Lake Ainsworth

Lake Ainsworth is a natural freshwater coastal lake in Lennox Head, Ballina Shire, New South Wales, separated from Seven Mile Beach by a narrow sand dune. Known for its distinctive tea-tree tannin-stained waters, it is a popular recreation reserve for swimming, kayaking and picnics. Surrounded by parkland, barbecue facilities and walking tracks, the lake offers calm, sheltered waters contrasting with nearby surf beaches and serves as a central community and visitor attraction in Lennox Head.

Visitors can expect a calm, shallow freshwater lake with dark, tea-coloured water due to natural tannins from surrounding tea trees, set within a grassy foreshore reserve. The lake is fringed by parkland, picnic areas, a walking track and sandy edges with jetties and pontoon access. The setting is sheltered and family-friendly, with views across the water to coastal vegetation and dunes separating the lake from the ocean. Activities centre on swimming, paddling and relaxing on the foreshore.

A natural coastal dune lake formed between sand dunes behind Seven Mile Beach, named after James Ainsworth, an early European settler associated with the Ballina district in the 19th century. The lake has long served as a freshwater recreation reserve for the Lennox Head community and has been managed as a public reserve by Ballina Shire Council.

Located on Bundjalung Country, the lake and surrounding coastal heath are valued for their natural environment and community recreation role. The tea-tree stained waters and foreshore parkland are central to Lennox Head's local identity as a coastal village offering both ocean and lake experiences.