Aussie state border closures mean I haven’t travelled interstate as much as I’d have liked (totes a first world problem, I’m aware), and it’s unlikely they’ll be opening any time soon. But since New South Wales itself is home to a gazillion national parks and an abundance of beautiful coastlines, NSW-dwellers are pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to weekend getaways. There are some truly awesome places just a few hours away.
A couple of weeks ago I visited Pacific Palms – a small coastal town in the centre of the Great Lakes Region in the mid north coast region of New South Wales. It’s just a three and a half-hour drive from Sydney and getting there is quite scenic. If you don’t have a car, get a coach departing from Newcastle or Sydney. I personally can’t drive and therefore must be chauffeured everywhaaa.
We stayed in Elizabeth Beach, a small suburb of Pacific Palms flanked by the Booti Booti hills. For anyone visiting, I highly recommend this AirBnb. Nestled in headlands amongst palm forests, you can sit on the upstairs balcony of this enchanting retreat and take in the view of the surrounding bushland and feel the sensation of having truly escaped from city life.
AirBnB aside, there are many reasons to visit the lovely Pacific Palms.
The beaches are ace
Probably the best thing about the Pacific Palms area are the phenomenal beaches – all of which were fairly deserted when we visited. Blueys beach, a small unpatrolled beach surrounded by spectacular native rainforest is glorious and the best surfing beach in the area. Boomerang beach – also famed as a surfing destination and so-called because of its Boomerang shape – is a great place to swim since the rocky headlands at either side of it offer protection from the wind.
Seal Rocks
The holiday village of Seal Rocks is not to be missed and gets its name from the seal visitors it attracts at certain times of the year. This peaceful location is known for its impressive lighthouse, Sugarloaf Point lighthouse, with its panoramic views of the stunning surrounding beaches. I would perhaps question the lighthouse’s ‘impressive’ reputation, given that it was built to guide ships past the treacherous rock formation of Seal Rocks, yet several ships have crashed there since its construction.
I was very excited to see my first pelican in the wild here, just staring out to sea, contemplating his/her/their(?) life as a pelican.
From Sugarloaf Point lighthouse on the headland is a view of the surrounding unspoiled, almost deserted beaches. This viewpoint is also an awesome whale-watching spot and we did see a few splashes in the distance where some whales popped up to say hi.
After seeing the lighthouse, head down to Lighthouse Beach – a vast stretch of sand backed by rolling dunes.
Some canny walks
If you’re looking to do some walking, there are plenty of tracks in the area, including the Booti Hill Lakeside walking track and the Coachwood Loop walking track.
Having said that, Pacific Palms in general is definitely somewhere you need a car to get around; there aren’t many shops in the area, just one strip with a fish & chip shop and a pizza restaurant. Hueys at Blueys does extremely good pizzas, apart from the ‘Kirra’ pizza (banana, pineapple, prawns, curry and shredded coconut), which – I can confirm – is vile.
If you’re looking to get away from Sydney without getting on a plane, Pacific Palms could be the one. I left feeling hungover but recharged, restored and mesmerised by the untold beauty of this sleepy coastal hideaway.
Edgy Satsuma 