The Ruins campground and picnic area is located in Booti Booti National Park.

To get there from Forster:

• Follow The Lakes Way for 15km towards Pacific Palms
• Turn left into the campground

To get there from the Pacific Highway near Bulahdelah:

• Follow The Lakes Way for 45km
• Turn right into the campground

Road quality

• Sealed roads

Vehicle access

• 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

• All weather

Parking

• Tent and drive-on campsites allow for 1 vehicle to park directly on the site.
• Tent only campsites provide parking for a maximum of 2 vehicles next to the site.
• There's limited additional parking at this campground in informal grass and gravel carparks.

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Booti Booti National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Spring

See the park's magnificent wildflower displays as they bloom across the heathlands.

Summer

Swim at the seasonally patrolled Elizabeth Beach or kayak in Wallis Lake while staying at the nearby The Ruins campground.

Winter

Visit Cape Hawke lookout to watch whales migrating off the coast.

Campsites are marked, unpowered and suitable for motorhomes, caravans, camper trailers, campervans and tents.

Toilets

There are accessible flush toilets in the amenities block at the northern end of the campground. There's also another accessible toilet at the southern end of the campground.

• Flush toilets

Picnic tables

There's a pavilion in the main part of the campground that has picnic tables, barbecues and dishwashing facilities. There's also a separate picnic area that has a barbecue shelter and picnic tables.

All picnic tables and shelters are set on concrete slabs. You'll need to cross over grass to reach them from your campsite.

Barbecue facilities

• Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Carpark

Drinking water

Showers

There are accessible hot showers in the amenities block at the northern end of the campground.

• Hot showers

Rubbish bin

Rubbish and recycling bins are available at the campground.

Step-free access

The campground is mostly flat and there's step-free access, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over grass to reach the campground's facilities.

• The Ruins campground and picnic area factsheet
• The Ruins campground and picnic area map (1.5MB pdf)
• The Ruins campground layout (350.3KB pdf)

Disability access level - medium

• The campground is mostly flat and there's step-free access but no pathways. You'll need to cross over grass to get from your campsite to the campground's facilities.
• There are accessible toilets and showers.
• There are accessible picnic tables set on concrete slabs.

• Cape Hawke lookout 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.
• Elizabeth Beach picnic area A short drive from Forster, Elizabeth Beach picnic area offers a great spot to relax near a beach popular for swimming in summer and whale watching in winter.
• Junior ranger: Booti Booti coastal adventure tour Join us for a Junior ranger adventure, as we traverse the shores of Seven Mile Beach. Walk alongside a Discovery Ranger to find out what plants and animals live here, and how they survive in this magical environment.
• Sailing Club picnic area An alternative to the ocean-front options of Booti Booti National Park, Sailing Club picnic area offers a shady rest spot on the shore of Wallis Lake.

• Booti walking track Just 20km from Forster, Booti walking track is a loop walk which beautifully captures the park's scenic features and offers family-friendly opportunities for swimming and picnicking.
• Junior ranger: Booti Booti coastal adventure tour Join us for a Junior ranger adventure, as we traverse the shores of Seven Mile Beach. Walk alongside a Discovery Ranger to find out what plants and animals live here, and how they survive in this magical environment.

• Aboriginal culture Bring your students to this unique excursion in Booti Booti National Park, near Forster. They’ll experience the park through the eyes of an Aboriginal person on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Aboriginal culture Geography excursion.
• Junior ranger: Booti Booti coastal adventure tour Join us for a Junior ranger adventure, as we traverse the shores of Seven Mile Beach. Walk alongside a Discovery Ranger to find out what plants and animals live here, and how they survive in this magical environment.

Animals

• 

  Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

  The humpback whale has the longest migratory path of any mammal, travelling over 5000km from its summer feeding grounds in Antarctica to its breeding grounds in the subtropics. Its playful antics, such as body-rolling, breaching and pectoral slapping, are a spectacular sight for whale watchers in NSW national parks.

• 

  Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

  The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.

• 

  Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

  The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.

• 

  Lace monitor (Varanus varius)

  One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.

• 

  Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

  Found throughout Australia, the tawny frogmouth is often mistaken for an owl due to its wide, powerful beak, large head and nocturnal hunting habits. The ‘oom oom oom’ call of this native bird can be heard echoing throughout a range of habitats including heath, woodlands and urban areas.