Bill and Sylvia Goodwin will take you on a sailing adventure aboard the Vivace II from the comfort of the Library. Visit the Phillippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Bill and Sylvia made the 'yachting change' eleven years ago when as novices they started life on board the Vivace II sailing in the South Pacific. Three years ao they purchased a house in Tuncurry and now spend 6 months of each year here and 6 months on Vivace II. Tickets are $10 which includes a light meal of homemade soup, sandwiches and slices.  Bookings can be made at the Forster Library and the Great Lakes Bookshop in Tuncurry.

Ashton Entertainment presents Circus Xsavia. Over 100 years of knowledge handed down through 8 generations have gone into this new and exciting boutique circus production. Four generations of the Ashton family still travel and perform with Circus Xsavia proudly carrying on a great tradition started so long ago. High quality affordable family entertainment for all. Join them under the Big Top and go on a dream journey through the world of circus.

Showtimes are: Thurs 9th & Fri 10th - 7pm; Sat 11th - 4pm & 7pm; Sun 12th - 11am; Wed 15th & Thurs 16th 7pm; Fri 17th & Sat 18th -4pm & 7pm; Sun 19th - 11am; Wed 22nd & Thurs 23rd - 7pm; Fri 24th & Sat 25th - 4pm & 7pm; Sun 26th - 11am.

Ticket prices for Grandstand Seating is $20/adult, $10/child & $15/concession (full pension); Ringside Chairs $25/adult, $15/child & $20/concession. Family tickets are also available. The Box Office opens 1 hour before the show and the show itself runs for 1 hour & 35min.

Club Forster presents Borich & Borich on Friday 10th July in the auditorium. Pre-sale tickets are $15 or on the day $20. Suitable for 18+ years with showtime being 9.30pm.

Rugby League is coming to Forster Tuncurry!

The 2009 Annual NSW Country v Queensland Interstate Rugby League series will be played at Harry Elliot Oval on Saturday 11th July.  The age groups involved are U16's, U18's and Seniors.  This showcases some of the best rugby talent in both States country areas and will doubtless see NRL Club representatives at the games scouting for future players.

Games will kick off at 12 midday with Country Rugby League Under 16's playing Queensland Maroons, then 1.30pm Country Under 18's vs Queensland Maroons. The main game will start at 3pm Country Firsts vs Queensland Rangers. Both teams will be in camp in and around town for the week prior.

 For more information go to www.crlnsw.com.au

To check out exclusive special offers & to book your event accommodation online please click here Alternatively, you can contact our booking service on freecall 1800 802 692  or email us at tourism@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au. ALL Booking Services are completely FREE.

The NSW Country Tennis Titles is an annual tournament conducted for NSW country based players only.  It has a long and memorable history and has great tradition in the tennis world.  The mens open singles having been won in past years by many Australian representatives including Davis Cup Players like Jason Stoltenberg and Mark Edmonson.

The Event runs for 7 days and includes The Medibank Country Junior Championships for 14/U, 16/U & 19/u age groups, to be played during the week.  With the Mens & Womens Open Championships held over the weekend.

For more information go to www.tennis.com.au

To check out exclusive special offers & to book your event accommodation online please click here Alternatively, you can contact our booking service on freecall 1800 802 692  or email us at tourism@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au. ALL Booking Services are completely FREE.

Ever wondered what lives beneath the sea? Join a Discovery Ranger to learn all about animals that spend their life underwater and why ther is a Marine Park to protect them. Make your own sea creature to take home.

Where:  Neranie Campground, at boat ramp end, off Seal Rocks Road
Time: 10am-12noon
Cost: $8 children, adults free if accompanying child

Come along to JD's World of Magic on Wednesday 15 July from 2pm - 3pm. An amazing magic show that will make you laugh and smile! It will leave you gob-smacked. Tickets are $5.00 each from the library.

Kids workshop features:

•    Cooking with Chefs - Natalie & Nick
•    Planning & designing your very own cupcake
•    Learning how to make cupcakes
•    Decorating 6 individual cupcakes
•    Cupcakes party pack including apron, recipe book & "take home" pack

Bookings essential - payment in full at time of booking (Limit 12 children per class) Time: 10am - 11.30am   Cost: $20 per child ~ Parental supervision essential at workshop ~ suitable for kids aged 5yrs - 12yrs

Dates: Wednesday 15th July, Thursday 16th July & Friday 17th July

22nd Annual Crazy Shopping Day with bargain sales and specials to be found throughout town - Forster Shopping Village, Wharf Street and Tuncurry. Entertainment and fun for everyone with a Jumping Castle, Rides, Clowns and much more. Wharf St will be closed for what is the towns biggest trading day of the year.

