Pools

There are many swimming options in the Great Lakes with beaches and outdoor swimming enclosures taking in the beautiful amenity the area has to offer.  If structured fresh water pools are more to your liking, there are several of these to pick from.  If you would like to book a pool for lessons, school sports, etc. please read Councils Guide for use of Facilities and complete the Swimming Pool Use - Application and Agreement.

All our recreational facilities are now smoke free.  This means you cannot smoke within 10m of sports buildings, courts and playing fields, park furniture and park buildings, as well as designated swimming areas.  Please refer to the Smoke Free Recreation Areas Policy for more information.

Freshwater Swimming Pools

Freshwater swimming pools are located at Bulahdelah, Stroud, Tuncurry and Tea Gardens.  These pools are open from the beginning of the September school holidays through to the end of the April school holidays.  Pool entry fees apply at all pools, with Bulahdelah and Stroud pools having an honesty box system.  Tea Gardens Swimming Pool is Council's only supervised outdoor swimming pool, with a lifeguard on duty during the swimming season.  Please note, the lifeguard is not at the pool nor on duty for the entire time the pool is open.  For a schedule of supervised hours please check the notice board at the entry to the pool which displays when the pool is supervised.

Council encourages all users of swimming areas to be accompanied by a responsible person at all times.

Swimming Enclosures

Swimming enclosures opening on to the lake and river systems are located at Allworth, Coomba Park and Little Street Forster.  If you would prefer to swim in the ocean, Forster offers the Ocean Baths and Tuncurry has The Rockpool.  Plese note, all swimming enclosures are unsupervised and contain marine life.

Public Health - Swimming Pools and Spa Pools

The Public Health (Swimming Pools and Spa Pools) Regulation 2000 contains the legislation that controls the public health risk associated with public swimming and spa pools.  Refer to Public Health - Swimming Pools for further information.

BeachesFrom Hawks Nest in the South to Tuncurry in the North, the Great Lakes offers the best beaches on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

Between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Fridays, during the school holidays (except June/July) and excluding public holidays, Council contracts professional lifeguards to patrol Forster Main Beach and Forster One Mile Beach as well as Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest. Council also contracts lifeguards to Elizabeth Beach at Pacific Palms however, this beach is controlled by The National Parks & Wild Life Services.

On weekends and public holidays from October to April these beaches, together with Elizabeth Beach, are patrolled by volunteer Surf Life Savers.  For further information regarding professional lifeguard patrols,please contact Council.  If you would like information regarding volunteer patrolling please contact your local surf lifesaving club.

Forster Main Beach

Driving on beaches is a popular recreational activity within the Great Lakes and Greater Taree areas.  Beach Vehicle Permits are available from various locations throughout the regions.  An Application for a Beach Vehicle and a Beach Vehicle Drivers Permit must be lodged as it is an offence to drive on any beach without a current beach driving permit for both the vehicle and the driver.  Permits will not be processed until payment in full has been received.

All permit holders must abide by Councils Vehicles on Beaches Policy.

Patrolled  Beaches