Lake Macquarie
Ranked #7,448 in Travel & Places, #199,857 overall
Australia's largest coastal lake
Lake Macquarie is a coastal lake south of Newcastle, covering an area of 104km2, with 174km of winding foreshores, it is claimed as the largest seaboard lake in Australia. The main north railway line runs to the west of the lake and the Pacific Highway skirts the east foreshores.
The lake is really an extensive coastal lagoon formed by the accumulation of sand deposits as bars and dunes along the coastal zone. These deposits blocked a series of river estuaries which existed in earlier geological time, and now only a narrow 90m-wide channel through the sand bars remains, connecting the lake to the sea.
The proximity of Lake Macquarie to Newcastle (the northern parts of the lake are within 20km of the city) makes it a popular weekend resort for city residents and many substantial homes have been built around its shores.
It is also a popular tourist region, particularly for summer vacations, with facilities for fishing, swimming, sailing, riding and many other sports.
The lake is really an extensive coastal lagoon formed by the accumulation of sand deposits as bars and dunes along the coastal zone. These deposits blocked a series of river estuaries which existed in earlier geological time, and now only a narrow 90m-wide channel through the sand bars remains, connecting the lake to the sea.
The proximity of Lake Macquarie to Newcastle (the northern parts of the lake are within 20km of the city) makes it a popular weekend resort for city residents and many substantial homes have been built around its shores.
It is also a popular tourist region, particularly for summer vacations, with facilities for fishing, swimming, sailing, riding and many other sports.
The City of Lake Macquarie
The three largest tourist centres on the lake are Belmont (on the East shore), Swansea (at the lake entrance) and Toronto (on the West shore), all connected to Newcastle by rail and road. In recent decades these and other lakeside towns have increasingly become residential satellites for commuters to Newcastle.
Belmont, 20km south of Newcastle, on the Pacific Highway where it passes along the east shore of the lake, is the headquarters of the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, one of the largest in the State; the club's annual regatta over the Easter holidays attracts an impressive fleet of local and visiting craft.
Toronto is the commercial focus and resort centre for the West section of the lake.
Many other small towns are dotted around the foreshores, such as Speers Point, Warner's Bay, Arcadia Vale, Rathmines and Wangi Wangi.
The population of the Lake Macquarie Municipality, with its offices at Speers Point, was 199,277 in 2009.
Lake Macquarie is classified as a "city", but there is no significant distinction between the terms "city", "shire", and "municipality" as applied to Local Government Areas in New South Wales. The area is demographically a set of closely contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake, and merge with the suburbs of Newcastle to the north. Some suburbs, such as Adamstown Heights are partly in the City of Newcastle and partly within the City of Lake Macquarie.
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Belmont, 20km south of Newcastle, on the Pacific Highway where it passes along the east shore of the lake, is the headquarters of the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, one of the largest in the State; the club's annual regatta over the Easter holidays attracts an impressive fleet of local and visiting craft.
Toronto is the commercial focus and resort centre for the West section of the lake.
Many other small towns are dotted around the foreshores, such as Speers Point, Warner's Bay, Arcadia Vale, Rathmines and Wangi Wangi.
The population of the Lake Macquarie Municipality, with its offices at Speers Point, was 199,277 in 2009.
Lake Macquarie is classified as a "city", but there is no significant distinction between the terms "city", "shire", and "municipality" as applied to Local Government Areas in New South Wales. The area is demographically a set of closely contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake, and merge with the suburbs of Newcastle to the north. Some suburbs, such as Adamstown Heights are partly in the City of Newcastle and partly within the City of Lake Macquarie.
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Lake Macquarie on the map
About the City
If you are seeking the essence of Lake Macquarie then the theme truly is relaxed, coastal living, by the beach, on the lakes edge and up in the mountains.
The citys beauty comes from its stunning natural attractions. Long stretches of sandy beach and coastline join with a lake that appears as a vast inland sea. Backdropping this is the Watagan Mountain wilderness area, a pristine environment which offers a birds eye view of the lower Hunter Region.
Linking the beaches, lake and mountains are over ninety villages and communities dotted throughout the city. Quiet beachside suburbs, bustling lakeside communities, key town centres and sleepy mountainside villages all combine to give the city a relaxed tone.
