Lake Macquarie is the main reason people linger around Cooranbong rather than just passing through. The western shore near town gives good access to the water for kayaking, fishing, and swimming, and the lake is calm enough for beginners. You can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from several places around the lake's edge.
The birdlife is excellent year-round — pelicans, black swans, cormorants, and various waders are all common. The western shore is less developed than the eastern side, so you get stretches of calm water with bush coming down to the bank. At dusk on a clear evening the light on the water is worth stopping for.