75 Activities for Teenagers Around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter

Looking for fun activities around town to keep your teenagers entertained? Whether they’re into sports, arts, or just hanging out with friends, there’s plenty happening locally to keep them busy.

From adrenaline-pumping adventures to chill spots to unwind, we’ve rounded up the best places and activities in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and the Hunter region that teens will actually enjoy. (We’ve had help from compiling this list from the experts — local high school students).

This list of activities isn’t just for locals looking for activities teens can do with their friends or planning some quality family time – it’s also perfect for tourists visiting the area and wanting to make the most of their trip with activities that teens will love.

From hidden gems that only the locals know to popular attractions that visitors shouldn’t miss, we’ve got something for everyone! So, whether you’re bonding with family or checking out new spots as a tourist, we’ve got you covered.

Shoot some hoops

Whether you’re shooting hoops or playing a pickup game of basketball, here’s a list of Playgrounds With Basketball Courts in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter.

Hit a pump track

Pump tracks are popping up around the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region, and they’re a guaranteed hit with kids on bikes, skateboards and scooters.

Have some fun at Dullboy’s

There’s no shortage of fun activities for teens at Dullboy’s. Located at Warners Bay and Rutherford, teens can enjoy tenpin bowling lanes, 18 hole mini golf courses, video arcade games, dodgem cars, and our famous virtual reality simulations.

Go mountain biking

Head out on the trails. Here are some recommendations for some of the best family-friendly mountain bike tracks in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region.

Hit the beach

Here in the Newcastle region, we are blessed with beaches from Port Stephens to the north to Lake Macquarie beaches to the south. They range from city surf beaches to sheltered family-friendly beaches and pools. For teens, beaches like Nobbys Beach, Newcastle Beach, Bar Beach and Merewether are easy to get to via public transit. There’s also surf beaches at Redhead Beach and Blacksmiths Beach. For beaches with a nearby skate park, visit Bar Beach, Newcastle Beach or Redhead.

Go for a skate

There’s tons of skate parks in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter where teens can shred. The newest spot is South Newcastle Beach.

Head indoors for a skate

If the weather doesn’t suit outdoor skating and scootering, try Parrey’s Indoor Skate Park at Cardiff. The park is suitable for skate, scooter and rider enthusiasts with a wide variety of ramps, rails, stairs and obstacles and they cater for all rider levels.

Deck out a skateboard workshop

Looking for a creative activity that’s as unique as your teen’s personality? Look no further than Decked Out workshops, developed by the talented local artist Mitch Revs! Your teen will have a blast crafting their very own decorated skate decks, perfect for those who love art and adventure. 

Go geocaching

Use your smartphone to explore the outdoors by going geocaching. It’s a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices.

Cool off at The Bogey Hole

Go for a swim at The Bogey Hole. This much loved swimming hole below King Edward Park in Newcastle is a great place to cool off and steep yourself in local history. The Bogey Hole was built by convict labour by order of Commandant Morisset who served as Commandant of Newcastle from 1819 to 1822.

Practice your Ninja Warrior skills

Teens can swing, jump and climb like a ninja at Ninja Parc. Suitable for teens of all ages and abilities, Ninja Parc features a soft-fall padded obstacle course with over 20 obstacles including a triple warped wall, giant tumble track and airbags. You’ll also find Climb Parc in the same building as Ninja Parc (but separate to it). Climb Parc features 19 climbing walls of varying difficulty, each with an auto self-belay making transitions between walls simple.

Visit Blackbutt Reserve

Visit the animals at Blackbutt Reserve. Blackbutt Reserve is a 182 hectare reserve in the middle of Newcastle’s suburbs which features walking trails, children’s playgrounds and tranquil picnic areas. However, its wildlife exhibits are the main attraction as it is home to koalas, emus, wallabies, wombats and peacocks.

Take a tunnel tour

Take a guided tour and explore underneath Fort Scratchley. This former coastal defence installation is now a museum open to the public and offers tunnel tours.

Go for a sculpture walk

Discover outdoor art on Lake Macquarie’s Sculpture Walk, a flat 2 kilometre walk or cycle from Eleebana to Warners Bay.

Play beach volleyball

Grab a group of friends and head to the beach volleyball courts at Newcastle Beach or Nobbys Beach in Newcastle. You can head down at any time without making a booking, just jump online to the Beach Volleyball Newcastle NSW social group on Facebook, see who’s available and head down to play!

