Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie is a city adjacent to Newcastle with the largest permanent salt water lake in the Southern Hemisphere.

Understand

Belmont

Redhead Beach

Lake Macquarie is often considered part of its immediate neighbour, Newcastle, but is in fact a separate city with a much larger area and a population of 190,000. It has a number of suburbs including:

• Belmont is largely centred around the lake foreshore and the Pacific Highway. The southern suburbs (Belmont South, Marks Point) are rather flat and only a few metres above sea level. The northern suburbs (Belmont North, Floraville, Jewells) are very hilly and are a challenging bicycle ride.
• Charlestown is the self-proclaimed CBD of Lake Macquarie with the region's largest shopping centre, Charlestown Square.
• Morisset is a small suburb. A few thousand people turn up each week to see the wild kangaroos from the grounds of a local hospital – but these are wild animals and, if disturbed, may inflict injury by scratching or kicking with their large hind legs. Look and see, but do not feed or disturb the wildlife.
• Swansea is located on a peninsula. It has two waterfronts – one on Lake Macquarie and one on the Pacific Ocean, with a population of around 5,000.
• Warners Bay is at the north eastern end of Lake Macquarie and is home to a sizeable population and many decent cafes on The Esplanade.
• Toronto is the main centre of the western side of the lake.

Get in

It is easiest to get to Lake Macquarie by car. Take the F3 freeway from Sydney.

The closest airport is Newcastle Airport.

By train

Lake Macquarie is not directly connected to the main train line running parallel to it on the other side of the actual Lake itself. Wyee train station is closest in proximity to the Morisset area, whilst Fassifern is popular amongst those travelling into Toronto. There is no track on the eastern side.

Get around

A car is your best option for getting around, although many people use the area for cycling.

By bus

Information on buses for the Lake Macquarie area are available from the Lake Macquarie City Council website.

See

Do

• 🌍 Fernleigh Track, Railway Parade, Belmont. This 15km (8mi) asphalt/concrete path starts in Belmont and connects Newcastle (Adamstown) to eastern Lake Macquarie. An ideallic shared riding/walking path with wonderful bush scenery. Free. 
• Strike Charlestown, Level 1, South Piazza, Charlestown Square, ☎ 1300 787 453 (local rate). Features a bowling alley, karaoke rooms, laser tag arena, and cocktail bar. (updated Mar 2015)
• Fishing. both on the beaches and throughout Lake Macquarie. A popular spot for kingfish is under the Swansea bridge over the Swansea channel. (updated Oct 2015)
• Beaches in Swansea, including Catherine Hill Bay Beach, Redhead Beach, Blacksmiths Beach and Caves Beach (walk through the natural caves on low tide)

Buy

Eat

• 🌍 Belmont 16ft Sailing Club, The Parade, Belmont NSW 2280, ☎ [phone]. 9:00 am – 11:00 pm. Lunch or dinner pretty much on the lake 
• Babbingtons, 290 Pacific Highway, ☎ [phone]. (updated Mar 2015)
• Vistana Malaysian Restaurant, 115 Pacific Highway. Mon–Sat 11:00AM–2:30PM, 5:00PM–9:00PM. (updated Mar 2015)
• C Restaurant, 7 Mawson St, Caves Beach., ☎ [phone]. W dinner to Su lunch. A la carte seafood and ocean views. 

Drink

Sleep

• 🌍 Squid's Ink Hotel, 690 Pacific Highway Belmont, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Has views of the lake. Starting from $95. 
• Best Western Plus Apollo International, 290 Pacific Highway, toll-free: [phone]. (updated Mar 2015)
• Charlestown Executive Apartments, 45-47 Dickinson Street, Charlestown, ☎ [phone]. Amenities include free parking, microwave, coffee maker and free wifi. (updated Apr 2015)
• Pacific Hwy, Swansea Blue Pacific Swansea, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. has a pool, spa, sauna, restaurant and 28 rooms. 
• Caves Beach Hotel And Resort, 7 Mawson Street, Caves Beach., ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 12PM. Ocean views from every suite. King size beds. Free beverage package and light breakfast. 

Connect

Go next

• Newcastle