Smiths Lake Chalet Guidebook

Small town Australian thing - smile and wave G'day

For an early morning walk, head left out of the driveway along the one-way Amaroo Drive. At the elbow where the road turns on itself to go the other way, there is a fire trail going into the forest, it’s not a loop trail. Similarly if you turn right out of the driveway, when the road takes a sharp right hand bend, there is a fire trail heading to your right (away from the lake), again not a loop walk. I haven’t walked these yet, but they’re on my list.

Haven’t tried these myself but they’re popular: The Recky – Pacific Palms Recreation Club: http://www.pprc.com.au/index.html The Bowling Club - Pacific Palms Bowling Club: https://www.pacificpalmsbowlingclub.com.au/ More places to eat at Bluey’s Beach – check opening times on Facebook as these may change with the seasons: Kembali Café: 6am – 3pm Jens at Blueys: 9.30 am – 4pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) Drift Café: 6.30am – 2pm (open to 7pm Fridays and Saturdays) Hueys at Blueys Pizzaria and Bar: 5pm – 8.30pm Sips on Moby’s: Thursdays 5pm – 10pm Fridays 3pm – 10pm Saturdays 7am – 10pm

Beaches: Sandbar beach, a long narrow strip of sand that separates Smiths Lake from the sea. Celito Beach is the northern end of Sandbar. Further north are: Bluey’s Beach (entrances north and south) Boomerang (entrances north and south) Elizabeth Beach (often calmer so the preferred swimming beach), Shelly Beach (an optional nude beach) tucked away up a short walk that starts south of Elizabeth Beach. Seven Mile Beach separates Wallis Lake and the ocean, between Elizabeth Beach and Forster in Booti Booti National Park with easy access at the Santa Barbara Picnic Area

The Smiths Lake Village Centre, along Macwood Road, has a supermarket, butcher, bakery, café, wine cellar and hairdresser. The reviews for the café’s coffee are good. There is also Frothy Coffee on the lake in Smiths Lake Park at the end of Amaroo Drive, where you can also can picnic, swim or launch a small boat. Two cafés at Bueley’s Beach attract morning queues, so the coffees must be good there too. Most shops are closed by 7pm, so if you are arriving late (from the south), you can fuel up and pick up supplies before you arrive from Bulahdelah