Our home is located on the waterfront of Lake Macquarie in the quiet leafy suburb of Coal Point. It is an older home which has been totally renovated and modernised. There are 3 bedrooms which can comfortably accommodate 6 people. Two bedrooms have queen size beds while the third bedroom has two single beds. (we also have a babies cot)

There are two bathrooms and three toilets. The ensuite off the main bedroom has recently been renovated and has a rain shower and 2 person spa which we love.

The kitchen is modern with stone bench tops, dishwasher, gas cook top and electric wall oven. All the rooms have ducted air conditioning so it is comfortable year round but we are fortunate that on most hot nights we enjoy a cool breeze off the lake. Enjoy 180 degree views of the lake from the main bedroom and living areas. The lake joins our front yard. You can swim or if you feel lazy you can just sit on the jetty, fish or just watch the sunset and the many boating activities on the lake. At the rear of the house there is a covered deck area with a barbecue which you can always wheel around to the front yard by the lake if you prefer.

We would appreciate if you did not smoke in the house but you are more than welcome to smoke anywhere outside and under the covered deck area.

Our home is in the suburb of Coal Point which is 90 minutes drive north of Sydney. Our whole region has a lot to offer with many day trips possible. We are 2 kilometers from the town centre of Toronto which is also on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Toronto has supermarkets, shops, clubs, restaurants and a marina from where you can hire a boat or enjoy a cruise of Lake Macquarie on one of the tour boats. Alternatively the local Toronto Yacht club races on Wednesdays and is always looking for crew to join them if you are interested in sailing. Lake Macquarie which we believe is Australia's best kept secret is 4 times larger than Sydney harbour and is popular for swimming, fishing and boating. If you are energetic and tire of just looking at the view and watching the activities on the lake (which we very much doubt) there are a number of easy bush walks around the shores either through bushland or past waterfront homes.

Sydney boasts about Bondi and Manly but our beaches are much better. Ocean beaches are abundant and only a 20 to 30 minute drive away. They are sandy and we think some of the best in the world. In March Surfest is held at Newcastle beach. This competition is great to watch if you are into surfing.
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For the golfer there is a golf course only 5 minutes drive away and there is also an international standard golf course "Cyprus Lakes" only a 30 minute drive away. Horizons golf course is also of international standard and is located at Nelson Bay an hours drive north.

We have an inflatable boat with motor which you are welcome to use to go fishing in or to explore the lake and get to some good swimming and picnic spots. Our neighbours also have kayaks which they will lend you. If you are interested we can explain how to place out crab nets so that you can catch some fresh blue swimmer crabs. (For a closer look at our area google earth Lake Macquarie NSW Australia or Coal Point NSW Australia.) for more information www.visitlakemac.com.au

Toronto and Coal Point are suburbs in the City of Lake Macquarie however if you ask anyone they will say they are from Newcastle which is a 30 minute drive away. Newcastle has a working harbour with a promenade and expanses of long sandy beaches. Close to the city centre is Blackbutt Reserve which is a perfect spot to stop off and enjoy a picnic among the gum trees. This parkland is home to many koalas, kangaroos and other Australian animals. Each day at 2pm you can take part in a koala encounter where you can get up close to these adorable animals.
Fot the shopper there are a number of large shopping centres within 20 to 30 minutes drive. www.visitnewcastle.com.au

Into good wine? The Hunter Valley vineyards famous worldwide for its wine is only a 40 minute country drive away and of course makes a great day out. Here you will find many vineyards where you can enjoy wine tasting and visit the cheese and chocolate shop. There is a choice of many restaurants and if you love gardens a visit to the beautiful Hunter Valley gardens is a must. If your inclined call into one or two of the typical old Australian pubs for a cold drink on the way and visit the town of Kurri to see the murals painted on the buildings. An early morning balloon flight over the vineyards with champagne and breakfast is a good way to enjoy the scenery of the area. For more information on this area visit www.winecountry.com.au

Port Stephens with its white sandy beaches and turquoise water is one hour north. The main centre is Nelson Bay but there are many small villages each with their own charm. There is a marina at Nelson Bay where you can join a dolphin watch tour or a tour to beautiful Broughton Island. Whale watching tours also operate between late May and mid October as the humpbacks travel North to give birth to their young then travel back south for the warmer months. You may be tempted to just sit back at one of the many restaurants and take in the scenery but there are a number of walks in the area that are well worth the effort. In particular the walk to the top of Tomaree peninsula rewards you with outstanding views of the bay and surrounding area. www.visitportstephens.com.au

There are many other places to visit that are close and can be visited easily in a day such as the central coast with its coastal towns and beaches. In this area the pelican feeding each day at The Entrance is good fun to watch. The Wattagan mountains are also close by. This area is a beautiful rain forest area with spectacular views to the ocean and is a great spot for a picnic. . www.centralcoastaustralia.com.au

Also worth a visit is the historical town of Morpeth with its old style buildings, its quaint coffee shops and where you can shop in the many craft shops selling a variety of Australian made goods.

