Stay-at-home tourism
Originally published in the Morisset and Peninsula Bulletin, July 2018.
Submitted by Morisset and Peninsula Sustainable Neighbourhood Group.
Have you been supporting our existing local tourism businesses? Do you take your family and visitors to see our local highlights? Do you enjoy all that our place has to offer?
Save time, money and the environment by not traveling too far for an interesting and fun experience. Meet and support your local businesses and get to know your local place: support local businesses for local economic sustainability.
Picture
Secret Falls in the Watagans photographed by Kazcreations and distributed through Wikimedia Commons
Here are some of our local tourism destinations and activities:
  • Major Morisset’s historic 1823 camp site (dedicated tree and plaque), eastern car park of Morisset train station (look up his history online);
  • Shingle Splitters Point historic trees, picnic park and playground;
  • Morisset Hospital historic buildings and grounds (and kangaroos);
  • Bonnells Bay skate ramp;
  • Playgrounds and picnic facilities at various parks such as Bonnells Bay Park (Hungary Point), Pendlebury Park (Bonnells Bay), Sunshine Park, Brightwaters, Bernie Goodwin Oval (Morisset), Rotary Park (Morisset), Cooranbong Park, along the north banks of Dora Creek, at Myuna Bay, Dobell Memorial Park (Wangi Wangi), Wangi Wangi Park and Wyee Point Reserve;
  • Nature reserves and conservation areas including Myuna Bay (Wangi Wangi), Pulbah Island and Wangi Point;
  • Bonnells Bay dog off-leash area (Pendlebury Park);
  • Morisset Showground;
  • Tin Lids (indoor) Play Centre, Morisset;
  • Sunnyside Historic Home and South Sea Island Museum, Cooranbong;
  • Historic swinging bridge at Cooranbong;
  • Historic Catholic Church and the old Post Office at Cooranbong;
  • Mandalong Gallery;
  • Yara Balba stables offers art and horse riding;
  • Watagan National Park: mountains, four-wheel drive road, mountain biking, walking, free overnight camp grounds, Gap Creek Falls, Macleans lookout, Monkey Face lookout and Muirs lookout;
  • Dobell House, Wangi Wangi;
  • Lakeside walking and cycling around Wangi Wangi Bay;
  • Boat launch ramps at Bonnells Bay Pendlebury Park, Balcolyn (Shingle Splitters Point and Balcolyn Street), Sunshine Park, Mirrabooka, Morisset Park, Dora Creek (opposite Stingaree Point), Mannering Point and Mannering Park (Harwood Close, Rayment Park, Vales Point and Mannering Park Yacht Club);
  • Morisset Country Club, Lake Macquarie Hotel, Bonnells Bay Hotel/Motel, Dora Creek and District Workers’ Club, Wangi District Workers Club and Wangi RSL Club;
  • Explore the shops and cafés at Wyee, Cooranbong, Bonnells Bay, Morisset, Dora Creek and Wangi Wangi;
  • Try out the local restaurants such as The Old Bakehouse Restaurant, Pauly’s Gourmet Kitchen, Thai Square, Michael’s Italian Restaurant and Bistro and other Morisset restaurants, Tall Trees (Martinsville), our local clubs and hotels;
  • Take a walk past the historic Wangi Power Station and look up its history on your tablet.
If you know of any other destinations, or you have ideas to start new tourist ventures in the area, let us know at Morisset and Sustainable Neighbourhood group at MAPS.neighbourhood@gmail.com.
If you are looking for other places and activities, Lake Macquarie Tourism at www.visitlakemac.com.au.