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Belmont Baths

Natural Attractions

Belmont Baths

The baths are a great facility for people who enjoy swimming or simply relaxing by the beautiful lake. The facility incorporates protective mesh on all three sides, which encourages people to use the area for swimming. The area includes a new jetty that is 70 metres long, with a 45-metre-wide swimming enclosure and an access ramp to a deep-water platform for people with mobility restrictions. There are toilet facilities, cold showers, picnic tables and undercover areas. The amenities building also stores a mobi aquatic chair to borrow for wheelchair access into the baths (available upon council request). Nearby is a playground, ping pong table and cafes.

Belmont NSW

0.6 km away

Shared Track — Image credit: Lake Macquarie City Council

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST)

Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST) is a scenic extension of the popular Fernleigh Track, offering locals and visitors a peaceful route through the stunning Belmont Wetlands State Park and Belmont Lagoon Reserve. Perfect for walking, running, and cycling, this shared path connects Belmont to Blacksmiths, improving access to nature while supporting active lifestyles. Whether you're a local looking for a new way to explore or a visitor wanting to experience the beauty of the area, the FAST track is an ideal choice for outdoor recreation. Together, the Fernleigh Track and the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track provide a 27-kilometre continuous active transport route from Adamstown to Murrays Beach. The Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track forms part of the Coastline R1 Regional Cycleway, part of the Greater Newcastle Principle Bicycle Network. Features include an elevated boardwalk over Belmont Lagoon and a birdwatching loop. Start at the southern end of the existing Fernleigh Track in Belmont, with parking available near the old Belmont railway station or join the track from the Pacific Highway at Blacksmiths, making it convenient for surrounding areas.

Belmont NSW

0.8 km away

Chipmunks Playland & Cafe - Entrance — Image credit: Chipmunks Playland & Cafe

Amusement and Theme Parks

Chipmunks Playland and Cafe Belmont

Chipmunks Playland and Café Belmont is a vibrant indoor play centre designed for children aged 0–11, offering a safe, fun and engaging environment for families in the Lake Macquarie region. The centre is thoughtfully divided into three age-appropriate zones: a Baby Zone for little ones aged 0–2, a Mini Zone for toddlers aged 0–4, and a large Main Zone for older children up to 11. Each space is packed with colourful play equipment, climbing structures and a giant ball pit that keeps kids entertained for hours. One of the standout features of Chipmunks Belmont is its flexibility - there are no time limits on play, so families can stay as long as they like without feeling rushed. The venue is fully enclosed, air-conditioned and designed with safety in mind, giving parents peace of mind while their children explore and play. Chipmunks Belmont is also a popular destination for birthday parties, offering packages to suit every celebration style, including Basic, Bash and Bonanza options. With a variety of fun themes available, families can create a memorable party experience with minimal stress. For larger celebrations, private venue hire is available, giving guests exclusive access to the entire centre. Alongside the play areas, the on-site café serves freshly made food and barista-quality coffee, making it just as enjoyable for adults as it is for kids.

Belmont NSW

1.0 km away

Green Point Foreshore Reserve

Natural Attractions

Green Point Foreshore Reserve

Green Point Foreshore Reserve is a scenic lakeside destination connecting Belmont and Valentine, offering a mix of easy foreshore walks, bushland trails, picnic areas, and stunning lake views. Visitors can enjoy a flat, shared pathway suitable for prams, wheelchairs, bikes, and scooters, or explore bush tracks with stairs and boardwalks winding through eucalyptus forest and small rainforest pockets. Highlights include the grassy lakeside point, a public jetty, and elevated lookouts such as Sea Eagle Lookout and Rocky High, which provide panoramic views across Lake Macquarie and are known for sightings of white‑bellied sea eagles. With picnic shelters, barbecues, toilets, calm waters for fishing and paddling, and interpretive signage sharing the area's coal‑mining and timber history, Green Point is an ideal destination for families, walkers, and nature lovers seeking a relaxed outdoor experience by the lake. Dogs are not permitted in the reserve or along the walking track.

