Warners Bay

Curving around the shore of Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, the sparkling Lake Macquarie, the town is a hub for watersports and outdoor activities, with plenty of tasty cafes for refuelling. You’ll also find an eclectic sculpture trail along the shore with works from a variety of contemporary Australian artists.

Waterfront activities

The shared path along the waterfront Esplanade runs for 9km from Lions Park in Eleebana to the Museum of Art and Culture (MAC). At the southern end is the impressive Red Bluff Boardwalk which juts out over the lake and is hundreds of metres long. There are three viewing platforms along the way.

The path is perfect for walking, cycling and rollerblading. Positioned around the lake from Speers Point to Eleebana is Creative LAKE, a collection of contemporary artworks. Artists include Guan Wei, Guy Maestri, Alex Seton, Naidee Changmoh and Antone Bruinsma.

Bring your own bicycle or hire two wheels from the self-service Automatic Bike Hirestation or Lake Mac Kayak and Bike Hire. The kids will enjoy a picnic at the Lake Macquarie Variety Playgroundin lovely Speers Point Park, where the giant spiral slide adds to the thrills.

Fun & adventure

You’ll find plenty of fun things to do on the lake, like sailing, kayaking, fishing and stand up paddle boarding. Thrillseekers can also learn to ride a hydrofoil board, which skims a few feet above the water while being towed by a speedboat or propelled by a billowing kite.

Looking for more? Head indoors and roar around the track at Extreme Karts Warners Bay. Visit stunning ocean beaches and explore the magnificent national parks, just a short drive away. Then stop for a top-quality latte at Brennans, Q & Co or Hippo Espresso.

Events

The views from the foreshore attract thousands of runners every August for the Lake Macquarie Running Festival, a half marathon, 10.5km fun run and 4km kids scamper. The spectacular scenery makes waterfront promenade between Warners Bay and Speers Point one of the best running courses in Australia.

Getting there & where to stay

Warners Bay is just over two hours’ drive north of Sydney and around 30min from Newcastle. You can also take the train up the coast to nearby Booragul Station, which takes just under three hours, or fly into Newcastle Airport. Accommodation options in the region include motels, apartments and holiday parks.