Explore the relaxed western side of the lake
The western shoreline of Lake Macquarie is dotted with charming hamlets, secluded inlets and bushland reserves. Stroll down the main street of Toronto, the largest town on this part of the lake, and you’ll discover a wide boulevard lined with shops and diners.
Take a refreshing dip at the public wharf before following the old railway line along the picturesque Toronto Foreshore, spotting pelicans and admiring the sailboats bobbing in the water. (Check the Lake Macquarie Sailing Calendar for dates of regattas and sailing competitions run by Toronto Amateur Sailing Club, the Royal Motor Yacht Club and Wangi Wangi Amateur Sailing Club.)
Savour a leisurely meal at a waterfront café facing the lovely waterfront park and marina – or pop in for lunch at the restaurant at the Royal Motor Yacht Club, at the northern end of the foreshore.
From Toronto it’s a leisurely 10-minute drive south to the hamlet of Rathmines and Rathmines Park, the former home of the largest RAAF seaplane base in the southern hemisphere. Visit the RAAF Rathmines Memorial, which commemorates the airmen from the base who lost their lives in World War II, on the narrow headland at Rathmines Park. Then cycle, scoot or walk the shared path leading from the concrete apron at Rathmines Park through the bushland of the shoreline.
Head 10 minutes south from Rathmines and you’ll arrive in Wangi Wangi, a pretty peninsula extending out into the lake. Follow the walking path around Wangi Wangi Bay and visit Dobell House, the former home and studio of renowned Australian artist Sir William Dobell.
Then head down to Wangi Wangi Point, at the tip of the peninsula, to tackle the Wangi circuit bushwalking track through a steep section of the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area. One end of the loop track connects with a walking trail to Wangi Point Holiday Park, which offers RV, caravan and tent sites for an idyllic waterfront stay.
