Lake Macquarie Guide: What to Do on Australia's Largest Coastal Saltwater Lake

Lake Macquarie, immediately south of Newcastle, is the largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia and a defining feature of the region's geography and lifestyle. The lake is encircled by suburbs and towns on both shores, connected by a bridge at Swansea Heads near the ocean entrance. Popular activities include sailing, kayaking, fishing, cycling the lake-edge paths and swimming at sheltered beach areas including Speers Point Park and Marmong Point. The Fernleigh Track, a 15-kilometre shared walking and cycling path on a converted rail corridor, runs inland between Adamstown and Belmont along the lake's northern edge. The lake foreshore is largely public land and accessible by foot and bike across multiple entry points.