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

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

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.

3. Forster Breakwall to Tuncurry Breakwall

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.

6. Booti Walking Track, Booti Booti National Park

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

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.