Burgess Beach, Forster: Fairy pool, swimming and surfing

Just north of Booti Booti Park, Burgess Beach in Forster, NSW, is becoming famous for its photogenic tidal rock pool – aka the Forster fairy pools.

Burgess Beach, NSW, is something of a local secret. In Forster on the Mid North Coast, isn’t nearly as well known as other local favourites such as One Mile Beach, Forster Beach and Tuncurry Beach.

You also have to put in a bit of work to get there. Burgess Beach is off Burgess Road in Forster, but the path down to it is pretty darned steep.

Surfing and swimming at Burgess Beach, Forster

This Mid North Coast beach is not one you come to for vast curves of white sand. It’s only about 300 metres long and there are a few rocky sections. It’s a reasonably protected beach which makes the waves quite small. Surf conditions can be decent occasionally, but it’s not somewhere you’d pick for reliable surf.

Swimmers should be aware that the beach is not patrolled by surf lifesavers, although it’s not especially hazardous.

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Tidal rock pool at Burgess Beach, NSW – aka the Forster fairy pool

The aspect of Burgess Beach that makes it one of the most beautiful hidden places in NSW, is the tidal pool at the northern end.

The Burgess Beach rock pool has been dubbed a “fairy pool” by Instagrammers, and people have started showing up there purely to get their photo taken.

Burgess Beach caves

There are also some small mini-caves amongst the rocks on the northern side of Burgess Beach. This is a place you come to for exploration and rock-hopping rather than sunbathing.

Continuing along south from Burgess Beach, you soon reach the Cape Hawke section of Booti Booti National Park.

Where to stay in Forster

But where to stay in Forster? Well, try the Hotel Forster for a big pool, the Forster Motor Inn for convenience and the Dorsal Boutique Hotel for style.