Belmont NSW

1.6 km away

Arial Shot Kayaking Naru Beach — Image credit: Lake Macquarie Tourism

Natural Attractions

Naru Beach

Known for its stunning beauty and tranquillity, Naru Beach is a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Macquarie with its white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Take a dip in the calm waters, perfect for swimming and cooling off on a hot day. Paddleboarding is also a popular pastime here, allowing you to explore the serene lake while taking in the breathtaking views. If you have a boat or kayak, you can even venture out to the nearby uninhabited sand islands for a unique island-hopping experience. Use Marks Point Boat Ramp located next to the beach to launch your boat. Naru Beach is a haven for families, offering shallow swimming areas that are ideal for kids. However, it's important to note that there are often strong currents in the channels and there have been sightings of the blue-ringed octopus, so supervision is advised. While the beach is relatively small, there is ample space to relax and unwind. Just be sure to bring your own shade, as there are no picnic facilities or amenities available on-site.

Marks Point NSW

3.7 km away

Pelican Foreshore Park

Natural Attractions

Pelican Foreshore Park

Pelican Foreshore Park is a popular family‑friendly destination. The park features a fully fenced playground, grassy picnic areas, covered picnic tables, BBQ facilities, and easy access to toilets, making it a convenient spot for day trips and gatherings. Its sandy lakeside beach provides opportunities for swimming, paddling, and sandcastle building, though visitors should be mindful that currents near the Swansea Channel can become strong, especially for young or inexperienced swimmers. The foreshore also offers scenic views of the Lake with the chance to spot the pelicans that give the area its name.

Pelican NSW

4.6 km away

Pirrita Island Boardwalk — Image credit: Lake Macquarie City Council

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Pirrita Island Boardwalk

The lakeside boardwalk on Pirrita Island showcases the unique landscape and heritage of Swansea foreshore. The 250-metre boardwalk crosses Pirrita Island's mangroves and looks out over the turquoise waters of Swansea Channel. 'Pirrita' is the Awabakal word for oysters from the mangroves, while Miners Point references the coal mining families who lived on the island throughout the 1900s. Interpretive signage has been installed along the boardwalk, showcasing the heritage of the area, as well as the unique flora and fauna that call the island home. As well as this new edition, the existing car park on the western side of Pirrita Island has been upgraded to improve access. A new outdoor fitness trail has also been installed along Channel Street between Swansea Swim Centre and Thomas Humphreys Reserve.

Swansea NSW

5.0 km away

Windale Hub, bilyabayi

Entertainment Venues

Windale Hub, bilyabayi

The Windale Hub, bilyabayi is a high-tech facility featuring flexible social spaces and library functions. Designed as Windale’s community lounge room, it provides a safe, relaxing and welcoming space for people to come together to learn and create. Features include an upper library and lower library space with community lounge areas, reading lounges, small group study areas, a kids’ collection, a media collection and access to new technology. It also includes a range of adaptable community spaces including a large community hall opening out to a deck area, an activity room for gatherings and functions as well as a ‘maker space’ activities, a smaller sound-proof meeting room for possible use as a recording studio, offices, a commercial kitchen, car parking and landscaping.

Windale NSW

5.0 km away

Toronto Baths

Natural Attractions

Toronto Baths

Toronto Baths is a much‑loved lakeside swimming spot set along the scenic foreshore of Lake Macquarie, popular with families and locals alike. Following upgrades completed in October 2024, the historic baths (operating since 1925) are now fully enclosed and feature new jetty decking, safety netting, multiple entry points, and an accessible ramp with handrails, creating a safer and more inclusive swimming experience. Visitors can enjoy a range of on‑site amenities, including toilets, outdoor showers, shaded picnic areas, and nearby parking. With cafés, the Toronto Foreshore Playground, and the revitalised waterfront promenade all within easy walking distance, Toronto Baths is an ideal place to swim, relax, and take in the tranquil lake views.

