Mother’s Day is on Sunday 11 May 2025. It’s a day to celebrate mothers, nans, grandmas, carers and other important women in our lives. Celebrating on a budget? You don’t need to spend heaps to spoil your mum or nan. Choose from one of the following ideas, gather your favourite people and enjoy the day your way.
Go koala spotting at Tilligerry Habitat
Located on the Tilligerry Peninsula at Port Stephens, this 9-hectare flora and fauna reserve is approximately 45 minutes from Newcastle and is one of the best spots, locally, to see a koala in the wild. The trails and boardwalks are short, flat and well maintained so they’re great for grandparents too! Follow them down to the sandy waterfront where you’ll find spectacular views across Tanilba Bay to Snapper Island and North Arm Cove. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the picnic tables in the reserve or at nearby Caswell Reserve. Read more here.
Encourage the kids to make a handmade Mother’s Day gift
Handmade gifts are the best! This Mother’s Day encourage the kids to make a handmade gift for Mum, Nan, Grandma or other important lady in their lives. You can try these Mother’s Day Craft Ideas Using Items You Can Find at Home. Other ways you can encourage the kids to get creative is to draw Mum a picture showing why she is special to them or, if they play an instrument or sing, have them learn one of her favourite songs.
Relax with a coffee while the kids play at a playground
There are plenty of playgrounds with nearby cafes in the local area. Ring ahead to make sure your chosen cafe is open, then grab a coffee (or other hot or cold drink) as well as a special treat from the display fridge and kick back, relax and enjoy while the kids wear themselves out on playground equipment. Check out Newy with Kid’s List of Playgrounds With Nearby Cafes in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter for inspiration.
Enjoy a homemade breakfast
Mother’s Day wouldn’t be the same without breakfast in bed. Here are some ideas to inspire Dad and the kids to make Mother’s Day breakfast in bed extra special:
- If you have a heart-shaped cutter, make pancakes in the shape of a heart. Place on a plate, decorate with fresh berries and dust with icing sugar.
- Fill the house with a delicious aroma on Mother’s Day morning by baking a loaf of banana bread using your favourite banana bread recipe. Toast a couple of slices, spread with butter, peanut butter or yoghurt and fresh fruit and serve.
- Slice a red or green capsicum into large rings and use them as egg rings to fry Mum’s eggs. Serve up the eggs, complete with capsicum ring, on buttered toast.
- Make Mum a ‘big breakfast’ with fried bacon, eggs her preferred way, potato gems or hash browns and sliced and fried tomato. Serve with toast.
- Health-conscious mums might appreciate a breakfast smoothie instead. Use fresh fruit (like strawberries and banana), a tub of yoghurt, almond or coconut milk and add any greens or ‘extras’ you think she might like.
- Breakfast Skewers – Thread some of Mum’s favourite fruit onto skewer sticks then add another element such as mini pancakes, protein balls or donut holes to make them extra special. Place on a plate and drizzle with a small amount of melted honey.
Enjoy Mother’s Day at Hunter Region Botanic Gardens
Visit the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens on Sunday 12 May for their Mother’s Day Market and Pamper Day. Located 5km north of Hexham Bridge, the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens consist of more than 30 hectares of native and exotic plants in a 140 hectare natural bushland setting. Stay all day, explore the beautiful gardens, grounds and orchid houses and make use of the facilities including the picnic areas and BBQ.
Enjoy a picnic lunch (or morning/afternoon tea) at a local picnic spot
If the weather is good, pack a picnic lunch, a thermos and a picnic rug and take the family to one of these Best Picnic Spots in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter. If it happens to rain you can always throw out a picnic rug and enjoy a picnic on the lounge room floor at home.
Walk to Nobbys Headland
Enjoy some exercise and time outdoors with your family on Mother’s Day and explore iconic Nobbys Headland. The site is open on weekends and offers 360-degree views of the city, harbour and our spectacular coastline. Check out the Macquarie Pier Revitalisation Project that includes the installation of interpretive heritage signage and an audio tour along the route to tell the story of Newcastle’s maritime history. Read more about Exploring Nobbys Headland on Weekends.
Enjoy a Family Bike Ride
If the weather is favourable, enjoy the day by getting out of the house and going for a bike ride with the family. Newy with Kids have put together a collection of 15 Kid-Friendly Cycle Paths in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter. If mum like mountain biking, check out list of best family-friendly mountain biking trails to enjoy in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter.
Create a Spa at Home
Get creative with the kids and enjoy some at-home spa treatments. You don’t need to look any further than your kitchen pantry to make these Kid-Friendly DIY Pamper Ideas for a Fun Spa Day at Home. Set the scene with some relaxing music and you’ll be feeling relaxed and pampered in no time (or, at the very least, fill an hour of the day with some messy fun).
Visit Blackbutt Reserve
Enjoy a day with the family and visit Blackbutt Reserve. If you’re feeling energetic you can walk one of the 9 different walking trails in the reserve or take along a bbq or picnic lunch and just enjoy the tranquil atmosphere at one of Newcastle’s most popular attractions. Read more about Visiting Blackbutt Reserve.
For Mother’s Day events happening in our region see What’s On for Mother’s Day 2025.
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