Lake House, Lake Macquarie review: Right at home, cast adrift

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 12 years ago

Lake House, Lake Macquarie review: Right at home, cast adrift

The Lake House garden extends to the water.

The Lake House garden extends to the water.

The deep placid waters of Lake Macquarie beckon those looking to swap the rush for some hush, writes Peter Vincent.

We're heading north on a Saturday for a weekend away on the shores of Lake Macquarie but we've slept in and it looks as if we'll miss our scheduled lake cruise. Of all the things to miss.

My partner sends a text message from the car to our contact: "Brian, really sorry, we'll be 30 minutes late. If you have a group, go without us."

Step aboard ... Heather Mist moored on the lake.

Step aboard ... Heather Mist moored on the lake.

Brian replies straight away: "No worries at all, we're not going anywhere. Give us a call whenever you are ready."

Thankfully, Brian and Sarah, the owners of our Lake House accommodation, are also the laid-back yacht owners. When we finally do arrive, we're taken on a lazy meander around the southern and central parts of the lake on their 12-metre sloop Heather Mist. The vessel is available for daytime charter for up to four people.

Lake Macquarie is about four times the size of Sydney Harbour, yet so much quieter. We pass barely a dozen boats in a serene 3½ hours, during which our hosts serve Littles wines (from a boutique Hunter Valley winery) and scrumptious finger food.

This sets the tone for the weekend - that is, we completely forget the clock. Everything we need is either at Lake House, a large home on, yes, a glorious lakeside setting, or it's a stroll away at the Rathmines shops.

The area was used by settlers for horticulture and wineries from the mid-19th century and in 1939 Rathmines became Australia's largest flying-boat base during World War II. Today it's a village you'd have little reason to visit were it not for its tourist accommodation, much of which is set on the hillside overlooking the lake.

Advertisement

Lake House itself is no designer pad, so if that's your idea of luxury, keep looking. This property feels every inch the welcoming and rambling family home - like a best friend's house you might have spent weekends at as a child, running through sprinklers before chomping into snags from the barbecue.

And yes, Lake House does have a large lawn and a barbecue but also the kind of creaky country-style kitchen you could imagine see Margaret Fulton knocking up Sunday lunch in.

That's the point here - Lake House is all about home comforts; this is a weekend away where you'd be quite happy staying in. The three-bedroom house is decorated throughout in warm tones with timber (furniture, bookcases and floorboards) in every room, knick-knacks spread throughout and a big family-lounge room.

This has a round dining table, bookcases stacked with toys, puzzles, games, DVDs, magazines, both fiction and non-fiction reading and two large sofas (plus a TV and DVD player).

The lounge leads to a gorgeous wrap-around verandah overlooking the lake.

Under the house is an outdoor (but covered) games area. Here you'll find enough gear to keep the kids busy (and mum and dad if so inclined), including a pool table, dart board, fishing gear and paddles and safety vests for the kayak (which is available at the lake's edge).

Lake House has a huge sloping lawn (yes, with a rotary clothes line) that leads to the lake. Pets are allowed and the property is fenced.

After returning from the yacht, my partner and I are content to soak up the serenity, sitting on the balcony with a glass of red wine, overlooking the lake until the sun goes down.

Sunday morning dawns perfectly fine and still, so we unlock the chain holding the kayak and take a leisurely early paddle on the glassy lake. It's a stunning way to start the day - and helps us work up an appetite for a hearty breakfast. The peace and quiet of the Lake House does exactly what a weekend should do: it's enough to make you forget work, traffic and the other elements of a hectic city life.

The writer was a guest of Lake House and Tourism NSW.

Trip notes

Where Lake House, 45 Fishing Point Road, Rathmines, Lake Macquarie. stayz.com.au/77770.

Getting there Take the F3 freeway, then the West Lake Macquarie exit (Mandalong Road). After about 15 minutes' drive, turn right at the roundabout into Fishing Point Road and Rathmines.

How much The house: $190 a night weekdays; $250 a night at weekends and during school holidays. Yacht charter: $125 a head (up to four people). heathermistyachtcharter.com.au.

Style statement Like something Clarice Beckett might have painted — small-town and fondly familiar.

Perfect for Stressed-out, workaholic parents with active children, especially boys.

Don't forget Mosquito repellent in warmer weather — you won't enjoy the gorgeous terrace at night without it.

Shame about The protruding bed frame.

Kudos So peaceful you'll be quoting Darryl Kerrigan (from The Castle): "How's the serenity?"

Take the kids? Definitely; the house is kitted out so children can play all weekend.

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading