Tailor-made for family getaways and home to laid-back coastal villages, rainforests, and historic icon Catherine Hill Bay, the Wallarah Peninsula is one of the undiscovered gems of stunning Lake Macquarie.
Highlights include:
Charismatic Catherine Hill Bay (and surrounds)
On the eastern perimeter of the lake, south of the Pacific Ocean entrance at Swansea, historic Catherine Hill Bay is Lake Macquarie’s oldest town. A historic mining village, home to charming miners’ cottages and a traditional pub, the town’s original timber coal-loading jetty is still standing on the beautiful beach.
Ideal for picnics and romantic sunset walks, the beach at Catherine Hill Bay is beloved by families, couples and surfers alike. First Lookout, a beautiful bluff overlooking the beach from Northwood Rd, is a favourite spot for seaside snaps, while nearby Second Lookout offers a more elevated perspective.
Catho Pub, originally the Wallarah Hotel, is the most historic pub in the Lake Macquarie region, dating back to 1875, and a hotspot with holidaymakers from near and far with its friendly family fare, such as barra burgers, steak sandwiches, salt and pepper squid, and chicken parmigiana.
Wallarah Peninsula Track
Setting out from the foreshore at Murrays Beach, the Wallarah Peninsula Track is a moderate-level, two-hour walk (each way) over eight kilometres taking in lookouts and including picnic areas, barbeques, cafés and bathroom facilities along the way.
Wallarah National Park
Perfect for fishing, cycling, hiking, surfing and picnicking, the Wallarah National Park is packed with family fun despite being less than an hour’s drive from Newcastle and Gosford. Within the national park, the Coastal Walk is famed for incorporating the best of the park in one five-kilometre, round-trip trail. Enjoying glorious coastal and ocean views, spring wildflowers, active birdlife and seasonal whale-spotting (during the winter months), the Coastal Walk winds up at Pinny Beach – acclaimed for its super surfing and fantastic fishing.
Mountain biking
Scenic Trail is a 2.8 kilometre challenging, steep mountain bike ride through coastal forest and heathland taking in views of the rugged coastline, and offering access to the surfers and fishing fans’ favourite – Pinny Beach.
For further information, please visit: www.visitlakemac.com.au
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