Reflections Lake Glenbawn Holiday Park

The on-site kiosk earns its keep, stocking ice, firewood, gas bottles, fuel and the kind of last-minute snacks that save a campsite dinner. We ducked in for milk and a Paddle Pop more than once, and on the colder nights it was the source of the firewood that fuelled our best evenings of the trip. The communal BBQs along the foreshore are where most meals happen anyway, and there's something quietly perfect about a sausage sizzle while the kangaroos graze nearby and the lake turns gold.

Drive fifteen minutes south to Scone and the main street rewards a slow lunch wander. Asser House Cafe is the locals' favourite, set inside a beautifully restored heritage building and known for its all-day brunch, excellent coffee and famously over-the-top crazy shakes. We rolled in on a Saturday morning and stayed for two coffees longer than planned.

For dinner, The Cottage is the move. It's tucked inside an 1860s sandstone cottage on the main strip, and the dry-aged steaks are reason enough to book ahead. Breakfast runs Tuesday to Saturday, with lunch and dinner Thursday through Saturday only, so plan accordingly. The Royal Hotel is the easy pick for a country-pub parmi after a big day on the water.

The lake is the headline act and it's right at your doorstep. We launched the kayaks straight from the foreshore on the first morning, when the bays near the dam wall were glassy and the only soundtrack was birdsong. Lake Glenbawn is regarded as one of the best freshwater fishing spots in NSW, with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch, Murray cod and catfish all on the cards, and the on-park boat ramp means you can be on the water within minutes of unhitching. Skiers, jet-skiers and sailors all share the lake comfortably once the day warms up.

Stretch your legs on the trails through Lake Glenbawn State Park, where filtered light through the gums and lookouts over the Hunter River make for a quietly beautiful morning loop. Birdwatchers are spoiled with more than 100 recorded native species, and the resident mob of kangaroos is happy enough to share the foreshore at dawn and dusk. Back inside the park there's a tennis court and a playground for the kids to burn off energy before bed.

Scone sits about fifteen minutes south and proudly wears its title as the thoroughbred horse breeding capital of Australia. Wander the heritage main street, watch a meeting at Scone Race Club, or, if you're visiting in May, time your stay around the Scone Horse Festival, a ten-day program of parades, fireworks, competitions and street parties. Golfers can sneak in a round at Scone Golf Club, one of the older country courses in the state.

With a full day spare, the Hunter Valley wine country is about an hour's drive south. Pokolbin and Broke are easy day-trip targets for cellar doors and long lunches, and you can still be back at the lake in time for a campfire and a glass of something local.

We loved how the late afternoon light washes the dam wall and ranges in gold for the best part of an hour, and how easy it was to find a quiet stretch of foreshore to claim for sunset.