Pippi's at the Point

At Pippi's at the Point, the pub and the accommodation share the same address, with the rooms set above the hotel. That makes this a practical base for a couple who wants a lakeside place to sleep, an on-site meal and a drink close at hand rather than a resort full of extras you may never use.

The atmosphere is tied to the lake and to the restaurant below. You have modern accommodation, air conditioning, free WiFi and a private bathroom, with the useful option of walking downstairs when hunger wins the argument. The rooms are on the second floor, reached by stairs only, so pack accordingly if your knees have started negotiating their own terms.

The address is on Main Road in Speers Point, Warners Bay, on the shores of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales. This is a lakeside location rather than a seaside one, with direct access to the lagoon and views across the water from the property.

Newcastle is about 15 minutes away by car, while Newcastle Airport is 16 miles from the hotel. Teralba railway station is around 1.1 miles away, and Booragul station is at a similar distance. For a walk or a change of scenery, Tulkaba Park is about 0.8 miles away and Warners Bay Foreshore around 1.4 miles away.

You are not cut off from the wider region, either. Hunter Valley vineyards and Port Stephens are both less than an hour away, making the hotel workable for a few days around a diving trip rather than only a single overnight stop.

The room choice is fairly straightforward: take the lake-view option if the outlook matters to you, or choose the room with an extra bed when three people need to share. For two, the standard double room keeps things simple, with one double bed and a private bathroom.

Every room is air conditioned, which is useful when you come back warm, tired and still carrying the day's salt around in your hair. You also have a TV, wardrobe, tea and coffee-making facilities, an electric kettle, an iron and a clothes-drying rack. The bathroom includes a shower, toilet and hairdryer.

The practical caveat is the staircase. All accommodation sits above the hotel on the second level, and access is by stairs only. The private entrance keeps the sleeping area separate from the pub below, while the on-site WiFi is free in the public areas and the rooms have free WiFi as well.

The restaurant is the centre of gravity here, sitting beside Lake Macquarie and working with fresh seafood. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, so you can eat on site without turning the evening into a transport exercise. There is also a bar downstairs and an on-site coffee house for the less ambitious moments.

Lunch runs from 11.30am to 3pm from Monday to Friday, with dinner from 5pm. On Friday, dinner continues until 9pm. Saturday brings all-day dining from 11.30am to 9pm, and Sunday runs from 11.30am to 8.30pm.

The full menu is available for takeaway lunch and dinner seven days a week. That gives you a useful fallback when you would rather take food upstairs, switch on the air conditioning and call the day's exertions finished.

The lake is the main reason to step outside once you are fed and showered. Pippi's at the Point sits directly on its shores, while Warners Bay Foreshore is about 1.4 miles away for a change of view and a walk beside the water.

You can also make the hotel a base for outings rather than trying to manufacture entertainment on site. Hunter Valley vineyards and Port Stephens are both within the wider day's reach, and nearby parks include Tulkaba Park, Feighan Park and Warner Park. Hunter Hydro, around 2.8 miles away, adds a natural setting to the list.

Back at the hotel, the lake-view rooms and the restaurant do most of the evening work. There is no need to pretend every post-dive night requires an organised activity; sometimes a shower, a meal and a chair are the correct itinerary.

Newcastle Airport is about 16 miles away, with the drive taking roughly 33 minutes. Free on-site and street parking are available, which is useful if you are travelling with your own vehicle. Teralba station is around 1.1 miles away, although the walk takes about 34 minutes from the property.

Check-in starts at 2pm and takes place at the bar, with daily access until the evening. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in. Cash is accepted as a payment method, and an ATM is available on site.

The hotel accepts adult guests from the age of 18, and the upper floors are accessible by stairs only. The rooms are non-smoking, with a designated smoking area on the property.