You may be surprised to learn that Lake Macquarie is twice the size of Sydney Harbour – it’s actually one of the largest saltwater lakes in the southern hemisphere. From kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming and surfing to boating and fishing, you’ll find there are so many water activities to enjoy and so much to explore across this incredible aquatic playground.
Leave the everyday in your wake
Enjoy the freedom of exploring the lake at your own pace by hiring a runabout, day boat or wheelchair-accessible pontoon boat from Lake Mac Watersports at Cams Wharf, or an open or enclosed day boat from Top of the Lake Boat Hire at Marmong Point – no boat licence needed.
Wake up to absolute lakefront views on a houseboat from Lake Macquarie Houseboats in Kilaben Bay, outside Toronto – it’s perfect for families, friends and couples looking for a unique experience.
See the lake whizz by on an adrenaline pumping jet-boat joy ride with JetBuzz Watersports at Cams Wharf. Join a lake cruise combined with a guided bushwalking tour or a luxury dining experience with CoastXP, or slow down and discover the hidden waterways of the lake on a Loop the Lake cruise from Booragul with Lake Macquarie Cruises – you can also savour a memorable meal on the water during its Lunch on the Lake and Sunset Dinner tours.
Or make your way around the lake in style on a sailing yacht with Sail Lake Macquarie, departing from Trinity Point Marina near Morriset, Lake Macquarie Sailing Charters in Belmont, or Lake Macquarie Sailing Tours.
Paddle around the shore
With plenty of sheltered inlets and creek mouths dotted along the seemingly endless shoreline, it’s easy to see why Lake Macquarie is a magnet for stand-up paddleboarders and kayakers. Plan your kayaking adventure with our Kayaking Trails e-brochure and launch into the water from one of the public boat ramps around the lake. Popular spots include the ramps at the Thomas H Halton Park at Croudace Bay; Warners Bay Lions Park in Eleebana; and at Speers Point Park. Or head out on your SUP from the shallows of sheltered Swansea Bay Beach at Swansea, Naru Beach Reserve in Marks Point or the foreshore opposite Valentine Bowling Club in Valentine, between Eleebana and Belmont.
Travelling light? You can have a rental kayak delivered to you by Lake Mac Kayak & Bike Hire, or you can hire a SUP or kayak from Lake Mac Watersports at Cams Wharf, Kraken Boat Hire or Kite and SUP at Warners Bay. Kite and SUP also offers SUP lessons, and rents out wind wings and wind-surfing gear if your prefer the breeze to do most of the hard work.
Tackle the surf or dip your toes in the lake
Cool off on a warm day with a dip in the lake or on one of the spectacular beaches on Lake Macquarie’s more than 30 kilometres of coastline. Swim between the flags at one of the four patrolled beaches up and down the coast: Redhead Beach, Blacksmiths Beach, Caves Beach and Catherine Hill Bay.
Enjoy a more calm dip at Belmont Baths, a netted swimming enclosure with an accessible ramp in Belmont, the baths on the Toronto foreshore, which will soon be fully enclosed and made accessible, or at one of the council-run swim centres around the lake. Or take the kids to splash around at shallow lake beaches such as Naru Beach at Marks Point; Pelican Foreshore Park, south of Naru Beach; and Swansea Bay Beach, on the other side of Swansea Channel near the Pirrita Island boardwalk.
Seek out the perfect break at renowned surfing spots like Redhead Beach, Blacksmiths Beach and Nine Mile Beach, as well as at Hams Beach, Caves Beach and Catherine Hill Bay south of the Swansea Channel. New to surfing? Pick up riding skills with Newcastle Surf School or Women Soulful Surf, which both operate at Caves Beach and Blacksmiths Beach.
Fish for your supper
Lake Macquarie is a paradise for fishing enthusiasts of all skill levels. Launch your own boat into the water or hop on a fishing charter with Renegade Charters or Kraken Boat Hire to experience the thrill of catching some of the more than 280 different fish species, including bream, flathead, snapper and mulloway, not to mention the mighty Australian salmon, that make their home in the lake.
Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? Grab your fishing rod and cast your line from the picturesque lake foreshore, one of the many public jetties dotted around the shoreline, or the scenic banks of the Swansea Channel. And don’t miss the excitement of the annual catch-and-release fishing competition, Let’s Fish Lake Mac, held every November.