If you’re looking for a park or playground in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter with plenty of shade on a hot, sunny day check out our list. Some have extra tree coverage, others have shade provided by shade sails and some have both. Is there any we’ve missed? Let us know so that we can add them.
Newcastle Area
Centennial Park
The beautiful large Norfolk Pines and Fig Trees in Centennial Park, Cooks Hill provide the playground area with plenty of shade. It’s also a lovely spot to throw out a picnic rug, either on the grass or under the rotunda.
Gregson Park
Located in Hamilton, Gregson Park receives plenty of shade from the large Fig Trees and Palm Trees. The trees also provide some shade to the revamped playground area.
Gross Street Reserve Playground
Gross Street Reserve Playground is a hidden gem in Tighes Hill. With lots of play equipment to keep kids busy as well as a toddler area, undercover picnic tables and plenty of shade, this serene playground is well worth a visit and is a perfect spot to catch up with other parents and carers.
Honeysuckle Park
The fun pirate-themed playground at Honeysuckle Park is shaded by three large shade sails. There’s also a large undercover BBQ area with picnic tables. It’s a nice shady spot to stop, rest and let the kids play during a stroll along the foreshore.
Jesmond Park
The two playgrounds at Jesmond Park are set amongst many tall, large trees creating a shady and peaceful bushland setting (in the section that’s away from the Newcastle bypass construction). You’ll also find a half-basketball court, a disc (frisbee) golf course and plenty of walking tracks and paths.
King Edward Park
While the playground itself at King Edward Park doesn’t have shade sails, it does receive a small amount of shade from the trees in the park. The park area receives plenty of shade from the big, old trees surrounding it and is the perfect spot for a picnic or a playdate.
Lambton Park
There are plenty of trees at Lambton Park, including some large Fig Trees which shade the park beautifully. The trees also provide a good amount of shade to the toddler/preschool play area.
Richley Reserve (Blackbutt Reserve)
The adventure playground located at Richley Reserve at Blackbutt Reserve has large shade sails over some of the play equipment and also receives shade from the surrounding trees. There are also undercover BBQ areas and picnic tables.
Lake Macquarie Area
Baxter Park Playground
Located at Nords Wharf, on the shores of Lake Macquarie, the playground at Baxter Park is well shaded by the many large trees surrounding it. There are also BBQ’s, picnic tables and amenities nearby.
Bennett Park Playground
There’s lots of trees at Bennett Park in Valentine. Located lakeside in Valentine, there’s plenty of fun play equipment in this playground which was refurbished in 2021.
Chapman Oval Playground
The large trees surrounding the Chapman Oval playground, located next to Chapman Oval and near the Swansea Channel, make it one of the more shaded playgrounds in the Lake Macquarie area. The equipment is best suited to kids 5+.
Cooranbong Reserve Playground
Tall, mature trees provide shade to the large playground area at Cooranbong Reserve. With a play tower, accessible roundabout, water play area, scooter track, barbecues, nearby basketball court and more, families with kids of all ages could easily spend a couple of hours here.
Forest Hill Reserve Playground
With equipment suited to toddlers/preschoolers and an undercover picnic table, this small playground in Garden Suburb is beautifully shaded by the surrounding trees and is a nice, quiet place for a picnic.
Jewells Parade Reserve Playground
Located in a shaded reserve at Jewells, this small playground includes swings, a park bench and shaded grassed areas to throw out a picnic rug.
Karakai Park
Surrounded by trees, Karakai Park Playground in Murrays Beach has shaded areas. Opened in 2023, this playground has plenty to appeal to kids of different ages as it has a playground, double-sided hit wall and a half-court basketball court. This peaceful playground nestled in bushland has a natural theme to it and this is reflected in the wooden play equipment, sandstone seating and landscaping.
Neegulbah Park
There are plenty of mature trees surrounding Neegulbah Park at Macquarie Hills, providing shade to the playground area. There’s only one picnic table though, so pack a picnic rug to spread out on the ground under the shade of the trees.
St John’s Memorial Park
Have some fun at the playground at St John’s Memorial Park, next door to Tingira Heights Fire Station. Spot the fire trucks as your kids play! St John’s Memorial Park is a small playground but has everything your kids need for a fun time at the park.
Taylor Park Complex Playground
With equipment to suit all ages, this playground in Barnsley is well-shaded by the many tall trees surrounding it.
Maitland/Hunter Area
Bridges Hill Park Playground
This large playground located at Bridges Hill Park Playground in Cessnock is set amongst a forest of trees, creating plenty of shaded areas. Many parts of the playground area are shaded by shade sails as well and there’s also covered picnic areas.
Huntlee District Park One
With large shade sails over the toddler area, swings and climbing cube, plus undercover picnic tables and trees, Huntlee District Park One is a great option if you are looking for a place for a playdate where kids can play, yet escape the sun.
John Tucker Park Playground
Located within the spacious and picturesque John Tucker Park at Paterson is a great, fully-fenced kids playground. Featuring slides, climbing equipment, a seesaw and more, the playground is also completely shaded by a large shade sail. There are also undercover picnic tables, bbqs and modern amenities, making John Tucker Park the perfect destination for a day out with the family.
Maitland Park All Abilities Playground
The big, old, beautiful trees are one of the many great features of Maitland Park. The fenced, all abilities playground is dotted with trees and the toddler section has a large shade sail overhead. Outside the playground there are plenty of shady spots to eat, either in the shade of one of the many trees or at one of the undercover picnic tables. Even the car park is shaded, so you won’t have to climb back in to a hot car on summer’s day.
Raworth Park
Raworth Park is a large, fenced playground and the toddler/preschool climbing equipment is positioned under a huge shade sail. There is also an undercover picnic table and BBQ area.
Rose Point Park
Rose Point Park, located at Singleton, has lots of big trees scattered throughout, providing shade to many parts of the playground. There are also shaded benches plus undercover BBQ’s and picnic tables.
Roy Jordan Oval Playground
Part of the Roy Jordan Oval Playground at Gillieston Heights has a large shade sail providing shade. Covering the swings, roundabout, and inground trampoline. Unfortunately the climbing equipment and skate park aren’t shaded, but there are shaded seating areas and the young trees surrounding the space will soon provide much-needed extra shade on sunny days.
Victor Warby Reserve Playground
The toddler/preschooler area of the Playground at Victor Warby Reserve, Gillieston Heights is shaded by a large shade sail. There’s a small climbing tower with a slide, a low rock climbing wall, a bouncy, a seesaw and a pretend car that little ones can sit in and “drive”. Although other elements of the playground are unshaded, there are plenty of covered picnic tables and large trees.
Port Stephens Area
Bower Reserve Playground
This large playground located in the Bower Reserve at Medowie has plenty of shade provided by the tall gum trees dotted throughout. There’s also a half basketball court, fitness area and four large, undercover picnic areas.
Fern Bay Reserve Playground
The fenced Fern Bay Reserve includes something for all ages and is well shaded by large shade sails. There is also an undercover picnic table and BBQ.
Finnan Park
While the small playground itself isn’t shaded, there are plenty of shady spots in Finnan Park to sit and have a picnic. Either throw out a picnic rug under the shade of one of the many big, old trees or eat at one of the undercover picnic areas.