Blacksmiths, NSW – Where Lake Macquarie Meets the Pacific
Article by Warren Parrot – @whatsupwithwaz
When I holiday, I like to relax, but relaxing in a coastal area and region is next level, it just
has a certain feel about it the moment you arrive.
Blacksmiths, on the southern edge of Lake Macquarie, is one of them. It’s the sort of place
where you swap your watch for the tide chart, where the biggest decision of the day is
whether to head to the beach, throw in a fishing line, launch the boat or simply sit back with
a coffee while listening to the waves.
On this trip we chose to base ourselves at Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park, part of
the Kui Parks family. It turned out to be the perfect base for exploring not only Blacksmiths
itself but also Swansea, Belmont, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and even
the Central Coast. One minute you’re standing on one of New South Wales’ longest
beaches, the next you’re cruising Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake.
As I like to say, “it’s a tough gig… but someone’s got to do it.”
Where is Blacksmiths?
Blacksmiths sits on the eastern shore of Lake Macquarie, around:
- 30 minutes (24km) south of Newcastle
- 1hr 45 minutes (approximately 140km) north of Sydney
- 5 minutes (3km) from Swansea
- 1hr (70km) north of Gosford
- Around 1hr from the heart of the Hunter Valley wine region
The drive itself is part of the experience. Whether you’re travelling north from Sydney along
the M1 Pacific Motorway or south from Newcastle, you’re never far from stunning coastline,
lakeside villages and plenty of excuses to stop for lunch.
A Little History
Blacksmiths forms part of the traditional lands of the Awabakal People, who lived around
Lake Macquarie for thousands of years before European settlement.
The suburb itself developed after World War II and officially became known as Blacksmiths
in the late 1940s. The name is believed to come from an early blacksmith who operated in
the area servicing farmers, fishermen and travellers moving between the lake and
surrounding settlements.
Today Blacksmiths is best known for three things:
- Its spectacular beach
- Easy access to Lake Macquarie
- Relaxed holiday atmosphere
I don’t like things too flashy, I like things friendly and down to earth, so this was perfect for
us.
First Impressions
Unlike some coastal towns with busy shopping strips, Blacksmiths is wonderfully low-key.
The heart of town centres around Ungala Road and Gommera Street, where you’ll find a
handful of local shops, takeaway options and beach facilities. It isn’t packed with big
shopping centres or tourist traps. Instead, everything revolves around the beach, the lake
and getting outdoors.
Within a few minutes’ drive you’re in nearby Swansea, which offers supermarkets, bakeries,
cafés, bottle shops, fuel, restaurants and everything else you might need during your stay.
Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park where we set up camp is only a short stroll from the
beach, meaning we could hear the surf from our site. It offers something for just about every
style of traveller.
Accommodation options include Powered caravan sites, Ensuite sites, Unpowered camping
sites (perfect for us as the caravan has all of the power we needed for this trip). If you don’t
have a van they have Modern cabins, Deluxe cabins, One- and Two-Bedroom Villas, Lake
Mac Villas (had a look at these, they are pretty cool) and like so many of the Kui Parks
around Australia they had Pet-friendly camping and selected cabins year-round for those
who cant do without their furry family members.
The facilities are excellent and suited perfectly to Kui Parks core travellers.
Grey Nomads will appreciate the spacious sites, easy access, peaceful atmosphere and
proximity to both the beach and lake.
Families are spoilt with resort-style heated swimming pool, a playground for the kids. tennis
courts for the teenagers, school holiday activities for the smaller kids, a camp kitchen and
BBQ areas which were busy at mealtimes on the days we were there which gave us
excellent opportunity to meet some new people and make some new friends.
Young couples and adventurers have easy access to surfing, fishing, kayaking, boating and
plenty of coastal walks.
One thing we particularly liked was how relaxed everything felt. There was plenty of room,
friendly staff and enough facilities that you could happily spend an entire day in the park if
you wanted.
Blacksmiths Beach
Of course, the star attraction is Blacksmiths Beach.
This beautiful stretch of golden sand forms part of the famous Nine-Mile Beach coastline.
We wandered down early one morning before most people were awake and it felt like we
had the entire beach to ourselves.
It’s one of those beaches that seems to go on forever.
During patrol season the beach is patrolled by the Swansea Belmont Surf Life Saving
Club, making it a great choice for families. There are picnic tables, BBQs, showers, toilets
and plenty of parking.
For little kids there’s also the calm waters of Granny’s Pool, tucked around the southern
end near Swansea Channel.
