Alexanders picnic area
Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area
Overview
This very peaceful picnic area with scenic views, at the southern end of Awaba Bay Foreshore walk is the perfect spot to rest after a bushwalk along beautiful Lake Macquarie - indulge in birdwatching, picnicking, and relaxing among the diverse habitats.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch.
Locals love this spot, and who could blame them? At the southern end of Awaba Bay Foreshore walk, Alexanders picnic area provides a peaceful and very pretty area for walkers to rest on the trail. Listen to the frogs calling from the nearby swamp, lie on a blanket after lunch, and look for sea eagles or see who can spot a dolphin in the lake.
Flower-spotters may see the threatened cycad and the various orchids that flower in winter. Those interested in the history of the area might like to have a look at Hepplewhites Shack. And if you’re approaching by boat, why not push your kayak ashore for a while and enjoy some lunch on land?
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/alexanders-picnic-area/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area in the Sydney and surrounds and North Coast regions
Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Alexanders picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Alexanders picnic area is in the Awaba Bay precinct of Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area. To get there:
- From the F3, take the Cessnock Road exit towards Awaba and Toronto.
- Continue along the road as it becomes Awaba Road
- Turn left at Carey Street in Toronto to cross the water
- Turn right along Bay Road and continue as it loops around the point into The Ridgeway
- Alexanders Trail is on the right between Bolton Close and Fulton Close
- Its approximately 300m walk along Alexanders Trail to the picnic area
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Street parking is available near the start of Alexander Trail.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Drop a line at Myuna Bay while the days are still warm enough to sit outside for a peaceful hour or two.
Spring
Spring is a lovely time to take Awaba Bay Foreshore walk and stop for a picnic lunch to enjoy the stunning lake views.
Summer
Why not kayak around the lake, exploring the secret bays and enjoying the warm water?.
Winter
Take a refreshing walk along Wangi circuit walking track, keeping an eye out for the tiny orchids that flower in winter.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
20°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
42°C
Winter temperature
Average
8°C and 19°C
Lowest recorded
1.8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
November
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
283.7mm
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
Picnic tables
Maps and downloads
Permitted
Fishing
Fishing from a boat, the beach or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing safety tips.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Alexanders picnic area is in Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Activities galore
Whatever pace you like to take life at, there's stacks to do on Lake Macquarie. Kayak the serene waters, meander along Awaba Bay Foreshore walk or try Wangi circuit walking track for a gorgeous helping of nature. Picnic at Alexanders, throw a line over your boat, or take things a little bit faster with some waterskiing.
- Alexanders picnic area This very peaceful picnic area with scenic views, at the southern end of Awaba Bay Foreshore walk is the perfect spot to rest after a bushwalk along beautiful Lake Macquarie - indulge in birdwatching, picnicking, and relaxing among the diverse habitats.
- Marmong picnic area Marmong picnic area is an idyllic place to picnic by the lake, with opportunities for walking, swimming, boating, paddlnig, fishing and birdwatching within Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area.
- Wangi circuit walking track Take a peaceful bushwalk through towering forests to the shores of Lake Macquarie on Wangi circuit walking track, with wonderful scenic views of Pulbah Island, birdwatching and picnicking opportunities, and even sea turtles to see.
An important place
The plentiful nature and beauty of this area have made it a special place for thousands of years. The Awabakal Aboriginal people were the original inhabitants, enjoying plant foods such as cabbage palm and lillypilly, and shellfish like pipis, cockles, mussels, whelks, and oysters collected from rock platforms, the lake's foreshore, and beaches. Local people caught fish with lines or spears, or trapped them in weirs built at the entrance of tidal channels. The beautiful Pulbah Island is considered sacred by the Awabakal People.
Holidaying history
The special atmosphere of Lake Macquarie has long drawn holidaymakers. A ferry service between Wangi Wangi Point and Toronto led to a growth in tourism in the 1910s and 1920s, and a number of swimming enclosures and guesthouses catered for the area's many visitors. Miners came to Wangi Wangi Point from the Cessnock coalfields, and it became a tent city during December and January when the mines closed for Christmas. You can still stay at Wangi Wangi Point in the Tourist Park.
Wonderful wildlife, diverse habitats
The animals love it here too, making their home among the diverse habitats. Green sea turtles, dolphins, sugar and squirrel gliders, and kangaroos all call the park their home. If you look up, you'll find sea eagles, kookaburras, lorikeets, and the threatened pied oystercatcher in the trees and sky above the lake. On bushwalks, look out for lovely orchids, spectacular wattles, and coastal banksia.
- Alexanders picnic area This very peaceful picnic area with scenic views, at the southern end of Awaba Bay Foreshore walk is the perfect spot to rest after a bushwalk along beautiful Lake Macquarie - indulge in birdwatching, picnicking, and relaxing among the diverse habitats.
- Awaba Bay Foreshore walk Take a stroll along the shores of Lake Macquarie on Awaba Bay Foreshore walk, enjoying the spectacular scenic lake views while birdwatching and keeping an eye out for dolphins and green sea turtles.
- Lake Macquarie cruise and guided nature walk Jump aboard CoastXP’s adventure boat for an exciting, all-inclusive cruise and guided nature walk at Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area.