Belmont

A relaxed village with big water views, ocean beaches and nature reserves, Belmont is a tranquil gem on the glittering shore of beautiful Lake Macquarie. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors as you sail, swim or ride around the bay in a vibrant landscape of blue and greens. Thrillseekers can also try tandem skydiving.

Fun on the water

In Belmont, life revolves around the lakefront. Home to restaurants and cafes that overlook Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, this foreshore is a popular spot for family picnics at Green Point Foreshore Reserve. Relax at Crusoe’s on the Lake, the casual waterfront restaurant at the yacht club with a large outdoor deck overlooking the waterway.

Lake Macquarie Yacht Club is located on picturesque Belmont Bay, and you can charter a boat or take a tour with Lake Macquarie Sailing Tours. Fishing, kayaking, sailing and stand-up paddle boarding are popular activities on the lake. Keep your eyes open for some of the resident dolphins and green sea turtles.

Local beaches

A 10min drive from Belmont, at the northern end of a 14km stretch of coastline, is Redhead Beach. Patrolled in spring and summer, this is an excellent spot for surfing. On the coast between Redhead and Blacksmiths in the south is stunning Nine Mile Beach, ideal for fishing and exploring in a 4WD. Naru Beach Reserve is another idyllic waterside hideaway.

Outdoors & adventure

Home to more than 100 bird species, as well as cycling and mountain biking trails, beautiful Belmont Wetlands is a natural playground. Explore further on Fernleigh Track, a great place to walk or ride. Belmont Wetlands State Park includes 549 hectares of bushland, sand dunes and wetlands, with 4WD access to Nine Mile Beach.

Take in lake and ocean views at the Belmont Golf Club, an 18-hole championship links course that is spectacularly positioned over greens, ocean and lake. At the southern end of Belmont is the air strip, which offers aerial adventure tours that range from skydiving with Skydive Newcastle to helicopter joy flights and aerobatics with Matt Hall Racing.

Getting there & where to stay

Belmont is less than two hours’ drive north of Sydney and a short drive south of Newcastle. There are waterside accommodation options to suit various budgets, as well as motels, cottages and a holiday park with villas, cabins and lakeside sites to park your caravan or pitch your tent.