Catherine Hill Bay is an old mining village located at Lake Macquarie.  The village is heritage-listed and the big Jetty is the most recognisable landmark at this beach.

The beach is popular for swimming, surfing, fishing & is patrolled from September school holidays through to April at the southern end along with the Catherine Hill Bay Surf Life Saving Club & food kiosk.  The northern end of the beach is quieter. This stretch of sand is also referred to as Middle Camp Beach.

Accessible toilet facilities via MLAK can be found on the foreshore next to the surf club which also has an accessible function room & toilet.  

The heritage listed Catho Pub is the only place to have a meal in the village offering live music at weekends, outside seating & a play area for kids.

Catherine Hill Bay Beach

Chapman Oval Playground in Swansea offers great views across the Swansea Channel at Lake Macquarie.  

The play equipment includes an integrated play structure with stairs, two slides, a firefighter’s pole, and a little play shop underneath.  One of the slides is steep and fast but there is also a smaller slide with stairs for kids to easily climb up.  There is also a regular swing, a baby swing and a group nest swing, balancing beam, disc platforms , rocker, spinning pole and interactive games..  The flooring of the playground is a combination of softfall and bark chips.

There are benches dotted around, picnic table, wide easy roll pathway that leads from parking lot to the large play structure. There are accessible toilets located next to the playground.  Parking can be found in car park at Chapman Oval or on Channel Street.

Across the street from the playground there is a shared pathway on Channel Street with great views of the Swansea Channel.

You can also drive down Channel Street to the carpark and go for a walk along Pirrita Island Boardwalk (see entry).  You’ll have to go to Swansea main street to find a cafe or takeaway.

Chapman Oval Playground

This beautiful walk starts at Dobinson Drive in Swansea near Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park, around 800 metres and takes about 15 – 20 minutes.

It’s an easy yet stunning walk with easy roll pathways, flat and suitable for prams and wheelchairs. It also has amazing views of Lake Macquarie, Swansea Channel and Elizabeth Island.

There is a parking area with picnic area complete with tables and BBQ facilities.  From here, follow the paved path. It soon become gravel but it’s still easy to push strollers and wheelchairs.

There are marshlands along the way along with a little lakeside cove with a gravel path, lake views onto an accessible viewing platform with amazing views of the lake.  

At this viewing point, you’ll then see the start of the boardwalk. There are two steps at the front and a ramp on the right-hand side.  At this viewing point, you’ll then see the start of the boardwalk. There are two steps at the front and a ramp on the right-hand side.  The 230-metre wide accessible boardwalk, winds through the mangroves.

If you don’t want to a long walk or cannot, you can do a variation on the walk but just drive to Pirrita Island carpark.  From there you can just walk along the boardwalk and back and you don’t need to walk along the gravel path. It’s a much shorter walk.  There is interpretative signage is installed along the boardwalk which will describe the history of Pirrita Island as well as the flora and fauna that you’ll find here. 

At start of walk, there is a BBQ and picnic tables. If you need toilets, you’ll have to drive to them. There’s a sign for public toilets but the closest toilets are actually near the Swansea boat ramp. At the end of the walk, there are toilets and picnic tables at Pirrita Island carpark.

Accessible toilets can be found at Coon Island Reserve, Thomas Humphreys Reserve & Lakeview Parade.  

You can start the walk at either the parking lot by the white bridge or Pirrita Island Carpark.

Pirrita Island Nature Reserve Boardwalk

Reids Reserve Playground in Swansea Heads is a beautiful spot in Lake Macquarie overlooking the Swansea Chanel. 

The playground features an integrated play structure with twisty slide, net bridge, a little shop, double slides & a small rock climbing wall.  There is a regular & big group swing & dolphin themed rocker all on softfall flooring.

There is no shelter over this playground or accessible toilets nearby, however, there is a regular toilet.   

Parking can be found at Reids Reserve along with sheltered picnic table, water fountain & BBQ east of the playground.

Reids Reserve Playground

Caves Beach is a stunning beach in the Lake Macquarie area with an amazing series of accessible caves to explore. Not all will fit a wheelchair but there are a few caves to choose from. Check the tides before heading to the beach. Low tide is required to have easy beach wheelchair access to the caves. 

Caves Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has a Sandcruiser beach wheelchair available for use during beach patrol season,contact them at www.cavesslsc.com.au .

There is disabled parking beside Stuart Chalmers Park along with a MLAK key locked disabled bathroom accessible family room. Accredited Changing Place (MLAK) available in the amenities in the reserve near Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club, including a hoist, adult change table, accessible toilet and shower. 

There is accessible ramp access to the beach & function room for hire - wheelchair accessible and accessible toilet. Accessible barbecues and tables are available.

Caves Beach

More Beaches nearby

Catherine Hill Bay Beach