Warners Bay is a little slice of paradise on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Just 15 km from Newcastle and an hour and a half north of Sydney. When you arrive you instantly feel in holiday mode. With a beautiful foreshore overlooked by restaurants, cafes, and shops, you can easily spend a few hours here enjoying the vibe.
Covering an area of approximately 8 km square, Warners Bay has a population of over 7500 people. There are two main areas of the suburb. Lakefront with shopping and dining nearby. Then the area around Hillsborough Road is more commercial and includes several indoor options for keeping your family amused.
Enjoy the lakeside path
Along the lakefront, there’s a shared path which runs from the Lions Car Park at Eleebana, for 9 kilometres, to Booragul where you’ll find the Museum of Art and Culture. This pathway is shared by bikes, scooters, skateboards, walkers, joggers, and strollers. Commencing from Eleebana, your first experience will be Red Bluff Boardwalk which takes you out above the lake. There are 3 viewing platforms as well as beautiful poetry carved along the rails so be sure to stop and read it.
Warners Bay sculpture walk
As you head into Warners Bay, you’ll pass several art sculptures that have been placed along the path. There are also plenty of benches to rest for a moment, as well as gym equipment if you’re up for a workout. Arriving at the foreshore of Warners Bay you’ll see a beautiful wide area that includes paths and grassy spots where you can throw a picnic blanket and enjoy the view.
Music in the Podium
There’s a bandstand that’s used for Music in the Podium, a free event on Friday evenings from November to March. This event has been enjoyed for many years. Local families enjoy an alfresco dinner from one of the neighbouring restaurants or ice cream for the kids, while they enjoy the music and atmosphere on a summer’s night.
Lakeside amenities
You’ll find public toilets and plenty of seating options at the foreshore opposite the shops and restaurants. To enjoy the outdoor table tennis table you can bring your own, or hire them from the adjacent shop. It’s a great place to enjoy Friday night fish ‘n chips as you watch the sunset across the lake.
Warners Bay Jetty
There’s a public jetty that you can walk onto, or where you can leave your boat as you head over for lunch or coffee. If you want to try and catch some bream take your fishing rods further along the path in the direction of Speers Point to the rocks known locally as Stinky Corner.
Water sports
As you look out over the lake, you’ll see people enjoying a variety of water sports including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, or cruising. Lake Macquarie has it all and is such a beautiful setting to enjoy the water. You can arrange to a hire boat or equipment from local businesses if you don’t have your own.
Children’s playground
Across the road is the shopping and dining area as well as Warners Playground for your kids to play. This park is perfect for all ages.
If you’re looking for more playgrounds in the area, check out Speers Point. You’ll find a huge Variety Playground, cafes, magnificent parks, and a wide shared pathway.
Dining and shopping
Many of the foreshore dining options have outside seating as well as inside seating. A great option for a warm summer’s evening. There’s a hotel serving food and a nice cold beer. Take a walk down the alleyways to discover the different boutique shops on offer and if you need to grab your groceries there is a major supermarket just behind. You’ll love Shop Number Four.
Warners Bay Markets
Warners Bay also hosts a monthly market at the foreshore. This market carries a variety of stalls including fashion, gifts, fresh flowers, local produce, jewellery, arts and crafts, and more. Head over to our ‘Lake Macquarie Markets Guide’ to find out what markets are on in Lake Macquarie this weekend.
Indoor family entertainment
If you are looking for indoor kid’s entertainment, you need to head up to the Hillsborough Road area of Warners Bay. You’ll find laser tag, a bowling alley, ice skating, indoor carting, swimming, gyms, and yoga to name a few!
If it’s been a while since you last visited Warners Bay, head on over for the day. You’ll be glad you did.
Discover more places in Lake Macquarie that we’ve reviewed here: Out & About
