On-site you'll find a kiosk stocking supplies, a lure shop for last-minute tackle, and fuel pumps for topping up before you head out on the water. The camp kitchens at both Jaycee Park and Copeton Bay come with communal barbecues and fire pits, so grab a bottle of something cold and settle in for an evening of stories under the stars. For a proper sit-down meal, head 35 kilometres north to Inverell where The Welder's Dog inside the Oxford Hotel pours craft beers alongside buffalo wings and burgers in a beautifully renovated space with a sky-lit ceiling. We loved the espresso martinis at The Union Bar, a heritage building that started life as a bank in 1911 and now serves tapas and cocktails in warm, inviting surrounds. If you're after hearty club fare, Inverell RSM Club does all-day dining at Diggers Bistro plus coffee and cakes at Aromas Café, and it's open from 10 am daily. For something local and laid-back, try Freckles Cafe on Byron Street for melts, burgers, choc-chip waffles and half-serve breakfast options if you're pacing yourself.

Start at the park where you're spoilt for choice with a splash park and playground near the Northcott Centre, a 12-hole bush golf course, floodlit tennis courts and mountain bike trails with two different loop options. The lake itself is the main drawcard and we spent hours casting for Murray cod, golden perch, yellowbelly and catfish from the boat ramps or the shoreline, practising our catch-and-release in what's known as the Murray cod capital of Australia. Watersports enthusiasts can waterski, wakeboard, kayak or sail on the glassy waters, which are ideal for beginners. Walk or drive across the dam wall 35 kilometres from the park for sweeping views of the lake and mountains, or follow one of the bushwalking trails to spot kangaroos, over 67 bird species and maybe even a few goats. Back in Inverell, the National Transport Museum showcases over 120 vintage vehicles including a rare 1906 Dayton, while Inverell Pioneer Village transports you to the 1800s with authentic historic buildings, a homestead, school and Paddy's Pub. If you're keen to try your hand at fossicking, Billabong Blue Sapphire Fossicking Park is 22 kilometres from Inverell and offers the chance to unearth the deep blue sapphires that earned Inverell the nickname "Sapphire City".