Things to do in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales: The Best Museums

Browse the extensive & colourful collection of local & Australia wide fossils, minerals, Argyle Pink Diamonds, Australian Opals, crystals & gemstones. Kids can pick up a 'Mini Dig Pit' with sieve to take home and fossick for real crystals, gemstone rough & fossils like real pro. Chat to the knowledgeable owner about rocks, fossils, local fossicking spots or life in general. A great experience on your own or for the whole family!

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery is an exceptional cultural and tourist destination, widely recognised for its exhibition program and work with the community. Located on the shores of Australia's largest coastal saltwater lake, the leafy grounds include the award-winning gallery with state-of-the-art seminar facilities, a sculpture park, mosaic pathways, and the historic Awaba House Restaurant Cafe. Lake Macquarie is unique among regional galleries due to its location and quality of programming. Touring shows alternate with gallery-curated exhibitions featuring nationally significant artists, many of whom share a connection with the Hunter. Contemporary visual arts, craft and design practice is the main focus of our exhibitions, and respectful Aboriginal projects are a strong component of the program. The gallery can be reached easily via the lake foreshore cycleway, the water or by public transport. image caption: Janet Laurence,'Ghost',2009, glass, stainless steel, concrete, approx. 500 x 140 x 80cm, copyright the artist

Rathmines Heritage Centre is located within Rathmines Theatre. The centre hosts a range of changing exhibitions focused on the history of Rathmines RAAF base and the wider story of Lake Macquarie during World War II.