Toronto NSW

5.2 km away

Inside our Rathmines Heritage Centre on Opening Night — Image credit: Lake Macquarie City Council

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Rathmines Heritage Centre

Based in Rathmines Theatre, Rathmines Heritage Centre hosts a range of exhibitions focused on the history of Rathmines RAAF base and the wider story of Lake Mac during World War II. Rathmines RAAF seaplane base played an essential role in the defence of Australia during WWII. From 1939 – 1962 thousands of people and hundreds of seaplanes operated and trained at the base. Rathmines RAAF seaplane base is the most intact surviving example of its type in Australia. Established in 1939 the base was the main centre for training during World War II. It was the largest flying boat base established in Australia and considered to be the ‘headquarters’ of flying boat operations during the war. Rathmines Heritage Centre tours are by appointment only. Explore the history of Rathmines further along the Rathmines RAAF Base Heritage Trail, a 1.1 kilometrem trail through Rathmines Park and along the foreshore of Catalina Bay. For further information about the importance of Rathmines RAAF base please visit the Lake Mac History website, which has a large and comprehensive archive of oral histories, photographs and documents.

Rathmines NSW

5.4 km away

Rathmines Theatre, nawayiba

Entertainment Venues

Rathmines Theatre, nawayiba

This beautiful heritage venue is brimming with character and history. In 2019 Rathmines Theatre – along with Rathmines Heritage Centre – was refurbished as a unique and memorable space for live performances, exhibitions, festivals and as well as corporate events and private functions. The old boiler room has been repurposed as a charismatic bar space where audiences love to grab a drink before the show. The Rathmines Theatre is a 200-capacity theatre available for professional and amateur musical, theatre, dance, and cultural groups to host and perform quality stage productions.

Rathmines NSW

5.4 km away

Redhead Beach

Natural Attractions

Redhead Beach

Redhead Beach is at the northern end of a nine mile stretch of coastline, and is known for its stunning cliffs, rocky outcrops and shark tower. Redhead is patrolled in the warmer months, is home to the Redhead Surf Life Saving Club, and is popular with swimmers and surfers alike. Plenty of parking is available as well as public toilets and cafe "Cargo Espresso Bar". Dog friendly with designated on - leash and off - leash areas. Nearby is the pump track for keen bikers and skateboarders, Webs Park playground and Owens Walkway which is an easy boardwalk and wheelchair accessible.

Swansea NSW

5.5 km away

Discovering Blacksmiths Beach — Image credit: Lake Macquarie Tourism

Natural Attractions

Blacksmiths Beach

Blacksmiths Beach is a beautiful, family‑friendly stretch of golden sand at the southern end of Lake Macquarie's nine‑mile coastline. Enjoy safe, patrolled swimming during the warmer months (September - April), stroll or fish off the scenic Swansea Channel break wall, or relax in the shaded picnic areas near the Swansea Belmont Surf Life Saving Club. The beach offers convenient facilities including toilets, showers, ample free parking, picnic tables, barbeques, a nearby playground, and easy access to a takeaway shop just across the road, making it the perfect spot for a carefree coastal day out. If you have children or want a shallow calm swim spot, walk around to the tidal Granny's Pool. If you have a four-wheel drive, vehicles are permitted within Belmont Wetlands State Park for 4WD Access to Nine Mile Beach. Permits are only available online. The beach features accessible parking, toilets (MLAK), a ramp, and beach wheelchairs available during patrol season.

Blacksmiths NSW

5.6 km away

Marmong Picnic Area — Image credit: Photo: Ashley Deveridge

Natural Attractions

Marmong Picnic Area

Nestled in the bush within Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, you’ll find idyllic Marmong picnic area. It’s perfect for families and those looking for a moment of serenity by the lake, yet there’s also plenty to do. It’s a beautiful spot to stop for a bite to eat while bushwalking along Awaba Bay Foreshore walk. With an abundance of birdlife, it’s also a great place to get out the binoculars for a bit of birdwatching. You can also enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake or throw in a line and try your luck fishing. It's a great paddling destination if you have your own kayak or canoe and, if you’re out on the water, you might catch a glimpse of a dolphin or a sea turtle. For those who just want to relax, there's plenty of soft, grassy patches to spread out a blanket, admire the scenic views across the lake and laze away the day under the trees with a good book.

