Holiday houses in Seal Rocks

A tiny coastal settlement surrounded by the verdant Myall Lakes National Park, Seal Rocks is one of the jewels of the Barrington Coast. Visitors are drawn to this corner of the Mid North Coast of New South Wales year-round for its beautiful beaches, remote surf breaks, superb snorkelling and diving, good fishing, and easy access to the national park.

Seal Rocks is also famous for its 1875 lighthouse — one of only two lighthouse towers in Australia with an external stairway — at Sugarloaf Point that overlooks wild beaches and the cluster of offshore rocky outcrops that gave the town its name. While the local population of Australian fur seals is not as robust as it was in the 19th century, locals have reported an increase in seal sightings in recent years. With no supermarket and only one cafe in town, you’ll need to stock up on supplies on your way here.

The best time to visit Seal Rocks depends on how you like to spend your seaside holidays. If you’re a beach person, aim for the warmer months from October to April, being sure to keep an eye out for dolphins frolicking in the waves. The cooler months are ideal for exploring the trails lacing Myall Lakes National Park, with wildflowers blooming in spring. From May to November, Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is a great vantage point for whale watching. Typically held in spring, nearby Forster’s Lakeside Festival offers a fun day out filled with food, markets, and entertainment.

Myall Lakes National Park

There’s no lack of walking tracks to choose from in Myall Lakes National Park, with the closest trail to Seal Rocks, the two-kilometre-return Treachery Headland Walking Track, among the most scenic. If you brought your bike with you, the Mining Road to Old Gibber Road Cycling Trail is an easy 20-kilometre ride within the park; allow six hours for a leisurely ride.

Scuba diving

Seal Rocks is one of regional New South Wales’ top dive spots, with plenty to see, including turtles and (friendly) sharks. Local outfitters run regular dive trips to Seal Rocks as well as to sites around Forster, a 40-minute drive to the north, and snorkelling trips.

Pacific Palms

Just 25 minutes north of Seal Rocks, the small locality of Pacific Palms is home to a clutch of laid-back villages and beautiful beaches (particularly Blueys Beach, popular with surfers). It’s on the doorstep of Booti Booti National Park, which has an excellent loop walk (the 7.3-kilometre Booti Hill and Wallis Lake Walking Track). The park is also home to pretty (and clothing-optional!) Shelly Beach.