Appreciate street art

There is no shortage of street art throughout Newcastle. From larger pieces of art and murals to lesser-known back alley artworks, you’ll find multiple artworks around town by some of Newcastle’s favourite artists, like Trevor Dickinson, Matt Adnate and Jordan Lucky. The nature of street art is that it is forever changing, much like the city itself, so grab the kids and go out on a walk or bike ride in the city, take some some photos and be inspired!

Venture along the Fernleigh Track

An abandoned coal and passenger rail line with a tunnel, the 15 kilometre Fernleigh Track is a popular walking & cycling path connecting Newcastle & Lake Macquarie. It has multiple entry and exit points, which means you can tackle as little or as much as you like – from a quick stroll to a half-day adventure.

See a show

Head out to a local venue and watch a musical, comedy or concert. Check out venues like Civic Theatre Newcastle, Cessnock Performing Art Centre, Warners Bay Theatre, Newcastle Exhibition Centre (NEX) and Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

Lean into YA fiction

Write fan fiction, draw character art, 3D print models, Cosplay and more at the Young Adult Book Club, on the first Thursday of the month at Newcastle Library.

Climb Newcastle Cathedral

You can climb the tower at Newcastle Cathedral for a great view of the harbour and city.

Find reading materials

Find a new book to read at a local street library. A street library is basically a micro-library that people have installed in their front yard.

Head to a museum or art gallery

If you need a culture fix, head to a local museum or art gallery. Enjoy a family day out with your kids to learn more about aviation at Fighterworld, life in the early 1900’s at Miss Porter’s House, Hunter history at Newcastle Museum, life as a prisoner at Maitland Gaol (CURRENTLY CLOSED) and more. Newcastle Art Gallery is currently closed for redevelopment, but there’s lots on offer for arty teens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima) and the Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture (MAC).

Hit the rink

Go ice skating at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay. As well as publis skating times throughout the week, they have a Friday Night Skate from 7:30pm to 10pm.

Spot koalas

Try to spot koalas at Tilligerry Habitat at Tanilba Bay. This foreshore reserve in Port Stephens is a favourite feeding and resting spot for local koalas. The Tilligerry Habitat is a community based Ecotourism Information Centre which organises guided walks including koala spotting and a range of other eco activities.

Get fit outdoors

Work out with your friends or family at one of the outdoor fitness stations. In Newcastle, get fit at outdoor fitness stations located at Camp Shortland, Islington Park, Lambton Park, Stockton Foreshore, South Newcastle Beach and Wallsend Active Hub. In Lake Macquarie, there’s seven fitness trails including locations in Cameron Park, Croudace Bay, Speers Point Swansea and Warners Bay

Get out of an escape room

Experience the adventure of an escape room with your kids. For those unfamiliar with escape rooms, these are a fully immersive experience where teams of 2 to 6 players are “locked” in a room and must solve a series of challenging puzzles to escape a room in just 60 minutes.

Race go-karts

Discover the need for speed and go go-karting. Go-Karts-Go has courses at Broadmeadow, Kearsley & Nelson Bay. If you want an indoor option, Xtreme Karts Warners Bay is a huge indoor centre, purpose-built for go kart racing. Their high powered electric karts combine with a multi-level race track that allows for racing in any weather in a safe, controlled environment. 

Play mini-golf

If your teens love mini-golf, there’s a range of putt putt courses, both indoor and outdoors in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter to enjoy with your kids.

Represent youth

Provide input into local community issues by joining the Newcastle Youth Council or Lake Macquarie Youth Council.

Get your hands dirty

Get involved in Junior Landcare and help restore a degraded environment.

Stargazing with friends

Go stargazing on a clear night. If your knowledge of astronomy is lacking, spot planets and constellations using ABC Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky.

DIY photography tour

Go for a walk through the city streets of Newcastle, along Newcastle harbour, beaches or parks and take photos as part of your own photography tour.

Play frisbee golf

Ever played disc golf? It’s like golf only using a frisbee and it’s available to play for free at 4 courses in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region

Throw axes

If you’ve ever wanted to hurl a hatchet, head to Maniax Axe Throwing. Here teens (with a responsible adult onsite) can channel their inner warrior and throw axes. Session includes a safety and coaching session

Get up close to animals

Do your teens love animals? Check out these zoos, wildlife parks and reserves in Newcastle & Hunter Valley that give visitors the opportunities to get up close to animals. You can see koalas and kangaroos at Blackbutt, spot turtles at Myuna Bay or see a Tasmanian Devil at Aussie Ark.

Ride a segway

Experience the thrill of riding on a self-balancing Segway through Hunter Wetlands with NSW Segway.

