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Muirs lookout

Natural Attractions

Muirs lookout

No trip to Jilliby State Conservation Area would be complete without taking the time to enjoy awe-inspiring scenic views from Muirs lookout. Gaze miles out along the mountains and eucalypt forests of Watagan Range, with panoramic views to the east over semi-rural communities - Mandalong and Morisset, as well as Lake Macquarie, included. If you enjoy birdwatching, be sure to bring your binoculars. There are many interesting bird species that call Jilliby State Conservation Area home. At night you might be lucky enough to see the threatened sooty, barking, masked or powerful owls. Tall eucalypts framing the view across the coast make Muirs lookout an idyllic spot to spread out and enjoy a peaceful picnic or even just a cup of tea to take in the naturally beautiful surroundings.

Martinsville NSW

7.6 km away

Monkey Face lookout — Image credit: Shared OEH and other organisation

Natural Attractions

Monkey Face lookout

Monkey Face lookout offers one of the best vantage points in the park, with sweeping views east across the Martinsville Valley. Cameras are a must here, and binoculars are a good idea too – you’ll want to take advantage of the terrific birdwatching opportunities, with glossy black cockatoos often seen here. Settle down in a picnic spot under the ancient grass trees and ironbarks around the lookout, enjoying the view whilst you eat. In winter, the air is crisp and clean, refreshing and revitalising as you survey the land. In summer, the sun is hot and bright and casts a magnificent light over the valley, making this lookout a spectacular place to visit all year round.

Martinsville NSW

8.3 km away

Circuit Walking Track

Natural Attractions

Circuit Walking Track

Starting at the Boarding House Dam picnic area, Circuit walking track offers you an easy hike along the creek as it threads through pristine native rainforest. Stroll beneath blue gums, grey myrtle and turpentine, keeping an eye out for lyrebirds and an ear open for kookaburras. A dramatic rock wall covered entirely in moss makes for a beautiful spectacle on the trail – so don’t forget the camera. In summer, the rainforest makes for a cool retreat, with trees and ferns shading the trail from the sun. But for an even cooler one, bring your swimmers along and make your way into the creek or dam at the end of the walk for a paddle. Finish up with a long picnic, taking advantage of the free barbecues on offer.

Martinsville NSW

11 km away

Toronto Golf Club

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Toronto Golf Club

Toronto Golf Club hosts an 18 hole scenic golf course, pro shop, clubhouse and 12 bay driving range. Our Driving Range welcomes members of the public to use this facility. Clubs can be hired from the pro-shop during open hours. Toronto Golf Club features ample off-street parking and disabled access.

Toronto NSW

12 km away

View from Heaton State Forest — Image credit: Forestry Corporation of NSW

Natural Attractions

Heaton State Forest - Watagan Mountains

Heaton State Forest, part of the Watagan Mountain range, is a beautiful forest encompassing spectacular lookouts that showcase views over the Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie regions. Heaton's three lookouts - McLean, Hunter, and Heaton lookouts - offer outstanding coastal and mountain views. Watagan HQ camping area, an old forest worker campsite, is also available for picnics. And of course, being State Forest, you can bring your dog and your visit is free. While visiting Heaton State Forest, why not explore the Watagans and visit Olney State Forest too? The Pines Picnic Area is a magnificent spot for a picnic, a former pine forest, this area is shaded with a pine needle carpet underfoot.

Olney NSW

12 km away

Sir William Dobell Blue Plaque — Image credit: Heritage NSW

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Sir William Dobell Blue Plaque

Visitors can discover the stories behind the people, places and events that have helped shape NSW - where the history happened. A Blue Plaque visit offers more than sightseeing. It creates a direct connection between place and story, turning everyday locations into places of discovery. Each plaque reveals a unique piece of history, encouraging visitors to explore local areas from a new perspective and uncover stories they may never have known. This blue plaque commemorates Sir William Dobell, a painter best known for his expressive and unique portraits, who is still remembered today as one of Australia's best-known artists.

