For Sydney residents seeking a breath of fresh air and leisurely reprieve, quiet beaches revealing hidden caves, sophisticated beachfront dining locales, a picture-perfect, expansive lake and a thriving creative community is less than a two-hour drive away. Lake Macquarie is an easy choice for weekend getaways, and here’s how to cover plenty of ground during a weekend at Lake Mac.

Where to stay

For its proximity to Caves Beach and sources of quality coffee of a morning, Turtles at Caves Beach is the place to base oneself. The spacious apartment, with its large dining and cooking area, sleeps up to eight guests – making it a top choice for groups and families.

Where to eat

From classic pub fare to refined Middle Eastern repasts, and even Instagram-friendly desserts, Lake Macquarie has all food bases covered.

Before your morning stroll to the beach, pick up a coffee (and perhaps a bite to eat) at Mawson, which sits conveniently right under your accommodation.

For a hearty start to a weekend away, pull up a seat at Table 1 Espresso for brunch, where your passionate host Georgie, and his warm team, serve up generous portions of chocolate and butterscotch-sauce-covered waffles and pancakes – or, nutritious savoury dishes for those who can resist the sweet choices.

For a leisurely lunch, if room permits, or perhaps on the following day, there’s few better spots to visit than Caves Coastal Bar & Bungalows for a view of the waves crashing on Caves Beach. Here, robust lunches – think wood-fired pizzas, ocean-fresh seafood and gastro-pub fare – are served up in a stylish setting. You can also opt to stay on site here in the restaurant’s nearby bungalows.

Come dinner time, follow the scent of Spanish, Moorish, Turkish and Persian flavours to meze bar Sephardim. This bustling restaurant boasts an authentic and diverse menu filled with delicious dishes – designed to share – and is a must-visit for those spending a weekend in the region.

With any luck, breakfast will bring a new appetite that will guide you to a sunlit locale offering ultimate beachfront dining: Redhead Beach’s Cargo Espresso Bar. If you’re up early enough, see in the sunrise from this postcard-worthy spot where locals mingle with their four-legged friends. Alongside your morning coffee, enjoy the likes of wholesome bowl foods and breakfast burgers.

What to do

For a spot of seaside sightseeing, head to Spoon Rocks and follow a path to Quarries Head where you can spot whales during the cooler months. From here, you can also head to Wallarah National Park and onward to secluded Pinny Beach.

Pursue artistic talents along the Creative LAKE sculpture trail. Here, around the destination’s beautiful namesake, unique installations from international artists are scattered along the foreshore at Warners Bay.

For sun seekers and nature lovers, Caves Beach and its coastal walk offers a glimpse into an intriguing network of sea caves that you can explore (during low tide). The patrolled beach is idea for swimming and picnicking, too.

A short drive away, ideal for a leisurely road trip home, Catherine Hill Bay is a State Heritage listed historic mining village. Home to a stunning beach, ideal for swimming, surfing and strolling, the beach is also home to a longstanding jetty that proves popular with photographers.

Keep your eyes peeled for events and happenings in this water-loving part of NSW. Festivals, markets and events pop up year-round. In September the Living Smart Festival brings forward-thinking environmental awareness to town with its sustainable celebrations.