Free water activities

Want to entertain your tweens and teens? Head to Trinity Point Marina. You can try try e-biking, stand up paddleboarding or kayaking for free.

Do a ParkRun

Walk or run a 5K ParkRun. Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are free, open to everyone and safe and easy to take part in. Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 8am. You just need to register on their website before your first run to get a barcode for registration and timing. There are currently 12 Parkruns in the region.

Go bowling

Take the family tenpin bowling at one of the bowling alleys in the region. SuperStrike have bowling alleys at Dullboy’s Warners Bay, Salamander Bay and Strike Bowling Charlestown. You’ll also find a bowling alley at Dullboy’s Rutherford. StrikeZone Raymond Terrace is another great indoor venue.

Walk up to Nobbys Lighthouse

Walk up to Nobbys Headland in Newcastle. It’s an 800 metre walk from the Nobbys Beach car park with a bit of a steep climb at the end. Up at the top, you’ll get close to the lighthouse and enjoy great views of Nobbys Beach, Stockton, the Harbour and back to Newcastle. It’s currently open weekends and public holidays from 8am to 4pm.

Pat sharks and stingrays

Get up close to sharks and stingrays at the Irukandji Shark & Ray Centre. Change into a wetsuit and climb into one of the lagoons to get up close and personal.

Support your local sports team

Buy a family pass or membership to support the NRL and NWRL Newcastle Knights teams or the Newcastle Jets men and women’s soccer team. 

Go sandboarding

Sandboarding in the dunes of Stockton is a great activity for the whole family. This involves sliding down a massive slope on a nylon board. You’ll also enjoy a 4WD tour of the dunes to get to the giant sand bowl.

Venture along the Great North Walk

Walk different, smaller sections of the Great North Walk. It’s over 250km from Newcastle to Sydney. One shorter walk we recommend is the Yuelarbah Walk in Glenrock State Conservation Area. This walk takes you along bridges, past waterfalls and through beautiful rainforest to Glenrock Lagoon. At just under 3.4 kilometres each way, this bush walk is great for teens and those with varying levels of fitness (as there are some steep parts). The Yuelarbah Walk is a great way to spend a couple of hours, get out into nature and grab some Insta-worthy snaps

Go tobogganing

Don’t feel like sandboarding. How about tobogganing down a 1km track? Experience excessive family fun at Toboggan Hill Park in Nelson Bay. Enjoy a toboggan ride, giant maze, rock climbing, bumper cars, mini golf and roller skating.

Learn how to surf

 Learn how to surf with Newcastle Surf School or try the trendier stand up paddle boarding with Newcastle Stand Up Paddle School.

Spot dolphins and whales

 Go on a dolphin or whale watching trip on Coast XP, Nova Cruises or Moonshadow Cruises. It’s ideal for exploring the Newcastle coast and see Newcastle from the water

Enjoy the views on the Hickson Street walk

The Hickson Street walking track in Merewether is simply sublime. Offering panoramic views of Glenrock and the southern coastline, the walk winds its way down to the sandy expanse of Burwood Beach. It’s a steep walk back but teens will be able to easily manage it.

Get on an animal

Try horse riding or camel riding at Port Stephens.

Upcycle your clothes

Book in for a workshop at Upcycle Newcastle and learn how to recycle old jeans and t-shirts into tote bags, yoga mat bags, aprons, skirts and more.

Explore caves

A popular spot in Lake Macquarie, Caves Beach features a network of sea caves only accessible during low tide. Teens can combine a visit to the beach with exploring the sea caves and rock pools. There’s a variety of different sized caves to explore, some of them with narrow openings to crawl through as well as tidal pools to explore outside the caves. In addition to the caves, there is lots to do at Caves Beach including swimming, surfing and sunbaking.

Go climbing

Push yourself out of your comfort zone and try indoor rock climbing at Pulse Climbing. They offer special youth classes.

Go for a bike ride

Get on your bike! Ride one of the many cycle paths in the region. The Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region is full of some of the most beautiful and fun bike paths to suit any cyclists.

Explore Kooragang

Take bikes over to Hunter Wetlands National Park and explore Kooragang Wetlands, World WarII relics and more.

Go to a drive in movie

Discover the magic of the drive in movie at Heddon Greta Drive-In! Pack up your teens and the car, grab some blankets and your favourite movie night snacks – and head to the Heddon Greta Drive In!

Swim at Newcastle Ocean Baths

With its Art Deco facade, Newcastle Ocean Baths is an iconic swimming spot with lifeguard services provided 7 days a week all year round. With its pool depth, it’s best suited to kids who can swim or wear a swim vest. The complex is divided into two areas – a general swimming area and a separate area for those wishing to swim laps.

