Drop those shoulders and savour coastal stillness at the best Forster camping spots.
A single strip of shops. Seabreeze drifting through the window. I cruise down Tuncurry’s Manning Street from the Pacific Highway, heading to Forster, and life feels significantly lighter. Entering Forster across the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge, I’m thankful I’ve booked a campsite – soaking up the NSW North Coast town’s blanketing natural beauty is evidently one of its major drawcards. I soon learn that Forster camping unleashes prime real estate to jaw-dropping sights while facilitating all the creature comforts.
Here are the best Forst camping spots for your next beach getaway.
In short
If you only stay at one Forster camping spot, make it Reflections Forster Beach for its middle-of-everything location, ridiculously chic camp kitchen and amenities block, and river-fronting powered sites (also, the cabins on a hill provide epic views).
1. NRMA Forster Tuncurry Holiday Park
I love to (watch my husband) pitch a tent but the two three-bedroom villas and three glamping tents at NRMA Forster Tuncurry Holiday Park are one of the region’s standout accommodation picks, so let’s start there. Located in Forster’s twin-town of Tuncurry, right off the duck-dotted Ohmas Bay, the Forster camping hot spot’s Hamptons-inspired villas offer one of the best cabins I’ve ever stayed in. Modern bathrooms, spacious open-plan living and dining areas and hotel-tight sheet fittings (a very pleasant surprise) make me forget it’s a caravan park. Elsewhere, there are smaller villas, including two-bedders that front the bay, plus one-bedroom and studios, while pet-friendly powered and ensuite campsites also boast water views.
Tip: Don’t miss dinner from the Baked ‘n’ Loaded spud truck that parks by the water every Thursday – it draws a cult following.
Amenities: Two swimming pools (including a heated one near the glamping tents that’s adults-only until 12pm daily), toddler-friendly waterpark with slides, games room with two free arcade games, enclosed camp kitchen with high chairs for bubs, Pet Wash, laundry, e-bike hire, nearby boat ramps, the Great Lakes cafe (a door down from the park’s entrance), volleyball court.
Address: 1 Baird St, Tuncurry
2. Reflections Forster Beach
Hands down the best accommodation location in town, Reflections Forster Beach’s camp kitchen and amenities block are so modern that they’re almost too plush for camping. With two fully enclosed fridge and stovetop prep areas (two sets of toasters, kettles and microwaves, too) and a timber deck dressed in festoon lights that offers an elevated view of the park, it’s the type of amenity you’d expect from a high-rated Airbnb. The bathrooms, including the ‘Easy Access Bathroom’ for guests with access needs, are even fancier – I snapped photos to inspire future home renovations. It got even better back at my campsite which overlooked Coolongolook River and bobbing yachts. Each evening, at around 6:30pm, a pod of wild dolphins also flipped right in front of me (I stayed in February 2026, in case it’s a seasonal thing), providing a money-can’t-buy show my family still raves about.
Tip: Make sure the reception crew have your mobile number because they text when The Oyster Man Cafe’s truck rolls into the park selling crabs, prawns and the region’s famed Sydney Rock oysters. Again, how fancy is that for camping?
Amenities: Two amenity blocks, a camp kitchen and a separate barbecue area, dump point, laundry, communal fire pit, bush tucker and herb garden.
Address: 1 Reserve Rd, Forster
3. The Ruins Campground
Think holiday parks cheat old-fashioned camping? For some bare basics, hit up Booti Booti National Park’s The Ruins Campground, situated about 15 kilometres south of Forster. It offers 96 campsites for tents, trailers, caravans and car-side camping as vistas speckled with cabbage tree palms and paper bark trees give way to Wallis Lake on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
Tip: Don’t miss the Booti walking track which leads to the family-friendly surf magnet that is Elizabeth Beach.
Amenities: Flushable toilets, showers, unpowered and marked camp sites, barbecues, picnic tables, drinking water, rubbish bins and carpark.
Address: 4374 The Lakes Way, Booti Booti
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4. Reflections Tuncurry
Extending its trademark excellence to a second holiday park in the region, Reflections Tuncurry is a winner for fur parents as it’s located right off the off-leash Nine Mile Beach. When I visited, I also saw dolphins from the nearby netted Rockpool Beach (right next to Nine Mile and the Tuncurry Passage, and boasting one of Forster’s best cafes, the locally loved Rockpool Beach Cafe). Choose from cabins, with some overlooking Coolongolook River, and extra-large dog-friendly powered campsites that welcome caravans, motorhomes, campervans and tents.
Tip: If you’re an angler, there are fish cleaning facilities and a boat washdown area, too.
