Your Guide To Boomerang Beach - Australian Traveller

The sleepy NSW beach town you need to know about now.

Located in the Pacific Palms region of NSW’s North Coast, the tiny township of Boomerang Beach is what the summer holidays of our childhoods were made of. Where days are spent hot-sand hopping along the beach, fossicking around rock pools, chowing down on fish and chips drenched in vinegar, and around a campfire at dusk… sun-kissed skin, salty hair and sandy feet for the win.

an aerial view of Elizabeth Beach, Booti Booti National Park

Take the scenic route to Elizabeth Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s the simplicity of life here that is the lure. Tourism Australia’s ‘Beach Expert’ Brad Farmer seems to agree, placing this “sunburnt Aussie surfing haven" in second place on his 2023 list of Best Beaches in Australia. He describes the region’s tapestry of beaches, lakes, rivers and coves as nature’s gift and an idyllic place for campers and van-lifers. We dig our toes a little deeper in the sand to bring you this weekend getaway guide.

Dip into the crystalline waters. (Image: Undertow Snaps)

How to get to Boomerang Beach

Boomerang Beach is located on NSW‘s Barrington Coast, a 20-minute drive south of Forster and two hours north of Newcastle.

Head out with the fam for a beach holiday at Boomerang Beach. (Image: Claudia Gabriel Lim)

Top things to do in Boomerang Beach

Swim, surf, and sunbathe at the many beaches

The region is known for its vast, uncrowded beaches, where soft, pristine sand is lapped by crystalline water. It’s also a surfer’s utopia. Aptly named Boomerang Beach is a kilometre-long curved stretch of sand that is bookended by headlands.

an aerial view of a person surfing on the turquoise blue waters, Hola Palms, Boomerang Beach

Surf on gigantic translucent waves. (Image: Tom Radcliff Visuals)

Its east-facing position and rock ledges capture ideal and consistent swell, drawing surfers in far and wide, and has also hosted major surf events. Blueys Beach, to its south, is another favoured surfing spot.

Just north of Boomerang lies Booti Booti National Park where you’ll find Shelly Beach, which is popular with rock fishermen and nudists who stick to the northern corner, and Elizabeth Beach, a calm spot for relaxed swimming and families, and Seven Mile Beach, which stretches all the way to Forster.

a stunning beach and grassy landscape at Booti Booti National Park

Soak up nature and stunning beach views at Booti Booti National Park. (Image: Destination NSW)

While a little further south, Sandbar (also known as Cellito Beach) is an absolute beauty with next to sugar-white sand and turquoise water, accessed by a boardwalk that cuts through littoral rainforest. You can four-wheel-drive on the beach at Sandbar, but you need to apply for a permit.

Scenic coastal views across Elizabeth Beach in Booti Booti National Park.

The region is known for its vast, uncrowded beaches. (Image: Destination NSW)

Isolated surf village Seal Rocks is also nearby (around 25 minutes south of Boomerang). Its main beach, also known as Number One, is popular with beginner surfers and SUP riders, while Treachery Beach and Lighthouse Beach are both magnets for advanced surfers.

a surfer catching waves at Seven Mile Beach which stretches from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads

Get ready to catch the waves at Seven Mile Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

Learn to surf with Gary Hughes Surf School, which runs lessons all over the Barrington Coast. Or if gliding about on a SUP is more your pace, hire a board or book a lesson with Pacific Palms SUP.

three surfers heading out into the water at Elizabeth Beach in Booti Booti National Park

Learn to surf with your mates at Elizabeth Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

Trail the many bushwalks

Booti Booti National Park is an eight-kilometre peninsula wedged between ocean and lake just north of Boomerang. Meaning ‘plenty of honey’ in the local Worimi language, this protected paradise comprises The Booti Hill and Wallis Lake Walking Track, a seven-kilometre loop through coastal rainforest, past white-sand swimming spots and along headlands with views.

an aerial view of Number One Beach, Seal Rocks

Hike up the headlands for incredible views of Number One Beach, Seal Rocks. (Image: Destination NSW)

If you’re venturing to Seal Rocks, make time for the easy Treachery Headland Walking Track, a two-kilometre walk through rainforest with views of Sugarpoint Lighthouse.

Or drive inland to Wallingat National Park, which comprises forest and swamp landscapes and is home to more than 200 species of birds, as well as goannas, echidnas and kangaroos, with a number of tracks including the hyper-green 1.7-kilometre Cabbage Palm Loop.

an aerial view of scenic waters off Number One Beach, Seal Rocks

Capture breathtaking views of Number One Beach, Seal Rocks. (Image: Destination NSW)

Relax at Blueys Beach Natural Health Centre

Located within the small village of Blueys Beach, Blueys Beach Natural Health Centre is a wellness hub offering yoga, pilates and qigong in the garden. Or book in for a relaxing treatment such as a massage, facial or remedial therapy, including acupressure, naturopathic Chinese medicine, iridology, reiki and more.

