Swanning around Lake Macquarie
If you’re looking for something with a little more edge, you can test the kids’ (and your own) driving skills on the racetrack at Go Karts Go or squeal your way down the dunes on nearby Stockton Beach, an endless stretch of sand, situated at the southern end of Newcastle Bight. You can fly down the dunes by sand board, take a trek by camel with Oakfield Ranch camel tours or wheel your way over the sand with Quad Bike King. If you’ve a head for heights, TreeTop Adventure Park in Minmi offers 96 challenges including 20 screaminducing flying foxes and four epic courses for children aged three to nine.
Family feasts
Full of knowledge but with healthy appetites we make a pit stop at the Grain Store Beer Cafe. If you’ve got young kids, don’t let the name of this eclectic local haunt fool you. The oldfashioned arcade games, board games and America diner-style eats are evidence of how owner and family man Corey Crooks, understands how to please the whole tribe.
In fact, Newcastle’s food scene has me utterly impressed. There are a variety of kid-friendly cafes and restaurants to choose from, all of which are entirely new experiences for these ex-Novocastrians. Do yourself a favour and start your day with the oozy, golden eggs at Estabar and hit up the Mediterraneaninspired Rustica on King Street for warm chocolate fondant with salted popcorn, burnt marshmallows and ice- cream. Having fallen in love with Newcastle all over again, we bid our goodbyes and drive 30 minutes to Swansea. The gateway to Lake Macquarie, this is a great spot for families and the ideal extension to a Newcastle getaway.
We make ourselves at home at the Swansea Gardens Lakeside Holiday Park. With its swimming pool, lake access, tennis court and mini- golf course, the park offers endless entertainment for both little and big kids. It’s best known for its fishing, boating, kid-friendly beaches and, of course, the black swans you’ll spot on the lake. Caves Beach is one of NSW’s best swimming spots for families. Not only does the stretch of glorious sand offer patrolled swimming, there’s also a fascinating network of sea caves clustered at its southern end.
Beyond the famous beach caves, Lake Mac Kayak & Bike Hire offers a hassle-free service; simply call Nick and tell him where you want to go and he will meet you with bikes, kayaks or paddle boards. For a change of scenery, trot through the lush landscapes of the Watagan Mountains with AAA Horse Riding.
Information
www.visitnewcastle.com.au
Getting there
Jetstar flies to Newcastle from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne. www.jetstar.com
Getting there
Allow a little over two hours to drive to Newcastle from Sydney.
Stay
www.terracesfortourists.com.au www.lakemacholidayparks.com.au
Do
www.fortscratchley.com.au www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au www.newcastlemuseum.com.au www.gokartsgo.com.au www.oakfieldranch.com.au www.quadbikeking.com.au www.treetopadventurepark.com.au www.aaahorseriding.com.au www.lakemacquariekayaks.com.au
Eat
www.grainstorenewcastle.com.au www.rustica.com.au www.qandcocafe.com