New South Wales · Coastal

Lake Macquarie

Awaba

The Largest Coastal Saltwater Lake in Australia

On the lands of the Awabakal people.

sunny Best in September to May

schedule 1 to 2 days

location_on Hunter Region, NSW

directions_car 120 km north of Sydney

flight Newcastle Airport (NTL)

directions Directions

Best for Families Adventure

schedule 3 min read / Updated Apr 2026

The largest saltwater coastal lake in the southern hemisphere, twice the size of Sydney Harbour. Lake Macquarie sits an hour north of Sydney and is known for its boating, birdwatching, Awabakal indigenous heritage, and the historic mining town of Speers Point.

Lake Macquarie sits on the central coast of New South Wales, 90 minutes north of Sydney, on the traditional lands of the Awabakal people. The lake's Awabakal name is Awaba, meaning 'flat' or 'plain surface of water'. It is a saltwater coastal lake, connected to the Tasman Sea by a narrow channel at Swansea, and covers 110 square kilometres, making it the largest coastal lake in the southern hemisphere and more than twice the surface area of Sydney Harbour.

The lake is surrounded by a mix of small towns and natural reserve. The northern shore is more urbanised and includes the suburbs of Warners Bay, Speers Point and Boolaroo that effectively form the southern suburbs of Newcastle. The southern shore is quieter, with the towns of Swansea, Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach and Pelican Point. The eastern shore is mostly protected as Tingira Heights Nature Reserve and Pulbah Island Nature Reserve.

Pulbah Island sits in the middle of the lake and is the largest island on any lake or inlet in New South Wales. It is unoccupied and protected as a nature reserve, accessible only by kayak or private boat. The Awabakal people used the island for ceremonies and initiation rites, and it contains several sacred sites that are still recognised by the local Aboriginal land council. Camping and overnight stays are not permitted on the island.

Sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and small-boat fishing are the defining recreational activities on Lake Macquarie. The lake is shallow (average 8 metres), protected from ocean swell, and has reliable afternoon sea breezes in summer that make it one of the best small-craft sailing venues in eastern Australia. Several yacht clubs operate on the shores and host regular weekend racing through the season.

The Dobell House at Wangi Wangi is the preserved home of the Australian painter William Dobell, who lived on the lake's western shore for most of his life until his death in 1970. Dobell won three Archibald Prizes (including the famous 1944 case where the award was legally challenged in court) and the Wangi Wangi house is now a small museum open to visitors on weekends.

Catherine Hill Bay, at the southern end of the lake, is a preserved 19th-century coal mining village. The 1874 miner's cottages along the main street are all heritage listed, and the nearby beach has a long wooden jetty (the former coal loading pier). The village has appeared in dozens of Australian films, most famously in the 1988 film Bliss.

Beyond the lake itself, the area is the gateway to the Hunter Valley wine country (45 minutes north-west), the Newcastle beaches and CBD (20 minutes north), and the Watagans National Park (40 minutes west) with its rainforest walks and waterfalls. It is also just a one-hour drive from the Central Coast beach towns.

Lake Macquarie is a year-round destination. Summer is peak season for boating and swimming, autumn has the most reliable warm settled weather, winter is cool and quiet but excellent for birdwatching, and spring brings the wildflowers across the bushland reserves. The closest major airports are Newcastle Airport (NTL), 30 minutes north, and Sydney Airport (SYD), 90 minutes south.

location_on Lake Macquarie, NSW

Plan your visit

Lake Macquarie, NSW.

Area: 110 km2
Average depth: 8 m
From Sydney: 120 km

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Gallery

Lake Macquarie in pictures.

9 images licensed from Wikimedia Commons

All images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licences. Individual photographers are credited on the source pages.

Scenic views

Lookouts near Lake Macquarie.

All New South Wales lookouts east

landscape Marks Point Lookout 4.8 km away directions landscape Green Point lookout 7 km away directions landscape Sea Eagle Lookout 7 km away directions landscape Birdwatching 7.2 km away directions landscape Red Bluff Walking Bridge viewing bay 11.4 km away directions landscape Wybung Trig Lookout 12.4 km away directions

All New South Wales lookouts east

Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie in pictures.

Lookouts near Lake Macquarie.

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