"You mean Port Macquarie?" Lake Macquarie by iandsmith

Lake Macquarie is a city in its own right but most Australians have never heard of it. For most people it's a part of Newcastle, a much better known city and, geographically, that's what it is.
However, people living here these days like to differentiate.
It's actually Australia's largest salt water lake; that is, if you ignore places like Lake Eyre etc. which can get salty and are much larger in surface area except that there's hardly ever any water in them.
Fed by the Pacific Ocean through Swansea Channel, Lake Macquarie is a destination igored by most tourists; this fact reflected by the dearth of accommodation around its shores.
For a time I used to be Hunter Valley Tourist Officer and part of what I was promoting was Lake Macquarie. Sadly, everyone thought I meant Port Macquarie, a much better promoted destination but, no, I meant Lake Macquarie and it has a lot more to offer than Port Macquarie.
Yet this beautiful lake has so much to offer, especially if you're into water sports.
It's also a great place to watch the weather, as hopefully this shot will attest to.

Early morning Lake Macquarie

These days I live overlooking the lake and have taken a few pictures now and then......actually, I'm taking them all the time.
There's always waterborne activities but I really enjoy having breakfast and watching the light change on the water.
This particular shot was taken when a fog was lifting.

• Pros:Lovely body of water, very scenic, not many tourists
• Cons:Not a lot of accommodation
• In a nutshell:Definitely put it on your itinerary