Just 90 minutes drive north of Sydney and you have escaped a chaotic pace for a peaceful, laidback retreat, where you cant help but slow down.
Must See & Do
The Watagan Mountains, near Cooranbong, offer well maintained camping grounds, picnic spots, BBQ facilities, easy walks, hiking trails & scenic lookouts.
Did You Know?
Lake Macquarie is easily accessible by land, air and water. The city is located just 90 minutes drive from North Sydney along the F3 freeway. If you are catching the train, there are hourly services between Sydney and Wyee, Morisset, Fassifern and Cardiff. Belmont Airport also has daily services to and from Sydney. Coming to Lake Macquarie by water? Swansea Channel is the entry point into the lake.
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The citys beauty comes from its stunning natural attractions. Long stretches of sandy beach and coastline join with a lake that appears as a vast inland sea. Backdropping this is the Watagan Mountain wilderness area, a pristine environment which offers a birds eye view of the lower Hunter Region.
Linking the beaches, lake and mountains are over ninety villages and communities dotted throughout the city. Quiet beachside suburbs, bustling lakeside communities, key town centres and sleepy mountainside villages all combine to give the city a relaxed tone.
Just 90 minutes drive north of Sydney and you have escaped a chaotic pace for a peaceful, laidback retreat, where you cant help but slow down.
Must See & Do
The Watagan Mountains, near Cooranbong, offer well maintained camping grounds, picnic spots, BBQ facilities, easy walks, hiking trails & scenic lookouts.
Did You Know?
Lake Macquarie is easily accessible by land, air and water. The city is located just 90 minutes drive from North Sydney along the F3 freeway. If you are catching the train, there are hourly services between Sydney and Wyee, Morisset, Fassifern and Cardiff. Belmont Airport also has daily services to and from Sydney. Coming to Lake Macquarie by water? Swansea Channel is the entry point into the lake.
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History
Lake Macquarie (pronounced "ma-KWORRy") is Australia's largest coastal saltwater lake, covering an area of 110 km² near the city of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. It is saltwater due to being connected to the Pacific Ocean by a narrow but short channel. The land separating it from the ocean is only a few kilometres wide along most of its length. The lake is of irregular shape and in the middle of the lake is an island, (Pulbah Island), popular for camping. There is no point on the coast from which you can see the entire expanse or its 150km foreshore. However, a good view can be obtained from lookouts in the nearby Watagan Mountains.
Lake Macquarie was discovered in 1800 by Captain William Reid. Reid had been sent from Sydney to retrieve a load of coal from Newcastle Harbour (the Hunter River). Reid took a wrong turn and found himself in a lake rather than a river, with no coal to be seen anywhere. The name "Reid's Mistake" was kept until 1826, when it was renamed in honour of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The Indigenous Australian name was Awaba Lake.
Recreational fishing is improving as fish stocks respond to the recent removal of commercial fishing and the significant increase in water quality that has come from a concerted environmental program undertaken by the state government and council. Since settlement lake-bed silt has increased in some areas due to unsealed roads, road shoulders and diffuse effects of urbanisation, however the quantity is far less than in nearby Lake Munmorah, and swimming is quite tolerable. Average water depth is approx. 8m reaching a max. of approx. 15m east of Pulbah Island.
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Lake Macquarie was discovered in 1800 by Captain William Reid. Reid had been sent from Sydney to retrieve a load of coal from Newcastle Harbour (the Hunter River). Reid took a wrong turn and found himself in a lake rather than a river, with no coal to be seen anywhere. The name "Reid's Mistake" was kept until 1826, when it was renamed in honour of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The Indigenous Australian name was Awaba Lake.
Recreational fishing is improving as fish stocks respond to the recent removal of commercial fishing and the significant increase in water quality that has come from a concerted environmental program undertaken by the state government and council. Since settlement lake-bed silt has increased in some areas due to unsealed roads, road shoulders and diffuse effects of urbanisation, however the quantity is far less than in nearby Lake Munmorah, and swimming is quite tolerable. Average water depth is approx. 8m reaching a max. of approx. 15m east of Pulbah Island.
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