Queens Lake is a coastal lake located within Queens Lake Nature Reserve on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, approximately 20 minutes south of Port Macquarie near Laurieton. The lake sits amid lush vegetation including stands of old-growth eucalypts and dense rainforest, and its surrounding forests support over 200 species of animals, making wildlife encounters — including koalas, glossy black cockatoos, and swift parrots — a realistic prospect during a paddle.

The lake itself offers calm, tranquil water well suited to kayaking and canoeing. A small wharf and dirt ramp at the Queens Lake picnic area serve as the primary launch point within the nature reserve, while the Queens Lake Sailing Club Reserve on the northern side of Ocean Drive at Laurieton provides a public boat ramp as an alternative access point. The road into the picnic area is described as bumpy and dusty but passable, though caution is warranted when meeting larger vehicles on the narrow track.

Several creek systems extend from the lake and reward exploration. Waterloo Creek and Bobs Creek are accessible from the northern side of the lake and offer attractive paddling, though both are eventually blocked by fallen timber. Bobs Creek is notable for a submerged tree graveyard lying just below the surface at varying angles — a genuine hazard that requires careful navigation, particularly when water levels are not optimal. Limeburners Creek, wider and with less debris, can be reached by crossing the lake and is also accessible via Stingray Creek when water levels permit.

Spring and summer are highlighted as particularly good seasons for paddling, with milder spring weather and warm summer conditions. The lake is also popular for windsurfing, so paddlers should be aware of other water users, especially on weekends or sailing club days when the Sailing Club Reserve may be congested.

Facilities at the Queens Lake picnic area include picnic tables, barbecue facilities, and a boat ramp. The reserve is generally open year-round but may close due to poor weather or fire danger. Camping within NSW national parks requires advance booking through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.