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7 breathtaking Forster walks to quiet your mind

Credit: Destination NSW

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
Lace up your joggers for non-stop coastal delights along the best Forster walks.

A soothing lake on one side and killer surf beaches on the other: Forster is a wonderland for outdoor escapades. Before I spent my evenings exploring the NSW North Coast town’s thriving restaurant scene, I trailed a string of impressively easy Forster walks that shone a floodlight on its relentless magnetism. From short dashes up to lookouts to winding wanderings through wildlife-freckled national parks, the best Forster walks literally grounded me as endless eye candy flowed. Here are my favourites.

In short

If you only get to one of the best Forster walks, make it the Bicentennial Walk for its clear navigation, ocean bath access (to two, in fact) and unparalleled coastal vantage points.

1. Bicentennial Walk

Forster Ocean Baths from above
Traverse the scenic coastal walk from Main Beach’s Forster Ocean Baths towards Pebbly Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Ocean views and mostly flat terrain

Distance: 4 kilometres one-way

Grade: Easy to medium

I don’t even realise I’m on the Bicentennial Walk at Pebbly Beach, one of the best Forster beaches, when I visit in February 2026. It’s that accessible, tracing the entrance of Pebbly’s adjacent The Tanks rock pools with an often-sealed path you can take up to Main Beach’s Forster Ocean Baths (where most people start) or south to Palmgrove Park at One Mile Beach. Regardless, I truck further along as this Forster walks’ Pacific Ocean views floor me. While I don’t spot any during my time, dolphins are frequently sighted, as are somersaulting humpbacks during the annual May to October migration. There are two dedicated lookouts along the way but they’re rather unnecessary as it’s a visual feast from go to whoa. While the path is mostly flat, hikers should note that there’s a set of stairs that connect The Tanks at Pebbly to Bennetts Head lookout; however, scattered bench seating facilities, scenic rest stops and public toilets pop up throughout.

2. McBrides Beach Walking Track, Booti Booti National Park

Booti Booti National Park in Forster
Panoramic coastal views await at Booti Booti National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Beach bushwalking

Distance: 600 metres one way

Grade: Easy to medium

If you’re looking for short and sweet, the McBrides Beach Walking Track in Booti Booti National Park overdelivers. I reach a magical finish line in about 30 minutes total, navigating a well-trodden but unpaved rainforest trail and down multiple sets of stairs to explore the beautiful, completely isolated McBrides Beach. It’s so enchanting that I forget the climb back up. The entrance to this Forster walk is easy to reach, located at a carpark on Cape Hawke Drive, but visitors should note that those with access needs will struggle for obvious reasons. Tip: Pack your cozzies and sunscreen because if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to dip, cautiously (McBrides is unpatrolled), into the rolling surf.

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3. Forster Breakwall to Tuncurry Breakwall

Wallis Lake, Tuncurry-Forster
Wallis Lake meets the Tasman Sea. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Families

Distance: 2 kilometres one-way

Grade: Easy

I was told about the Forster Breakwall to Tuncurry Breakwall walk by a local and saved it for a late afternoon family stroll, as recommended. It was such a wonderful tip as it offered my husband and I dolphin spotting in Wallis Lake and sunset vistas while the kids loved journeying the central Forster-Tuncurry Bridge and the playground at Rockpool Road, which popped up towards the end. You’ll find toilets by the playground (so make sure they go before you start), and if you’re a hand-caster, pack some bait because there’s plenty of fishing opportunities along the way. As for the breakwalls themselves, they’re both completely picturesque, jutting out over the lake to envelope you in sleepy splendour.

4. Cape Hawke lookout walk, Booti Booti National Park

Best for: Views

Distance: 500 metres

Grade: Medium

I park in the carpark on Cape Hawke Drive where the entrance to a walk up to Cape Hawke lookout beckons. The trail is bushy, littered with fallen leaves but I do appreciate the cool tree coverage and the fenced parts as I ascend to a giant 8.4-metre tower where the lookout lies. It’s a whole lot of stairs, but they’re worth every tensed muscle as the views are spectacular and stretch all the way out to Barrington Tops on the Barrington Coast. Journeying back to the carpark, I notice wildflowers I too hastily overlooked during my mission to the lookout, and when I reach my car, there’s not a spare spot in sight, so I realise I lucked out by arriving early. I highly advise factoring in plenty of time to secure a spot whenever you visit, just in case it’s chockers.

5. Cabbage Palm Loop, Wallingat National Park

Best for: Birdwatching and wildlife encounters

Distance: 1.7 kilometres loop

Grade: 5 – there are some hills, occasional steps and rough terrain

It’s not in Forster proper but the Cabbage Palm Loop trail in Wallingat National Park was such a beautiful wander through the bush that I highly recommend the half-hour drive south. The trail’s distance isn’thectic and its adventurous nature through a tranquil eucalypt forest wins serious points – think rugged timber footbridges, viney oversized tree roots, jagged cabbage tree palms and all the wildlife sounds. Twitchers will love the 200-strong roll call of birds that fill the forest, while wild echidnas, wallabies and kangaroos also roam free.

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6. Booti Walking Track, Booti Booti National Park

Elizabeth Beach at sunrise
Starting from Elizabeth Beach, the track winds up to a stunning lookout, which is a prime spot for sunrise. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Experienced bushwalkers

Distance: 8 kilometres loop

Grade: 3 – there are steep hills and many steps

One of the longer Forster walks, the Booti Walking Track blends bushland and beach, providing perfect cooling off rewards for high-yield step counts. Located within Booti Booti National Park, the trail is also great for uninterrupted views of Wallis Lake, one of my favourite Forster bodies of water. Start at Elizabeth Beach, about 20 kilometres south of Forster, where you can park your car and pick it up at the end due to the return nature of this walk. It also takes in The Ruins campground, one of the best camping spots in Forster, so tack this trail onto an overnight stay to level up your Forster exploration.

7. Burgess Rd to Cape Hawke

Burgess Beach in Forster
A steep path leads down to the hidden Burgess Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: Views

Distance: 3 kilometres

Grade: Medium

A heavily trailed local’s secret, the Burgess Road to Cape Hawke walk isn’t paved but distinct tracks make it straightforward to stroll. Head to the southern end of Burgess Road where this Forster walk begins, leading you through rainforest to Cape Hawke Drive where the 500-metre lookout walk should never be ignored. In fact, this trail is a great add-on to the Cape Hawke lookout walk if you’re keen to boost your on-holiday step count.

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Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.