We've rounded up the best local wildlife tour operators so you can get outdoors and up close in Lake Macquarie
Whale watching season is upon us and one of the best places to spot these gentle giants as they make their way up the coast is within the Lake Macquarie region.
After you’ve ticked this must-do winter experience off your nature-based to-do list, be inspired to make the most of the natural beauty of the area and try a few more wildlife-focused adventures.
We’ve tried and tested the best local tour operators so you can get outdoors and discover why Lake Macquarie is one of the best destinations in NSW to experience nature up close.
Wildlife tours
Whale watching up close
Who: Coast XP
Nothing can quite prepare you for seeing a humpback whale up close and with the stunning Lake Macquarie coastline as the backdrop for your adventures, you’re guaranteed an experience to remember when you embark on a Whale Discovery Tour with Coast XP.
Jump on board their custom-built boat at the Chalmers Street Jetty, near Swansea Bridge, and soak in this spectacular area from a different vantage point as you cruise the Swansea Channel. The real fun begins as you pop out on the Lake Macquarie coastline, where you’ll peruse the ocean in search of the majestic humpback whale.
Wildlife checklist: Humpback whales, long-nose fur seals, common dolphins, turtles, sharks, seabirds.
Suitable for: Whale watchers 5 years and older.
Adventure level: Sit back in comfort and safety in the eco-tourism vessel and enjoy the scenery. 4/5
Book here: Coast XP
Paddle at night
Who: Showtime Kayaking
Instead of reaching for the TV control, step outside your comfort zone and discover a world full of nocturnal life, with a kayaking tour at nighttime, thanks to Showtime Kayaking. You won’t believe the 100% clear kayaks, lit up with colourful lights that you’ll be exploring in, or the list of incredible marine creatures you’ll likely spot.
World-class guides will keep you entertained and informed as you journey through the waterways of Lake Macquarie in search of bioluminescence, stingrays and octopus. Showtime also offers sunrise and sunset paddles.
Wildlife checklist: Fish including shovelnose rays, puffer fish and frog fish, stingrays, eels, blue ringed octopus, prawns, sea hares, cuttlefish, and sea stars plus plenty of birdlife.
Suitable for: Children between 7 and 13 years must kayak in a tandem boat with an adult.
Adventure level: Paddling into the darkness in a clear boat is right up there when it comes to nature-based adventure! 5/5
Book here: Showtime Kayaking
Explore Glenrock on foot
Who: GNT Geotrail and Nature Tours
Even if you’ve spent time in Glenrock State Conservation Area, it’s not every day that you get the chance to see the beauty of the area through the eyes of an experienced geoscientist! Locally owned and operated, GNT Geotrail and Nature Tours is run by geoscientists Phil and Cressida Gilmore.
Bringing a wealth of knowledge about the animals, plants, and cultural history of Glenrock, wander past waterfalls and creeks, through forests and onto the beach and learn how the area was used by local Aboriginal populations and European settlers.
Impress your friends with knowledge about how the underlying geology of the area has shaped the environment we now get to enjoy on the Glenrock Discovery Tour.
Wildlife checklist: Short-beaked echidnas, long-nosed bandicoots, gliders, lace monitors, and eastern water dragons plus plenty of native birds such as the brush turkey and satin bowerbird. Once you hit the coast, keep a lookout for dolphins and whales when in season.
Suitable for: Walkers 14 years and older. Unfortunately, not suitable for prams or those with mobility issues.
Adventure level: This 7.5km walk is rated moderate and you’ll feel immersed in nature for a full 3 hours. 3/5
Book here: GNT Geotrail and Nature Tours
Special nature adventures for women
Who: Women Embrace Adventure
Enjoying a high tea or movie catch up with the ladies is fun, but why not create some core memories with your girlfriends in a supported environment with a Women Embrace Adventure tour.
