I do love to be beside the seaside

A WARNING if you ever visit the Mercure Lake Macquarie: you'll get pelican poo between your toes and might encounter enraged squid. But, it's worth it.

Big Surf

A WARNING should you ever visit the Mercure Lake Macquarie: you'll get pelican poo between your toes and might encounter enraged squid.

These are just about the only downsides, however, to a place perfectly designed for a kick-back seaside holiday with the kids.

Actually, the Mercure isn't exactly a seaside retreat, but there are sumptuous beaches within a 10-minute drive. Besides, the resort has a shore-hugging location on saltwater Lake Macquarie which, four times the size of Sydney Harbour, might as well be an ocean.

Certainly, there's a swell on the lake the day we go kayaking. The wind is ruffling the feathers of the pelicans roosting along the jetty. (This is exactly where the pelican poo problem reveals itself with a squelch that has the kids screaming in horrified delight.)

After being tossed about for a while, we admit defeat and take to bicycles along the foreshore.

There aren't many people about. This is an overlooked part of the coast, perhaps because it's practically a Newcastle suburb.

Traditionally, it aims at the cheaper end of the market.

But the only downside is that you won't find much haute cuisine or any cuisine at all that isn't deep-fried in the nearest town, Swansea.

Then again, Swansea has a Woolworths and the Mercure has self-catering accommodation, so you get a better diet at less cost by doing it yourself. When it's time for a treat, the resort's Al Lago restaurant dishes up a mean pizza and tasty a la carte Italian for the adults, with water views to match.

The Mercure Lake Macquarie Raffertys Resort (to give its rather cumbersome full title) is as family-friendly as it comes.

"CAUTION: Free-range children about" says a sign at the entrance, and it's all fun from there onwards.

During the school holidays, a slip 'n' slide, pool parties, glow-stick tag in the dark and obstacle races guarantee the rug-rats a good night's sleep. A kids' club operates on weekends and, any time you like, you can bike, kayak, fish or splash about in four swimming pools.

Regular bird feedings lure rosellas, lorikeets, long-billed corellas and crested pigeons from the trees in the afternoon. After nightfall, a Spotlight Tour with the outdoor adventure co-ordinator, Courtney Mason, also reveals sugar gliders, possums and orb-weaving spiders.

The kids also get to splash along the dark shoreline, where they can pick up bubble-blowing sea cucumbers and meet resident squid, who change colour to an enraged red when disturbed.

Afterwards, there's damper and marshmallows by firelight and the chance to ask Mason (also a marine biologist) questions, or listen to her talking about the bizarre nudibranchs of which she's so fond.

Another must-do with Mason (for kids over 10) is a guided snorkel at nearby Catherine Hill Bay. At low tide, a secluded rock shelf reveals pools of remarkably clear water, where you can snorkel among fish and coral.

The Aborigines call Lake Macquarie Galgabba, which means "good place to rest". Whether you get much rest depends on your children's energy levels. There's certainly plenty to do but, when you're ready to do nothing at all, the Mercure Lake Macquarie can oblige, too.

The writer travelled as a guest of Mercure Lake Macquarie Raffertys Resort.

Getting there
The Mercure resort is a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Take the Swansea exit from the freeway, turn left at Nords Wharf and follow the signs. From Newcastle (30 minutes), take the Pacific Highway south to the Cams Wharf exit and follow signs.

Staying there
Mercure Lake Macquarie Raffertys Resort has a variety of accommodation, including a two-bedroom resort cottage from $199 a night. www.mercure.com.au, ph 1300 855 975.

More: Lake Macquarie Tourism, www.visitlakemac.com.au, ph 4921 0740

Travel Tips: NSW destination guide