Where to eat in Boomerang Beach

Blueys Beach may be a tiny village, but it has all the essentials you need for a blissful weekend getaway, starting with coffee. Kembali Cafe does a mean cuppa with an Indo-inspired menu for both breakfast and lunch, while across the road Drift Palms is a casual spot with acai bowls, burgers, fish and chips and the like. Hueys at Blueys Pizzeria serve up gourmet pizzas (and they also deliver) or pick up some local provisions such as cheese, cured meats and wine at Blueys Cellars and Deli.

A little further afield, The Recky at Elizabeth Beach is perched on Wallis Lake and has a pub-style menu with a large lawn that is great for kids; they also run a courtesy bus.

people dining on the lakeside lawn at The Recky, Elizabeth Beach

Dine al fresco in front of Wallis Lake at The Recky.

Or venture to Forster for a host of excellent eateries, including Mexican cantina Si Senorita or Wharf Street Distillery to dine on modern Australian and sample the gins made onsite.

Where to stay in Boomerang Beach

Mahalo

Mahalo in Boomerang Beach is an exquisite home located a stone’s throw from the beach. It sleeps up to 10 guests and prioritises fun family time as much as it does luxury (think a swimming pool, fire pit, pizza oven, board games, bunk beds, skateboard, beach cart and more). It is just one of the exquisite holiday homes hosted by Hola Palms, a bespoke collection of architecturally designed properties around Boomerang Beach, Blueys Beach and its surrounds.

Settle in a luxe modern beach house at Mahalo.

Moby’s Beachside Retreat

Moby’s Beachside Retreat is a short walk from Blueys Beach and has a variety of beach houses that sleep two to six guests, with a pool and spa, gym, tennis court and Sips at Moby’s, a bistro that is open all day.

Rugged headlands, hidden beaches and sweeping ocean views.

Tucked inside Hat Head National Park, Connors Walking Track is one of those quintessential North Coast hikes that rewards you at every turn. Beginning near the famous Trial Bay Gaol at South West Rocks, the 3.7-kilometre one-way trail hugs the clifftops and leads walkers across windswept headlands, heathland and shaded forest before spilling out onto the golden arc of Gap Beach.

Why it’s worth the walk

This isn’t a trek that demands heavy boots or a packed lunch; it’s a short hike you can squeeze into a morning or afternoon. But don’t be fooled: what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in difficulty. The coastal walk is on a relatively rough track, with short, steep hills, occasional steps and natural obstacles along the way.

You’ll pass lookouts with front-row views over the Pacific Ocean, and in whale season (May to November), you might even catch the telltale blow of a humpback passing offshore. The trail weaves through banksia and eucalypt forest before opening onto exposed headlands where the sea breeze is at its fiercest. At its finish, Gap Beach is a wild, unpatrolled stretch of sand that feels a world away from South West Rocks.

How to do it

Scenic coastal views from Little Bay Picnic Area, South West Rocks

You can start the walk from Little Bay picnic area. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start the walk from Trial Bay Gaol or Little Bay picnic area and allow one to two hours one way. Some hikers opt for a return trip, while others arrange a pick-up at the other end to keep things easy. The track is well-marked, but you’ll need some bushwalking experience and a moderate level of fitness to tackle the steep sections and sandy approach to the beach.

If you’ve got more energy to burn, Connors Walking Track connects with other trails in Hat Head National Park, including the Smoky Cape Range Walking Track, giving you options to extend your adventure.

Need-to-know

Green hills covered with juicy grass by the ocean, beautiful beach surrounded by cliffs in Australia, Connors Beach in Hat Head National Park, NSW

Connors Walking Track is a must-do hike in northern NSW. (Image: Getty Images / Jakub Maculewicz)

Distance: 3.7 kilometres one way
Time: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Grade 4
Experience required: Yes
Start/finish: Trial Bay Gaol or Gap Beach
Best for: Coastal views, whale spotting, wildflowers

Connors Walking Track is one of the North Coast’s most rewarding short hikes, a chance to lace up your shoes and, in under two hours, be transported from historic ruins to windswept headlands to an untouched stretch of sand. If you’re heading to South West Rocks, consider this your must-do walk.

A perfect guide to Boomerang Beach