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Seal Rocks New South Wales

Looking down on Boat Beach

Seal Rocks New South Wales Australia

With a population of under 100, the small village of Seal Rocks on the NSW mid-north coast is a wonderfully relaxed beach and surfing paradise. At a little under 2 hours’ drive from Newcastle, it’s a popular holiday spot and can become crowded, during summer and school holidays. Part of the charm has been the residents’ opposition to commercial development, leaving the area untouched.

Surrounded by the Myall Lakes National Park and beaches, it’s an excellent place for camping, bush walking and surfing. If you have a boat, the appropriately named Boat Beach has boat-ramps onto the sand.

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse stands on a headland east of Seal Rocks village. Designed by colonial architect James Barnet as his first lighthouse, it was completed in 1875. It is one of only two towers in Australia with an external stairway. Although built to guide ships along the rocky coastline, there were still 20 wrecks after its completion.

The refurbished Lighthouse Keepers’ quarters and outbuildings are available as holiday accommodation for visitors. This would be a great way to experience the area.

The Walk

Starting at the locked gate, a bitumen road leads up through the coastal forest, making it an easy walk. An information board near the gate provides details about the lighthouse and the wider Myall Lakes Area. Although the walk is easy underfoot, it can still be a bit of a challenge, because it is all uphill.

If you need a break, about halfway there is a toilet block.

Sea Cave

Not long before reaching the lighthouse a break in the trees lets you see a rocky inlet. This is great because it also has a sea cave, with the waves crashing through it.

Path to the Lighthouse

On reaching the lighthouse area, the patch becomes much steeper, but this section is also short. So, take your time and enjoy the views over the coastline. The old lighthouse keeper’s cottage is now used for guests, which would be a great way to experience the area.

Walk Up to the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage
Walk Up to the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage

The Lighthouse

Set at the top of the headland, the lighthouse overlooks some rocky cliffs and a spectacular beach to the west. With the stairs on the outside instead of inside, it looks different to others we have seen. We spent quite some time here, looking at the scenery and lighthouse, before returning to our car.

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Bennetts Head Lookout

View from the Lookout

Bennetts Head Lookout

Located on the Bicentenial Way in Forster New South Wales, Bennetts Head Lookout is a popular place for whale watching during migration season. We were lucky and saw a few swimming south, but they were too far out to get a good look. Several tour operators provide whale watching trips locally, with one of the operators using the lookout to spot whales and direct the boats.

Getting There

Parking is available next to the main lookout on Bennetts Head Road. Alternately, the lookout would make a great rest stop if you were walking the Bicentennial Track.

The Lookout

As well as whales the lookout gives great views down the coast and over the ocean. As well as the main viewing platform near the road, several others are located a little further along the Bicentennial Track only a few minutes walk away. Some whale watchers had been there for several hours and mentioned that whales had swum in closer to the shore earlier. Unfortunately during our visit, they decided to stay out at sea.

This is a great lookout, especially during the whale migration when newly born calves swim south with the adults to the Antarctic.

Cape Hawke Lookout Track

The view from the top of the lookout tower

Cape Hawke Lookout Track NSW Australia

Named after First Lord of the Admiralty, Edward Hawke by Captain Cook (a Lieutenant at the time), the Cape Hawke Lookout Track is on the northern end of the Booti Booti National Park. With only a 10-minute drive to travel the 11km from the centre of Forster, it was easy to find. Parking is available in a small carpark at the start of the track, but this will fill up quickly on a busy day. From here it’s uphill for 500m with 420 steps to the top. Don’t be put off by the climb, as there is a bench seat provided to sit and rest on before tackling the rest of the climb.

Maintained by NSW National Parks and Wildlife, the track was in very good condition during our visit. Trees have regrown around the 8m tower, but the view is still amazing and worth the climb.

The area is covered with littoral rain forest that is quite dense and very shady on a hot day. Although we heard animals moving through the vegetation, all we saw were some brush turkeys.

The walk downhill back to the car was much easier than going uphill.