Top 10 Things to Do in Forster: Your Ultimate Local Guide
Looking for the best things to do in Forster? Start with a day on Wallis Lake, add a beautiful beach, follow a coastal walking trail and leave time for fresh local seafood.
Set on the NSW Mid North Coast, Forster and neighbouring Tuncurry offer that wonderful mix of outdoor adventure and easy holiday living. There’s plenty for families, couples and groups, whether you’re visiting for a weekend or settling in for the school holidays.
From lunch cruises to unexpected wildlife encounters, here are ten experiences to put on your Forster holiday list.
1. Explore Wallis Lake: Lunch Cruises, Boat Hire and Glass Bottom Boat Tours
If you only choose one experience in Forster, make it time on Wallis Lake. Its waterways, islands and lakeside scenery are central to what makes this coastal town special.
There are several ways to explore, depending on how much time you have and whether you’d like someone else to take the wheel.
Relax on our most popular Discovery Lunch Cruise
Our Discovery Lunch Cruise combines a scenic Wallis Lake cruise with a freshly prepared two-course lunch, tea and coffee.
Over approximately 2.5 hours, settle in, enjoy the views and listen to local commentary while our crew looks after you. Keep an eye out for dolphins, pelicans and other wildlife along the way. Every trip is different, and wildlife sightings are a welcome bonus rather than a guarantee.
For couples, families and friends, it’s an easy way to combine sightseeing and lunch in one memorable outing.
Take the wheel with self-drive boat hire
Prefer to explore at your own pace? Boatshed Number One offers self-drive boat hire in Forster, including runabouts and BBQ boats.
Choose a boat to suit your group, bring your picnic and enjoy your own adventure on Wallis Lake. The team will explain operation, the permitted cruising area and suitable places to explore before you head out. Check the requirements for your chosen vessel when booking.
Short on time? Try a one-hour glass bottom boat tour
A one-hour glass bottom boat tour is a great option for visitors wanting a shorter lake experience. Watch through the viewing panels for a different perspective beneath the surface, without needing to get wet.
It’s an appealing choice for curious kids and anyone fitting a boat trip around other holiday plans. Underwater visibility depends on conditions, so check available departures with the Boatshed Number One team.
Our local pick: Choose the Discovery Lunch Cruise for a relaxed outing with lunch included, or the glass bottom boat tour when you have about an hour to spare.
2. Look for Grey Nurse Sharks Near the Forster Fish-Cleaning Tables
One of Forster’s more surprising wildlife experiences can happen right beside the waterfront.
Grey nurse sharks have been observed near the fish-cleaning tables by the Forster breakwall, sometimes drawn to fish scraps when fishermen clean their catch. Watching from the shore can give children a fascinating glimpse of sharks moving through their natural environment.
Our local tip is to try between approximately 9am and 1pm, when fishermen may be returning and cleaning fish. This is a suggested visiting window, not a scheduled feeding session, and sightings are never guaranteed.
Despite their impressive teeth, grey nurse sharks are generally docile and non-aggressive when left undisturbed. They’re sometimes affectionately called the “Labradors of the ocean”—a useful reminder that their appearance doesn’t tell the whole story.
Stay on shore, supervise children closely and give fishermen room to work. These are protected wild animals: enjoy watching without feeding, touching or disturbing them.
3. Enjoy Forster Main Beach and the Ocean Baths
For a classic beach holiday morning, head to Forster Main Beach.
Close to the town centre, this is an easy place to combine beach time with breakfast, coffee or an afternoon ice cream. Walk along the sand, enjoy the ocean views or visit the ocean baths, locally known as the Bull Ring.
The beach stretches between the breakwall and the baths, making it a handy starting point for exploring the coastline.
For swimming, choose a patrolled beach and stay between the flags when patrols are operating. Check conditions before entering the ocean baths too, as swell can affect them.
4. Walk the Bicentennial Coastal Trail
The Bicentennial Walk in Forster is a lovely way to discover the coast beyond Main Beach.
Follow the headland towards Second Head Lookout and Pebbly Beach, stopping for photographs and a breather whenever a view catches your eye. You can enjoy a short section or continue further according to your time and energy.
Expect ocean scenery, rocky shoreline and plenty of reasons to slow down. Take water, sun protection and comfortable shoes.
Holiday idea: Enjoy a coastal walk in the morning, then swap walking shoes for a seat aboard a Wallis Lake lunch cruise.
5. Visit One Mile Beach and Bennetts Head Lookout
One Mile Beach belongs on any list of the best beaches in Forster.
Come for a beach walk, watch the surfers or simply enjoy the wide stretch of sand. Nearby Bennetts Head Lookout offers another perspective on the coastline and is a rewarding stop for photographs.