Swansea Channel & Breakwall
A short walk brings you to Swansea Channel, where Lake Macquarie flows into the Pacific
Ocean.
This is fishing heaven. Every time we walked along the breakwall someone seemed to be
catching something. Even if fishing isn’t your thing, it’s worth wandering out simply to watch
the boats navigating through the channel.
It’s surprisingly entertaining—and a great place to enjoy sunrise.
Exploring Lake Macquarie
One of Blacksmiths’ biggest advantages is immediate access to Lake Macquarie.
Being Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake means there’s endless room for boating,
kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (which is the wife’s personal favourite), sailing (not for
me but each to their own), of course fishing and a good lakeside picnic for those who don’t
fish but want to be near those that do!
Boat ramps nearby make launching easy, which explains why so many caravanners tow
both caravan and boat here.
If you’re lucky enough to own both… congratulations, you’ve officially reached peak Grey
Nomad status!
Swansea
Only a couple of minutes away, Swansea became one of our regular stops.
The town has everything visitors need, from supermarkets through to cafés and takeaway
shops.
One of the local icons is the Swansea Bridge, famous for opening to allow larger boats
through between the lake and ocean.
Watching the bridge lift is oddly fascinating—and kids absolutely love it. Nothing like a free
attraction.
A Day Trip to Newcastle
Being only half an hour away means Newcastle makes an easy day trip.
We spent a day wandering Nobbys Beach & Fort Scratchley before checking out the
Newcastle Foreshore & Honeysuckle precinct.
The city has transformed over recent years. I hadn’t been to Newcastle since just after the
earthquake all those years ago, so it was great to see not just the beautiful beaches, but how
the place has come along with fantastic restaurants, cafés and heritage buildings.
Top Activities:
If you are looking for some great activities to do whilst on your stay, here is my pick!
- Hunter Valley Gardens – Pokolbin (Approx. 70km | 1 hour)
Even if you don’t know your Shiraz from your Chardonnay, Hunter Valley Gardens is worth
the drive. We spent hours wandering through ten themed international gardens covering
more than 14 hectares, with waterfalls, statues, lakes and beautifully maintained walking
paths. Families will love the seasonal events like the Christmas Lights Spectacular and
Mega Creatures, while couples and Grey Nomads can simply enjoy the peaceful gardens
and cafés. If you’ve still got some energy left, there’s even Aqua Golf and Putt Putt next
door.
Perfect for: couples, grey nomads & families
2. CoastXP – Lake Macquarie Ocean Explorer & Whale Watching (Approx. 5km
departure at Swansea)
One of the absolute highlights of our trip was jumping aboard a CoastXP adventure boat
departing from nearby Swansea. Their Ocean Explorer cruises take you past Moon Island,
hidden sea caves, Catherine Hill Bay and spectacular cliffs, while during whale season (May
to November) the Whale Discovery Tour offers incredible close-up encounters with migrating
humpback whales. The guides know their stuff and throw in plenty of local history and
wildlife information along the way.
Fair warning – you might get a bit wet. That’s all part of the fun!
Perfect for: young adventures, couples & families
3. Hunter Valley Wildlife Park – Nulkaba (Approx. 75km | 1 hour)
If you’re travelling with kids—or you’re simply a big kid yourself—the Hunter Valley Wildlife
Park is a fantastic day out. You can hand-feed kangaroos, meet koalas, see lions, giraffes,
monkeys, reptiles and plenty of Australian native wildlife. The park also offers premium
animal encounters for visitors wanting something extra special.
It’s one of those attractions where you’ll find yourself saying, “We’ll only stay for a couple of
hours…” before realising it’s nearly closing time.
Perfect for: families, couples & wildlife lovers
4. Treetops Adventure Newcastle – Minmi (Approx. 40km | 40 minutes)
If your idea of fun involves heights, flying foxes and testing your balance, Treetops
Adventure Newcastle delivers. The aerial obstacle courses weave through the bush
canopy with courses ranging from beginner-friendly through to seriously challenging. It’s an
excellent activity for older kids, teenagers and adventurous adults wanting to burn off some
energy.
Let’s just say… you’ll discover muscles you forgot you had!
Perfect for: families with older children & young adventures
5. Hot Air Balloon Hunter Valley – Pokolbin (Approx. 70km | 1 hour)
Watching the sun rise over the vineyards from a hot air balloon is one of those genuine
bucket-list experiences. Several experienced operators, including Balloon Aloft Hunter
Valley, offer sunrise flights followed by a gourmet breakfast and sparkling wine. The views
across the vineyards, Brokenback Range and surrounding countryside are unforgettable and
make for a very special morning.
