Baby & Kids Classes in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter

Finding the right class for your child can make a big difference — not just in what they learn, but in their confidence, friendships and love of trying new things. Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter region have a strong offering of kids classes, from early movement programs for babies and toddlers through to drama, martial arts, art, STEM and academic tutoring for older kids and teens.

This guide brings together quality class providers across the region, organised by category so you can find what suits your child. Whether you’re looking for something creative, physical, academic or social, there’s plenty to explore locally.

Classes run on a term basis in most cases, so it’s worth enquiring early — especially for popular programs that fill quickly.

Active Kids and Creative Kids Vouchers

If you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A or Family Tax Benefit Part B, your child may be eligible for NSW Government vouchers to help with the cost of classes. Active Kids vouchers (sport and fitness) and Creative Kids vouchers (arts and creative activities) can each save you up to $100 per child per year. Check eligibility and apply at the Service NSW website before enrolling.

Jump to a category:

Baby, Toddler & Early Learning
Creative, Art & Music
Dance, Movement & Performance
School Readiness, Learning, STEM & Tutoring
Sport, Fitness & Martial Arts

Baby, Toddler & Early Learning

Classes designed to support early development, connection and play for babies, toddlers and carers.

Silly Billy Sports

Silly Billy Sports is an engaging kids multi-sports program specifically designed for children aged from 2 to 6 years old. Our Tiny Tots class is specifically designed for children aged from 2 to 3 years old. It is a fun initiation to sports where the fundamentals taught are basic. Together, you discover 8 different sports and we help them to develop their motor skills, coordination, and confidence in a fun, friendly, and non-competitive environment. Silly Billy Sports will set your child on the path to a lifetime love of sports.

Location: Cooks Hill, Hamilton, Merewether, Warners Bay, and Gateshead
Age(s): Tiny Tots (2 – 3), Little Stars (3-4), Little Legends (4-5)
Website

Tiny Moves

Tiny Moves is all about providing a safe, nurturing space for children 3 months to 4 years to explore and express themselves.

Our high energy classes boost confidence, coordination, and gross motor skills using dancing, songs and instruments. We offer a safe space for expression, emotional regulation and school readiness, all while creating beautiful moments of connection.

In Tiny Moves classes, there’s no right or wrong, children are free to learn, develop, and, most importantly, have fun!

Tiny Moves incorporates a wide range of activities, including:

Musical instruments and rhythm play
Singing and dancing
Storytime
Obstacle courses
Gentle mindfulness exercises

Location: Thursday – New Lambton Uniting Church, Friday – Adamstown Uniting Church
Age(s): 3 months to 4 years
Website

Kindergym

Book into KinderGym at your local PCYC. This parent/adult assisted class is designed to give your little one a head start in life! With a focus on learning through play, each lesson will use colours, sounds and other stimulation to help your child develop their body control and strengthen brain connections through balance, sensory stimulation, tactile experience and coordination exercises. Children will learn to roll, climb, jump and swing all while having fun and socializing with parents and other children.

Locations: PCYC Newcastle, PCYC Lake Macquarie, PCYC Maitland and PCYC Cessnock
Age(s): 18m – 5yrs
Website

There’s other baby classes and activities. Newcastle Libraries hosts free, Baby Book Time programs for babies under 12 months using stories, rhymes, and songs. Lake Macquarie City Council hosts Mother’s Club, a free weekly event at MAP mima. Mother’s Club offers a beautiful opportunity for mums and dads to slow down, connect, and enjoy meaningful time with their babies in a calm and welcoming space.

Creative, Art & Music Classes

Art, craft, music and creative writing classes that nurture imagination and skill.

The Creative Wordshop

Since its founding in 2015 by Newcastle-based authors, Ed Wright and Wendy James, The Creative Word Shop has taught writing to adults and children in the Hunter and beyond. Together with quality collaborators such as kids’ book author Jess Black, they have conducted workshops for thousands of primary and secondary students in local schools and their school holiday and after school Creative Writing Workshops for kids continue to grow in popularity. The Creative Word Shop run workshops, online workshops and Selective Schools Tests Writing Workshops.

