Wallis Lake in March is something else. The summer crowds have eased, the water sits at around 22 degrees, and by early morning the surface is close to glassy. For guests staying at Shores Elizabeth Beach, the lake is steps from the property boundary, which means fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fresh local oysters are all within easy reach. This is what the lake offers in autumn.
What makes Wallis Lake a fishing destination?
Wallis Lake is one of the largest coastal lakes in NSW, covering around 120 square kilometres across the Forster-Tuncurry area and Pacific Palms. It’s an estuarine system fed by five rivers, holding an exceptional range of species: bream, flathead, whiting, luderick, tailor, and the highly prized Australian bass in the upper tidal reaches. The shallow sand flats along the southern shoreline are particularly productive for flathead during autumn when fish move into warmer shallows to feed.
For guests who want to cast a line from shore, the lake foreshore accessible from the Shores side of Pacific Palms has low-pressure spots that rarely see much competition. Early mornings in March, around the hour after sunrise, are when bream and whiting are most active along the lake margins. Bring a light spin or bream outfit, small soft plastics or nippers, and keep the sessions short and simple.
For those wanting to get further out, boat hire through Forster (around 20 minutes north on the Pacific Highway) is the logical next step. Several charter and hire operators work out of the Forster waterfront, where you’ll also find the main boat ramp access to the deeper sections of the lake where flathead and bream concentrate in autumn.
A NSW Recreational Fishing Licence is required for anyone over 18, available online from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Bag limits apply to most species, and certain areas near the oyster leases are off-limits to fishing boats.
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on Wallis Lake
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on Wallis Lake in autumn are genuinely different experiences from the ocean side of Elizabeth Beach. On a calm March morning, the lake surface reads almost like a mirror, and you can paddle out into open water with nothing between you and the horizon of tea-tree-lined foreshore.
From the lake access points near Pacific Palms, most paddlers head north toward the channels that thread between the forested islands in the upper lake. Booti Booti National Park borders the southern shore, and paddling along the park’s edge in the morning is one of those experiences that’s hard to describe properly to someone who hasn’t done it. The bird activity alone is worth it: royal spoonbills, pied cormorants, white ibis, and the occasional sea eagle working the shallows.
Kayak and paddleboard hire is available in Forster. Call ahead in March to confirm availability, as summer rosters ease into more flexible autumn hours. For beginners, the lake is significantly more forgiving than the ocean: no wave energy, shallow enough to stand on in most places, and distances between launch points are manageable. Our guests who’ve never paddled before tend to feel comfortable within the first ten minutes.
One practical note: the lake has a tidal cycle, and planning your paddle around an incoming or early-flood tide makes the paddling feel easier and keeps you away from exposed shallows that appear at low water.
Where to find Wallis Lake oysters
Wallis Lake oysters are considered among the finest in Australia. The lake’s combination of clean river inflow, good flushing, and the particular mineral profile of the surrounding catchment produces Sydney rock oysters with a sweetness and brine balance that sets them apart. If you’ve eaten oysters anywhere in NSW, there’s a good chance they came from Wallis Lake.
The best way to get them fresh is to head into Forster, about 20 minutes from Elizabeth Beach. The Forster waterfront has fish and seafood suppliers where you can buy oysters by the dozen or the tray, often still in half-shell and sold by the fishers who work the lake leases.
Local preference runs to simply freshly shucked with a squeeze of lemon. Wander along the waterfront, pick a quiet bench, and eat them looking out at the lake. FreeSpirit Cruises runs regular lake cruises from Forster that pass near the oyster leases, giving good context to where the oysters actually come from, and a relaxed way to see the lake if paddling isn’t what you’re after.
For those who prefer to cook at home, the self-contained villas at Shores have full kitchens, which means you can buy a tray, bring them back, and shuck them at leisure on the veranda. A box of lake oysters, a bottle of white, and a veranda overlooking the lake at dusk is one of those March evenings you tend to remember.
Frequently asked questions about Wallis Lake
What fish can you catch in Wallis Lake?
Wallis Lake holds bream, flathead, whiting, luderick, tailor, mullet, and Australian bass in the upper tidal reaches. Flathead are particularly active in the shallows during the cooler autumn months of March and April.
Do you need a fishing licence for Wallis Lake?
Yes. A NSW Recreational Fishing Licence is required for anyone aged 18 or over. Day, monthly, and annual licences are available online through the NSW Department of Primary Industries website.
Where can I hire a kayak near Wallis Lake?
Kayak and paddleboard hire operators are based in Forster, around 20 minutes north of Pacific Palms. Call ahead to confirm availability, as autumn is generally less busy than peak summer.
Are Wallis Lake oysters available to buy near Elizabeth Beach?
The closest retail access is in Forster, where waterfront fish suppliers sell freshly shucked Wallis Lake oysters by the dozen or tray, around 20 minutes from Elizabeth Beach.
Is Wallis Lake safe for swimming?
The lake foreshore near Pacific Palms is suitable for calm-water swimming, with sandy shallow sections that are particularly good for families with younger children. No surf, and March water temperatures sit around 22 degrees.
Can you take a boat out on Wallis Lake?
Yes. Boat hire is available in Forster. Parts of the lake near oyster leases have restrictions. Check with the local hire operator for current conditions and any restricted areas.
The combination of fishing, paddling, and fresh oysters makes Wallis Lake easy to underestimate from a distance. Once you’re on the water in March, it makes complete sense. Our villas are positioned so you have the lake on one side and Elizabeth Beach on the other, which opens up the full range of what this stretch of the Barrington Coast can offer.
Explore availability and book your stay at Shores Elizabeth Beach.
For more on what the Pacific Palms area has on offer, the Explore page covers the broader Barrington Coast and the range of experiences accessible from the property.
The Barrington Coast tourism website has current information on lake activities and seasonal conditions. Booti Booti National Park lists walking tracks, picnic areas, and fishing access points along the lake foreshore.
Image credit: FreeSpirit Cruises, Wallis Lake, Forster NSW