Amenities: Accessible bathrooms, camp kitchen, barbecue area, boat ramp, pet-friendly campsites, laundry, playground, communal firepit, tennis court, EV charging station, bushtucker and herb garden, dog wash, dump point.
Address: 32 Beach St, Tuncurry
5. Lani’s Holiday Island
Offering Forster camping with a swimming pool, Lani’s Holiday Island is made for families. While the location, nestled between Pipers Creek and Wallis Lake, is a fisher’s dream, there’s also a string of kid-friendly initiatives to keep everyone busy (see the full list below). Arguably better, there’s a multitude of accommodation options spanning ensuite and powered sites, spa retreats, water-facing pet-friendly cabanas, villas, huts and cottages.
Tip: Ask for board and ball games at reception as they have plenty of options.
Amenities: Two swimming pools, playground, games room, cinema, sporting equipment, camp kitchen, undercover barbecue area, two amenity blocks, laundry, business facilities including photocopying and printing, accessible bathrooms, dump point.
Address: 33 The Lakes Way, Forster
6. Lakeside Forster Holiday Park
Let’s keep the swimming pool rollcall going with Lakeside Forster Holiday Park, which offers amazing access to Wallis Lake. Stays span one-, two- and three-bedroom cabins, caravan and unpowered and powered campsites, and ensuite sites. What I loved about this campsite is its magical sunsets, which I spent sunken in a camping chair plonked right beside the lake as my kids splashed about in shallow waters at my feet.
Tip: Keep a lookout for those resident dolphins, plus sea eagles, stingrays and humpback whales from May to November.
Amenities: Heated swimming pool, camp kitchen, dump point, barbecue area, games room, laundry, playground, pedal kart hire, basketball, boat ramp, pet-friendly campsites, accessible bathrooms.
Address: 13 Tea Tree Rd, Forster
7. Tiona Holiday Park
A bit of a local’s secret, Tiona Holiday Park is deeply connected to nature, located in the middle of Seven Mile Beach, Wallis Lake and Booti Booti National Park, so swimming, kayaking, surfing and sand-slothing is highly encouraged. Welcoming caravans, glamping and tents, it’s Forster camping split between a lakeside section and a beachside section so picture-perfect moments come at you from every direction.
Tip: You’re about 15 minutes’ drive from a major supermarket so factor the time into daily grocery grabs.
Amenities: Four amenity blocks, swimming pool, laundries, camp kitchen, guest lounge, sites with firepits in winter and autumn, pet-friendly campsites, cafe, dump point.
Address: 4451 The Lakes Way, Pacific Palms
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8. Twin Dolphins Holiday Park
A leafy, tree-lined Forster camping hot spot within a few minutes’ drive from the centre of town, Twin Dolphins Holiday Park is a chilled space to recharge the family’s batteries. It’s pet-friendly if you’ve booked a campsite (seasonal dependent), and there’s also air-conditioned studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom cabins to crash in. If you’re travelling with bub, portacots can be arranged in each cabin for a flat fee of $50.
Tip: Courtesy buses to local pubs and clubs drop into this spot, so ask reception for an up-to-date schedule.
Amenities: Heated saltwater swimming pool and separate toddler pool, games room, laundry, undercover barbecue area, dump point, Pet Wash, two amenity blocks.
Address: 134 South St, Tuncurry
9. BIG4 Happy Hallidays Holiday Park
It’s a BIG4 so you know it’s going to be Forster camping with all the family-friendly bells and whistles. Located about a 20-minute drive from the centre of Forster, BIG4 Happy Hallidays Holiday Park offers good proximity to whale watching points come migration season (May to November) – not that you need to leave the site if you don’t want to. Ample amenities provide all-age entertainment while accommodation spans one and two-bedroom cabins, powered campsites and ensuite campsites.
Tip: If it’s whale season, head to the platform via the street behind Black Head Surf Club to better your sighting chances.
Amenities: Indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool with a waterslide, games room, indoor play centre, mini golf, jumping pillow, tennis court, playground, pet-friendly campsites, EV chargers, amenities block, barbecue area, laundry, library, dump point.
Address: 517 Blackhead Rd, Hallidays Point
10. Neranie Campground
Rough it in a playground of natural swimming and boating activities at Neranie Campground in Myall Lakes National Park. Located about 35-minutes’ drive from the centre of Forster, the Forster camping spot offers total tranquillity as the still waters of Myall Lakes are hypnotising. I didn’t have a kayak with me during my visit, but I deeply regretted it as it’s ideal gliding terrain. 24 sites welcome tents and camping beside your car, plus there are dedicated camper trailer and caravan sites.
Tip: Bring drinking water as you won’t find fresh water here.
Amenities: Flushable toilets, unpowered marked campsites, picnic tables, a carpark
Address: Neranie Rd, Bungwahl
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