9 fun things for families to do in Newcastle
Whether they’re after treetop adventures or skateboard art workshops, NEWCASTLE’s got FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN for every age group.
FANCY A TRIP to a harbour city surrounded by golden beaches, lush, green nature reserves and endless attractions for the young and not-quite-as-young? Newcastle, located a 2.5-hour drive up the east coast from Sydney, has something for everyone. Happily, we’ve come to the party with a list of ‘must-experience’ suggestions.
1. BOOK IN A MITCH REVS DECKED OUT WORKSHOP
Encourage the kids to create their own skate deck art with the two-hour MITCH REVS DECKED OUT WORKSHOP. mitchrevs.com
2. GO WHALE WATCHING
Make the most of the 35,000 humpback whale population passing through these waters between June and November with a two-hour Encounter Tour with COASTXP. coastxp.com
3. EXPLORE THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS OF FORT SCRATCHLEY
Explore FORT SCRATCHLEY (originally built to defend against the Russians) and the 600 metres of undeground tunnels on a tour. fortscratchley.org.au
4. ENJOY A DAY OUT AT BLACKBUTT RESERVE
Embrace the great outdoors at BLACKBUTT RESERVE, a 182-hectare wonderland filled with wildlife experiences, playgrounds and picnic areas. newcastle.nsw.gov.au
5. HANG ABOUT TREETOPS ADVENTURE PARK
Unleash your inner primates at TREETOPS ADVENTURE PARK, a ropes course featuring more than 100 elevated obstacles complete with zip lines. treetops.com.au
6.TAKE ON THE BIG PICTURE FEST WALKING TOUR
Book a spot on two-hour The Big Picture Fest Walking Tour with NEWCASTLE AFOOT, that will take you to many incredible large-scale murals throughout the city. newcastleafoot.com.au
7.TAKE A DIP AT MEREWETHER BATHS
Swim the largest ocean baths in the Southern Hemisphere (one of the pools has a shallow end suitable for little ones), and enjoy the nearby cafes and restaurants.
8. CYCLE (OR SCOOT) NOBBYS BEACH
Pedal the (flat and easy) bike path to the breakwall underneath the iconic Nobbys Lighthouse and back and enjoy the spectacular coastal views along the way.
9. CANOE THE HUNTER WETLANDS
Hire a canoe from the HUNTER WETLANDS and enjoy this vibrant wetland CENTRE ecosystem from the best possible vantage point. wetlands.org.au
PLACES TO STAY
Whether you’re after a serviced apartment or a holiday park, Newcastle’s got the lot. Consider QUEST NEWCASTLE WEST (questapartments.com.au) featuring multi-room serviced apartments, or THE BEACH HOUSE (airbnb.com.au), a luxury AT MEREWETHER waterside home offering all the mod-cons.