Address: 3/27 Throsby Street, Wickham
Website

Newcastle Art Gallery: Studio Weekends

Since its full reopening in February 2026, Newcastle Art Gallery has been running Studio Weekends, a free drop-in art program held every Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There’s no need to book, families simply turn up and create together, with each session inspired by whatever exhibition is currently on show. It suits a wide range of ages, from younger kids through to tweens and teens, and makes for an easy school holiday outing or weekend activity.

Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Address: 1 Laman Street, Newcastle
Phone: (02) 4974 5100
Website

Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG): Free Art Sundays

MRAG runs Free Art Sundays every week from 10am to 12pm, giving kids the chance to get hands-on with art activities inspired by current exhibitions. Bookings aren’t required and all ages are welcome, so it’s an easy one to build into a regular weekend routine rather than a one-off. Café Seraphine on site means there’s somewhere for parents to grab a coffee while the kids get creative.

Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Address: High Street, Maitland
Website

Looking for more free options like these? Our Free Kids Art Workshops guide rounds up the other regular drop-in sessions across the region.

Dance, Movement & Performance

Dance, cheer, drama and movement-based classes that build coordination, confidence and creativity.

Hunter Drama

Hunter Drama, the leading provider in drama education across the Hunter region is expanding with new locations, classes, productions and staff. Established in 2007, Hunter Drama has cemented a reputation as an institution providing excellence and professionalism in the areas of young actor training, musical theatre and the dramatic arts through classes including Young Actors Program, Musical Theatre, the senior drama ensemble Actors Company, Writer’s Lab, Improv and a Pre-Diploma of Musical Theatre. Classes are offered for children from kindergarten age right through to 18+.

Now operating from venues in Islington, Broadmeadow, Singleton, Cessnock, Valentine, Morpeth and Lakelands, there are also several new faces in the team, who are passionate and dedicated to fostering young talent and inspiring young people to be the best possible versions of themselves.

Ages: Kindergarten to 18 years
Address: Venues in Islington, Broadmeadow, Singleton, Cessnock, Valentine, Morpeth and Lakelands
Phone: 1 300 367 852
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Tantrum Youth Arts

Led by professional artists working in the industry, Tantrum’s weekly after-school drama classes in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are structured to bring out the best in young performers – and the year is packed with exciting performance opportunities.

Tantrum’s programs train young people in original performance-making, using drama exercises that build skills in improvisation, acting, and theatre-craft. Tantrum’s workshops are inclusive and non-competitive environments, prioritising well-being, creative expression, and fun.

Tantrum is also celebrating its 50th birthday in 2026. That’s 50 years of providing transformative arts programs that help young people grow in confidence, connection, and creativity. Sign up for a free trial workshop today.

Ages: 5+
Office Address: The Place Charlestown Community Centre, Charlestown Square.
Cnr Frederick and Pearson Streets, Charlestown NSW 2290
Workshops in: Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
Phone: (02) 4929 7279
Website

School Readiness, Learning, STEM & Tutoring

Academic support, coding, STEM and enrichment programs for preschoolers, school-aged kids and teens.

Space to Grow

Prepare your child for success! Our engaging, hands-on school readiness classes help little learners develop essential skills – social and emotional, independence, fine motor, and cognitive – while building confidence and excitement for school. With an experienced teacher and nurturing small-group environment, your child will gain a solid foundation for future learning. Get your child ready for their big school adventure! Join us today at Space to Grow and watch your child thrive.

Address: 18 Morehead Street, Lambton
Phone: 0466715440
Website

Little Bang Discovery Club

Calling all preschoolers and their carers – do you have Wednesday mornings available? Have fun in July at Newcastle Museum with hands-on science for preschoolers: noticing, sorting, naming, collecting, comparing, questioning and experimenting! Your mini scientists will develop their skills over four sessions, each session building on the last one. This is a new offering from Newcastle Museum and will run every school term!

Date: Running every school term
Time: 10.15 – 11.15am
Location: Newcastle Museum
Age Group: 3-5 years and their carers. Recommended one carer per mini scientist.
Cost: $25 total per preschooler for the four sessions, carers free. Bookings required.
Website

The Creative Word Shop

Ages: Year 5
Address: 3/27 Throsby Street, Wickham
Phone: 0408 788 765
Website

The Creative Word Shop offers a hands-on workshop to help students prepare for the short writing tasks that are part of the Selective Schools Entry and ACER scholarship tests. Students practice both narrative and persuasive writing within the 30-minute limits of the tests. They provide individual feedback on their writing as the class progresses.