Another small town is Wollombi which is an easy drive. Its streets are lined with typical old Australian buildings. The hotel (pub) which is a great people watching spot is the place to taste Dr Jurds Jungle Juice which is a must if in the area.

Sydney is only two hours by train or 90 minutes by car where of course the sightseeing opportunities are endless. Take a day trip to Taronga Park zoo, walk Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Rocks area of the City. Join a ferry cruise of the harbour or take the ferry to Manly and enjoy a walk through the shopping area to the beach. Of course a visit to Sydney should also include a visit to Bondi beach. (even though we believe Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Central Coast beaches are better). We also recommend to take the ferry to Watsons Bay, enjoy a feed of fish and chips at the hotel then walk around the paths of the sandstone cliffs that are known as 'The Heads' or 'The Gap' which is the entrance to Sydney harbour. Further west of Sydney are the Blue Mountains, Katoomba and the Jenolan Caves which deserve a visit of at least three days if you can extend your visit after leaving our home.

For a bit of difference if you enjoy camping and would like to break your stay in our home you are more than welcome to have a loan of our tent and camping equipment. We can advise you of some lovely camping spots right next to some beautiful beaches, (one where the kangaroos sit by your tent)

As you can see our area has an abundance of things to see and do but of course just relaxing by the lake should also be a priority.

Sydney airport is the closest international airport. Williamtown is the domestic airport for Newcastle and has connecting flights to Sydney and other cities in Australia. There are regular trains from Sydney airport to Fassifern station that require only one change at Sydney Central station. Fassifern station is a 10 minute taxi ride from our home. More information about available public transport can be provided.

2013 or even 2014 open to any destinations and dates. Tempt us.

Open to any dates

For 2013 we would be interested in either home exchange or hospitality visits in Southern USA states, Arizona, Florida the Caribbean. In 2014 Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and England however we are open to any destination. We will reply to all enquiries.

We are also interested in weekend or short exchanges in Queensland and in Sydney that has views or within walking distance to the Harbour for either New Years Eve, Australia Day or the start of the Sydney to Hobart.

View Feedback About My Exchanges

We are Greg and Cherryl and in our Fifties but are still very young at heart, have a good sense of humour and like to make the most of our life. We are both non smokers. We enjoy our home and its location spending most of our free time (weather permitting) in our boat on the lake. We both still work and can not see us retiring in the near future, especially if we want to keep travelling. Greg is an Electrician and I am a Property Manager.

We have now enjoyed a total of 11 exchanges and 5 hospitality visits. Our first exchange was to Moorea in July 2007 then in following years exchanges in Spain, Paris. Belgium, Germany and France. In 2011 we traveled for 7 weeks to NY, Maine,and Canada enjoying a combination of both exchange and hospitality visits. We have enjoyed all of these exchanges and hospitality visits and have been fortunate to make some lifetime friends along the way. There are several references attached and we can put you in contact with other exchangers if you require more.

We have two married daughters,one grandson and four granddaughters who also live close by. We are lucky that we have a close relationship with both our daughters and our son in laws and enjoy heaps of fun times with them all. They will be contactable if you need help with anything during your stay. Our neighbours are friendly and have enjoyed meeting our previous exchange visitors and have even taken them on tour and out sailing. They will make you feel very much at home during your stay and will also be of assistance if you need any help. We will organise either one of our daughters or a neighbour to meet you on your arrival.

We are also very interested in offering our guest room for hospitality visits and would be more than happy to help with sight seeing arrangements and if you are interested we could show you some of our favourite places and our beautiful lake in our boat. As we both work Monday to Friday we would be at work during most of your stay so the home would be yours during the day. We would make sure that you had the degree of privacy that you want however you would be more than welcome to join us for evening meals during your stay. Greg cooks a pretty good barbeque and we would be more than happy to treat you to some Australian dishes that you may not have tried before.

Unfortunately as both of us have a company issued vehicle a vehicle is not normally included in our exchange. However we may be prepared to discuss an option of assisting with rental costs depending on the exchange destination offer. We usually prefer to rent a vehicle as we do not want the worry if mechanical problems or an accident occurs. We feel it is less complicated to deal with these types of incidents with a rental car.

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