The Myall Lakes system is one of New South Wales' most significant coastal lake systems, situated within Myall Lakes National Park on the mid-north coast, roughly three hours north of Sydney between Port Stephens and Forster. The system is a designated Ramsar wetland of international importance, encompassing three interconnected brackish lakes connected by the Myall River. The water character shifts noticeably across the system — the southern reaches carry tannin-stained, tea-colored water from the surrounding Melaleuca forests, while the upper lake transitions to clearer water that supports abundant aquatic vegetation. This diversity of water types and habitats makes the Myall system a genuinely productive and varied fishery for both estuary and lake species.