Free buses running from Gloucester, Taree, Pacific Palms, Bulahdelah, Old Bar and Wingham.

You'd be Crazy to miss it......

FRIDAY:  Forster Golf Club 9 hole Ambrose

SATURDAY: Fred Williams' will be hosting a day to showcase some of the Veteran Boats that once raced on Piper's Creek and there will be Power Boats practising and holding race heats. There will be a Jumping Castle, Slides and Face Painting for the kiddies.

Boaties & Skiers Reunion Dinner - catch up with past and present champions. Ticket price includes 2 course meal and entertainment featuring Mick Buckley. Tickets $40 pp, available from Club Forster. Bookings essential. All proceeds from the night go the Forster Keys Family Funday

SUNDAY: The popular Forster Sunday Markets will start at 9am with other events such as a Dog Show, Chocolate Wheel, Kiddies Games & Activities, Fishing Comp, Cycling Proficiency, Surf Boat, Veteran Boat & Barefoot Skiing displays, Power Boat Races, GLFM Radio and Music happening throughout the day.

Food and refreshments will be available both days, courtesy of the resident volunteers.

For more info go to: www.forsterkeys.com

Holiday Art at the Library during the school holidays will be held on Friday 17th July from 10am - 11.30am. A fantastic holiday activity with all materials being supplied. You must wear an art smock and tickets are $8.00 each available from the library.

Two amazing artists - don't miss this show! Starring internationally renowned direct from Canada, Dave Battah presents the ultimate tribute to Rod Stewart. Dave creates a performance that should not be missed by any fan!

You can also "Turn Back Time" with your favourite songs of Cher starring Anna Lawley. Tickets cost $18 for members, $21 for visitors and groups of 10 or more only $15 each.

Forster Bowling Club will present the 2009 Pelican Men's 2 Bowl Triples tournament on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July. Prize money will be to the value of $3000. The entry fee per team is $75 which includes lunch for both days. For entry form, please contact the club. Entries to be sent to Forster Bowling Club or faxed.

The Forster-Tuncurry Bridge which is the longest pre-stressed concrete bridge in the southern  hemisphere will be 50 years old on 18th July 2009. To celebrate, there will be a family fun day with a band, vintage cars, boats, rides and entertainment for all ages in both John Wright Park and John Holland Park.  At around 11am on Saturday July 18 there will be a re-enactment of the original ribbon cutting ceremony on the bridge at the view point on Joel's Walkway. Special guests will include descendents of those who cut the ribbon during the original ceremony as well as Mr. Milton Morris OAM who was the Minister for Transport back then. To coincide with this, there will be a parade of vintage cars on the bridge and a flotilla of boats on the lake. Rural Fire Brigade water cannons will blaze plumes of spray to complete the spectacle. On both sides of the bridge, there will be live music, displays, stalls, children's games and bridge memorabilia for sale. The grand finale will be a laser light show from 5.45pm.

July 18 marks the 49th annual festival held between the four townships of STROUD in Canada, UK, USA and Australia. This annual event is held on the third Saturday each year in each of the countries, and results compiled on an international basis following the event.

Here in Stroud the day commences at 11am with a procession through the main street to the showground where the day's activities will take place. A program of events such as wood chopping, tug-o-war, market stalls, professional foot races and other novelty events then takes place throughout the day. Muscical displays by various bands are sure to keep the crowds toes tapping.

Steve from Heliservices will be on hand if you'd like to take a helicopter ride and see the event from above. Or if reptiles are your thing, make to catch the Croc Stars show on the main stage. This event has grown steadily since 1961 and is considered a very unique and interesting day. A day full of fun and enjoyment for the whole family.

Gardening demonstrations are held in conjunction with the Forster Farmers Market and include an educational talk on different topics each month in relation to organic gardening.

The annual book fair run by the Rotary Club of Tuncurry Forster promises to be better than ever. This year we expect more books than ever before. In fact well over 30,000 along with hundreds more records, tapes, CDs, DVDs, magazines and other items. At present the club is collecting more books for sorting. Any books donated by the public can be left in collection boxes located at the following venues:

Commonwealth Bank, Wharf St & Stockland Centre, Forster; NRMA Stockland; Fairway Butchery, Boundary St., Forster; Tuncurry Craft Shop, 78 Manning St., Tuncurry; Great Lakes Tyrepower, 24 Pine Ave., Tuncurry; No Bull Gourmet Meats, Forster Keys Shopping Centre.

Refreshments will be available on Saturday and Sunday from the club's barbecue with morning teas supplied by Rotary's Forster Tuncurry Inner Wheel together with book bags made by its members. Inner Wheel's profits will assist their cord blood research project.  Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm  Mon 9am - 12noon.

