Whether you’re after a barbecue by the beach, a shady park close to home, or a harbour view while the kids run around, Newcastle delivers. Here are our picks for the best family picnic spots across the city, most with solid facilities so you can plan ahead.
Know a great spot we’ve missed? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.
Beachside Picnic Spots in Newcastle
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. Just pick one that hasn’t been affected by coastal erosion. With wide shared paths, it’s a great place for scooters, bikes and skateboards. There’s also the grassy area above Bar Beach which is a favourite for late afternoon picnics. For more fun, head to Empire Park playground or skate park across the road.
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.
Camp Shortland, Newcastle East
Sitting between Horseshoe Beach and Nobbys Beach, Camp Shortland is a spacious area ideal for families, with undercover tables, a playground, and free BBQ facilities. It’s a good option if you want a harbour-adjacent picnic without having to compete for space at the busier Foreshore Park. From here you can also walk out along the breakwall or walk up to Nobbys headland when it’s open on weekends.
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.
Picnic Spots with Barbecues in Newcastle
Blackbutt Reserve, Kotara
Blackbutt Reserve has two great entry points for a picnic. Head to the Carnley Avenue entrance for the animal exhibits or Richley Reserve for the Adventure Playground. Both have picnic shelters, barbecues, and grassed areas. With large playgrounds and wildlife walks on site, it’s easy to fill a half-day here. 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.
Gregson Park, Hamilton
Revitalised in 2024, Gregson Park is 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. There’s barbecue facilities close to the amenities block.
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.
Other Picnic Spots in Newcastle
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.
Civic Park, Newcastle CBD
Civic Park sits between Newcastle City Hall, the Newcastle Art Gallery, and the Newcastle Regional Library, with large shady trees, tiered garden beds, war memorials, and open lawns. There are no barbecues, but it’s a great spot for a casual picnic lunch, particularly on the first Saturday of the month when the park hosts a market with food trucks and local stalls.
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.
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. Read more about Wallsend Active Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blackbutt Reserve, Blue Gum Hills Regional Park, Brickworks Park, Camp Shortland, Gregson Park, Jesmond Park, Lambton Park, Nesca Park, Newcastle Foreshore, Dixon Park, Stockton Active Hub, and Islington Park all have barbecue facilities.
Bathers Way at Bar Beach, Dixon Park at Merewether, Camp Shortland near Nobbys, and Newcastle Foreshore are the best options for a picnic close to the water.
Most parks on this list have playgrounds nearby. Top picks for families with younger kids include Stockton Active Hub (barbecue inside the playground area), Blackbutt Reserve, Gregson Park, and Brickworks Park.
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