Enjoy a picnic in the Newcastle area! We’ve put together a guide to the best picnic spots in the Cessnock area, including those with barbecues, playgrounds and amenities. Know a great picnic spot we’ve missed? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.
Bathers Way, Bar Beach
For a picnic with a stunning beach view, head to one of the picnic tables at Bar Beach along the Bathers Way! The sheltered tables offer a million dollar view of the coastline. With wide shared paths, it’s a great place for scooters, bikes and skateboards. For more fun, head to Empire Park playground or skate park across the road.
Blackbutt Reserve, Kotara
Head to either the Carnley Avenue entrance (Animal exhibits) or Richley Reserve (Adventure Playground) for a picnic. There’s plenty of picnic spots at both, including picnic shelters, barbecues and plenty of grassed areas to throw down a rug. Both areas have large playgrounds for the kids to burn off excess energy. Read more about Blackbutt Reserve.
Blue Gum Hills Park, Minmi
Take a trip out to Blue Gum Hills Regional Park at Minmi, near Fletcher. It’s a lovely, large bushland park with lots of space for a picnic. Choose from covered picnic shelters or throw a picnic rug down on the grass. The park features barbecues, so bring some snags if you feel like cooking. Nearby, you’ll find a unique playground reflecting the history of the area with a mining theme. If you feel like walking, there are walking tracks throughout the park including the easy 2.5km Heritage Walking Track which takes you past coal mining infrastructure. Read more about Blue Gum Hills Regional Park.
Brickworks Park, Wallsend
Brickworks Park in Wallsend is another great spot with plenty of space for families and groups. It features a playground, nature trails and a peaceful pond area with an observation area to observe the abundant birdlife. It’s hard to believe that this quiet and tranquil park, hidden away behind trees, is in the middle of a suburb. As well as the fantastic playground, there are picnic shelters and barbecue facilities. Read more about Brickworks Park.
Centennial Park, Cooks Hill
Located in the middle of Cooks Hill, Centennial Park is a beautiful spot for a picnic. There’s lots of grassed area surrounded by trees plus a modern playground and rotunda. There are picnic tables, but bring chairs or picnic blankets so that you can laze around on the grass or even in the rotunda. Read more about Centennial Park.
Dixon Park, Merewether
Covered picnic shelters and a beautiful beach view make Dixon Park an ideal spot for a picnic. There are barbecues if you want to cook, and a playground and toilets are only a short walk away. There’s another picnic shelter right by the playground if you can nab it. Plus, if the weather is nice, you can go for a swim after your picnic. Read more about Dixon Park.
Gregson Park, Hamilton
Revitalised in 2024, Gregson Park is now a top spot for a picnic. The cleverly designed playground is divided into different areas, all visible from a distance so parents and carers can easily keep an eye on children. There’s a new covered picnic area equipped with two barbecues next to the amenities block. There’s also plenty of grass if you want to bring your own tables and chairs. With accessible equipment and lots of wide paths winding their way through the park, there’s plenty for kids to explore. Read more about Gregson Park.
Hickson Street Track, Merewether
Just a short walk from Hickson Street in Merewether, the Hickson Street Track meanders down to Burwood Beach. The bush, at the start of the track, gives way to a huge, panoramic view of the southern coastline. This section has been beautifully landscaped, with wide sandstone steps leading down to a lookout covered in artificial grass, and is a popular picnic spot. When the wind is co-operating, the area is used as a launching spot for hang gliders. Read more about the Hickson Street Track.
PLEASE NOTE: As the gliding pad area was paid for and is used by the Newcastle Hang Gliding and Paragliding clubs, please take care and do not sit on the grass or be in the vicinity of the grass when there are hang gliders/paragliders around.
There’s also a picnic shelter by the playground that you can nab if it’s free. Plus you can go for a swim at Dixon Park Beach after the picnic, weather permitting.
Islington Park, Islington
With plenty of space and lots of covered shelters and benches, Islington Park is a great spot for a picnic. There’s also a great playground with a scooter track. If you feel like a game of netball or basketball, there’s a half court or, for an impromptu game of hide and seek, there’s plenty of trees and playground equipment to hide behind. Read more about Islington Park.
Jesmond Park, Jesmond
There are picnic tables and benches scattered all around Jesmond Park, making it an ideal spot for a picnic. The back playground is quieter and also has covered picnic shelters and barbecues. There are loads of things for kids to do at Jesmond Park including a large playground, half-basketball court and a frisbee golf course. Just remember to bring the mozzie spray in summer! Read more about Jesmond Park.
Please note: The Rankin Park to Jesmond – Newcastle Inner City Bypass is under construction so some parts of Jesmond Park might experience noise.
King Edward Park, Newcastle
With a beautiful, expansive lawn and a Victorian rotunda, King Edward Park is the perfect picnic spot. Spread out your blanket in the shade of the rotunda or under one of the majestic Norfolk pines. Picnic tables are dotted around the perimeter of the park. With a playground suitable for children of all ages, King Edward Park is a popular weekend spot with families. There’s often a cricket or footy game on the go, adding to the atmosphere. Wander down to Garside Gardens, spectacular when in bloom. Read more about King Edward Park.
Lambton Park, Lambton
Lambton Park is a local favourite, perfect for a picnic. There’s covered picnic shelters and barbecue facilities, and if it’s available, you can even set up your picnic at the historic rotunda. Or, spread out a blanket beneath the shade of one of the huge trees. The park has large, open green spaces for kids to run around and a nearby playground to keep them entertained. After eating, you can enjoy a scenic walk around Lambton Park’s perimeter. Read more about Lambton Park.
Nesca Park, Bar Beach
Nesca Park is another great place for a family picnic. There are covered picnic shelters, barbecue facilities and a fun playground for the kids. Nesca Park is a large park with lots of green space and date palms, perfect for ball games and hide and seek. Read more about Nesca Park.
Newcastle Foreshore, Newcastle
The Newcastle Foreshore is an excellent spot for a picnic, offering a variety of locations. Use the picnic tables and barbecues located east of the Brewery, or simply find a sunny patch of grass in Foreshore Park. It’s a great choice for families, with plenty of room for kids to play and lovely views of Nobbys. Kids can also ride bikes, scooters or skateboards on the many paths. You can also picnic in the covered Tramsheds. Read more about Foreshore Park.
Stockton Foreshore, Stockton
The Stockton Foreshore is a lovely spot for a picnic. Watch the coal ships enter or exit and the harbour ferry travel back and forth. For families with active kids, head to the Stockton Active Hub. There’s a huge playground and skate park, all with harbour views. There’s a large, covered picnic shelter with barbecues right in the middle of the hub, making it easier for parents to watch the kids whether they’re in the playground or the skate park. Read more about Stockton Active Hub.
Wallsend Active Hub, Wallsend
The undercover tables at Wallsend Active Hub are perfect for a picnic. Kids won’t be bored here! The Wallsend Active Hub playspace features equipment for a variety of ages, a pump track for bikes, scooters and skateboards and a multi-sports courts allowing for basketball and futsal, rebound wall, climbing wall and fitness stations. Amenities are now open as part of Phase 2 of the plan for the Wallsend Active Hub, which also includes a barbecue area with shelter and seating in the future. Read more about Wallsend Active Hub.
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