Looking for an easy summer adventure by the sea? This coastal route between Strzelecki Lookout and Merewether Beach is packed with kid-friendly stops, ocean swims and relaxed beach vibes. It’s the kind of outing where you can spend a whole day or just dip into one or two highlights.
This experience is part of our Family Day Out series, featuring low-cost adventures across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter that make the most of the warmer months.
Start your day at Strzelecki Lookout, a headland high above the coast with sweeping views and hang gliders often launching into the sky.
From here, walk the Newcastle ANZAC Memorial Walk, a scenic clifftop path built to honour local World War I soldiers. The path is paved and stroller-friendly with amazing views the whole way. There are stairs at the end so if you’re bringing a stroller or wheelchair, you’ll need to return back to the car park area.
From here, you can go down the series of clifftop steps linking it to the Bather’s Way on Memorial Drive.
Make your way down to Bar Beach, a family favourite with gentler waves thanks to its sandbar.
Bar Beach is patrolled all year long and is great for a swim, sandcastle session or relaxing in the shade of your beach tent. The corner by the sea cliff is especially popular with families.
If you didn’t bring lunch, grab some takeaway fish and chips from the beach kiosk or pack a picnic and enjoy it by the sea. There’s seating by and above the kiosk.
If the kids feel like a play, check out the skate park and playground. There’s Empire Skate Park if the kids want to stop for a skate or scoot as well as a hit wall. For younger kids under 5, the Empire Park Playground is ideal with age-appropriate play equipment.
If you want to continue a tour of the beaches, walk, scoot or drive down to Dixon Park Beach, where you’ll find a grassy park and a Dixon Park Beach playground with views of the ocean. Dixon Park Beach is patrolled from the end of September to the end of April if you fancy another swim.
Continue on to Merewether Beach, where you can swim between the flags or grab a treat from a nearby café. Merewether Beach are patrolled all year round.
If you prefer ocean baths, swim at Merewether Ocean Baths, the largest ocean pool complex in the Southern Hemisphere.
There’s a shallower kids area which is perfect for kids who prefer splashing around in pools over waves.
