Festive season tourism is booming in Lake Macquarie, with some operators booked out months in advance.
Showtime Kayaking, which launched on the lake earlier this year, said most of its scheduled tours were booked through to February, with almost as much interest in private evening tours.
The company offers unique sunset and nighttime small-group tours aboard illuminated, clear-hulled kayaks, providing a top-down view of nocturnal life beneath the water's surface.
Showtime Kayaking Managing Director David Garden said fish, rays and octopus were frequently spotted during the tours, which run from Swansea and Naru Beach.
"Business is thriving. Almost every scheduled tour for December and January is fully booked, with February dates filling fast," he said.
Showtime recently took out silver in the New Business category at the 2024 NSW Tourism Awards.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said summer was the perfect season to explore the city's diverse natural attractions.
"There are so many ways nowadays to explore Lake Macquarie and it's fantastic to see new and innovative operators capitalising on our city's tourism potential," he said.
"These aren't just great ideas for out-of-town tourists – they're equally fantastic adventures for locals who want to make the most of their own backyard."
Lake Mac Holiday Parks Coordinator Garry Ellem said demand was typically strong throughout the Christmas and New Year period at the group's five sites.
"Over the next four weeks, we have 5,400 tourists set to arrive at our holiday parks," he said.
"This caps off what has been a very successful year, with over 300,000 guest nights providing more than $85 million in economic benefit to the local economy."
Sails Holiday Park at Belmont was also recognised this year as a finalist in both the Business NSW Visitor Economy Awards and the NSW Tourism Awards.
Go to visitlakemac.com.au