Yes, the alarm goes off ridiculously early… but trust us, this is one sunrise you’ll never forget.
Perfect for: couples, grey nomads & special occasions
6. Sand Dune Adventures – Aboriginal Quad Bike Tour, Worimi Conservation Lands
This one is the pick of the bunch. If you’re looking for one unforgettable experience while
staying at Blacksmiths, we’d point the car north towards Sand Dune Adventures – Quad
Bike Tours at Anna Bay, around an hour’s drive away.
This isn’t your average quad bike tour around a paddock—it’s Australia’s only Aboriginal-
owned quad bike experience, taking visitors deep into the spectacular Worimi
Conservation Lands, home to the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern
Hemisphere.
After a full safety briefing, we followed our Indigenous guide across towering dunes, stopping
along the way to learn about the area’s rich Worimi cultural heritage, native bush foods and
the incredible history of this unique landscape. The scenery is simply breathtaking, with
massive dunes stretching towards the ocean and plenty of opportunities for photos that look
like they’ve been taken in the middle of the desert rather than coastal New South Wales.
Whether you’re a first-time rider or have tackled a quad bike before, the guides tailor the
pace to suit everyone, making it a genuine bucket-list adventure for couples, families with
older children and young adventurers alike. Fair warning though—you’ll almost certainly end
up with sand in places you didn’t know sand could reach… but that’s all part of the fun!
Best Time To Visit:
Summer is naturally popular. The water is warm. It offers up long days at the beach. There
are lots of families due to the time of year so great for your kids to socialise and have those
forever summer dreaming memories that I remember from when I was a kid.
But honestly, we think the shoulder seasons are even better.
Autumn to be blunt has perfect temperatures but offers up fewer crowds but still provides
excellent fishing.
Winter has crisp mornings, but not ‘crisp’ like Melbourne where I live offers up in winter, and
the crisp morning are generally followed by beautiful sunny days making this time of year
Ideal for Grey Nomads. Great whale watching at this time of year also.
Spring is always a great time of year, and whilst I have never visited this region in Spring the
locals tell me its full of wildflowers, increasingly warmer weather, excellent walking conditions
so you can get a start on burning off that winter fat. Due to the season, there is plenty of new
birdlife around the lake.
Every season offers something different.
Pro Traveller Tip
If you’re staying in Blacksmiths for more than a couple of nights, don’t just stick to the beach.
One of the biggest advantages of basing yourself here is that you’re within an hour’s drive of
three completely different holiday experiences.
Spend one day relaxing on the golden sands of Blacksmiths Beach or exploring Lake
Macquarie, another discovering the world-class wineries and gourmet produce of the Hunter
Valley, and a third exploring the vibrant waterfront, beaches and historic attractions of
Newcastle.
If you’re towing a caravan, leave it set up at Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park and use
your tow vehicle for day trips—it saves the hassle of packing up and lets you experience far
more of the region. Also, if you’re planning to fish around Swansea Channel or Lake
Macquarie, try to time your outing around the change of tide, as local anglers will tell you
that’s often when the fishing is at its best. It’s a simple tip that could make the difference
between telling stories about “the one that got away” and actually landing dinner!
Final Thoughts
Blacksmiths may not have the bright lights or tourist crowds of some coastal destinations,
but that’s precisely what makes it special. It simply doesn’t need it. If you are staying there
and you need any of that, Swansea and Newcastle are close enough to satisfy the need.
Blacksmith is a place where mornings start with coffee by the beach, afternoons disappear
exploring Lake Macquarie, and evenings finish around the BBQ back at the holiday park
swapping fishing stories—whether they’re true or not is another matter entirely.
For us, Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park provided the ideal base to experience
everything this wonderful corner of the Lake Macquarie region has to offer. With comfortable
accommodation, excellent facilities and one of New South Wales’ best beaches just a short
stroll away, it’s easy to understand why so many visitors return year after year.
Its so central, with so much stuff around it to do, experience and explore, it’s just perfect.
If you’re looking for a destination where the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination
itself, hook up the van, point it towards Blacksmiths and don’t be surprised if you end up
staying longer than planned.
To book your stay at Kui Parks Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park – HERE
To find out more about Blacksmiths Beach in NSW – HERE
To see find a Kui Parks Holiday Park that suits your next holiday – HERE
