Forresters Beach, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forresters BeachCentral Coast, New South Wales |
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Forresters Beach
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 Forresters Beach
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 2,900 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 1,160/km2 (3,000/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2260 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Central Coast Council | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Kincumber | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Terrigal | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Dobell | ||||||||||||||
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Forresters Beach is a beautiful coastal area located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It sits between the towns of Terrigal and Bateau Bay. This suburb is part of the Central Coast Council local government area. Surfers especially love Forresters Beach for its amazing reef breaks, which create great waves. The area was named after Robert Forrester, who bought land here in 1861.
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Who Lives in Forresters Beach?
In 2016, about 2,900 people called Forresters Beach home. Most residents, about 82.5%, were born in Australia. The next largest group came from England, making up 4.8% of the population. Almost everyone, 92.1%, spoke only English at home. When it came to religion, about 30.8% said they had no religion. About 25.0% were Catholic, and 20.7% were Anglican.
From Fun Park to Retirement Village
A company called The Glen Group wanted to buy land in Forresters Beach in 2004. Their plan was to build a large retirement village. Some local residents were worried this new village would make the area too crowded. They also felt it would change the quiet, "isolated" feel of their community.
The residents tried to stop the project by talking to the local council. However, their efforts were not successful, and the village was built. In 2006, the retirement village opened its doors for older adults to move in.
Before the retirement village was built, the land was home to the Forresters Beach Fun Park. This popular park had many fun attractions over the years. It featured a bowling alley, exciting waterslides, a maze, and even bungee jumping! There were also go-karts and the famous Forresters Beach Markets, which were very popular in the 1990s.
Exploring Wyrrabalong National Park
Wyrrabalong National Park is a special place that covers 597 hectares. It is split into two separate sections. The name "Wyrrabalong" means 'headland looking over the sea'. This name comes from the Darkinjung people. They were the original inhabitants of this narrow strip of coastline. This area is now the southern part of the park, which is about 140 hectares.
What Makes the Park Special?
The southern part of the park has tall, exposed cliffs made of sandstone and shale. At each end of the cliffs, you can find large rock platforms. These are perfect for fishing or exploring when the tide is low. The plateau area has woodlands with trees like blackbutt, spotted gum, and bloodwood. On the gentler slopes, you'll see shrubs and heath plants. These often include coastal banksia and she-oak.
Wildlife in the Park
The park is full of amazing marine life and birds. You might spot goannas, which are large lizards. Bandicoots, small marsupials, also live here. Look out for fantails, which are small, active birds. The tawny frogmouth, a bird that looks like an owl, also calls this park home.
Amazing Views and Walking Tracks
You can visit the Wyrrabalong Lookout, which is located on Cromarty Hill. There's a car park and a concrete platform. From here, you can enjoy views to the south and west. This spot is also important for TV signals. It has a major TV tower that broadcasts to the Wyong area and even as far as Yarramalong.
A short path leads to the Wyrrabalong Lookout right on the cliff's edge. It is 132 meters (about 433 feet) above sea level! From this high point, you can see south towards a famous landmark called The Skillion.
There's also a 1.6-kilometer (about 1 mile) walking track. It follows along the cliffs through the beautiful woodland. This path leads to another viewing platform called Crackneck Lookout. This lookout is 95 meters (about 312 feet) high. It has a large open area, a car park, information boards, and a picnic and barbecue area. It's a great spot to relax and enjoy nature.