Keep binoculars handy at coastal lookouts to watch for seabirds and movement offshore.
Choose swimming areas according to the day’s conditions and patrol advice. Exposed headlands deserve care too, particularly with children.
6. Spend a Morning at Tuncurry Rockpool
Just across the bridge, Tuncurry Rockpool is a popular stop for families visiting the Great Lakes region.
Pack towels, snacks and sun protection, and allow time to enjoy the waterfront as well as the swimming area. It’s an easy addition to a Forster holiday without needing a big day of travel.
While it is more sheltered than an open surf beach, conditions can still change. Check signage, assess the water and keep children within close supervision.
7. Climb to Cape Hawke Lookout
For a bigger view—and a little exercise—visit Cape Hawke Lookout in Booti Booti National Park.
The uphill walk leads through regenerating coastal rainforest to a lookout tower with sweeping views over the surrounding landscape. There are plenty of steps, so allow time to climb at a comfortable pace.
Bring sturdy shoes, water and your camera. Binoculars are worthwhile for watching birds and scanning the coastline.
This is a good choice for visitors wanting an active outing close to Forster. Check NSW National Parks alerts and access information before setting off.
8. Taste Wallis Lake Oysters and Local Seafood
A Forster holiday is a good excuse to make lunch last a little longer.
The region is known for Wallis Lake Sydney rock oysters, along with fresh seafood that suits its waterfront setting perfectly. Try locally grown oysters, pick up prawns for a picnic or enjoy fish and chips beside the water.
For couples, it’s an easy way to turn a sightseeing day into a relaxed food experience. For families, a simple takeaway picnic can be just as memorable.
Want lunch and lake views without organising separate stops? Our Discovery Lunch Cruise brings them together aboard FreeSpirit. See the cruise page for the current menu.
9. Discover Booti Booti National Park
When you’re ready to venture beyond town, Booti Booti National Park offers beaches, forest walks, headlands and lakeside scenery.
Choose an outing that matches your group, whether that’s a picnic, a beach visit or a longer walk. The Booti walking track is an option for visitors wanting a more active adventure.
Pack drinking water and suitable footwear, and check the current track details, weather and park alerts before choosing your route.
It’s a rewarding way to experience the natural landscape surrounding Forster.
10. Slow Down Along the Forster–Tuncurry Waterfront
Some of the best holiday moments don’t need a booking.
Take a stroll along the waterfront, cross the bridge between Forster and Tuncurry or find a comfortable spot to watch boats move through the channel. Look for pelicans, take a few photographs and enjoy being somewhere you don’t need to rush.
Later in the day, return to the Wallis Lake foreshore to watch the changing light across the water.
It’s a simple way to finish a day spent exploring—and a reminder to leave a little space in your itinerary.
An Easy One-Day Forster Itinerary
Start with breakfast and a walk near Main Beach. If the timing suits, stop by the fish-cleaning tables for a chance to spot marine life from shore.
Next, join our Discovery Lunch Cruise for approximately 2.5 hours of Wallis Lake scenery, local commentary and a two-course lunch.
Spend the afternoon enjoying a coastal lookout, browse town or relax by the waterfront.
Travelling with younger children or working around a shorter schedule? Consider a one-hour glass bottom boat tour instead, leaving more time for the beach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Forster
What are the best things to do in Forster with kids?
A glass bottom boat tour, beach visit, waterfront walk and outing to Tuncurry Rockpool are all options to consider. Looking for marine life from shore can be exciting too, with close adult supervision.
What are the best free things to do in Forster?
Walk the coastline, visit the beaches, enjoy the lookouts or take a waterfront picnic. Wildlife watching from shore can also be rewarding, although sightings are unpredictable.
Is a Wallis Lake cruise worth doing?
A cruise lets you experience Forster from the water while someone else handles the navigation. Our Discovery Lunch Cruise also includes lunch, making it an easy way to organise a substantial part of your day.
How long should you spend in Forster?
A weekend gives you time for a lake cruise, beaches and a coastal walk. Stay longer to explore Tuncurry, the national park and more of the surrounding Great Lakes region at a relaxed pace.
Make Wallis Lake Part of Your Forster Holiday
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to a favourite holiday spot, getting out on Wallis Lake is a wonderful way to experience Forster.
Join our most popular Discovery Lunch Cruise for scenery, local commentary and a freshly prepared two-course lunch.
Prefer your own adventure? Explore self-drive boat hire and shorter lake experiences at Boatshed Number One.
FreeSpirit Cruises Forster departs from Boatshed Number One, 1 Little St, Forster NSW 2428. Contact our team or call 0427 592 899 for help choosing your cruise.
Choose your lake adventure and make a day of it in Forster.