Cafe at Blueys Beach for the Indo brekkie bowl – coconut rice with peanut and herb salad, served with fried eggs, bacon and fresh chilli. This small café, just back from the beach, also offers Asian favourites like nasi goreng and coconut curry alongside more traditional burgers and salads.

At sunset, the best place to be is the Pacific Palms Recreation Club with a beer in hand. Known as The Recky, it’s something of a local institution and has an enviable position on Wallis Lake’s Elizabeth Beach. Come on a Sunday and eat your fill of $1 oysters.

Where to play

A contender for Australia’s most beautiful beach is hidden just a short drive from Myall Lakes. Seal Rocks is a carefully guarded secret and the local population of 150 or so is fiercely protective of this gently curving strip of sand sandwiched between rolling bushland and an impossibly blue ocean. It can be tricky to find, accessible only by a narrow, winding drive that takes around 30 minutes from the highway, but it’s absolutely worth the hunt. Sugarloaf Point lighthouse sits at one end of the beach and has been watching over the treacherous water since 1875.

Follow

People who live around Myall Lakes and the Great Lakes region know how good the local produce is, but it’s largely unknown to outsiders. So, in early 2017, the Great Lakes Food Trail was launched, an easy to follow route that starts in Bulahdelah and runs north to Wootton, along the shores of Myall Lake to the coast at Blueys Beach. It stops at local farms, producers, cafes and wineries, all of which are committed to ethical and humane food production. The trail organises seasonal events (with a schedule on the website) and different producers take part, depending on what they have to offer.

Where to stay

Set along 1.5km of pristine lakefront, the NRMA Myall Shores Holiday Park is bang in the centre of the Myall Lakes National Park. Camp and caravan sites are set within the gardens and on the shores of the lake, or you can choose one of the unique lakeside safari tents or a stylish villa. Facilities include a swimming pool, barbecue areas and a kiosk. The Barefoot Café & Pizza Co is open from 10am to 7pm every day and you can eat on the outdoor deck or down on the jetty. The park also organises special kids’ activities during the school holidays.