Get ready for Float Your Boat. This popular winter event is back for 2025 on Friday 20 June and Saturday 21 June.
Get your friends and family together and gather on the shores of Lake Macquarie to see boats pass by in the Float Your Boat event organised by Lake Macquarie City Council.
The event is held over two nights in late June. On Friday 20 June, the boats travel on the western side of Lake Macquarie. The flotilla will travel from Empire Marina to Toronto, Coal Point and Wangi Wangi.
On the following night, the flotilla will travel from Belmont to Valentine, Eleebana, Warners Bay, and finish at Empire Marina.
It’s a popular event with spectators lining the shores to watch boats in a rainbow of colour cruise past casting their vote for the Newcastle Permanent People’s Choice Award.
The community will decide who wins the Newcastle Permanent People’s Choice Award for best light display! You will be able to cast your vote for your favourite design, online from Friday evening June 20 until until Sunday 29 June 2025 at 11:59pm.
In addition to the boat flotilla, Lake Macquarie City Council will have a live site at Toronto foreshore on Friday night and two live sites located at Warners Bay Foreshore and Brooks Parade, Belmont on Saturday 21 June 2025.
The live sites will run from 4:30pm – 8:30pm and include live music,entertainment, children’s activities and food trucks.
Friday 20 June 2025 – Marmong Point Marina to Toronto, Coal Point and Wangi Wangi
- 4:30pm – 8:30pm – Toronto live site including live music, entertainment, children’s activities, and food trucks.
- 6pm – Boats depart from Empire Marina Lake Macquarie at Marmong Point
- 6:23pm – Bolton Point
- 6:30pm – Toronto Foreshore (live site)
- 7:03pm – Carey Point Foreshore and Yarul Reserve
- 7:15pm – Coal Point
- 7:30pm – Kilaben Bay, Catalina Bay
- 7:40pm – Rathmines Park
- 8pm – Fishing Point
- 8:10pm – Arcadia Vale
- 8:30pm – Wangi District Workers Club
- 8:35pm – Wangi Wangi RSL Jetty
* Times are approximate and may change. Please be prepared for a variance of 15 minutes either side of the estimated arrival time at each site.
Suggested viewing locations
- Marmong Point foreshore through to Empire Marina Lake Macquarie
- Bolton Point Park
- Toronto Foreshore – (live site)
- Carey Bay Foreshore and Yarul Reserve – Carey Bay
- Coal Point
- Kilaben Bay Reserve
- Rathmines Park Boat Ramp
- Arcadia Reserve – Arcadia Vale
- Wangi District Workers Club
- Wangi RSL Club
Saturday 21 June 2025 – Belmont, Valentine, Eleebana, Warners Bay and finish at Marmong Point
- 4:30pm to 8:30pm – Warners Bay Foreshore and Belmont Foreshore live sites including live music, entertainment, children’s activities and food trucks.
- 6:30pm – Belmont Foreshore, Brooks Parade (live site)
- 6:50pm – Belmont 16s
- 7:05pm – Green Point Reserve
- 7:12pm – Bennett Park, Valentine
- 7:24pm – Croudace Bay
- 7:40pm – Warners Bay Foreshore (live site)
- 8:10pm – Speers Point Park
- 8:20pm – Empire Marina Lake Macquarie (Marmong Point)
* Times are approximate and may change. Please be prepared for a variance of 15 minutes either side of the estimated arrival time at each site.
Suggested viewing locations
- Belmont Foreshore, Brooks Parade (live site)
- Belmont 16s
- Green Point Walk, foreshore and Sea Eagle Lookout
- Bennett Park – Valentine
- Croudace Bay Park and Valentine Bowling Club
- Lions Park – Eleebana
- Red Bluff Boardwalk – Eleebana
- Warners Bay Foreshore (live site)
- View anywhere along the shared pathway between Eleebana and Speers Point Park.
Get together with friends and family to enjoy the event.
There are many ways you can enjoy the magic of Float Your Boat. Here are a few ideas:
- Attend a live site event at Toronto Foreshore (Friday night) and Warners Bay and Belmont (Saturday night).
- Choose a spot on the lakefront for you and your family to get the perfect view of the flotilla. Pack some camp chairs and a picnic to enjoy the show, or watch your very own drive-in illumination show from the comfort of your car.
- Go out for dinner and enjoy the view of the boats at dining hubs in Warners Bay and Belmont.
- If you have lake views at your home, host a Float Your Boat BBQ with family and friends. Show your support to our boaties with the traditional “torch flash-back at ya” and let the evening sky light up!
For more information, visit Lake Macquarie City Council website.
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