Come and enjoy the weekend and catch up with past and present champions. Ticket price includes 2 course meal and entertainment featuring Mick Buckley. Tickets are only $40 pp and are available from Club Forster or Fred Williams (numbers listed above). Bookings are essential. All proceeds from the night go the Forster Keys Family Funday - Friday 17th Forster Golf Club 9 hole Ambrose; Saturday 18th Boat Displays at Forster Keys and Sunday 19th Boat races, hydro runs, vintage boat displays, stalls, rides & entertainment all day.

Join the Discovery Rangers at Elizabeth Beach and explore the magic of the rainforest in beautiful Booti Booti National Park. Children under 12 yrs must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet:  Elizabeth Beach picnic area, Booti Booti National Park
Time: 9am-11am
Cost: $6 children, $8 adults, $22 family
Bring:  hat, sunscreen, water, snacks & wear fully enclosed walking shoes

Join Discovery Rangers for FUN filled kids adventure!  Ever wondered what animal made that poo (scat) or track? Come along & do some detective work and find out! 

Grade:  Easy
Where:  Neranie Campground at boat ramp end, off Seal Rocks Road
Time: 10am-12noon
Cost: $8 children, adults free if accompanying child
Bring:  hat, sunscreen, water, snacks & wear fully enclosed walking shoes.

Forster District Baptist Church invite you to a Sunshine Hour on Tuesday 21 July at 1.45pm. Come and enjoy a sing-a-long with Denis and Freda. Be entertained by 'The Coomba Choral Group' and John Reading will bring a message. Afternoon tea will be served. All are most welcome to come and enjoy this afternoon with us.

Kids workshop features:

•    Cooking with Chefs - Natalie & Nick
•    Planning & designing your own pizza
•    Learning how to make pizzas
•    Decorating 3 individual pizzas
•    Pizza party pack including apron, recipe book & "take home" pack

Bookings essential by 16th July - payment in full at time of booking (Limit 12 children per class) Time: 10am - 11.30am   Cost: $20 per child ~ Parental supervision essential at workshop ~ suitable for kids aged 5yrs - 12yrs

Dates: Wednesday 22nd July, Thursday 23rd July & Friday 24th July

Forster Library is presenting a Bunnings DIY Workshop for children during the school holidays on Wednesday 22nd July from 10.30am  - 11.30am. Bookings are essential as there are limited spaces - the workshop is free of charge. Tickets are available at the library.

Join Discovery Rangers in search of our elusive, nocturnal Australian animals.  You may be lucky enough to see Ring-tailed Possums, Sugar and Squirrel Gliders and Powerful and Tawny Frogmouth Owls as they are waking up - just as we're going to sleep!

Grade:  Easy
Where:  Neranie Campground, boat ramp end, off Seal Rocks Road
Time:  6:30pm - 8:30pm
Cost: $6 children, $8 adults, $22 family

Join a Discovery Ranger to learn all about some of the dangerous animals under the sea and their adaptations for survival, some of which are harmful to man!  Learn about how to find them, what they look like & what to do if and when you meet them!

Meet:  The Ruins Campground, off Lakes Way, Pacific Palms
Time: 2pm-4pm
Cost: $8 children, adults free if accompanying child

Come & explore the wonders of the night sky & celebrate the International Year of Astronomy with the Discovery Rangers.  Listen to some stories and spot a few stars and other galactic wonders! You never know what might be up there?

Grade:  Easy
Where:  Ruins Campground, off Lakes Way, Pacific Palms
Time: 6pm-8pm
Cost: $6 children, $8 adults, $22 family

Amphibians are an amazing ancient group of animals that can survive in a variety of environments.  Listen and look for some local frogs and discuss ways in which you can attract frogs to your own garden and how to recognise the invasive cane toad.

Meet:  Gur-um-bee picnic area approx. 5km along Sugar Creek Road
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Cost: $6 children, $8 adults, $22 family
Bring:  torch, water, snacks, warm clothes & wear fully enclosed footwear that can get wet

The 2009 Pelican Mixed Pairs day will be held on Sunday July 26 with prize money to the value of $2000. Entry forms available at the bowling club and entry fee is $40 per team which includes lunch.

Another knock-out rock'n'roll weekend at beautiful Forster. Lots of entertainment, a Hot Rod & Street Cruiser Show and Shine, 5 piece 50's rock'n'roll the way it was. Vehicle exhibitors to contact 6552 5339 for the 'Show & Shine' - make, model and year of your car needed for the laminated windscreen sign. On Sunday afternoon at 2pm come along to Club Forster for "The Early Years of Elvis Show". All tickets $10.00 - you'll swear you're back in the 50's. Book this one at the club itself.

