When the cooler weather rolls in, there’s still plenty of things to see and do in Lake Macquarie. So grab the whole family for some wintery fun. 

Caroline and Dillon from Places We Swim document swim spots around Australia through guidebooks and prints. Follow their adventures @placesweswim.

We’ve spent a lot of time travelling up the coast from Sydney to the Central Coast and Newcastle. This coastline is awash with swims of all kinds, none more abundant than in Lake Macquarie. As the largest coastal saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere (more than twice the size of Sydney Harbour!), this aquatic playground has plenty of secret bays to explore. But it’s not just the lake that this region has to offer for water-loving people (like us). There are remote beaches, sea caves, drift lagoons, sand islands, rockpools and forest landscapes. Life by the lake is bountiful and rich, and is an important part of the identity of the area. It is a natural access point to exploring the culture, the land and the people of Lake Mac. We spent a few days here recently and discovered a few local gems...

Want to know the best things to do in Lake Macquarie with kids? Something a little different, perhaps? Then look no further.