Bolton Point NSW

5.7 km away

Awaba Bay Foreshore Walk — Image credit: Photo: Susan Davis/NSW Government

Natural Attractions

Awaba Bay Foreshore Walk

Discover why the locals love living here and take Awaba Bay Foreshore walk. Listen to the birds first thing in the morning, enjoy the views of the sparkling lake, and feel the cool breeze off the water on a warm day. You’ll hear the call of frogs and the laughter of kookaburras, and see lorikeets and sea eagles above the tree tops – don’t forget your binoculars for birdwatching. As you walk along the shore, perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to spot the beautiful dolphins and green sea turtles that call Lake Macquarie home. Diverse habitats make this an interesting and varied walk; you’ll pass a swamp complex between Alexanders picnic area and Hepplewhites Shack, as well as tall open forest and the grassy areas of the picnic sites. Take the time to stop at one of these and enjoy the peace of this beautiful place, so special to locals and visitors alike.

Bolton Point NSW

5.9 km away

Grannies Pool

Natural Attractions

Grannies Pool

Grannies Pool is a sheltered, shallow tidal pool, paired with a small sandy beach area, making it an ideal spot for families with young children or elderly. Located on Swansea Channel at the southern end of Blacksmiths Beach. The pool has a unique history, formed when a gap in the breakwall allowed water from Swansea Channel to flow in, creating a natural pool. Its name reflects generations of memories, as parents and grandparents have long brought their children here to learn how to swim. Highly accessible for wheelchairs, featuring a 50-metre, all-abilities pathway from the parking area to the sand. The area includes accessible parking, a concrete viewing platform, and beach matting that extends to the hard sand for easier access. Grannies Pool fills with the incoming tide, offering deeper water at high tide and much shallower conditions at low tide, so it's best to plan your visit around the tides. From the pool, you can follow the walking path to the Blacksmiths Breakwall for sweeping views of Swansea Channel. Blacksmiths Beach is also close by, with access less than a 400‑metre walk away.

Blacksmiths NSW

5.9 km away

See sculptures along the lake

Parks and Gardens

Creative Lake Sculpture Trail

Lake Macquarie’s love affair with outdoor art is nowhere better on display than with the Creative Lake Sculpture Trail, a five-kilometre trail linking larger-than-life artworks along the foreshore. In the popular precincts of Speers Point, Warners Bay and Eleebana, you’ll discover an eclectic collection of contemporary artworks – from sculptures to conceptual installations and 3D murals – by Australian and international artists including Guan Wei, Guy Maestri, Alex Seton, Naidee Changmoh and Antone Bruinsma. You can walk, bike and even rollerblade between the sites via the Warners Bay Foreshore Shared Pathway, or drive between them with on and some off-street parking available Download the Culture Trails guide from the Lake Macquarie City Council website to not only discover what you might see while wandering the route but also explore other Lake Macquarie cultural highlights, including galleries and historic sites.

Warners Bay NSW

6.3 km away

Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba

Entertainment Venues

Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba

Warners Bay Theatre is a venue for local and visiting performing arts events including live music, theatre, dance, opera and presentations. The theatre is a short stroll to restaurants and bars along Warners Bay foreshore, making this the perfect location for dinner and a show. The Warners Bay Theatre is a 300-capacity theatre available for professional and amateur musical, theatre, dance, and cultural groups to host and perform quality stage productions.

Warners Bay NSW

6.5 km away

Morning Song — Image credit: K Pearson

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Newcastle and Lake Mac Art Exhibition

This is an Exhibition of works by members of the Society. All works are original and are local artists. Paintings include mediums such as oils, watercolour, acrylic, pencil, pastel and mixed media. Come in and have a browse. The Society has been in Newcastle and Lake Mac for almost 100 years and has major Art Exhibitions each year. For further information, please email.

