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Welcome to Newy with Kids!

Created by a local mum Reena Bilen with a team of contributors, Newy with Kids keeps you up to date with what’s happening in the Newcastle, NSW region. It’s your guide to family-friendly attractions, activities and events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter Valley.

Whether it’s information on parks and playgrounds, cafes, beaches and pools, school holiday activities, baby and kids concerts or family events, Newy with Kids provides readers with information about things to do with kids. No more googling “things to do with kids near me”!

Upcoming events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter?

There are always plenty of family-friendly events happening in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region. You’ll find them all on our Events Calendar. We’ve also collated Featured Events and our monthly What’s On guides as well as our annual Events list.

Searching for things to do with your kids in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & The Hunter?

Check out a list of 100 ideas of fun things to do in summer with your family in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the Hunter.
Kids getting bored during the school holidays? Have a look at our school holiday planner updated each school holidays.
Need activities to get out of the house with babies? Check out Newcastle with Babies guide.
Bored on your maternity leave? Here are 52 Weekly Challenges for New Mums.
Keep active toddlers busy with Newcastle with Toddlers guide.
Free fun? Check out the 75+ free and low cost things to do with kids in Newcastle & the Hunter.
Looking for kids classes? Here’s our big list of kids classes in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter
Get out of the house and meet new friends at Playgroup. For a list, check out the Newy with Kids Playgroup guide
Have a mums group and looking for ideas? Check out 10 activities you can do with your mums group.
Need a break? Find a family-friendly spot in the 50+ camping & holiday parks to stay within a 3 hour drive of Newcastle.

Playgrounds

We’re blessed with so many different playgrounds in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region.

Check out the Parks and Playgrounds Map on the Newy with Kids website for a list of places you can visit with your family. Click on a red marker and an image and short description of the park will appear. You can then click on a link to read the full review.

You can choose from large playgrounds like Lake Macquarie Variety Playground in Speers Point Park, Blackbutt Adventure Park in Newcastle, Bridges Hill Park in Cessnock or smaller, less-visited neighbourhood playgrounds. Check out our guides to find out more about playgrounds in our region.

Family Walks

Go for a walk with kids. We’ve put together a collection of our favourite family walks around the region. Explore historical and cultural sites, experience nature or enjoy stunning views of harbours, lakes and beaches. Whether you’re looking for a stroller-friendly walking track, a flat walk for your toddler or preschooler or a more challenging bush walk or nature hike for school-aged kids, we’ve got you covered.

Bike Rides

Jump on your bike and head out for a ride. We’ve put together a collection of our favourite family bike rides and mountain bike trails in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter to suit a variety of ages and abilities.

Swimming Spots

Head to a local beach, ocean baths or one of the swimming spots around the region. Want information on family-friendly beaches and ocean baths? Check out our top beaches for kids in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie article

Places to Visit

Never be stuck wondering what to do with kids. We’re truly blessed with some iconic spots in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region. Get out for the day and explore one of these places with your family.

Eating out with kids?

Here’s a list of Kids Eat Free places when you don’t feel like cooking.
Here’s also a guide to local restaurants with kids areas or playgrounds.

Planning a party?

Check out the Newy with Kids Ultimate Birthday Party Guide. It gives you 100+ ideas to celebrate your kids birthday including venues, local playgrounds and party services.

Need parenting resources?

Expecting a child? Here’s our popular Pregnancy & Childbirth guide which lists pregnancy, childbirth and new parent resources in Newcastle.
Check out Help & Support Resources for Parents.
If your family has additional needs, we’ve put together a guide about Family Activities for Those with Sensory Needs in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter.

Moving to Newcastle?

Planning a move to Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter region? Here’s a Newy with Kids Moving to Newcastle guide that provides lots of information about Newcastle including info on local services, education and healthcare.
One thing to know when you move to Newcastle is how intertwined it is. Check out the Newy with Kids article Newcastle & 2 Degrees of Separation which gives you an idea of how interconnected this region is (in a good way!)
Want to know what the weather is like in Newcastle? Plan your day, weekend or week with a weather forecast.

Visiting Newcastle with kids?

Just visiting but still want to know all the best things to do with kids? Check out the Top 15 things to do with kids article.

Keep up to date with Newy with Kids

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