TOP 3 Beaches On The Barrington Coast, NSW

The Australian coastline is a series of amazing beaches. But the best and safest region for swimming and surfing is the coastline between Sydney and Brisbane: the beaches of metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, Nelson Bay, Barrington Coast, Coffs Coast, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast…

The Barrington Coast is not the most famous one, but that’s because Australia is so full of natural beauties – and especially fabulous beaches – that everything can’t be famous. Yet this ~190 km coastline on the lower mid north coast of New South Wales is blessed with stunning beaches, scenic waterways and coastal walking tracks. The lovely coastal towns of Forster-Tuncurry are a perfect base to explore the area.

It’s one of my favorite regions for a weekend beach getaway from Sydney, and my family enthusiastically researched plenty of its beaches to bring you the best ones (okay, it was a fun process, too). But let’s see the best Barrington Coast beaches then:

3 best beaches on the Barrington Coast

First of all, let’s make it clear: I haven’t found any particularly ugly beaches in New South Wales. There are ones which are average, maybe a bit below the average (in my opinion, and usually because they’re too busy and look too urban), but a lot of beaches we visit become instant favorites. So it’s hard to actually pick favorites, but I’m doing my best.

Since I don’t see the point in reiterating the names of the most popular beaches in the area, I’ll tell you about my favorites: a subjective list, with some explanation. Maybe some unusual choices – but that’s what I like, unusual beaches.

Elizabeth Beach, Booti Booti National Park

Elizabeth Beach is located inside Booti Booti National Park, and it truly feels like a remote, untouched beach, even though it’s easily accessible by car. The 600 meters long sandy bay is surrounded by rainforest-covered hills, and thanks to its orientation the coastal cliffs somewhat protect it from the winds and strong currents. The sand is white and the color of the water is incredible!

If you’re looking for coastal hikes, the 7.3 km loop trail of Booti Hill and Wallis Lake takes you through a picturesque coastal rainforest, with an optional (short, but steep) detour to Elizabeth Beach. You’ll have Seven Mile Beach and the tranquil shoreline of Wallis Lake on your way, which means plenty of opportunities to cool yourself down on a sunny day. I like combining beach time with some hiking, especially in the cooler months and on overcast days, and Elizabeth Bay is just perfect for that.

Burgess Beach, Forster

Burgess Beach is an outstanding one in the series of amazing New South Wales beaches. It’s only 300 meters long, but the volcanic rock formations on the beach are not only very picturesque, they also hide a number of secret rock pools. The exact number varies depending on the tide. Head to the northern end of the bay to find them.

We particularly loved a shallow natural rock pool that functioned as a warm jacuzzi for me and as a safe play area for my son. Some other tidal pools are suitable for a dip or to observe marine life, mostly small fish, starfish, crabs and anemones.

I also enjoyed walking among the rocks, marveling at the interesting rock formations and patterns (and taking pictures of them – photographers will be obsessed with Burgess Beach!). The scene is backed up by densely vegetated lush green bluffs.

It’s not a typical swimming beach, there’s no lifeguard service, and rocks dominate a large portion of the bay. However, it’s moderately protected from southeast waves by Cape Hawke, and waves are often low enough so that you can venture into the water. But please be aware that swimming in general is only recommended at patrolled beaches in Australia, and you do it at your own risk at other places. Be careful of rip currents and large swells.

McBrides Beach, Booti Booti National Park

The walking track that takes you down to McBrides Beach has only been recently opened: in 2020. The 600 meters track is a steep downhill walk through littoral rainforest and a small creek bed along the way, and it takes about 25 minutes. As you’d expect, there’s neither lifeguards, nor facilities at this secluded paradise. It’s only nature and you – my favorite kind of beach.

McBrides Beach has wonderful natural settings: white sand backed up by lush green vegetation, rugged cliffs and an offshore reef, with natural rock pools of different shapes and sizes. It’s a beautiful, isolated beach that’s almost empty any given time.

The color of the water in this secluded cove is mesmerizing, and you’ll surely find a suitable tidal pool at the southern end of the bay to cool yourself. Some of these pools are quite shallow, others are deeper. Some are safe only at low tide, others can be enjoyed at high tide, too. They change with the tide, so please be careful and assess the current conditions before entering them. The smaller tidal pools are like an aquarium: full of small fish, carbs, starfish and other interesting marine life.

The beach is obviously not patrolled. We only went in for wading, and the waves were surely large and powerful!

Where to stay on the Barrington Coast?

Forster is a straightforward base to explore the Barrington Coast. Hotel Forster is a 4-star hotel directly on the Lakes Way and a short walk from Wallis Lake, offering a large outdoor swimming pool for guests.

If you’re looking for more affordable options: Forster and Wallis Lake Motel is a 3-star motel with simple, comfortable rooms, and the Tuncurry Motor Lodge, on the other side of the channel, offers rooms with a kitchenette and a bathroom, and some with a patio.

Camping on the Barrington Coast

But I have to admit I left my favorite place to stay as the last one, because it requires camping gear: The Ruins campground in Booti Booti National Park and right behind Seven Mile Beach. It’s quite a treat to those who prefer the close proximity of nature. You can reach Seven Mile Beach on a short walk, but the trees and shrubs protect the campsites from the crazy coastal winds.

The campground is part of Booti Booti National Park, so you need to book it through NSW Parks, and I recommend booking it well in advance. It’s more affordable and also more simple than the holiday parks, but it has free electric BBQs, nice picnic shelters and a well-maintained washroom block with hot showers. The campsites don’t offer much privacy, because it’s a large grassy meadow, with smaller areas separated by markers, but in my eyes the good facilities and the amazing location makes up for this.

Other camping options on the coast are the Tiona Holiday Park(in Tiona), or one of the Reflections Holiday Parks (either in Tuncurry or behind Forster Main Beach).

When is the best time to enjoy the beaches?

This region remains pleasant for outdoor activities all year, with temperatures between 8°C to 27°C on average. Summers (from December to February) are warm, humid and relatively wet, with the hottest days in January and February. If you’d like to go swimming, the ideal time is from November to April. Ocean is the warmest at the end of summer.

However, most Australians are not like me and they swim in the ocean all year, so it’s really up to you and your tolerance of cooler water temperatures. Just make sure the conditions are safe to enter the water.