You don’t need an expensive gym membership or a personal trainer to keep your family moving. Your local community is full of free and low-cost ways to get active together, from outdoor gyms next to your favourite playground to family-friendly Parkrun events. Here’s where to go and what to know before you head out.
Free outdoor gyms near local playgrounds
Councils across Australia have installed outdoor fitness stations, many right next to playgrounds, so you can squeeze in a workout while the kids play. Good local options include Islington Park, Braye Park at Waratah, Maryville, Warabrook Wetlands Reserve, Warners Bay Foreshore, Swansea Foreshore and Fingal Bay playground.
Most of these spots have shade over at least part of the equipment, but it’s worth bringing a hat and water bottle for summer visits. Parking is generally easy at each of these locations outside of peak weekend hours. They suit parents with primary school aged kids best, since younger toddlers will need close supervision near the equipment.
Family Parkrun mornings
Parkrun is a free, timed 5km walk or run held every Saturday morning across Australia, and it’s genuinely one of the best free family fitness options. There are Parkrun locations across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter, with junior Parkrun events (2km, suited to kids aged 4 to 14) run separately on Sunday mornings at select locations. Prams are welcome at most Parkrun courses, so it works even with a baby or toddler in tow. Turn up 10 minutes early for the first-timer briefing if it’s your first time.
Affordable family swimming
Skip the ocean if the kids need supervision practice first, and start with council pools. Multi-visit passes and season passes at council pools work out far cheaper per swim than casual entry, and most pools offer family rates. For older kids and confident swimmers, the region’s ocean baths are free and a great alternative to a paid swim school session.
Active walks and rides instead of the car
If you’re commuting to school drop-off, daycare or your own workplace, look for opportunities to walk, scooter or bike part of the way instead of driving the whole distance. Parking a few streets back from school and walking the rest is an easy way to build activity into the day without needing to carve out separate exercise time.
For younger kids, a stroller walk still counts. Pushing a stroller up one of the region’s hillier suburbs (Merewether and The Hill both have good inclines) turns an ordinary walk into a solid workout.
Free or low-cost fitness events for families
Keep an eye on your local council’s event calendar for free fitness sessions, which sometimes include family-friendly boxing, yoga or cross-training classes run through health promotion partnerships. These pop up seasonally, so it’s worth checking in each school term rather than assuming a one-off event will repeat. Check your local city guide for free or discounted fitness events.
Yoga and movement for parents
If you want some movement time for yourself, community centres and pay-what-you-can studios are a cheaper alternative to a standard studio membership, and many run classes during school hours, which makes it easier to fit in around drop-off and pick-up.
Budget gear for home workouts
If you’d rather work out at home once the kids are in bed, check Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree for second-hand exercise bikes, weights and yoga mats before buying new. Local gym supply companies will sometimes sell ex-demo equipment at a discount too.
More ways to save
Looking for more ways to stretch the family budget? This is just one of a growing collection of money-saving guides for Australian families we’ve put together, covering everything from groceries and household bills to free and low-cost things to do with the kids. Explore more ways to save.