The Young Architects

This hands-on super-fun workshop allows students aged 12 to 16 to harness their creativity and design potential with Artist Jen Denzin alongside a talented architect student from the University of Newcastle. This is a rare opportunity for young people to learn about the art of architecture and everything that goes into our homes, places and spaces. Students will learn the basic principles of architecture and then get a chance to build their own project, with all materials supplied. This is a free program proudly supported by NSW Government, Cleverpatch and EJE Architecture.

Ages: 12 – 16
Address: Maitland Regional Art Gallery
Website

Sport, Fitness & Martial Arts

Programs focused on physical development, discipline and confidence, from team sports to martial arts.

Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre

At Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre (HVMAC), we’ve been teaching more than martial arts since 1983. We specialise in helping children reach their full potential. Watch your child develop amazing levels of mental and physical focus, strength, confidence, resilience and agility all while having fun and building strong social connections in a fun, safe environment.

With a range of programs suited to all age groups from 18 months, our qualified instructors inspire students to empower themselves as individuals who are energetic, powerful, self-motivated and in control.

Hayes Kyoshi and Shihan Sandy developed the programs at HVMAC drawing on years of teaching experience. Character development is central to HVMAC’s programs; through martial arts exercises and games, students become strong both physically and mentally.

Enquire now to get a free uniform, free registration and first two weeks free upon enrolment with no lock in contract. Book a free introduction in any of our programs to experience what HVMAC has to offer.

Ages: 18 months to 18 years & adults and over 55s.
Locations: Warners Bay, Redhead, Green Hills, Morisset, Waratah and Maryland
Phone: 02 4956 8876
Website | Facebook | Instagram

PCYC Newcastle

PCYC Newcastle has been part of the local community since 1938, running a broad mix of sport, fitness and cultural programs for kids and teens. On offer are gymnastics including Kindergym for the little ones, junior boxing for ages 7 to 12, fencing for 10 and up, table tennis, karate, cheerleading, circus skills and arts and crafts, plus school holiday programs covering everything from multi-sport to coding and skateboarding.

Ages: Toddlers through to teens
Address: Cnr Young Street and Melbourne Street, Broadmeadow
Phone: (02) 4961 4493
Website

PCYC Lake Macquarie

Based in Windale since 1983, PCYC Lake Macquarie offers a similarly wide program, from Kindergym and recreational or competitive gymnastics through to junior and all-girls boxing, judo, jiu jitsu and fencing. There’s also a full-day school holiday program packed with multi-sport, creative challenges and games.

Ages: Toddlers through to teens
Address: 2b Lake Street, Windale
Website

PCYC Maitland

For families further out in the Hunter, PCYC Maitland has been running since 1952 and offers one of the broadest programs in the region, including a full gymnastics pathway from Kindergym through to competitive squads, a dedicated martial arts centre covering judo, aikido and jiu jitsu, fencing for 10 and up, and roller skating. School holiday programs run as full days for ages 5 to 12, with everything from STEM challenges and Lego Masters to Nerf wars and circus acrobatics.

Ages: Toddlers through to teens
Address: 3 James Street, Maitland
Phone: (02) 4934 7122
Website

PCYC Cessnock

PCYC Cessnock stands out for two things you won’t find at the other Hunter clubs, an indoor skate park and an 18 metre indoor rock climbing wall, among the tallest in the state. Beyond that there’s Kindy gymnastics, trampolining, boxing, table tennis, archery, music lessons and LEGO classes, plus skateboard, scooter and BMX classes for older kids. School holiday programs cater to ages 18 months to 12 years.

Ages: 18 months to teens
Address: 1B Short Street, Cessnock
Phone: (02) 4991 1407
Website

For more sports, check out our Kids Sports Guide. This guide covers local clubs and programs in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter across AFL, cricket, soccer, netball, rugby, sailing and more — for kids aged 3 to 17.

Run a kids class or program?

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