2 min read · Updated 5 July 2026
The Hunter region, north of Sydney, is one of the best sailing areas in New South Wales — with three distinct waters to sail on: Newcastle Harbour, the vast Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens. Strong clubs and two major regattas, Sail Port Stephens and SailFest Newcastle, anchor a busy calendar.
The venues
- Newcastle Harbour — at the mouth of the Hunter River, a working harbour that also hosts inshore racing, with quick access to the ocean for offshore events.
- Lake Macquarie — Australia's largest coastal saltwater lake, just south of Newcastle: a huge expanse of sheltered water ringed by clubs, and one of the state's premier dinghy and small-keelboat venues.
- Port Stephens — a large natural harbour to the north around Nelson Bay, offering sheltered bays and open water in a holiday setting.
Between them they cover everything from protected lake sailing to open coastal racing.
The clubs
The region has a strong club network. The Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club at Wickham is the hub of Newcastle racing; Lake Macquarie is ringed by numerous clubs catering to dinghies, catamarans, trailer yachts and keelboats; and Port Stephens has active clubs around Nelson Bay. Together they run a full program of club, twilight and championship racing.
The racing
Two regattas headline the calendar:
- Sail Port Stephens — a major autumn keelboat regatta on Port Stephens, one of the biggest in the state outside Sydney, mixing inshore and passage racing.
- SailFest Newcastle — a Newcastle regatta combining harbour and offshore racing.
Class championships and club racing fill out the year, particularly the strong dinghy and one-design scene on Lake Macquarie.
Getting involved
The region's clubs run learn-to-sail courses, junior programs and crewing opportunities, and the sheltered lake and harbour waters make the area welcoming for beginners. See our guides to getting into sailing in Australia and joining a yacht racing crew. To the south, our guides to Pittwater and Sydney Harbour cover the rest of the coast, and the sailing terms glossary explains the vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do people sail in the Hunter region?
- The Hunter region north of Sydney has three main sailing waters: Newcastle Harbour at the mouth of the Hunter River, Lake Macquarie — Australia's largest coastal saltwater lake — just to the south, and Port Stephens, a large natural harbour to the north around Nelson Bay. Between them they offer sheltered lake and harbour sailing and open coastal racing, supported by a strong network of clubs.
- What is Sail Port Stephens?
- Sail Port Stephens is a major keelboat regatta held on the waters of Port Stephens, based around Nelson Bay, usually in autumn. It draws a large fleet across inshore windward-leeward and passage racing divisions and is one of the biggest regattas on the New South Wales calendar outside Sydney, combining competitive racing with a relaxed holiday setting.
- What is SailFest Newcastle?
- SailFest Newcastle is a regatta run out of Newcastle, organised through the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, that combines inshore and offshore racing on Newcastle Harbour and the ocean outside. It is part of the city's growing sailing scene and forms one of the anchor events of the Hunter region's racing calendar.
- Is Lake Macquarie good for sailing?
- Yes — Lake Macquarie is one of the best dinghy and small-keelboat sailing venues in New South Wales. As Australia's largest coastal saltwater lake, it offers a huge expanse of sheltered, tidal-but-protected water, and it is ringed by numerous sailing clubs catering to dinghies, catamarans, trailer yachts and keelboats. Its size and shelter make it excellent for both learning and competitive class racing.
- How do you get into sailing in the Hunter?
- The region's clubs — including the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, the many clubs around Lake Macquarie, and the clubs at Port Stephens — run learn-to-sail courses, junior programs and crewing opportunities. Joining a local club and putting your name down as crew is the easiest way to start, with sheltered lake and harbour waters making the area welcoming for beginners.