Perched on the southwestern shore of Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, Morisset is the region’s largest town and an ideal basecamp for lakeside fun. Rent a boat or kayak to get on the water, try windsurfing or stand-up paddleboarding, or head to nearby Sandy Beach Reserve to swim. There are also plenty of parks, picnic areas, and fishing spots dotted around the lakeside, plus scenic bushwalking trails at Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area just southeast of Morisset. If you want to get away from the lake, Watagans National Park is a short drive northwest and has plenty of opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and 4WD excursions, along with two campgrounds. You can also camp at the showgrounds in Morisset, check into one of the lakefront campgrounds or holiday parks, or snag a spot at a rural Hipcamp within a short drive of the lake.