Guide to Myall Lakes New South Wales Australia

Great lakes paradise

Vast expanses of picturesque lakes, unpolluted, uncrowded never-ending stretches of surfing beaches, over 1000 square kilometres of National Parks, seven state forests, and a natural ecosystem with billions of exotic plants and wildlife.

This description just scratches the surface of the Great Lakes district, gateway to the spectacular Holiday Coast, a short 2.5 hour drive on the freeway north of Sydney.

Hugged by the Great Dividing Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean, this diverse coastline and region is a paradise for adventurers, nature lovers and those who just want to sit back and watch the world go by. This is easily done thanks to a temperate climate offering sunny days almost all year round.

Much of this pristine region falls within Myall Lakes National Park. The 10,000 hectares of tranquil waterways in the park comprise the largest network of coastal lakes in the state. The Great Lakes’ Myall, Smiths and Wallis Lakes are separated from the ocean by high sand dunes. These calm and crystal clear waters are havens for every water sport imaginable; sailing, canoeing, fishing, skiing, windsurfing – and are calm and peaceful enough to spend the night on a houseboat.

Over the dunes, the Pacific Ocean breaks onto magnificent beaches, which has become a regular haunt for surfers and beach fishermen.

The Great Lakes begins at Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest and stretches 100 kilometres north to Forster and Tuncurry and the gorgeous hinterland west to Stroud and the famous Barrington Tops.

Further north lies the Manning Valley’s lush hinterland, taking in Ellensborough Falls – one of the longest single drop waterfalls in the southern hemisphere – and 350 kilometres of navigable waterways connecting the mountains to the sea.