TWO Lake Macquarie businesswomen hope their high-end pop-up picnic business will boost the area's "luxury tourism profile".
Natalie Murray and Samantha Watts have launched Luxe Lakeside, offering luxury picnics mainly in their local area, but also the Hunter Valley and Newcastle.
Mrs Murray, who owns a corporate communications business, and Ms Watts, who operates recruitment agencies, both live in the Coal Point area and met on a community Facebook group.
Mrs Murray said the idea to start the business came last year, when Ms Watts noticed luxury picnic pop-ups emerging in capital cities.
"We thought they looked beautiful and were a wonderful idea, taking the work out of picnicking: just inviting people to turn up and enjoy themselves and the fun side of picnics, which is sitting in a beautiful location with wonderful people wining and dining, but not doing the setting up, packing up, cleaning up," she said.
Notwithstanding extreme weather, Mrs Murray said Australia's climate is favourable for picnics [Luxe Lakeside does, however, offer indoor options, and always has a 'Plan B' in bad weather].
"We wanted to offer something different to the market in terms of a luxurious social dining experience outside a restaurant, bar or club. Something that utilises the lake's foreshore, where there is plenty of grassy patches, trees and numerous places to enjoy a private, peaceful picnic," she said, adding they also organise picnics in the wineries, in Newcastle and further afield.
Luxe Lakeside offers four picnic themes which are styled by Louise Mackay Interior Design.
It also offers premium catering by local businesses including Pork Ewe Deli, Candyland Chic, Choux Patisserie, Covered in Crumbs, Wonderland Kitchen and SugarStyle.
Catering to those celebrating birthdays, weddings, proposals, baby gender reveals and more, Luxe Lakeside is a Lake Macquarie Tourism Partner and has teamed up with other businesses: "proposal" picnics can include a flight with Joy Air, while boat tours are included with Coast XP.
