Pacific Palms

Beautiful beaches 

Pacific Palms’ beaches are legendary, each with its own charm and attractions. Relax on white sand at Elizabeth Beach, framed by the green hills of Booti Booti National Park, where you can swim or snorkel in the calm bay. Next door, Shelly Beach is another lovely swimming spot and an unofficial clothing-optional beach.  

Elizabeth Beach, Booti Booti National Park
 

Blueys Beach is a great surfing spot, often frequented by dolphins who also enjoy the surf. North of Blueys is Boomerang Beach, named due to its shape. This is another popular surf beach, with a patrolled section for swimming during the summer months. At the southern end, Boomerang Point Lookout offers stunning views of the beach and beyond. South of Blueys, Cellito Beach, also known as Sandbar, is a long sandy beach, popular with surfers with sweeping views towards Seal Rocks.  

Family enjoying a walk along Blueys Beach, Blueys Beach

National parks & walks  

At the north end of Pacific Palms, the spectacular Booti Booti National Park covers a scenic 8km peninsula of beautiful headlands, beaches and rainforest. This is a great place for hiking, swimming and birdwatching. In winter you can watch whales as they migrate along the coast. 

The Booti Hill and Wallis Lake Walking Track is a stunning walk that runs along both the ocean and the lake. Starting at Ruins campground, the walk crosses Seven Mile Beach and climbs the northern side of Booti Hill. There are rest spots along the way, and at Elizabeth Beach you can take a refreshing dip. 

Inland, next to Whoota and Charlotte Bay is Wallingat National Park, with varied forest and swamp landscapes that can be explored via the park's network of unsealed roads. Take the trail to Whoota Whoota Lookout for spectacular views of the Great Lakes region or the Cabbage Palm loop walking track to admire the beautiful palms up close.  

Double Wharf to Whoota lookout cycle loop, Wallingat National Park - Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW

Dine & relax 

Pacific Palms’ main shopping and dining enclave is Boomerang Drive in Blueys Beach, where there are several specialty stores and hip cafes that wouldn’t be out of place in a big city. Family-run Hueys on Blueys Pizzeria does fantastic pizza to eat in or takeaway and Kembali Cafe serves Indonesian-inspired dishes along with brunch classics.  

The Pacific Palms Recreation Club is a popular place for sunset over Wallis Lake, and for local produce, the monthly Pacific Palms Community Market showcases homegrown and home-baked products along with organic vegetarian curries, Asian noodles and Aussie-style barbecues. You will also find jewellery, art, crafts and clothes.  

Kembali Cafe, Blueys Beach - Credit: Natarsha Brown

Where to stay 

Pacific Palms Caravan Park is a short walk from Elizabeth Beach, offering cabins and pitches. Nearby, Pacific Palms Resort has one- and two-bedroom units with small kitchens and an outdoor pool. In Booti Booti National Park is the popular Ruins campground and picnic area, set behind Seven Mile Beach – a fantastic base for exploring the national park. And in Blueys are Blueys Retreat and Blueys Motel, both offering four-star accommodation with a pool.  

The Ruins campground, Booti Booti National Park - Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW

Getting there  

By car, Pacific Palms is three hours and 30 minutes from Sydney, and one hour and 30 minutes from Newcastle Airport which services all the major Australian cities. Coach services run from Sydney and Newcastle or you can catch the train from Sydney via Newcastle. You can also make this a memorable stop on a North Coast road trip.