Overview
The tide pulls back to expose a wide mudflat that feeds migratory shorebirds — this is one of Australia’s most accessible wader sites, with godwits and stints in the southern summer. The city built the lagoon in 2003 to give swimming back to the waterfront; it is patrolled and free. Barbecues, a skate park and a playground line the boardwalk.
Highlights
The lagoon is open daily except for maintenance on Wednesday mornings. Birdwatching is best two hours either side of low tide, straight from the boardwalk. The night markets at the southern end run every evening, and the Esplanade dining strip is where most reef-trip crews eat.