Title: A magical Lake Macquarie weekend for our family wedding

We had the pleasure of visiting Lake Macquarie in May for our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. Our Airbnb was right on the lake, which made for a truly magical setting for the whole weekend. There’s so much to do here, from enjoying the lake itself to exploring the nearby restaurants and cafes.

A bit about beautiful Lake Macquarie: it’s located about 90 minutes north of Sydney and around 20 minutes from Newcastle. It’s Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, and the area is full of great places to visit. Highlights include:

• Caves Beach, famous for its sea caves at low tide.
• Warners Bay, perfect for cycling and walking along the foreshore.
• Catherine Hill Bay, a heritage-listed former mining village with untouched beaches.

We spent two days soaking up lake views, watching the rolling morning mist drift across the water, and of course celebrating the wedding. We also did a side trip to the Hunter Valley and had an amazing lunch at Brokenwood Wines—delicious food and standout red wines.

If you’re planning a visit, I’d allow at least two days to explore—there’s plenty to see and do. Or simply pull up a chair by the lake, relax, and watch the boats and the time drift by. A great place to visit.

Optional links if you want to share more with friends:

• Things to do around the lake: visitnsw.com.
• Foreshore walks and cycling at Warners Bay: lakemac.com.au.
• Beaches and swim spots (including Caves Beach): lakemac.com.au.