We spent many weekends and summer holidays exploring ‘The Lakes’ when I was in primary school. But it has only been in the last few months that we have found our way past the lakes and have begun to explore some of the many incredible walking and hiking trails in the region.
Booti Booti National Park is located 141 kms from Newcastle (around 1 hr 45 mins drive) or 20 kms from Foster on the Mid North Coast. The Booti Hill and Wallis Lake walking trail starts at the Ruins Campground. It continues in a loop as it hugs the coastline before crossing to follow the shores of Wallis Lake.
Booti Hill and Wallis Lake Walking trail at a glance
Distance: 7.3 kms
Duration: 2 1/2 hours to 3 1/2 hours
Track: Combination of fire trails, sandy tracks, single track paths
Grade: Grade 3.
Start: The Ruins Campground, Booti Booti National Park
Finish: The Ruins Campground, Booti Booti National Park
Nearby trails: Sandbar Beach circuit
Bookings/Permits: Not required
Other information: This hike can be completed in either direction. Start at the Ruins Campground, and complete the hike in a clockwise direction. There are picnic facilities and toilets located at campground.
Information on how walking trails are graded can be found here.
The trail
Start at the Ruins Campground, head down towards the beach and take the stairs up the headland toward Elizabeth Beach. Although you can do this walk in the opposite direction, travelling clockwise around the track allows you to complete the hardest part of the track first (it’s not too difficult!). But…the track can be quite overgrown and I would definitely recommend sturdy shoes.
The track is a 7.5km loop, tracking over Booti Hill, across the Lakes Way, returning to the Ruins Campground via Wallis Lake. While there are some great views from the track of Elizabeth Beach and the Pacific Ocean, perhaps some of the most scenic points are on the Wallis Lake section of the track.
There are a number of rest spots along the way and the trail is fairly well marked. If you are visiting in winter, be sure to be on the lookout for whales as they complete their winter migration. If you’re visiting in summer, there are plenty of places to stop for a quick swim – either in the ocean or the lake.
Getting to Booti Hill walking trail
The Ruins Campground is located on The Lakes Way, Booti Booti. When travelling from the south, The Lakes Way meanders along the shores of Wallis Lake before arriving at Booti Booti National Park. If you have the time, it’s worth adding a little extra time onto your trip complete at least part of this scenic drive.
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