A Weekend Getaway Guide to Blueys Beach, New South Wales

Where the bush meets the beach on the mid-north coast, just three hours from Sydney, Blueys Beach could be one of Australia’s best-kept secrets. The ideal weekend destination for those with a love of the outdoors, Blueys Beach offers unspoiled stretches of sand, swimming with dolphins, world-class diving and fishing sites, and plenty of space for everyone from couples to large families to unwind, well away from the chaos of the city.

Skye Gilkeson

Best weekend spots on NSW mid north coast

Blueys Beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales is a hidden gem, perfect for those who love the outdoors. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Until a recent visit with family who often spend weekends in the sleepy coastal spot, I hadn’t been to Bluey’s Beach since I was a teenager. I had forgotten just how magical Blueys Beach is. I breathed more gently as the road narrowed, enveloped with trees as we wound our way through the curves of the countryside. Driving the Lakes Way, huge stretches of water opened up on either side of the road the trees swaying in the breeze. When we strolled the beach, we barely saw another soul, the only sound was the sets crashing onshore. Despite the many years between visits, Blueys felt the same. It’s a place you instantly feel at ease; where you want to kick off your shoes, switch off your phone and enjoy the stunning local landscape with friends and family.

How to Get to Blueys Beach

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The easiest and most comfortable way to get to Blueys Beach is by car. It is a 3+ hour drive north of Sydney on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. The drive is relatively easy, mostly on highways north, with a turn off to a windy road delivering you to the coast for the final 30 minutes. You will need a car once you arrive to explore the local area so I highly recommend you hire one for your entire stay.
Greyhound and Port Stephens Coaches do operate in the area but expect the journey to take longer, you may also have to change buses and you will still need a way of getting around the area once you arrive.

Blueys Retreat at Blueys Beach offers 4* self-contained townhouses with resort-style amenities onsite. Image © Gus Gilkeson

Where to Stay in Blueys Beach

Blueys Retreat

Blueys Retreat is where we stayed during our recent visit and it is the most luxurious accommodation you will find at Blueys Beach. The 4-star resort featuring modern townhouse style self-contained accommodation has a pool, tennis court, restaurant, and other amenities on-site and it is a short walk to local shops, restaurants, and the beach. Request Unit 29 on booking.

Moby’s Beachside Retreat

The 4 star Moby’s Beachside Retreat at Pacific Palms offers one, two, and three-bedroom self-contained beach houses with resort-style amenities on-site such as a lagoon pool, gym, day spa, and tennis court, footsteps from Boomerang Beach.

The Kingfisher Cafe serves of locally sourced, seasonal slow food in a relaxed setting. Image © Gus Gilkeson

Where to Eat in Blueys Beach

Kingfisher Cafe

We enjoyed a number of meals at The Kingfisher Cafe during our stay at Blueys Retreat. Caroline and Dave are originally from Sydney and moved to Blueys Beach is search of a sea change and to pursue their passion for showcasing slow food. When talking to the couple their love of the area and the food they plate up is palpable. Expect a seasonal and well-considered modern Australian menu served family-style.

Pacific Palms Recreation Club

It doesn’t get more Australian than the Pacific Palms Recreation Club or ‘The Recky’ as it’s affectionately known to locals. A large, RSL-style venue, The Recky is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon with family and friends. There is ample space to spread out and a simple, hearty, and very affordable menu serving local seafood to a Sunday roast (not to mention $1 oysters on Sundays). They also have kids’ discos during the holidays. Grab a spot for sundowners overlooking Wallis Lake.

Kembali

Serving up Australian and Indonesian food with some great healthy choices on the menu. The Kembali owners often spend summer in Australia then chase the surf in Indonesia cooking on Surf charter boats. Think authentic fish tacos, Nasi Goreng, great sambal (order extra if you like chilli), juices and great barista coffee.

Twenty By Twelve

Nestled among the small strip of shops on Boomerang Drive, Twenty By Twelve has a diverse menu of modern Australian eats. We went to the cafe for breakfast, joining the Saturday morning rush. This is a popular local spot for weekend brunch and tapas and wine in the evenings.

Hueys at Blueys

Hueys at Blueys pizzeria and bar is the local pizza shop you would expect in a beachside town like Blueys. Serving up pizza, pasta, and salad with gluten-free bases available.

Stockland Forster Shopping Centre

Stockland Shopping Centre in Forster is a short 20 minutes drive from Blueys Beach and it’s there you will find a large supermarket, pharmacy, fast food outlets and the like, should you need to shop up for the weekend or longer.

Blueys Beach is a hidden gem on the New South Wales mid-north coast, 3 hrs drive from Sydney. Here is your ultimate weekend getaway guide to Blueys Beach.

Blueys Beach has plenty of beautiful unspoiled stretches of sand on the doorstep. Image © Gus Gilkeson

What to Do and See in Blueys Beach

Great Lakes Food Trail

Jump in the car and hit The Great Lakes Food Trail, visiting local farmers and food producers such as oyster growers, organic egg farms, and buffalo farmers. Kids are able to feed the animals while you taste test water buffalo milk and mozzarella, artisan cheeses, honey, oysters, local wine, and much more.

Fishing

The Great Lakes region is a fisherman’s paradise. Charter a boat for a day of deep-sea fishing, sports fishing, or estuary fishing. Flathead, bream, jewfish, bonito, bluefin tuna, and many other catches can be found in the local waterways.

Dolphin Swims, Diving + Whale Watching

Spend a morning swimming with a pod of wild Common dolphins or Bottlenose dolphins during a dolphin cruise (October to June). Get up close and personal with the largest popular of grey nurse sharks on the East Coast with a dive in the world-class diving sites off Seal Rocks.

Bushwalking

Bushwalking in Booti Botti National Park is a great way to spend the morning while staying in Bluey’s Beach. The Booti Booti (2 hours+) and Charlotte Head (One hour) walks are great starter walks and the Booti Booti may be suitable for children from about 6 years+.

Great Lakes Paddocks

A short half-hour drive from Blueys Beach, Great Lakes Paddocks is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Do a little wine tasting and then relax in the Back Paddock with a glass and a board of locally sourced artisan goodies while listening to live music. A family-friendly venue, drop in for a visit or join them for one of their specific Back Paddock events.

Hit the Beach

The beaches around Blueys Beach are a surfer’s delight. Hit the sets at the south end of Boomerang Beach or the north end of Cellito Beach. For families, Elizabeth Beach is best for safe swimming. It is protected and the surf calm. If you are hoping to camp, you can drive on at Cellito Beach at the south end (past the caravan park) or at Tuncurry Beach (26km north of Blueys).

A huge thank you to my brother Gus for all of his tips that make this guide a truly local snapshot.

A Weekend Getaway Guide to Blueys Beach, New South Wales. Blueys Beach is a hidden gem on the New South Wales mid-north coast, 3 hrs drive from Sydney. Here is your ultimate weekend getaway guide to Blueys Beach.

Skye Gilkeson

Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller. She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health. As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.

Skye created The Fit Traveller as a beautiful online space and community where people feel inspired to escape the desk to move and explore more.

Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.

Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her insatiable appetite for adventure.

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