Cape Hawke lookout
Booti Booti National Park
Overview
Just five minutes from Forster, the Cape Hawke lookout offers spectacular views along the coast from the top of a dedicated tower, perfect for whale watching.
- Type
- Lookouts
- Where
- Booti Booti National Park in North Coast
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, sturdy shoes, binoculars
Positioned right at the northern end of the national park, this superb lookout is worth every step of the 500m hike through regenerating littoral rainforest. Pull on your walking shoes and bring some binoculars and a camera – after approximately 420 steps you’ll reach an 8.4m tower with stunning views of the surrounding area.
There’s Booti Booti to the south, and Wallingat National Park beyond and slightly to the west. On a clear day you can even see as far as Barrington Tops and Crowdy Bay National Park.
Birdwatching is wonderful year-round here, with pelicans and terns in great abundance, but winter holds an extra special surprise – whales break the surface of the sea, blowing water, and there’s no better place to watch them in their annual migration.
Also see
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McBrides Beach walking track
Take a short stroll down McBrides Beach walking track to reach remote and picturesque McBrides Beach, the perfect spot for an oceanside picnic.
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McBrides Beach
Picnic by the ocean at picturesque McBrides Beach in Booti Booti National Park, 10mins from Forster. Reach this idyllic spot with a short stroll down McBrides Beach walking track.
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Saving Our Species program
Australia is home to more than 500,000 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Saving our Species is a statewide conservation program that addresses the growing number of Australian animals and Australian native plants facing extinction.
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Booti Booti Office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Closed public holidays.
- 02 6591 0300
- npws.manninggreatlakes@environment.nsw.gov.au
- The Ruins campground, Booti Booti National Park, 4374 The Lakes Way, Booti Booti 2428
Park info
- in Booti Booti National Park in the North Coast region
Booti Booti National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
-
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. Day passes are available from the Manning Great Lakes Area Office or the Park'nPay app. You'll need a Day Pass or Annual Pass when visiting the park.
Buy annual pass
What's nearby:
Things to do (58)
- 4WD touring (1)
- Aboriginal culture (8)
- Beach (1)
- Birdwatching and wildlife encounters (30)
- Canoeing/paddling (11)
- Cycling (8)
- Fishing (12)
- Historic heritage (11)
- Horse riding (1)
- Picnics and barbecues (23)
- Road trips and car/bus tours (2)
- Sailing, boating and cruises (4)
- Sightseeing (16)
- Snorkelling and scuba (1)
- Surfing (5)
- Swimming (13)
- Walking (25)