Warners Bay NSW

6.6 km away

Arial shot Wangi

Natural Attractions

Wangi Wangi Point

This reserve is a peaceful natural area designed for passive recreation, with walking trails that protect the environment while showcasing diverse vegetation and scenic viewpoints. Two lookouts provide expansive views over Lake Macquarie, adding beautiful stops along the way. The tracks wind through bushland filled with wattles, coastal banksia and orchids, leading to lookouts across to Pulbah Island. Wildlife is abundant, visitors may spot green sea turtles, dolphins, sea eagles, squirrel gliders, kangaroos, lorikeets and even the threatened pied oystercatcher. There are four walks to choose from, offered as both linear and loop tracks. They range from 20 minutes to one hour, covering 500 metres to 2.2 kilometres, with easy to moderate grades. All walks begin at the main car park, and as part of the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, pets and open fires are not permitted. Please note, there are no toilets or drinking water, so prepare before you arrive. Wangi Point Holiday Park, boat ramp and jetty are in close proximity.

Wangi Wangi NSW

6.7 km away

Wangi Circuit Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: Susan Davis/NSW Government

Natural Attractions

Wangi Circuit Walking Track

This serene bushwalk through towering trees gives you the feeling you’re a million miles away from the suburbs, though it’s not too far away at all. Listening to the birds feeding on the eucalypt blossoms, looking up at the huge eucalypts, and seeing the lake shimmer in the sunshine is a wonderfully relaxing experience. Birdwatchers will also enjoy admiring the waterbirds along the way, such as cormorants, white-faced herons, and white-breasted sea eagles. Wildflower-lovers should come in spring or in winter to look for orchids. And when you’re on the shores of the lake, look carefully for sea turtles swimming around in the shallows.

Wangi Wangi NSW

6.8 km away

Salts Bay — Image credit: Lake Macquarie City Council

Natural Attractions

Salts Bay

Salts Bay is a tranquil pocket of Lake Macquarie, located on the southern shore of the Swansea Channel, between Blacksmiths and Caves Beach. Sheltered and scenic, the bay is surrounded by wetlands, mangroves and littoral rainforest, offering calm waters and peaceful lake views away from busier foreshore areas. The bay is rich in birdlife, with Black Neds Walking Trail and foreshore areas ideal for relaxed strolls, quiet picnics or simply taking in the surroundings. The protected bays make it a perfect opportunity for swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and fishing. Salts Bay has a quiet historical charm as well. The area was once the site of small‑scale salt works in the mid‑1800s, a reminder of Lake Macquarie's long connection to industry and maritime life, before nature reclaimed the shoreline and shaped the peaceful landscape seen today.

Swansea Heads NSW

6.8 km away

State of the art tenpin bowling lanes for the whole family to enjoy

Entertainment Venues

Dullboy's Social Co - Warners Bay

Dullboy's Social Co is here for the good times. The nights out, the weekend adventures, the laughs and the memory making. Because as they say, all work and no play makes jack a dull boy. Escape the everyday grind and do something unreal with their tenpin bowling lanes, outdoor mini golf course, video arcade, dodgem cars, modern Diner, and 18+ Barcadia! This multi-faceted entertainment venue is also the perfect place to throw an epic party! Whether you're doing some team building, celebrating a family milestone, or just looking to have a blast with your mates, Dullboy's has got you covered.

Warners Bay NSW

7.1 km away

Museum of Art and Culture, yapang front entrance — Image credit: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Museum of Art and Culture, yapang

The Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC yapang) is an art museum situated on the shores of Lake Macquarie. The art museum presents an ever-changing program of exhibitions, events and visual arts programs throughout the year, and offers a retail shop and cafe. The word yapang (pronounced yar pung) means journey/pathway in Awabakal and is the name given to a new dedicated Aboriginal program within the Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, yapang (MAC). The initiative is a natural progression of the 19-year relationship between the art museum and Aboriginal Reference Group. It is surrounded by five hectares of leafy grounds containing a sculpture garden.

Booragul NSW

7.2 km away

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