The annual Santa photo is a tradition for many local families. Here are details on where to find Santa and Christmas photo sessions around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter for Christmas 2025.
There are also Sensitive Santa photo sessions as well as Santa Pet photos and AUSLAN Santa sessions. As well as paid Santa photos, there’s also free Santa family photos available as well as Selfies with Santa.
Featured listings are posted at the top. We thank these businesses for their support of Newy with Kids. Be sure to tell them you found them in the Newy with Kids Christmas Photos Guide.
Natural Lights Photography Christmas Photos
Start planning your family Christmas photos! Natural Lights Photography are dedicated to creating timeless and beautiful images that capture life’s special moments and offer family Christmas photos at local iconic locations. There’s Santa in the Park sessions at Tocal Homestead and Morpeth Common in the Hunter Valley, and also the Christmas winter wonderland sessions at Catherine Hill Bay in Lake Macquarie.
Dates: Saturday 1 November – Sunday 14 December 2025
Location: Catherine Hill Bay, Tocal Homestead and Morpeth Common
Website: Natural Lights Photography
Glendale City Centre
Join Glendale City Centre for a special holiday experience! Bring your family and friends to meet Santa Claus and create unforgettable memories with their professional photo sessions. Get a family photo with Santa at Glendale City Centre. There’s regular sessions, three Santa Pet Photography sessions on Thursday 4, 11 & 18 December., plus a Sensitive Santa Session on Wednesday 3 December.
Dates: Friday 28 November – Wednesday 24 December 2025
Location: Located inside Event Cinemas.
Website: Glendale City Centre
Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular
You can get your photos taken with Santa at Hunter Valley Gardens. Santa photos are available from 5:30pm – 10pm every night until Christmas Eve at the event marquee located near the food stalls. Santa photos cannot be pre-booked. but HVG recommend arriving early when there is minimal wait. Photos will be emailed to your designated email addresses or uploaded to Facebook.
Dates: Friday 7 November – Friday 26 December 2025
Location: Event Marquee located near the food stalls, Hunter Valley Gardens
Website: Hunter Valley Gardens
The Levee, Maitland Santa Photos – FREE
Simply visit to The Riverlink at The Levee, Maitland during session times, scan the QR code and join the digital queue. Once you have provided your details you can explore The Levee and they will text you when it’s nearly your turn. These sessions are free of charge. Your photos will be emailed to you within three business days. Please note: There is also a paid Santa photo session at The Levee on Saturday 20 December from 9am – 12pm, with a booking fee of $15.
There’s also a session for your furbabies with a special per-friendly session. All proceeds from The Levee pet friendly session, on Tuesday 16 December, will be donated to Hunter Wildlife Rescue. To make sure the pet friendly session takes place safely, there is a booking system to limit the number of furry friends at The Riverlink at any one time. Please note there are strictly no pets at any The Levee sessions other than their dedicated pet friendly session.
Dates: Thursday 27 November until Saturday 20 December
Times: Sessions times are Thursdays 3pm to 7.30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 9am to 1.30pm.
Location: The Riverlink, The Levee Maitland
Website: The Levee
Wheeler Place
Over three weekends, starting on 28 November, Santa himself will be at Wheeler Place in Newcastle CBD to meet with families and be available for photos on Fridays from 5pm to 7pm and Sundays from 4pm to 6pm.
Wheeler Place will be transformed into a festive space for the whole community. Snap a photo with Santa in his sleigh in front of the Christmas tree or let your pet take the reins for an adorable holiday paw-trait.
Dates: 28 & 30 November, 5 & 7 December and 12 & 14 December
Times: Fridays 5pm – 7pm & Sundays 4pm – 6pm
Location: Wheeler Place, Newcastle CBD
Website: City of Newcastle
Additional Options
Charlestown Square
Capture the magic of Christmas at Charlestown Square. Celebrate the magic of the season and capture unforgettable moments with Santa! Whether it’s a cherished family tradition or a fun memory with friends, our Santa Photo Sessions are the perfect way to capture the JOY this Christmas. Santa will be at Charlestown Square from Saturday 15th November 2025. For more information, visit the Charlestown Square website.
JadyBugs Santa on the Beach
Have your photo taken with an Aussie beach Santa. Newcastle’s original Santa on the Beach is back in 2025 with five different locations to choose from – Blacksmiths, Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach (Hams Beach), Naru and Redhead. Pets are welcome, on leash, at Blacksmiths, Naru, Catherine Hill Bay and Hams Beach to be a part of the family photograph. For more information visit the JadyBugs website.
Jesmond Central – FREE
Meet Santa at Jesmond Central and capture your very own free festive memories and receive a surprise Muffin Break gift from Santa’s helper, from Thursday 11 December – Wednesday 24 December, 2025.
Maitland Showground – FREE
Catch Santa at Maitland Showground on Tuesday 16 December, at the first ever Christmas in the Sky Event. Grab a FREE Santa photo and then hang around to see the Maitland sky light up with a spectacular Christmas Drone Light Show at 9pm!
Minmi Santa Photos
Get a photo taken with the popular Minmi Santa. In 2025, the children will get to meet Santa plus there will be personalised bauble making. For more information visit the Minmi Santa Facebook page.
PETQuarters Santa Meet and Greets – FREE
Get ready for a magical encounter as Santa Claus makes a special stop at PETQuarters Belmont, Broadmeadow, Glendale and Morisset! Bring your pets and family along to share in the festive fun — kids can tell Santa their wishes, pets can strike their best holiday pose, and everyone can snap a photo to remember the season. Visit the PETQuarters facebook page more details, including dates.
Sandy Claus
Sandy Claus are at Redhead and Merewether again in 2025 as well as their Bush and Lake locations. Sandy Claus have three Santas and The Grinch to choose from. For more information, visit the Photos with Sandy Claus website.
Simon Gorges Photography – Mini Christmas Sessions
Recommended by a Neurodiverse family, these Christmas sessions offer a calm family photography experience in a home environment in Cardiff from a photographer with ND experience. Simon Gorges Photography offers a 20-minute mini Christmas portrait shoot with unlimited digital photographs for a family of up to six people. A Christmas tree, themed backdrop (barn door and archway), and a whole lot of very Merry Christmas decorative elements create a cozy, festive season mood.
Stockland Green Hills
Make Christmas a holiday with family Santa photos at Stockland Green Hills! Don’t miss the magical photo experience at the enchanting Christmas photography set from Thursday 6 November 2025. Paws and Claus and Sensitive Santa sessions also available! Bookings are essential for all Santa photography sessions, including Paws and Claus and Sensitive Santa. For more information visit the Stockland Green Hills website.
Waratah Village – FREE
Waratah Village is excited to bring Santa and his helpers to meet and greet you this Christmas. Come and get a free photo with Santa and receive four (4) 8″ x 6″ prints per family. Session dates are from Monday 15 December – Monday 22 December 2025. Bookings are essential. Make sure you get in early. Booking form on the Waratah Village website.
Westfield Kotara
Create a Christmas memory and book your photo with Santa at Westfield Kotara. There is a range of options to suit your family, including Santa Photos, Family and Friends Sessions, Sensitive Santa, Auslan Santa and pet photography. For more information visit the Westfield Kotara website.
Feature photo credit: Natural Lights Photography
If you want to be included as a Featured Listing on the Christmas & Santa Photo guide, get in touch.
🎄 🎅🏼 Make sure that you don’t miss any of the other fun and family-friendly Christmas events and activities in Newcastle and the Hunter, visit the Newy with Kids Guide to Christmas.