Swims at secluded beaches and walks through Booti Booti National Park await those who manage to prise themselves away from Swell at Blueys’ show stopping views.
One Swell Day
Morning
Rise early and watch the sunrise over Blueys Beach with a morning cuppa. Take a stroll along the long stretch of white sand or grab your board and hit the surf. Nearby, Blueys Yoga offers regular morning classes.
Head to Drift Café in the small cluster of shops at Blueys Beach for coffee with the locals. Their healthy breakfast bowls and good coffee will set you up for the day.
Discover one of the area’s seven gorgeous beaches and national parks guarded by a massive tri lakes system, including the vast Myall Lakes and the galloping Pacific Ocean to the east. The area offers world-class surfing, dolphin and whale watching (in season), fishing and bush walking.
Boomerang, Cellitos, Seal Rocks and Blueys beaches are all great for surfing. Shelly Beach is a nudist beach reached by foot through Booti Booti National Park. Nearby Elizabeth Beach is an ideal spot to swim with children offering a stunning, protected stretch of sand with calm waters. If you’re keen to learn to surf, Great Lakes Surf School has experienced local coaches including pro surfer Sam Schumann.
Afternoon
After a morning’s exploration head to Kembali Cafe for lunch. This bustling Indonesian style café at Blueys Beach offers everything from nasi goreng with sambal, fresh juices, gado gado and decent coffee. Grab a seat in the sunshine and soak up the laid-back vibe of this friendly coastal town.
Foodies will love the Great Lakes Food Trail with its local producers and farm gate stalls open on select dates. Burraduc Farm which produces award winning fresh water buffalo milk and artisan cheese is well worth a visit (check for opening hours).
You can also order direct from Mid North Coast producers via the Farm to Fridge site. Fresh farm produce can be delivered to Swell at Blueys on Friday afternoons (book ahead to arrange).
If you want to soak up more glorious coastal vistas head for the heritage-listed Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse high above the sleepy fishing village of Seal Rocks. This magnificent lighthouse, one of only two in Australia with an external staircase, uses the same rotating lantern first illuminated to protect ships passing the treacherous expanse of the Tasman in 1875. The walk to the lighthouse passes an incredible blowhole on one side; Lighthouse Beach the other. If it’s open be sure and stop at retro coffee van Single Fin Coffee (open seasonally) before heading back to Swell at Blueys.
If time permits, swing by the Great Lakes Paddocks Winery and sample local cheeses with a glass of wine. Alternatively buy a bottle (sometimes stocked at Blueys Cellars) for sundowners back on the lawn in front of Shoreline for sundowners as the setting sun tinges both the sky and sea in soft pink hues. Pre-order a grazing box from Sea & Salt Grazing Co to make it extra special.
Dinner
Dinner options include Kemabli Café, the Kingfisher Cafe for seafood and locally sourced produce, Drift for fish and chips or the famous Hueys at Blueys Pizzeria and Bar. The Hueys Special with the works is always a winner.
Alternatively eat in. Cook up a storm on the BBQ in Pavilion, book your own personal chef to come and whip up a feast or select from a wide range of gourmet pre-prepared meals, local cheeses, sourdough and Italian gelato from Blueys Cellars and Deli. This brilliant bottle shop cum deli also stocks a fantastic selection of wines and craft beers.
On your way to or from Swell at Blueys, be sure to stop off and see the tallest tree in NSW, The Grandis, which stands at 400m on the western edge of Myall Lakes National Park.