Night life around the lake
Top off a glorious day soaking up the natural beauty of Lake Macquarie with a memorable evening of great food and entertainment. Here’s where the lake lights up after dark.
Dress up for dinner
With just-picked produce from surrounding farm country and world-class wines from nearby Hunter Valley waiting to be paired with the day’s seafood catch, Lake Macquarie is a dream destination for chefs and their appreciative audiences.
Savour just how well all those fresh local ingredients go together at the waterfront 8 at Trinity restaurant at Trinity Point Marina near Morisset, where you can kick off a culinary adventure with a seafood tasting plate before moving on to the restaurant’s signature Singapore-style chilli prawns or tomahawk wagyu steak.
Stay close to the water at lakefront restaurants such as TINTA Belmont in Belmont, where you can feast on grilled lobster and a seafood platter paired with a bottle from an impressive wine list that embraces the Hunter Valley but also looks beyond to the very best of other New South Wales wine regions. Or experience Belmont's latest edition Martha Drink & Dine, an elevated cocktail bar and with Mediterranean dining. Martha has a curated beverage list that holds ode to our local Hunter Valley wineries, brewers and distillers.
Gaze out at the masts of moored yachts as they sway in the dusk while you relish modern Australian pub fare at Crusoe’s on the Lake at Lake Macquarie Yacht Club in Belmont, or opt for expertly grilled fish or steak at Bay Restaurant at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Toronto. Nestled within the serene ambiance of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Emersons on the Lake beckons with its inviting atmosphere and delectable Australian modern cuisine, promising an unforgettable dining experience.
Enjoy lovely ocean vistas at the beachfront restaurant at Caves Coastal Bar & Bungalows at Caves Beach. And bond over a hot and cold seafood platter for two at Brownsugar or graze on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare at Sephardim in Warners Bay.
Relax over comfort food
Look out over the length of the lake from your vantage point at popular Pippi’s at the Point restaurant and bar at Speers Point, which features live music on weekends. You may also be serenaded by live musicians over a bistro dinner at nearby Warners Bay Hotel, Warners at the Bay, Wangi District Workers Club, on the Wangi Wangi waterfront, and Pelican RSL near Swansea.
Stay close to the water at one of the dining venues at lakefront Belmont 16s sailing club, including The Boat Shed craft beer bar, and perhaps catch one of the club’s occasional comedy and music shows.
Grab some yum cha, Malaysian noodles or bao at The Corner at Charlestown Square before settling in with an ale at the 4 Pines brew pub. Or seek out one of the microbreweries in Morisset for a freshly brewed beer to go with a hearty meal. Book ahead for dinner of smokehouse barbecue or pizza at the busy The Yard Brewery & Smokehouse, fill up on oven-roasted chicken wings, loaded fries and burgers at nearby Lake Mac Brewing Co, or enjoy a tasty beer and yarn at Bread and Brewery or experience a unique tasting experience where you get to know the brewers & the tale behind each beer!
Keep the good times going
The night has just begun, and there's still so much to explore. Catch a movie at Charlestown Square’s Reading Cinema or Hoyts Charlestown, test your problem-solving skills at Holey Moley Golf Club – it’s open until 10pm most nights, and 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays at Charlestown Square, or get competitive at Time Zone in Charlestown Square, where the fun also continues until late into the evening.
Or head to Warners Bay for an epic night of wining, dining and playing at Dullboy’s Social Co. Kick off the night with a round of dodgem cars before sipping creative cocktails at Barcadia, reliving the 1950s at the American-style The Diner and unleashing your inner child with a late-night game of ten-pin bowling.
Experience a one-of-a-kind experience, with a night time kayaking tour with Showtime Kayaking. The best way to discover the hidden secrets of nature’s underwater theatre is at night … once the boats are docked, the crowds have gone to bed and the marine life takes centre stage, Showtime Kayaking will take you a small group guided tour in their clear light up kayaks to discover the nightlife below.
Stay tuned for special events
Gather your crew for a night of culture at one of the arts venues across the lake. Be captivated by a musical, play or live music performance at Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba in Warners Bay, and discover the restored heritage venue Rathmines Theatre, nawayiba, on the western side of the lake in Rathmines, which presents a diverse mix of concerts and performances throughout the year.
And keep an eye out on the official Lake Mac events page for occasional performances such as electronic music events at the Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima at Speers Point and happenings at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang across the water from Speers Point at Booragul.
