COOLING OFF: Zac Allan, 3, Rachael Robertson-Hanning, 10, Natasha Robertson-Hanning, 12, Lacey Allan, 1½, and Monique Allan, 8, all from Sydney's Northern Beaches, on holiday at the lake at Pelican. Picture: Lee Tobin
ZINC, sun shirts and broad-brimmed hats were essential for lake-goers at Pelican last Friday, as extreme temperatures scorched the Hunter.
Lake Macquarie was the region's hottest spot, hitting 45.2 degrees, surpassing its previous high of 41.8.
Newcastle also recorded its highest temperature of 42.5 degrees at Nobbys Beach, at 3.20pm.
Nobbys' previous hottest day on record was 42 degrees on December 23, 1990.
Among those cooling down by the water were Rachael and Natasha Robertson-Hanning, aged 10 and 12, and Monique, Zac and Lacey Allan, 8, 3 and 18 months.
The kids were on holiday together from Sydney's Northern Beaches and said Pelican lake was a great spot to relax in the hot weather.
Between splashing around and playing with their beach toys, the youngsters made sure to drink water and reapply sunscreen regularly.
"The weather is so hot - you've got to be careful," Natasha said.
While the kids weren't so bothered by the heatwave, Hunter residents can take a big sigh of relief with temperatures now expected to remain cooler.
Newcastle saw the last burst of the prolonged heatwave on Friday, when it moved across the state from central Australia bringing a blast of heat.
Such weather is not expected to hit Australia again this summer.