Wangi Wangi NSW

12 km away

Interpretive signage near The Pines picnic area, Olney State Forest — Image credit: Forestry Corporation of NSW

Natural Attractions

Olney State Forest - Watagan Mountains

Olney State Forest is in the Watagan Mountains near the Central Coast. Numerous free picnic, camping areas and walking trails are available in this family-friendly forest. The Pines Forest Park offers a unique picnic setting amongst a former Pine plantation forest. The Pines, Turpentine, Casuarina and Olney HQ camping areas provide sheltered campsites amongst impressive native forest, and are perfect for families or small groups. Large all-weather picnic shelters are located at both The Pines and Olney HQ. The Pines and Abbotts Falls Walking Trails follow creek lines and feature areas of moist eucalypt forests, rainforests and rock pools. To the west, the Basin Camping area is open and grassy with easy access and a flowing creek that can be used for swimming in warmer months. The Basin is suitable for large groups. Here, the Rock Lily Walking Trail features rock lilies and rainforest vegetation.

Ravensdale NSW

12 km away

Watagans National Park

National Parks and Reserves

Watagans National Park

Watagans National Park boasts some of the country's finest rainforest scenery. Moss-covered walls and boulders, towering canopies of red cedar and Illawarra flame trees pepper the walking track to Gap Creek Falls. You can also expect extraordinary views down toward rainforest gullies at Monkey Face and Gap Creek lookouts. The Watagan Mountains also house a rich cultural heritage; more than 40 Aboriginal sites highlight art and engraving techniques, and remnants from previous forestry operations showcase settlement history in the area. Bangalow and Gap Creek campgrounds provide overnight comfort for those who wish to continue exploring; you can pitch a tent next to your car and take advantage of the free barbecue areas and picnic tables available to you. Whether you arrive with a walking, cycling or 4WD tour in mind, remember to bring your sense of adventure as you'll discover new things to do every time you visit.

Olney NSW

12 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

13 km away

Turners Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: John Spencer

Natural Attractions

Turners Walking Track

Watagans National Park, near Cessnock, boasts some of the most scenic rainforest in the Newcastle region, and Turners walking track is a great way to explore this rainforest. Self-reliant bushwalkers will love the challenge of this old logging track, offering wilderness views and great birdwatching, with easy access to Great North walk. Starting from Boarding House Dam picnic area, this track winds steeply through rainforest of towering blackbutts and blue gums, before giving way to open eucalypt forest. Along the way, you might see brush turkeys or lyrebirds darting through the trees or foraging for tasty treats on the forest floor. You’ll also pass the historic remnants of O’Hara’s Sawmill, built as a temporary mill in the 1950s to salvage timber after World War Two. Choose to retrace your steps to the picnic area, or alternatively, the track can be accessed via Watagan Forest HQ campground, in Heaten State Forest.

Olney NSW

13 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

14 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

14 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

14 km away

Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area

National Parks and Reserves

Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area

Come and enjoy the blissful lake lifestyle at Lake Macquarie. Twice the size of Sydney Harbour, it's the biggest permanent saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere and provides stunning views, countless opportunities for boating, fishing and water sports, and is a haven for birdwatchers and nature-lovers. Whether you like to bushwalk with only the lapping of water on the shore for company, enjoy long relaxed family picnics, or prefer to kayak with a line off the side to catch dinner, this park is very accessible it's nestled between Newcastle and the Central Coast. You can explore the coves and headlands in any season, and the water is lovely in summer if you need to cool off after a long walk.

Nords Wharf NSW

15 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

15 km away

The Narrow Place lookout

Natural Attractions

The Narrow Place lookout

This lofty vantage point was named by the local Hall family, long-established landowner graziers. They would use the steep narrow track to lead their horses up onto the escarpment from well below the lookout. Today, the name has stuck, but there's no need to saddle up for a visit. It’s easily accessible by car and is popular with 4WD tourers, or it can be accessed on foot as part of Great North walk. Positioned high amidst dry grassy woodland with prominent rocky outcrops and scree slopes below, The Narrow Place lookout offers scenic northern views over Hunter Valley towns including Quorrobolong, Paxton, Ellalong, Cessnock and Kurri Kurri. A truly idyllic spot, it's a favourite with Watagans National Park visitors and offers inspiration for photographers, sightseers and trekkers alike. Keep an eye out for wildlife when you visit, too. Endangered brush-tailed rock wallabies are known to sun themselves below the escarpment, and birdwatching is at its best in summer when mighty wedge-tailed eagles take to the skies.

