We recently spent a week at Lake Macquarie and barely touched the surface of things to do. It is a place you could revisit multiple times as there is so much to see, explore and discover.

Get prepared before you go to make the most of your time. Consider packing your push bikes and helmets, your picnic basket, your fishing rods and tackle box, and don’t forget your stand-up paddle board.

From stunning scenery and spectacular wildlife, to delicious seafood and leisurely cruises, Lake Macquarie offers an array of activities for the curious traveller.

Here's our list of 15 must-dos when exploring this beautiful part of NSW.

1. Walk a trail

• Green Point Reserve between Belmont and Valentine

• Swansea Boardwalk - after going through the Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park, follow it down to the foreshore carpark and you will see the entrance to the boardwalk

• Spoon Rocks at Caves Beach has a 5km coastal walk through the National Park

• Owens Walkways is a 500m long track at Redhead Beach

2. Ride the bike trails

• Fernleigh Track - 15kms from Belmont to the tunnel. Well worth it. Slight incline and then enjoy the downhill ride home. Plenty of shade is provided by surrounding bushlands but go early to avoid the heat of the day

• Watagan Cycle Track - ride through Speers Point and onto Red Bluff Boardwalk over the water

• If you don’t have any bikes, download the ‘Beam’ app and search where the closest bike/scooter is that you can borrow. You can’t miss them they are bright purple and are a great option. Includes helmet.

3. GO 4WDing

• Start at Redhead Beach heading to Blacksmiths Beach. Deflate the tyres beforehand. Pack your shovel and be prepared to get bogged.

4. Get up for sunrise

• Catherine Hill Bay - take pics from under the jetty

• Redhead Beach - take pics with the shark tower in the foreground

5. Catch a few sunsets

• Lake Macquarie Yacht Club - is nice place to watch the sun go down with the yachts in the background

6. Bathe in the secret rock pools

• Catherine Hill Bay rock pools - one of Lake Macquarie’s secret spots

• Dudley Rock Pools - south side of Dudley Beach

7. Take in the view at the lookouts

• Wangi Wangi Lookout

• Spoon Rocks Lookout

• Sea Eagle Lookout

8. Jump the waves at the beaches

• Naru Beach - beautiful turquoise waters. Plus you can hire Stand Up Paddle Boards here

• Caves Beach - swim then plan to walk through the caves at low tide

• Redhead Beach - swim under the giant towering rock wall nearby

9. Go fishing

• A good spot for fishing is Dog’s Leg Island at Swansea, also anywhere along the bridge there is very popular

10. Take some Insta snaps

• Toronto Foreshore with the jetty

• Belmont Jetty

• Sculpture Trail at Speers Point

• Use hashtags #ourlakemac, #lakemacquarie, #exploringaustralia, #visitnsw, #explorensw

11. Pack a picnic

• check out Thomas H Halton Park at Valentine - has a dog park, skate park, basketball court, pirate ship, playground and cycleway

• another good park for the kids with a playground is in Toronto

• Lake Macquarie Variety Park at Speers Point is a good place for kids to play and spot for picnic by the water

12. GO BOATING IN THE LAKE

• Plenty of places to look into for hiring a bike - includes Empire Marina Lake Macquarie, Lake Macquarie Water Sports at Cams Wharf or Lake Mac Kayak and SUP Hire

13. Eat out

• 8 at Trinity

• Gunyah at Belmont

• Fukusui Japanese Restaurant, Warners Bay

14. Grab a coffee

• Boffee Coffee at Caves Beach

• Tinto Espresso Bar and Infusion Cafe, Toronto

• Common Circus at Belmont

Other Lake Macquarie Tips…

• Avoid Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park foreshore - it is packed at peak times. Finding a car spot can be a hassle

• You would think there would be plenty of cafes right by the water. Sadly we struggled to find any. Best to get a takeaway and drive to the Lake

• If you are an op shopper, there are huge St Vinnies and Salvos stores at Belmont North or also at Warners Bay

• If you want to go abit further, there is always Newcastle, that’s not too far away or Shoal Bay Country Club which was renovated last year.

• We stayed at BULC Boutique Bed and Breakfast and were not disappointed. Reasonably priced at $350 a night, pet-friendly and the perfect location for all the activities.

Lake Macquarie is definitely a place you can appreciate for its breathtaking views, stunning beaches, walking and bike tracks, and sightseeing. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

Have you spent some time around Lake Macquarie? What are your recommendations? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.