Specialists in empowering women to get out in the great outdoors and explore, Lake Macquarie provides the perfect playground for a series of women-only kayak adventures. Paddle the waterways, keeping an eye out for marine and birdlife, and discover the beautiful bays, creeks and islands of Lake Mac, with morning tea and plenty of laughs thrown in.
Choose between a morning exploring around beautiful Mannering Point, the Sand Islands off Marks Point, or the picturesque Dora Creek.
Wildlife checklist: Native birds like bellbirds, rainbow lorikeets, and ospreys plus white bellied sea eagles, aquatic life like water dragons, bream, and flathead in Dora Creek and bottlenose dolphins and rays in Lake Macquarie.
Suitable for: Beginner and seasoned kayakers.
Adventure level: Kayak around islands, under roads through pipelines and through creeks. 4/5
Book here: Embrace Kayaking
From the lake to the ocean
Who: Out and About Adventures
When it comes to enjoying the beauty of the outdoors, visitors and locals alike are spoilt for choice at Lake Macquarie, the largest permanent saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Out and About Adventures offer kayaking and hiking adventures that will get you out there amongst it all.
With sturdy double sea kayaks as their vessel of choice, explore the Swansea area by water and cruise around the nearby beautiful Sand Islands. Or launch from Wangi Wangi and discover the iconic landmark of Pulbah Island and its interesting heritage.
Wildlife checklist: Fish, dolphins and rays, coastal birdlife and raptures including the white bellied sea eagles and the occasional osprey.
Suitable for: First time paddlers or those wanting to improve their skills, with a minimum age of 10 years.
Adventure level: Get out on the open waters and discover the bays and islands that make Lake Macquarie so special. 4/5
Book here: Out and About Adventures
Kayak with friends
Who: School of Yak
With a focus on getting adventurous with your family and friends, School of Yak provides kayaking experiences for all skill levels, helping to reconnect people with the natural world around them. Lake Macquarie is the perfect place to dip your toe into the world of kayaking, with endless kilometres of tranquil lake to explore.
Choose between a full day Dora Creek adventure tour with lunch provided or enjoy a shorter paddle from Cockle Creek, Awaba Bay, Green Point, or Fennel Bay. Discover hidden creeks and important bird habitats on the way, all under the watchful eye of an experienced guide.
School of Yak also offers intimate boutique kayaking trips so reach out and customize your own outdoor adventure.
Wildlife checklist: Birds including the white bellied sea eagle plus plenty of marine life, stingrays, and dolphins.
Suitable for: Children and adults welcome and no prior experience needed.
Adventure level: Experience the freedom of paddling on beautiful Lake Mac. 4/5
Book here: School of Yak
Glass bottom adventures
Who: Lake Macquarie Kayak Adventures
How about a kayak on the lake with a difference? See all the local marine life of the area in a unique ‘glass bottom’ kayak with Lake Macquarie Kayak Adventures.
Specially designed with a Perspex floor, a paddle in one of these kayaks will get you up close and personal with the natural waterways of the area, from Swansea Heads to Salts Bay and the Black Ned’s stretch of Lake Macquarie.
No tour is the same when the great outdoors is your office, and Lake Macquarie is home to a large range of marine and bird species that you’ll spot throughout your adventure.
Wildlife checklist: Green turtles and dolphins plus plenty of fish like dusky flathead, whiting, and Australian salmon plus shorebirds and waders like the Eastern curlew and sea eagles.
Suitable for: Anyone from the age of 9 upwards, including beginners through to experienced paddlers.
Adventure level: Adding a see-through floor to your kayak, ups the adventure stakes! 5/5
Book here: Lake Macquarie Kayak Adventures
Explore the wild side of Lake Mac this winter
Whether it’s adventuring on the water or discovering the beauty of the untouched bushland around Lake Macquarie, now is the perfect time to step outside your comfort zone and embrace the great outdoors.
Add a few of these nature experiences to your to-do list and see the beauty of the region with fresh eyes.
This article was produced by HUNTERhunter in partnership with Lake Macquarie City Council. Thank you for supporting the partners who make HUNTERhunter possible.