Olney NSW

16 km away

Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong — Image credit: Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong

Agritourism

Pick Your Own Oranges Dooralong

This beautiful central coast citrus orchard has been producing fruit since the 1920s. Set the kids loose with a picking stick and a bag on the 15 acres of orange groves and let them experience the delight of hand-picking straight from the trees. You can also have your oranges squeezed to take home the sweetest and freshest juice you’re likely to ever taste. The spray-free Navel and Valencia oranges are ripe for picking from around July through to November, depending on the season. You’ll need to check the website for opening hours at the beginning of each harvest. There’s no entry fee required, simply pay for what you can carry.

Dooralong NSW

16 km away

Station Master's Cottage Fassifern — Image credit: Kate Belton

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Tinkat Alley Art Studio

Tinkat Alley Art Stufio is a working art studio and art gallery in the heritage listed Fassifern Station Master's Cottage. Come along and see artists at work in the studio. They also hold classes and demonstrations. The gallery is in the old station master's cottage. You will find paintings in watercolour, acrylic, pastel, ink, oil and mixed media. The gallery also has glassware, pyrography, felt work, sculptures and jewelry . All the art in the gallery is the work of local Lake Macquarie artisans.

Fassifern NSW

16 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

17 km away

Wallarah National Park

National Parks and Reserves

Wallarah National Park

Wallarah National Park makes for a great day trip from Newcastle, Gosford, or Sydney. This tiny park offers mountain biking through the hills and forests of Yondeo trail or Scenic trail, hiking along rugged cliff tops on Coastal walking track, and the chance to reel in a big one from the rock platform at Pinny Beach. Located east of Lake Macquarie, and 2km from Swansea, Wallarah gives you the sense of a remote wilderness setting with the convenience of a nearby fish and chip shop if that big one gets away. Why not spend a few days doing it all here? You can enjoy whale watching (July and August), birdwatching, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, searching for spring wildflowers, or exploring Wallarah's different types of forest. Home to powerful owls, bentwing bats, and squirrel gliders, Wallarah is also important for conservation reasons. To enjoy this coastal area longer than a day book a spot at Freemans campground or Frazer campground, just 15 minutes away at Munmorah State Conservation Area.

Pinny Beach NSW

17 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

17 km away

Catherine Hill Bay Beach

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Catherine Hill Bay Beach

Catherine Hill Bay is a State Heritage-listed historic coal mining village featuring a stunning patrolled beach, named twice as one of 'Australia's 101 Best Beaches'. Popular for swimming, surfing, bodyboarding and fishing, the beach also features an iconic former coal-loading jetty, evidence of the area's mining history and a popular photography spot. With a lifeguard service operating on the beach between October and April, this is one of Lake Macquarie's four patrolled beaches. Taking its name from the ship which ran aground here in 1867, Catherine Hill Bay is nestled in the hinterland just south of Swansea. Its 19th-century miners' cottages mark the oldest continuous settlement in the City of Lake Macquarie. The resulting scenery is astoundingly beautiful; Catherine Hill Bay is at once home to a long, beautiful stretch of sand, surrounded by verdant hills and bushland, and dotted with rusted iron machinery and wildflowers. This sleepy town is home to barely 500 permanent residents, yet its natural attractions are worthy of a much busier holiday destination. You'll find a number of lookouts and viewing platforms overlooking Catherine Hill Bay Beach, and views from the nearby picnic area at Crangan Bay reach to the tall chimneys of Eraring Power Station, as well as the mountains just beyond.

Catherine Hill Bay NSW

17 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

17 km away

Jilliby State Conservation Area

National Parks and Reserves

Jilliby State Conservation Area

Jilliby State Conservation Area allows you to escape into a natural haven, with the advantage of being so close to Central Coast. The park is also an idyllic spot for horse riding, mountain biking, walking and adventures in your 4WD. Explore many of the trails throughout the landscape and when you feel like a rest, set up a picnic at any of the two picturesque picnic areas located at Birdwatching is a treat in Jilliby as there are over 130 recorded species in Watagan Range. However, if you prefer bushwalking, then keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife. There have been over 150 native animals recorded in the area, including endangered animals like the yellow-bellied glider and the yellow-bellied sheath-tail bat.

Jilliby NSW

17 km away

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