Do you have, or know of, a little train, plane, ship or rocket-lover? You’ll make their day (and go straight to the top of their favourite person list) by taking them to one of these great transport-themed parks in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter.
Honeysuckle Park (Honeysuckle)
This marine-themed playground is a hit with preschoolers and younger school-aged kids. The large, timber pirate ship features a slide, climbing nets, rope bridge and a ‘below deck’ hiding area, allowing for hours of physical and imaginative play.
For toddlers and younger kids, not confident with climbing, there’s a smaller boat positioned on the soft fall surface that they can hop in and out of and ‘steer’ using the timber wheel. When the kids are on the lookout for land or pirates, both boats have a set of binoculars.
Completing the marine theme is a cute, timber dolphin bouncy. Honeysuckle Park is shaded by shade sails and has plenty of seating. There is also an undercover bbq area with picnic tables. Read more about Honeysuckle Park.
Jesmond Park (Jesmond)
The playground at the back of Jesmond Park has a great play train that little ones can climb on, around and through. It is suitable for a number of kids to play on at once, allowing for plenty of imaginative and collaborative play.
Sit back and enjoy watching the kids take turns being the train driver, the passengers and helping each other in, out and through the tunnel which forms the train’s engine.
There’s other great play equipment at this playground, suitable for toddlers to older kids, including a circular swing set, a balance course and a small climbing frame that spins. There are also undercover bbqs and picnic tables. Read more about Jesmond Park.
Rathmines Park (Rathmines)
If you have a little aviation fan, it’s worth the extra drive to this plane-themed playground at Rathmines Park. The park was once home to the RAAF Catalina Flying Boat Base and features lots of themed equipment suitable for all ages.
For babies and toddlers, there’s a baby swing, and a climbing structure. Preschoolers will also enjoy the climbing structure as well as the larger plane that they can climb into and through.
Older kids will love the flying fox and learning all about the size of the Catalina Flying Boat from the signs located around the perimeter of the park. Read more about Rathmines Park.
Rose Point Park (Singleton)
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… blast off to Rose Point Park in Singleton. It’s huge and little ones will especially love the rocket-themed playground located at the back of the park. The huge climbing structure here is in the shape of a brightly-coloured rocket ship.
It has rock walls, rope nets, a fireman’s pole and a huge slide that goes all the way from the top of the rocket ship to the ground. With plenty of shaded tables, bbqs and a ton of play equipment, including the super-cool NEOS 360 active play structure, Rose Point Park is worth the extra drive. Read more about Rose Point Park.
Thomas H Halton Park (Croudace Bay)
Ahoy Matey! The centrepiece of this fully-fenced playground, and the attraction you’ll notice right away, is the massive pirate ship. The design of the pirate ship is ingenious with ramps, slides and ladders making it fun for kids to get up and down from it.
There is also plenty of space underneath for kids to play (or hide) and if you look down from the deck of the ship, you’ll notice rope tunnels, a flat climbing net and lots of portholes to peer out on the world. The park also includes a water play area and other ‘play zones’ including a toddler area. Read more about Thomas H Halton Park.
Wirraway Park (Thornton)
Take a day trip to Wirraway, Thornton, in the lower Hunter Valley and enjoy the playground at Wirraway Park, named in honour of the Wirraway aircraft and inspired by aviation and its significance to the lower Hunter region.
There’s heaps of aviation-themed equipment for kids to play on, including a bouncy seesaw and a toy plane, with a spinning propeller, that little kids can climb up into and ‘fly’. You’ll find an area at Wirraway Park to suit all ages, but the park is mostly suited to ages 6+. Read more about Wirraway Park.
Bower Reserve Playground (Medowie)
If you don’t mind travelling a little further to try out a new playground or if you’re just after a change of scenery, take a drive to The Bower Reserve playground in The Bower Estate at Medowie.
There’s so much for all ages to do at this playground featuring 2 playgrounds, 1 large and 1 small, an exercise area and a half-sized netball/basketball court all connected by a wide, meandering path perfect for scooters, balance bikes or ride-ons. The smaller toddler/preschooler playground is tractor-themed. This reserve also features some great sculptures including the large metal paper plane sculpture “Signed” by Jonathan Leahey. Read more about Bower Reserve.
Martinsville Playground
The great little fire engine seesaw at Martinsville Playground in Lake Macquarie (near Cooranbong) will appeal to aspiring firefighters. Although it’s not a big playground, it’s a nice spot to visit on a family day out. Surrounded by trees and next to a large oval, this playground has plenty of space for kids to run around, kick balls and make noise. There are also barbecues, so bring some snags to cook on the barbecue. Read more about Martinsville Playground.
Want more information about playgrounds in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter? Visit our Parks and Playgrounds section.