How to spend a weekend in Newcastle with kids
Think Newcastle is all about nightlife and football? Think again. This vibrant coastal city is a playground for families – where golden beaches meet adventure parks, and wildlife encounters sit just minutes from the city centre. Whether your crew loves splashing in the surf at Nobbys Beach, tackling obstacle courses at the Ninja Parc, or spotting koalas and kangaroos at Blackbutt Reserve, Newcastle serves up non-stop fun for kids (and parents) of all ages.
From sunrise walks along the coast to sunset fish and chips on the harbour, this guide will help you plan the ultimate weekend getaway packed with fresh air, laughter and adventure. Ready to see why Newcastle is one of Australia’s best kept family secrets? Let’s dive in.
How to get to Newcastle
Driving
Newcastle is located 2 hours drive north of Sydney. It’s super simple – once you are on any motorway heading north, just follow the signs for Newcastle.
If you are travelling south, down the coast. Cross the Hunter River and follow the signs to Newcastle.
Flying
Newcastle Airport is a 30 minute drive from Newcastle and has direct flights from Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast and Melbourne and Perth. If you fly, make sure you book your taxi, Uber or airport transfer in advance.
Port Stephens buses operate the 136 bus service from Stand B hourly and will drop you off at the Newcastle Interchange. From there, catch the light rail into Newcastle. It’ll take you about an hour to get to the beach – that is if the bus is waiting for you and links up with the light rail.
Public Transport
Catch the Newcastle train from Central Station country platform (Sydney) to Newcastle Interchange. From there, jump on the light rail to the beach. The trip will take just over 3 hours if you catch the express.
Use Trip Planner | transportnsw.info for timetable information.
Where to Stay in Newcastle
Novotel Newcastle Beach is located right on Newcastle Beach. The 4 star hotel is a 5min walk from town centre and overlooks the beach! Where else can you enjoy the city and the beach within minutes?
YHA Newcastle Beach is located just behind the Novotel. This 3-star hotel has 4-star Tripadvisor reviews and a fabulous location at a fraction of the price of the beachfront resorts.
Noah’s on the Beach is another 4-star hotel located right on Newcastle Beach. It has a fantastic restaurant overlooking the sand where you can sip cocktails whilst watching the surfers catch their waves.
NRMA Stockton Beach Caravan Park is a great option if you are traveling with a caravan or camping. Located right on the Stockton Beach (there is absolutely nothing wrong with Stockton Beach – a lot quieter than the city beaches), Newcastle City and its fabulous beaches are only a short ferry trip across the harbour.
Saturday
Nobbys Breakwall
You shouldn’t visit Nobbys Beach without walking along Nobbys break-wall underneath the iconic Nobbys lighthouse. The break wall protects Newcastle Harbour from southerly swells. If you are lucky, you can see a coal ship making its way into, or out of the harbour, escorted by the harbour tug boats. These coal ships are huge!
Fort Scratchley
Fort Scratchley was built on the headland in 1882 to defend against Russian attack. It wasn’t until 8 June 1942 that the guns were fired in anger during the shelling of Newcastle by the Japanese. in fact, Fort Scratchley is the only Australian Fort to have done this.
Fort Scratchley is open to the public everyday 10am – 4pm except Tuesdays. Entry into the grounds and museum is free. Time your visit to see the timing gun fire at 1pm everyday.
You can also join a 1hr guided tour to learn about the fort’s history and explore its 600m of tunnels and gun emplacements. Due to narrow stairs and hallways, this tour is not wheelchair nor pram accessible.
Big Headphones
The big headphones are located on Darby Street, Cooks Hill. This is an interactive big thing, if you walk between the headphones it will play music. How cool is that?
Have you seen any of the other big things in Newcastle? On the highway on the way from Sydney is the big dinosaur (maybe not big as it is probably more like real size), the giant egg is at the Art Gallery and Ozzie the Mozzie is outside the Hexham Bowling Club.
Harris Farm Markets
Just down Darby Street from the Big Headphones is Harris Farm Markets – the perfect place to grab everything you need for a sensational picnic. They have every fruit and vegetable imaginable, even organic and excellent quality, an enormous selection of cheeses, a fantastic butcher and freshly baked breads.