Nabiac is a quaint and quiet town just off the Pacific Highway, nestled in the hinterland 15 minutes from Forster. This market is held in one of the most picturesque showgrounds in the state.  Be early for the best pick of the locally grown and produced goodies such as organic vegies, free range eggs, local fruits, chocolates, gingerbread, honey, olives and olive oil, plants, chooks, quail, wine tasting, local crafts, BBQ and an all round social event.  Bring a friend and enjoy an old-fashioned shopping experience. The use of reusable bags and baskets are encouraged.

Market runs from 8.00am til 12noon

Your chance to experience a true-blue coastal market with a veritable array of stalls.  You'll find around 50 stallholders peddling handmade, homegrown and pre-loved wares to holiday makers and locals.  The market more than lives up to its mantra of "homemade, homegrown and home-baked" - with a diverse selection of handmade craft, jewellery, clothing, homewares and art works.  And once you're done browsing and buying why take a stroll down the main street for a morning coffee or brunch in one of the many cafes.

Market runs from 8.00am - 2.00pm

 homemade......homegrown......home-baked.......

This is a popular market located harbour side near the bridge and has the added advantage of being sited from the main street in Tuncurry. This is totally open air with use of the under cover Podium for entertainment.  Many of the stall holders come from the local 'North Coast Region' and sell a diverse range of products, from handmade wooden toys to handmade organic skincare. A good variety of clothing, lots of plants, plenty to suit all tastes.   Also available at the market is face painting and the famous Coastal Patrol BBQ.

Market runs from 8.00am - 2.00pm.

Located next door to the Visitor Information Centre, this small market focuses on native plants, vege seedlings, fruit & veg, great home made cakes and delicacies, crafts, jewellery & clothing. Plenty of parking available.

Market runs from 8.00am - 1.00pm.

This is a market with definite atmosphere, you can wander through colourful stalls and peruse the collection of local handmade jewellery, timber carvings, body products, hemp clothing, eco & fair trade products, there's even a Tibetan stall where you can purchase Tibetan prayer flags, affirmation scrolls or a metal singing bowl....  The Palms Market is famous for its great organic foods and organic expresso coffee. Sample the delicious banana pancakes, whilst sipping on an expresso on the shaded deck overlooking the stalls.  The children are also not forgotten as they can be entertained by pony rides and a jumping castle.

Market runs from 9.00am - 1.00pm

NOTE: ADDITIONAL MARKETS WILL ALSO BE HELD ON 11th JANUARY, 12th & 26th APRIL

see you under the palms..............

The Great Lakes - Great Produce group, consisting of food producers, restaurateurs, vegetable, fruit and herb growers and local people who are passionate about great food. Their aim is to promote fresh produce grown or made in the Great Lakes, and the neighbouring regions of Gloucester, Greater Taree and beyond. Some of the produce to be found include country style breads, cheeses, coffee, bottled preserves, native and rainforest plants, organically grown and bio-dynamically produced foods.

Market runs from 8.00am - 12noon.

Tea Gardens Village Markets is a new and vibrant market situated in the Village Square of the Myall Quays Shopping Village, in Tea Gardens.  With over 30 stallholders selling crafts, plants, photography, gourmet food, body products, clothing, recycled timber products and jewellery, handmade chocolates there is an abundance of variety to choose from.  When combined with the entertainment on offer, you are guaranteed a great family day out!

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE NORMAL '3rd SATURDAY' MARKET DATES - Sat 11 April, Sat 6 June, Sat 3 Oct & Sat 12 Dec.

No visit to Forster/Tuncurry is complete without seeing this fabulous Centre.

Forster Arts & Crafts Centre hosts changing monthly exhibitions as well as displaying a large range of art,crafts, ceramics, woodwork and pottery for sale from its members.  There are also classes in many art forms. It is one of the largest community arts and crafts centres in New South Wales. Open daily from 10am to 4.30pm.

Easter Theme Exhibition - March 09
Best of the Best Theme Exhibition - May 09
ANNUAL QUILT & CRAFT EXPO - May 16 and 17 - Many of the Quilts of Love made at the centre for the children who stay at the Ronald McDonald Beach Cottages will be on show. Gold Coin donation
Wintertime Theme Exhibition - June/July 09
Father's Day Theme Exhibition - Aug 09
Springtime Theme Exhibition - Sept 09
Christmas Theme Exhibition - Oct/Nov/Dec 09

The Rotary Motor Market will be held at the Aldi end of the carpark near Kmart Tyres at Stockland Forster. Bring your car, ute, boat, ride-on or anything that can be sold as ONE item. Market from 8am - 1.30pm. This is a market for Big Boys Toys! Sellers $20 - Buyers free