Go for a dip at Belmont Baths

If you feel like swimming in Lake Macquarie, go for a dip in Belmont Baths. It’s a top spot to cool off in salt-water Lake Macquarie. The swimming enclosure consists of a netted swimming area 70m long and 45m wide along with a 70 metre jetty that’s fun to jump off. There’s plenty of room for everyone including those with inflatables.

Swing through the trees

Tackle a Tree Ropes Course at Treetops Adventure Park at Blue Gum Hills or Central Coast.

Join a local sporting team

Check out our huge list of local sporting clubs for teens. There’s everything from Baseball and Dance to Ice Hockey and Martial Arts.

Go op shopping

Head to an op shop with your friends! You can shop for pre-used clothes at your local Vinnies, Salvos or independent op or vintage shop. It’s a sustainable and affordable activity. Check out the op shops at Wallsend, Toronto and Hamilton.

Newy with Kids Scavenger Hunt

Get teens exploring with a Newy with Kids scavenger hunt. There’s scavenger hunts for specific locations in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and even one in Nelson Bay. Along the way, you’ll discover interesting facts and notice hidden gems. Best thing is these scavenger hunts are self-directed so teens can go at their own pace.

Stroll through a weekend market

Newcastle is home to a plethora of talented makers and artisans and, most weekends, there’s a selection of markets to choose from including Farmers Markets, Olive Tree Market and Homegrown Markets. If a trash’n’treasure market is more your thing, you can’t go past the Lions Club of Adamstown Markets held every Sunday.

Explore Shipwreck Walk

To see reminders of Newcastle’s maritime history, take your teens for a walk along the northern breakwater in Stockton. You can catch the 5-minute ferry from Queens Wharf in Newcastle. Explore Shipwreck Walk, a walk along the Stockton Breakwater which incorporates the wrecks and hulks of several iron and steel ships within the structure.

Go plane spotting

Watch fighter jets take off from Williamtown RAAF base near Newcastle Airport. It’s a fun and free activity. Just be sure to check when the jets are flying. You’ll have the chance to see takeoffs and landings, touch-and-go’s as well as flyovers. And, in between times, commercial aircraft and helicopters come and go creating the perfect ‘plane spotting’ opportunity.

Go on a ghost tour

If you’re looking for an interesting tour, join Renata Daniel from Newcastle Ghost Tours on her ‘not too scary’ tour “Haunted Tales of Newcastle”.

Explore the wetlands

There’s plenty of nature to see at Hunter Wetlands Centre in Shortland. It’s a top spot to reconnect teens with nature. There’s reptile talks, bird feeding talks, walking and cycling tracks. You can also hire canoes to explore Ironbark Creek at the Wetlands.

Walk across Stockton Bridge

Try the Newcastle version of the Bridge Climb and walk across Stockton Bridge. The bridge is more than 50 years old and if you don’t mind traffic noise, you can actually walk across it. This walk isn’t for the faint-hearted or easily scared teend as you’re walking along the centre of the bridge with traffic whizzing by on both sides. But don’t worry, you’re separated from the traffic with the shared pathway being in the centre of the two lanes on each side.

Battle friends at laser tag

Teens can test their combat skills at laser tag. There’s an amazing laser tag arena at Strike Bowling in Charlestown or at Red Alert Laser Tag in Warners Bay.

Have an ice cream break

Treat the kids to an ice cream by the harbour, beach or lake by trying one from our list of Best Ice Cream Shops in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.

Visit Maitland Gaol – CLOSED

Go for a tour of Maitland Gaol and hear stories of amazing escapes from this notorious prison via the Escaping Maitland Gaol Self-Guided Audio Tour. If you’re feeling brave, try escaping from gaol yourself with a Get Out Escape Rooms experience.

Search for books

On a rainy day, gather the family and browse a local bookshop. Some of our favourites are Harry Hartog (located at Stockland Greenhills and Westfield Kotara), MacLean’s Booksellers, Hamilton and Betty Loves Books at The Station in Newcastle. There’s a great selection of second-hand bookshops located along Beaumont Street, Hamilton as well as Cooks Hill Books near Newcastle City Library.

Kayak or stand up paddleboarding

Get out and enjoy the water around the region in a kayak or on a stand up paddle board. Here is a list of places where you can go for a paddle with your family around the region.

Go orienteering

Try orienteering at a permanent orienteering course at Blue Gums Regional Park at Minmi or Brickworks Park, Wallsend.

Search for fossils

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