Eastern Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie is the largest coastal saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere and covers approximately 120 square kilometres (four times the size of Sydney Harbour), is 24 km long, 3.2 km at its widest point and 9.7 m at its deepest.
The lake’s foreshore consists of 174 km of bays, beaches, and headlands. There are 92 towns and villages, 29 public boat ramps, 28 public jetties and wharves and 7 marinas around the lake.
Lake Macquarie is located 134 km north of Sydney via Highway 1 (the Pacific Highway).
Eastern Lake Macquarie covers the eastern side of Lake Macquarie between the Lake and the Pacific Ocean is the perfect destination for a classic seaside holiday.
Kids will love exploring the sea caves at Caves Beach, while Swansea Channel is a renowned fishing spot, ever popular with local and visiting anglers.
Further south, charming small communities shape the laidback coastal atmosphere of the Wallarah Peninsula. Catherine Hill Bay is a historic mining town complete with tiny miner’s cottages and a pleasant old-style pub. A photogenic wooden coal-loading jetty still stands on the beach.
The area provides a wide range of Lakeside and Beachside short stay accommodation options in many suburbs, including Belmont, Marks Point, Pelican, Blacksmiths, Swansea, Caves Beach, Murrays Beach, Cas Wharf which includes Raffertys Resort, Nords Wharf and Catherine Hill Bay
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Belmont
Belmont is ideally located between the shores of the beautiful Lake Macquarie, (Australians largest saltwater coastal lake) and the Pacific Ocean. Originally inhabited by the Awabakal Aboriginal tribe, the area was established in 1825 as an Aboriginal Mission and grew into a township built on Tourism when Thomas Williamson, who was born in a town named Belmont in the Shetland Islands, built a Guest House he called Belmont House in 1865 and the village grew around it. He later built a 2nd Guest House named Bellevue House.
Today, Belmont is a lovely waterside suburb of Lake Macquarie and an ideal area for either a short break, or a great family holiday.
Well known to boating and fishing enthusiasts alike, the area caters to everyone. Activities for sailors, anglers, swimmers, golfers, surfers, as well as those just wanting to relax and get away from it all.
Lake Macquarie Yacht Club and the Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club (known to locals as the 16 footers) provide facilities for the large sailing community. Some local boat sheds also offer boat hire and cruises around the lake.
Belmont Golf Course is at the south of the suburb and takes up a large proportion of land, which backs on to Blacksmiths Nature Reserve. Belmont Lagoon and Cold Tea Creek form another water border
The entrance to the lake is at Swansea (only five minutes from Belmont) and offers crystal clear waters, swimming spots, excellent fishing and is a popular area for Scuba divers to explore the underwater world.
The Belmont City Shopping Centre and Jewels Town Shopping Centre are some of the major shopping centres in the area. Belmont shopping district has a Woolworths, Coles and Aldi supermarket and Belmont is within easy reach of Charlestown Square, which has over 170 specialty stores. There are many Cafes and Restaurants to choose from, from fine dining to cafe meals to budget meals at the local clubs.
From relaxing on one of the many nearby beaches (Redhead, Blacksmiths, and Caves Beach) to appreciating the stunning scenery from one of the many foreshore areas that provide BBQ and picnic areas, you are bound to find something to do.
Marks Point
Marks Point is a small peninsula extending into the eastern side of Lake Macquarie and is named after the Marks brothers, early settlers who bought the land on the Point 1885 and who grew oranges and pineapples in the area. It is one of the oldest suburbs in the Lake Macquarie
Local businesses in Marks Point include a marina, post office, two cafes, newsagency, hairdressing salon, take away and bowling club.
Ideally located between Belmont and Swansea, the lakeside suburb of Marks Point features superb lake views and lakeside amenities.
Ideally located between Belmont and Swansea, the lakeside suburb of Marks Point feature superb lake views and lakeside amenities, including the Pelican Foreshore Reserve which is one of Lake Macquarie Cityu2019s best picnic spots, with plenty of trees, a boat ramp, BBQs, tables and amenities.
Enjoy a meal at Pelican RSL or head to Lake Macquarie Airport, with joy flights, skydiving and helicopter flights all offering a truly unique perspective of Lake Macquarie.
If a game of golf is more your style, have a round or two at Belmont Golf Club at Marks Point.
Blacksmiths Beach and the Swansea Channel are only a 3 minute drive away and donu2019t miss visiting Grannyu2019s Pool at Blacksmiths and taking the scenic walking trail out onto the Breakwater. The views and outlook will amaze you.
Pelican
Pelican runs along the entrance to Lake Macquarie on the opposite side of the Channel to the town of Swansea. It was known as Pelican Flat until 1991.
Pelican features superb lake views and lakeside amenities, including the Pelican Foreshore Reserve, which is one of Lake Macquarie Cityu2019s best picnic spots, with plenty of trees, a boat ramp, BBQs, tables, and amenities.
Enjoy a meal at Pelican RSL or head to Lake Macquarie Airport, with joy flights, skydiving and helicopter flights all offering a truly unique perspective of Lake Macquarie.
Cams Wharf
Cams Wharf is a locality on the Swansea peninsula between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie.
Cams Wharf is named after an original land holder, Samuel Cam. His home was on Cams Point where he built a wharf and the steam ferries calling at his wharf put the name on the lake map.
It is also one of the very few villages on the Eastern side of the Lake that has deep water frontage.
Lake Macquarie’s popular Raffertys Resort is also in Cams Whard
The historic village of
Catherine Hill Bay
60 minutes north of Hornsby, south of Swansea and Caves Beach, you will find historical Catherine Hill Bay, a coal mining village, dating from the late 1800s and a totally unique piece of Australian History.
