Whether you’re looking at getting back into shape, doing some fun runs with your kids or grandkids, supporting a cause or enrolling your kids in a specific kids run, here are some family-friendly walks and runs in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.
Parkrun (every Saturday)
Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are free, open to everyone and safe and easy to take part in. Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 8am. You just need to register on their website before your first run to get a barcode for registration and timing.
There are currently 14 Parkruns in the region.
- Avondale University College, Cooranbong
- Blackbutt (Blackbutt Richley Reserve) in New Lambton
- Blue Gum Hills in Minmi
- Fingal Bay
- Grahamstown Aquatic Centre (Medowie)
- Lake Mac (Booragul)
- Lakeview (Belmont)
- Maitland
- Newy (Carrington)
- Nulkaba
- Singleton
- Stockton
- The Beaches (Bar Beach)
- The Terrace (Raymond Terrace)
Date: Every Saturday
Distance: 5km
Location: 14 Parkruns to choose from
Parkrun website
Stockton Sunset Run
Part of the City of Newcastle Island Triathlon Festival, this running event will be staged on Friday evening. It’s for anyone who is capable of running or walking the course. The profile is very flat and the event is conducted on mostly concrete paths along the Foreshore of Stockton.
Date: Saturday 31 January 2026
Distance: 5km, 10.55km and 21.5km
Location: Stockton
Island Tri website
Lake Macquarie Triathalon Festival
Swim, cycle and run in beautiful Lake Macquarie! This welcoming event is perfect for all levels – from juniors and first-timers to experienced athletes. Enjoy calm, protected swim waters, a flat closed-road cycle, and a scenic lakeside run.
Date: Sunday 8 March 2026
Distance: Standard, sprint & short course triathlons, junior triathlons
Location: Speers Point Park
Lake Macquarie Triathalon Festival website
Memory Walk and Jog
Join the Memory Walk and Jog on the foreshore at Speers Point Park, Speers Point on Sunday 23 March 2025 for a morning of family-friendly fun, fitness and fundraising for Dementia Australia. Select either 2km, 5.5km walk or jog or timed 9km run event as your preferred distance. Whichever way you decide to move, you’ll be helping beat dementia to the finish line. Open to all ages, however, under 18s will need an adult with them at the event.
Date: Sunday 23 March 2025
Distance: 2km walk, 5.5km walk or jog, 9km run
Location: Speers Point Park, Speers Point
Memory Walk website
Halfa Hill to Harbour
The Halfa Hill to Harbour is a part of the NewRun Festival. You will start the event at the 6km point of the Hill to Harbour Course, near The Station (old Newcastle Railway station) and runs the last 6km of the course past Queens Wharf, Honeysuckle and Newcastle Marina. It’s for runners or walkers who are not quite up to the full 12km of the longer event. Children aged 12-17 can enter.
Date: Sunday 6 April 2025
Distance: 6km
Location: Newcastle
Hill to Harbour website
2K4FUN
The 2K4FUN is a part of the NewRun Festival and is for anyone from age 4yo who wants to participate in the event atmosphere. Everyone gets a medal. Parents who have competed in the main event can accompany their kid. It’s a 2km run from the finish line of the main event, back 1km on the paths around Throsby Bay and back.
Date: Sunday 6 April 2025
Distance: 1km
Location: Newcastle
Hill to Harbour website
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is a fun and moving experience that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services. Celebrated by more than 4 million people in over 20 countries, this inspirational overnight event empowers and unites local communities to make strides toward our ultimate vision – a cancer free future.
Join the Newcastle team in the 2025 Newcastle Relay and join the thousands of Australians who take part in Cancer Council’s Relay For Life each year and make strides towards a cancer free future.
Date: Date for 2025 TBA
Location: Hunter Sports Centre, Glendale
Relay For Life website
Mother’s Day Classic
Mother’s Day Classic (MDC) is getting ready to take place in Newcastle again. The MDC walk/run event will be held on Sunday 11 May and this year the event is raising funds and awareness for vital breast and ovarian cancer research.
In addition to the 5km walk or run along the beautiful Stockton Foreshore, with views of Nobbys Beach, Newcastle Harbour and Stockton Beach, there will be food and market stalls and more! It is family friendly and an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate those people affected by breast and ovarian cancer and help raise money for life saving research.
Date: Sunday 11 May 2025
Distance: 5km
Location: Stockton Foreshore
Mother’s Day Classic website
Maitland Running Festival
For a fun family walk/run, complete one lap (4km), two laps (8km) or three laps (12km) of the Maitland Running Festival. There is also a 5 lap Half Marathon course. The start, finish and lap location for the event will be the world class Maitland Regional Athletics Centre. The track has excellent facilities and allows great access to the field for runners and spectators as well as running along the foreshore of the Hunter River. Kids over 6 are eligible to enter the 4km event. The 8km event is open to kids aged 6+ while the 12km event is for 12+ (children under 12 need to be accompanied).