Picnic at King Edward Park
Just a 3minute drive or 20minute walk from Harris Farm Market is King Edward Park, a green oasis of large open green spaces, picnic areas and playgrounds. Just the pace for parents to relax whilst the kids run around or climb on the playgrounds.
Swim at the Bogey Hole
Okay, The Bogey Hole is not a beach, but it is a really cool swimming hole.
The Bogey Hole is Australia’s oldest purpose built ocean pool, dating back to 1819. It was hand hewn out of the wave-cut rock platform by convicts for Major James Morisset (the longest serving Commandant of Newcastle) for his personal use. The name “Bogey Hole” came into regular use later on and is said to come from the Dharawal language meaning “to bathe”.
Access the Bogey Hole from the carpark at King Edward Park Lookout on York Drive. From there it is a steep walk to the top of a metal staircase. Walk down the metal staircase to the ocean pool below. There are places down the bottom where you can leave your towel, however when the sea is rough, your belongings are likely to get wet.
Ninja Parc
Have you ever watched Ninja Warrior and wandered if you could do those obstacles too? Well, at the Ninja Parc in Cooks Hill, you can. From the spider wall, monkey bars, cargo nets, hanging panels and the ultimate warped wall, it will provide heaps of fun challenges and exercise. Book your one hour session in advance as it gets booked out in school holidays so book in advance. It’s not just for the kids, it’s for everyone, so come on Mum and Dad, have a go and see if you can beat the kids!
Oh, and don’t worry about that warped wall. There are several heights of wall to choose from, and I, at 5ft 4in have even made it up! (Okay, it was the smallest wall and I may have had a hand up from my son.)
Sunday
Learn to Surf at Nobbys Beach
Learn to surf at iconic Nobbys Beach, where gentle waves and wide sandy shores make it perfect spot for beginners. The experienced local instructors at Newcastle Surf School will guide you from your first pop-up to your first smooth ride (and then you’ll be hooked!). This is not just an adventure for the kids, jump in the surf with them for fantastic family fun.
Check out the Pasha Bulker Monument
In the early hours of 8 June 2007, when a series of 5 East Coast Lows lashed Newcastle and caused extensive flooding. The storm will forever be remembered as the Pasha Bulker storm, when the 76,000 tonne bulk carrier, the Pasha Bulka, ran aground on Nobbys Beach and made headline news around the world.
And there it remained, stuck on the beach for 25 days. It took 3 attempts before ship could be refloated. However, part of the Pasha Bulker’s 19 tonne rudder remained, broken off on the rock reef. It was later salvaged and forms the beachside sculpture named Grounded.
Grab an Ice Cream
A day at the beach isn’t complete without an ice-cream. You can grab one (or a coffee) from the Swell Kiosk at the Surf Club. Alternatively, head to East End Ice Creamery where they make their ice cream locally and have a huge selection to choose from.
Maybe you want to check out some other beaches. Here is my Guide to the Breathtaking Beaches of Newcastle.
Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve is the perfect place to have a picnic, meet some animals and take one of 7 short walks through different ecosystems.
Entry is free (parking is not). There is a large grassy area for the kids to run around on, BBQ and picnic facilities, a playground and a cafe.
After filling your bellies, take a walk through the Wildlife Exhibit. Meet Rupert the Koala, goannas, blue tongue lizards, wombats and a wonderful variety of birds. Further up the hill, come face to face with kangaroos and emus.
I took the 2.4km trail through the forest and found a wild echidna rummaging through the undergrowth. Very cool.
Ready to Plan Your Family Adventure?
From sandy toes and surfboards to swinging through the Ninja Parc and meeting furry friends at Blackbutt Reserve, a weekend in Newcastle proves that family fun doesn’t mean long drives or big budgets – just a sense of adventure. With so much to explore, every visit brings something new to discover and another memory to treasure.
So pack the snacks, charge the camera, and get ready to make the most of your next family weekend in Newcastle. If you’ve tried any of these spots – or found a hidden gem of your own, we’d love to hear about it! Share your favourite Newcastle family moments in the comments to inspire other families to start exploring.
And after Newcastle, maybe you might want to know How to Spend a weekend in Port Stephens with kids