Nestled into the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and just a stone’s throw from Lake Macquarie, it is the perfect place to escape from the cut and thrust of city life, to simply relax and unwind.
Sit and relax amid this quiet village and watch the world pass by or ride a few waves on one of the best surfing beaches in Australia. Go for bushland walks, stroll along the semi-deserted beaches, fly a kite, watch the birds, read a book, catch a wave or throw in a fishing line. Catherine Hill Bay has it all with peace and tranquility.
So, whether you enjoy bushwalking, surfing, swimming, rock fishing, strolling along a deserted beach or just getting stuck into a good book, this is the place for you.
The only commercial establishment in Catherine Hill Bay village is the original, weatherboard pub, affectionately known as “The Catho”. On Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon it hosts a variety of bands to entertain you while you enjoy some pub grub or just an ice-cold drink.
The Beach is famous for its surf and is patrolled during the Summer months by the dedicated local Life-Saving Club.
You will find a late closing Supermarket at Swansea which is 10-minute drive away, as well as Banks, small shops, video hire, Clubs, Restaurants, and Take-Aways.
Murrays Beach
A beautiful and serene lakeside suburb of Lake Macquarie, 5 minutes drive from Swansea.
With large open-plan parklands, Murrays Beach has a beautiful well-equipped play area for the children plus undercover bench seating, BBQs and plenty of space to throw down a picnic blanket.
Children can easily ride their bikes along the foreshore, as well as some beautiful footpaths.
There is also a jetty to bring in your boat or to dangle your feet over the edge and throw a fishing line in. There’s plenty of parking, parkland with shade trees, and a Cafe featuring outstanding views over Lake Macquarie.
This area is perfect for water sports on the lake and is only a few minutes drive from a number of beaches making this area a popular summer recreation spot. There is even a Neighbourhood shared swimming pool.
Nords Wharf
Nords Wharf is a lakefront community-focused village bound by native bushland and the beautiful Lake Macquarie. This tiny town also benefits from being near the coast of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It is only 30 minutes drive from Newcastle and only an hour and a half from Sydney, making it a great holiday destination.
Featuring well-maintained public reserves along the waterfront (with amenities such as BBQs, toilets, playgrounds, etc), and walking tracks through the surrounding bush, it is the perfect holiday spot to sit back, relax, and enjoy the simple things.
Nords Wharf is a quiet village just a short drive to the historic Catherine Hill Bay with popular surfing beaches and the town center of Swansea which features a number of restaurants, cafes, clubs, and shops. Caves Beach is also only a 10-minute drive away where you can explore the unique coastal caves or walk along the Wallarah Track. The Watagan Mountains are only a 30-minute drive away and the perfect day trip for the adventurous type. The Lake Macquarie area is popular for surfing, fishing, scuba diving, and more and is perfect for families.
Swansea – The Gateways to Lake Macquarie
Swansea is located at the entrance of Lake Macquarie (the largest saltwater coastal lake in the southern hemisphere) and also benefits from being near the coast of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It is only 30 minutes drive from Newcastle and only an hour and a half from Sydney, making it a great holiday destination.
Swansea Heads is on Swansea peninsula between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean and overlooks Swansea Channel and the lake in one direction and the Ocean on the other. It is a 3 minute drive to Caves Beach and also the shopping centre at Swansea.
There are many activities to do when staying around Swansea, from exploring the tiny heritage village of Catherine Hill Bay to wandering through the caves at Caves Beach (patrolled by surf life savers in the warmer months). You can also take a day trip up to the Watagan Mountains, or to the Hunter Valley Vineyards.
The area around Swansea was initially known as “Reid’s Mistake”. Captain William Reid thought he was entering the mouth of the Hunter River to get coal but instead discovered the mouth of Lake Macquarie . Initially the home to the Awabakal tribe it is now a popular residential and tourist destination.
Just inside the lakes’ entrance on the southern side of the channel is Black Ned’s Bay, named after the last member of the Awabakal tribe to live in the area. Later the local area became known as Pelican Flat (due to the abundance of Pelicans in the area) but was renamed in 1887. A suburb of Pelican is located just over the Swansea opening bridge.
Swansea is surrounded by a number of great swimming and surfing beaches (Caves Beach, Blacksmiths, Catherine Hill Bay) and of course many lakeside picnic areas. Boating is popular, as well as Scuba diving and of course fishing. Or just sit back and have a waterfront dining experience by the lake.
Mt Hutton …close to everything
Mount Hutton is a great location only 14 kilometres from Newcastle’s central business district on the eastern side of Lake Macquarie. It is only a 5 mins drive to Warner’s Bay esplanade, coastal walks, pelicans, boating, restaurants, bike riding, markets, and open parkland areas.
Newcaslte is only a 20 minute drive away where you will find Nobbys Lighthouse, Merewether Beach, the famous Bogey Hole, Newcastle Art Gallery and Newcastle Beaches and walk ways including the working harbour.
Belmont, Redhead Beach, Caves Beach, Catherine Hills Bay beach are also very close by raning from 10 – 15 minute drive away depending on the beach you would like to visit. You will be spoilt for choice.
A local shopping centre is 3 minutes away, but if you are looking for cinemas and large shopping centres, it is only a 10 minute drive to Charlestown Square, 15 minutes to Westfield Kotara and 15 minutes to the more open plan Glendale shopping precinct.
Ice Skating and bowling are all located in Warners Bay and the children will love a visit to the Speers Point Variety Club childrens playground.
