With 174 kilometres of lake foreshore, Lake Macquarie – the vast saltwater lake just north of Sydney – is the largest tidal lake in the Southern Hemisphere. And while it’s worth a visit for bucket list-ticking reasons alone, this magnificent stretch of saltwater would be worth a visit even without its impressive title. With an abundance of water sports, beautiful lakeside trails and magical secret swimming spots, Lake Macquarie is one of the Time Out Sydney team’s favourite daytrip destinations, and a very special spot for a weekend escape. Keen to explore? These are all the need-to-know details.
How big is Lake Macquarie?
More than twice the size of Sydney Harbour, the enormous lake covers 110 square kilometres, with a shoreline of 174 kilometres. Stretching from just above Wyee up to Teralba, just south-west of Cardiff, the lake is roughly 24 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide at its broadest point.
Where is Lake Macquarie?
Lake Macquarie is located between the Central Coast region and the city of Newcastle – the second-largest city in NSW. Proximity to these holiday hotspots makes it an excellent option for a weekend adventure (especially during Newcastle Food Month), but it’s also an easy spot for a day out of the city – just a 90-minute drive from Sydney.
What to do in Lake Macquarie
Outdoor activities are the main attraction here, with Lake Macquarie home to adventure organisations offering everything from night-time kayaking to aerobatic joy flights (these involve climbing aboard a tiny aerobatic plane zooming around the sky at speeds of 370 kilometres per hour). If you’d prefer a ride on a more leisurely vessel, Lake Macquarie Cruises offer dreamy lunchtime journeys around the lake, and Lake Macquarie Houseboats can be rented out for the ultimate weekend on the water. Alongside all of the water-based activities (fishing, stand-up paddle boarding, jet-skiing, you name it), there’s plenty of land-based fun to be had too, with stunning hiking and cycling trails (most notably the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track, the Fernleigh Track and the Watagans Cycle Track) meandering along the foreshore and through the surrounding hinterland.
What to see in Lake Macquarie
If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, or if the weather isn’t ideal for spending your days on and around the water, no fear. Lake Macquarie is also home to some exceptional museums and galleries, with the Museum of Art and Culture (MAC, yapang), featuring a spectacular outdoor sculpture park and views across the lake, being the standout. Other must-visit creative destinations include the Multi Arts Pavilion (MAP, mima) at Speers Point Park, and the Creative Lake Sculpture Trail: a 5-kilometre trail linking larger-than-life artworks along the foreshore.
Can you swim in Lake Macquarie?
Absolutely, though for the best water quality, time your swim a week or so after heavy rain. There are plenty of magical swimming spots dotted around the lake, with Belmont Baths – complete with an enclosed netted swimming area and floating pontoons – being the most popular.
How to get to Lake Macquarie
If you’re driving from Sydney, take the M1 north towards Newcastle, and exit at Morisset, Toronto or Belmont, depending on which section of the lake you’re exploring – the drive will take around an hour and a half. Travelling by train? Take the Central Coast and Newcastle Line from Central Station, and jump off at Morisset, Fassifern or Cardiff. The train journey will take three to four hours, so if you’re travelling by train, you might want to make a weekend of it.
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