Smiths Lake, New South Wales

For the lake of the same name, see Smiths Lake (New South Wales).
Smiths Lake
New South Wales
Smiths Lake
Coordinates 32°23′13″S 152°30′6″E / 32.38694°S 152.50167°E / -32.38694; 152.50167Coordinates: 32°23′13″S 152°30′6″E / 32.38694°S 152.50167°E / -32.38694; 152.50167
Population 1,076 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 2428
Time zone AEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST) AEDT (UTC+11)
Location
LGA(s) Great Lakes Council
Region Mid North Coast
State electorate(s) Myall Lakes
Federal Division(s) Paterson
Localities around Smiths Lake:
Tarbuck Bay Charlottes Bay Pacific Palms
Bungwahl Smiths Lake Tasman Sea
Myall Lakes Yagon Seal Rocks

Smiths Lake is a small village in the Mid North Coast region, located within the Great Lakes Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Smiths Lake is approximately 274 kilometres (170 mi) north of Sydney. Smiths Lake gives its name to the village, situated nearby. At the 2011 census, Smiths Lake had a population of 1,076 people.[1]

The lake

Tourism

Smiths Lake is a popular tourist destination, mostly due to its position next to several waterways. Popular tourist activities include boating and fishing on the local lakes (Smiths Lake, Myall Lakes and Wallis Lake) or swimming and sunbathing at the local beaches (Cellitos beach, Blueys beach, Boomerang beach, Elizabeth beach, and Seal Rocks beach - also the unofficially naturist Shelley Beach). Other activities include nature walks in the surrounding national parks or visiting a regional attraction, such as Seal Rocks lighthouse or The Grandis, the tallest tree known in New South Wales at 84.3 metres (277 ft) tall.

Commercial fishing

Smiths Lake supported a small commercial fishing industry up until April 2007, when the lake was incorporated into the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park. Because of this, almost half of Smiths Lake is classed as a Sanctuary Zone, which means commercial fishing in that area is illegal. This led to many of the local fishermen leaving in search of other areas to fish.

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Smiths Lake (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
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