Those in the know return to Seal Rocks year after year for its pristine, yet quiet white sand beaches and laid back vibe. If you love nothing more than getting away from it all and spending time at beautiful isolated beaches, then Seal Rocks is your dream destination. It’s just over three hours from Sydney, but feels a world away, it’s one of those places where you can feel yourself start to relax almost immediately.
The beaches are some of the best in NSW, but if you like to mix it up a bit, there are also some great short walks, opportunities to see whales and dolphins and even a stunning forest that very few people visit too.
Seal Rocks is fairly remote, but there are cafes and restaurants a 20 minute drive away, so you have the best of both worlds.
Here are our favourite things to do at beautiful Seal Rocks, one of our favourite Sydney weekend getaways.
At three hours north of Sydney, Seal Rocks is close enough for a weekend away or a really fun stop on a road trip along the East Coast. It’s close to Forster, Myall Lakes and the Hawks Nest area of Port Stephens, all of which are gems in NSW.
Whilst most people choose to go here for a weekend, we won’t hold it against you if you find yourself staying a little longer as you struggle to leave the chilled, slowed down pace of this beautiful area!
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1. Catch a sunset at the lighthouse
2. Go 4 wheel driving on a beach
3. Have a picnic with a stunning view
4. Go Whale Watching at Treachery Beach
5. See paradise at Number One Beach
6. Walk up Neranie Headland
7. Surf at Blueys Beach
8. Have a swim at the spectacular Shelly Beach
9. Coffee & homemade cake at Jenz
10. See the locals’ favourite - Submarine Beach
11. Walk through the stunning forests of Wallingat National Park
Things to do at Seal Rocks
1. Catch a sunset from the historic lighthouse
The Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is a must visit when you’re at Seal Rocks. Built in 1875, it sits in a really picturesque spot on the headland above Lighthouse and Boat Beaches.
Whilst you can’t go inside the lighthouse itself, the views from here are terrific, offering the opportunity to look for whales and dolphins, and of course to watch the sunset.
Although we didn’t have the best conditions on our visit, it was still beautiful.
It’s a short 1km walk (each way) through the forest on a paved path to get there, with a bit of a hill at the end (the total elevation for the walk is 50m).
Just don’t visit thinking that you might spot seals on the rocks below because sadly the colony is long gone - something I didn’t realise on my first visit, as I stood patiently hoping to catch a glimpse of one!
If you’re really lucky you can also stay in the Lighthouse Keepers Cottages. I say lucky because they sell out way ahead of time on weekends, and we’ve never managed to secure a booking.
Here are the details if you do want to give it a try!
2. Go 4 wheel driving on the beach
If you have a 4WD and are up for a bit of an adventure, you can drive along the spectacular Lighthouse Beach.
It’s 2km long, with great views of the lighthouse in one direction and the headland in the other. If you don’t have a 4WD, you can head to the viewing platform at the beach to watch the action from above.
3. Have a picnic with a view
There are lots of lovely spots for a picnic in Seal Rocks, but our favourite is the grassy lawn adjacent to the coffee van and post office. It offers an elevated view of Boat Beach which looks absolutely idyllic on a sunny day.
Sitting and watching the crystal clear water lap against the shore whilst keeping an eye out for dolphins is pretty hard to beat.
It’s a good idea to bring all your supplies with you to Seal Rocks because there isn’t much in the way of facilities when you get there.
4. Watch out for whales and dolphins at Treachery Head
It’s a short 1.2km walk through some dense forest to reach the fabulous views from Treachery Head, and it’s well worth the effort.
Despite the fact we visited on a seriously gloomy day - which then turned into a monsoon situation - it couldn’t detract from just how beautiful this area is.
The beach is incredible and we were lucky enough to see both whales and dolphins within seconds of turning up. There’s lots of room at Treachery Head to sit and take in the spectacle, so it’s worth allowing a bit of time to appreciate it all.
If it isn’t whale season (May to October) and you aren’t lucky enough to see dolphins (possible year round) then you’re still highly likely to see many albatrosses. We were entertained for ages watching them glide over the water.
You can read more in our full guide to Treachery Beach, including the Treachery Head walk here.
5. Visit the glorious Number One Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in the area is definitely Number One Beach, which stretches for 1.3km, so you’ll never have to worry about it getting overly busy!
The area at the southern end of the beach is quite protected and makes a good spot for swimming.