Date: Sunday 1 June 2025
Distance: 4k, 8km, 12km walk or run
Location: Starting / Finishing at Maitland Regional Athletics Centre
Maitland River Run website
Raffertys Coastal Run
Raffertys Coastal Run is a 12km, 22km or 36km trail run. Also returning in 2025, in conjunction with the Raffertys Coastal Run, is the Raffertys Kids Fun Run. Giving kids aged 5 to 12 an event to get excited about, the Raffertys Kids Fun Run will take place within the grounds of Raffertys Resort. 1.4km in length, all runners will receive an official race bib and finishers medal.
Date: Saturday 5 July 2025
Distance: 1.4km Kids Fun Run or 12km, 22km or 36km trail run
Location: Rafferty’s Resort, Cams Wharf
Rafferty’s Coastal Run website
Hunter Valley Winery Run
Hunter Valley Winery Run includes a 5km Winery Wander, a 10.5km Run, Half Marathon, Marathon and Winery Kids Marathon (2km). The 5km Winery Wander course runs in and around the spectacular Hunter Valley Wine Country and is ideal for those wanting a hit out before lunch and those building up their running/walking.
Date: Sunday 20 July 2025
Distance: 5km, 10.5km, 21.1km
Location: Wandin Estate, Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley Winery Run website
Hunter Valley Winery Run Kids Marathon
This event can be entered either as a stand along 2km run or as part of the Kids Marathon program, where kids run 5km per weeks for 8 weeks to accumulate 40km and then complete their marathon journey. Children able to run or walk the 2km course. Parents are allowed to accompany their children, however children are encouraged to run across the line by themselves. Children unable to complete the 40km of pre-event running can still participate.
Date: Sunday 20 July 2025
Distance: 2km
Location: Wandin Estate, Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley Winery Run website
Move for MADA
Move for MADA is an annual event that raises funds for Maitland against domestic abuse and encourage physical and mental health. This free event is filled with family fun, live music, stall and food trucks, kids entertainment, charity, and the chance to speak to a professional.
Date: Sunday 27 July 2025
Distance: 2km
Location: Harold Gregson Park, Maitland
Move for MADA website
Lake Mac Run
This well known running festival has been in action since 1984 and is one of the longest-running events in New South Wales. It is a fantastic scenic road course along our beautiful lake, mostly flat and perfect for PB times. Register for the Pure Performance 21.1km Half Marathon, the Coal Services 10.5km Fun Run or the 4km Family Scamper.
Date: Sunday 14 September 2025
Distance: 21.1km, 10.5km or 4km
Location: Lake Macquarie Foreshore, The Esplanade Warners Bay
Lake Mac Run website
Colour Frenzy Newcastle
Colour Frenzy is a non-competitive fun run that welcomes all ages and all abilities and a great family event, work function or random fun for the weekend warrior. Smiling ear to ear, you’ll be laughing your way to the finish line in a frenzy of colourful happiness. Along the journey, you’ll be showered in colour, dowsed in bubbles, and you’ll take memories that last a lifetime. You can do 1,2,3,4 or all 5 laps, it’s your choice! No timing and No pressure!
Date: Sunday 28 September 2025
Distance: 1km loop. You can do 1,2,3,4 or all 5 laps.
Location: Foreshore Park, Newcastle East
Colour Frenzy website
I Run For Her
I Run For Her is an annual community event and campaign by Got Your Back Sista to take a stand against domestic violence and support victim-survivors. Walks and runs are hosted across Australia.
Date: Sunday 12 October 2025
Distance: Choose your own distance
Location: Various locations
I Run For Her website
Fernleigh15
Run the Fernleigh Track and experience the beauty of this classic old rail line that has become the place to run and ride in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. For kids aged 5-17 there’s a 1500m race. The event will be staged in front of a huge crowd at the finish line of the main Fernleigh15 run event.
Date: Sunday 19 October 2025
Distance: 15km/1500m
Location: Fernleigh Track
Fernleigh15 website
Sparke Helmore Newcastle City Triathlon
The annual Sparke Helmore Newcastle City Triathlon is staged from Camp Shortland, near the Nobbys Beach area, on Newcastle Harbour and is one of the most picturesque courses in Australia. Take part as an individual or member of a 2-3 person relay team. There’s also Junior Triathlon distances suited for ages 7-13yrs. The atmosphere is electric with spectators close to the action on the Foreshore of Newcastle Harbour.
Date: Sunday 9 November 2025
Distance: Corporate/Sprint/Junior Distances
Location: Newcastle Foreshore
Newcastle City Tri Website
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