Charne Lindsay is an avid fitness and sports enthusiast. She runs stand up paddle (SUP) lessons and teaches yoga on the water in Forster. Here she shares her favourite spots for adventure fitness across Forster.
You can find me on the lake at Forster on my SUP generally with my dog, or walking my dog on the beach. I try to be active and outdoors as much as I can.
Jungle Surf SUP school
I grew up in the Barrington Coast but moved away for university and work. After a 20 year hiatus, I returned to Forster where I met my husband. He owned a surf shop in Tuncurry and, at the time, was doing a relatively new sport of stand up paddle, also known as SUP. I started to do it, I loved it and was hooked.
I wanted to combine my new passion for SUP with my career as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. In doing so I launched a business offering SUP lessons and offering SUP yoga. I feel that stand up paddle empowers everyone, but particularly women. I love the look of accomplishment for women when they achieve the amazing feeling of freedom and fun on the water.
Whoota Whoota Lookout
When I’m not on the beautiful waterways of the Barrington Coast, you’ll find me indulging in my other fitness passion: running. Anywhere off-road (and on-road if I have to). I really enjoy being in the bush. I often find myself running to Cape Hawke, or through Pacific Palms, by the lake and or in the state forest at Possum Brush. But one of my favourite places to run to is Whoota Whoota Lookout.
Whoota Whoota is located in Wallingat National Park, south of Pacific Palms on the Lakes Way. It’s one of the most impressive scenic lookouts in NSW. It’s a gruelling uphill climb through a beautiful eucalypt forest that rewards you with a breathtaking outlook over all of Wallis Lake, Booti Booti and the Pacific Ocean (Seven Mile Beach) and the rolling bushland of Wallingat. If running isn’t your thing, the drive up is easily accessible and there’s a picnic spot at the top which makes it perfect for families.
One Mile Beach at Forster
When I’m not going all out, I love to relax on the coast. My two favourite beaches are Number One Beach at Seal Rocks and One Mile Beach in Forster, both are stunning.
If you haven’t been to One Mile, put it on your list. It has a huge sand dune at the north end which makes for both a great lookout over the ocean and fantastic playground for kids who slide down the steep sand slope on their bodyboards. The surfing at this beach is also pretty special, great for pros and families alike. And if you do have a family, there’s a lovely playground for the kids at the south end, it’s just the perfect spot
I do feel a lot of nostalgia for Forster, growing up here is full of memories; being in the back seat of a Range Rover bouncing up the road to Cape Hawke, or riding horses through the bush along Black Head and Tuncurry Beach.
Just as it did back then, the Barrington Coast has so much to offer, no matter if you’re an adventure runner, yoga fanatic, SUP rider, or kid just wanting to get out into nature. Enjoy!