It’s pretty popular because there’s no walking involved to access it, which is a pro or con depending on your point of view.
We think it’s spectacular, but for us it’s one downfall is that it does have a road running behind it.
Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic spot and ease of access makes it great for families. If you’re looking for a little more seclusion head to the north end of the beach which you’ll almost always get to yourself - it doesn’t have the protected swimming this side though.
6. Walk the Neranie Headland track for a view of Myall Lakes
If you’re keen to stretch your legs then head to Myall Lakes National Park and the 1.1km return Neranie Headland Track.
We’ll be straight up, this walk isn’t going to blow you away, but it’s an easy and pleasant stroll and on our visit absolutely swarming with butterflies which made it a bit more special.
You’ll head up the grassy trail, past an old 19th century cemetery and out to the headland for a view of Myall Lakes.
The view is partially obstructed by dense vegetation, but is pretty enough and we appreciated the chance to go for an easy stroll without another soul in sight.
7. Go surfing at Blueys Beach
If you’re a surfing fanatic, then head for Blueys Beach, which is a bit of a surfing mecca. Whilst you won’t get it to yourself, you will get epic waves and an idyllic spot.
There’s a car park right beside the beach so you won’t have to carry your board far either.
The headland makes for a gorgeous back drop and there was the constant sound of whipbirds in the bushes behind the beach which added to the atmosphere.
8. Take a dip at the spectacular Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in NSW and just a 25 minute drive from Seal Rocks. If you love swimming in calm water then this is definitely the place to come.
The white sand and turquoise water is breathtaking, and the fact you can’t drive right up to the beach makes it feel wonderfully secluded.
One half of the beach is clothing optional, but you wouldn’t even know it. It’s all very discreet and the vibe of the whole beach is friendly and inclusive.
It’s a 600m walk from the nearest car park on a well maintained path, which is right beside the truly spectacular Elizabeth Beach which is also well worth a look.
9. Treat yourself to coffee and homemade cake at Jenz place
The only place you can get a coffee and a snack in Seal Rocks itself is at the coffee van, Single Fin. If you fancy more of a sit down affair, you can drive 20 minutes over to Blueys Beach.
There are a number of cafes and restaurants here, but we always head to Jenz for homemade coffee and cake. When we say treat yourself we mean it, because I’ve never seen any healthy cake options on the menu!
They are all pretty decadent and served with cream or ice cream in the very pretty garden courtyard which is full of tropical plants.
10. Visit the local’s favourite, Submarine Beach
None of Seal Rocks beaches have ever been busy when we’ve visited (and we’ve been many times), but if you want to go to an even more isolated option, we’d recommend heading for Submarine Beach.
This beach feels like it goes forever and within minutes you’ll leave the one or two people near the start of the beach behind.
You’ll find yourself wondering how it is that Seal Rocks has so many outstanding beaches so close together!
It’s perfect for long strolls along the sand or going for a dip or a surf.
The walk to get there is roughly 1km return and we were lucky enough to see a ginormous Goanna along the way so keep your eyes peeled.
11. Stroll through the rainforest at Wallingat National Park
If you’re anything like us then as beautiful as the beaches are, you also like to change it up a bit. That’s when it’s time to head to one of NSW’s lesser known national parks, Wallingat.
It’s an absolutely beautiful forest of towering cabbage palms and blue gums which line both sides of the 25km Forest Drive loop.
There are only a couple of short walking tracks, but they take you through the incredible forest where you are surrounded on all sides by the majestic trees which have true jungle vibes.
If you haven’t had enough swim time at the beach, you can take a dip in the calm and peaceful Wallingat River before heading back to Seal Rocks.
We’ve got all the details on our favourite spots in the park in this guide.
Essential information about visiting Seal Rocks
How to get to Seal Rocks
Seal rocks is 278km and roughly a 3 hour 15 minute drive from Sydney. You’ll definitely want a car for this area because public transport around these parts is scarce and you’ll want to explore the whole area.
Places to eat at Seal Rocks
As we mentioned Seal Rocks doesn’t have any cafes or restaurants besides the Single Fin coffee van which does coffee and snacks, so you’ll want to bring any supplies with you or be prepared to drive 20 minutes over to Blueys Beach.
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Have you visited Seal Rocks before? What’s your favourite spot? Let us know in the comments below!
