Forrest Beach Hotel Motel & Caravan Park (CP)

Situated less than a 20 km drive from Ingham, Forrest Beach (also known as Allingham) is set in a sheltered beachside location with views of Orpheus Island and the Palm Island group. For anyone travelling in the area, the Forrest Beach Hotel Motel and Caravan Park offers accommodation to suit most needs as well as meals, drinks and entertainment.

If you’re looking for somewhere to park your RV or set up a tent, there is a campground with plenty of powered and unpowered sites located between the beach and rainforest. Shade is available in the powered area, and the unpowered camping area is large enough to accommodate up to 200 campers. An amenities block provides toilets, showers and a coin-operated laundry.

Those without their own accommodation can take advantage of the motel section of the premises. The rooms have beach frontage and are equipped with a queen-size bed, ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, TV, fridge, toaster and tea and coffee making facilities. Fold-out beds are available for an additional fee if you need extra sleeping space.

The renovated hotel has everything you need to keep you fed and quench your thirst. There are two air conditioned bars with big screen TVs, a bottle shop, and a bistro that serves lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Meals include locally caught fish, steaks, schnitzels and pasta, and a kids’ menu is available. There are regular specials offered such as 2 for 1 meal deals, $15 pot and parmi, or kids eat free nights.

The hotel holds regular events and live entertainment including the Sunday Session. At other times you can keep yourself occupied playing pool, trying your luck on the pokies, or just sitting back at the outdoor tables while having a relaxing drink and taking in the ocean views.

While Forrest Beach is a small town, you can pick up most essentials. The local supermarket has groceries, a deli and fresh fruit and vegetables, and there is also a newsagent, chemist and doctor in town. For other supplies and services you can head to Ingham, which is also where the nearest dump point is located.

HOW TO GET THERE
The Forrest Beach area is accessed from Ingham by turning east from the Bruce Highway into Cartwright Street (Coles Express is on the corner). This becomes Victoria Mill Road and then Ingham–Forrest Beach Road. When you reach Forrest Beach, continue through the town area and turn right into Wattle Street (Spar Supermarket is on the left). After 300m turn left into Pine Street, follow for 100m, then turn right into Acacia Street. Follow Acacia Street for 200m until the end where it turns left into Ash Street and you will see the hotel on the right.

SITE ACCESS
There is plenty of room to pull up on the road at the front of the hotel or in the car park at the back. Please check in at the bottle shop when you arrive. Once you’re in the campground, there’s ample space for turning and parking large RVs and caravans.

FEES & BOOKINGS
Fee is from $28/night for Unpowered Sites; $140/week.
$38/night Powered Sites; $210/week; $650/month.
Extra persons – $5/night; $25/week; $100/month

Motel Rooms fee is $95/night; $475/week.
Extra fold-out bed available for $25/night
Extra adult – $60 per week
Rates are based on 2 people/site.

THINGS TO DO
Beaches, fishing and boating
From Forrest Beach Hotel, Motel and Caravan Park you have access to around 14 km of beach that overlooks Orpheus Island and the Palm Island group. The islands provide shelter, making the beach a good spot for swimming. A stinger net is in place during the summer months and the beach is patrolled. You can take a relaxing walk along the sand, and beachfront parks with barbecues, toilets and playgrounds make it ideal for picnics.

There’s also excellent fishing from the beach, or you can try estuary fishing south of Cassady Creek. If you’d like to take a boat out, there are two ramps near the park, the nearest just 500m away. You can throw in a line for some ocean fishing or visit Orpheus or Palm islands. Also of interest is Hinchinbrook Island to the north, the world’s largest island national park and a unique wilderness area with world heritage status. The area also has some great dive sites.

Waterfalls
There are a couple of waterfalls in the area that are worth a visit. Wallaman Falls in Girringun National Park has a main drop of 268m, making it Australia’s highest single-drop waterfall. You can walk to both the top and bottom of the falls. Less than 30 km south of Ingham in Paluma National Park is Jourama Falls, which tumbles down the rock face in a series of cascades. The national parks also have some interesting walking trails with spectacular scenery and a wide variety of plant and animal species to see.

Tyto Wetlands
Situated in Ingham, Tyto Wetlands is a 110 ha reclaimed wetlands area that is home to over 240 species of birds, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. Follow the walking trail around the wetlands or visit the nearby parklands area where you can wander at your leisure or have a picnic.

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