Nothing says ‘summer’ quite like the squeals of delight from children playing at a water park – running through a water fountain, being dumped with water from a tipping bucket or moving about to dodge water jets and cannons.
Gather family and friends and get the kids outdoors and having fun this summer. To help you get started, here are seven fantastic water parks in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Hunter Valley region where kids can cool off and play to their heart’s content.
Charlestown Swim Centre
The best thing about the splash pad at Charlestown Swim Centre is that it’s fully fenced! Being shaded as well, it’s definitely the pick of the water parks for toddlers. Re-opening in the September school holidays, your little one will have the time of their life hiding underneath the small water fountains and splashing around and through the water jets. Kids will also love operating the water cannon. There’s a large ring which squirts water from all directions and the tipping buckets here are smaller than at other water parks so it’s great for younger kids.
When it’s time to stop for a rest or bite to eat, there are benches and shaded, grassed areas located within the fence. Bring a picnic or grab something to eat from the cafe on site. Read more about Charlestown Swim Centre.
Lambton Pool
The Aquatic Playground at Lambton Pool has long been a favourite with locals and it’s easy to see why. With a large tipping bucket, slides, water jets and a splash pad, all set amongst a relaxing grassed area, it’s the perfect spot for kids to cool down on a hot summer’s day. There’s also the waterslide for kids to enjoy.
Lambton Pool has been reopened for the season since late August. Refer to the Lambton Pool website for information on current entry fees and operating hours. Read more about Lambton Pool.
Maitland Aquatic Centre
The outdoor pools and splash pad at Maitland Aquatic Centre are a top spot to head to when it’s hot. The splash pad is partially shaded and features two slides, a large tipping bucket, water fountains and water cannons. Grab your ice creams from the canteen at the Aquatic Centre, which also sells hot and cold food. According to the website, the Splash Pad operates 11am to 4pm on weekends.
Combine your trip to Maitland Aquatic Centre with a visit to Maitland Park Playground. It’s right next door!
Oakvale Wildlife Park
Your entry fee to Oakvale Wildlife Park includes access to their Splash Bay Water Park. Splash Bay is a great wildlife-themed water park for kids with water cannons, spray tunnels and a tipping bucket. There’s also a water wheelchair available for hire by prior arrangement. Showers and change rooms are also available.
Pack a picnic or barbecue lunch as there are plenty of shaded picnic tables and free-to-use barbecues or purchase hot and cold food from the cafe. Read more about Oakvale Wildlife Park.
SPLASH Water Park in Nelson Bay
Head to Nelson Bay to have a go at SPLASH Water Park, an inflatable water park. Located just off Nelson Bay, participants are kitted out with life jackets before swimming out to the course. There you can spend an hour on the SPLASH Waterpark. It’s heaps of fun for the whole family as you attempt to complete the course.
Be prepared for lots of wipeouts as you slip off and then have to get back on to the course. Minimum age is 6 years and must be able to swim unaided to and from the waterpark. SPLASH Water Park is open in Nelson Bay for the summer school holidays and will reopen on 11 April 2025.
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC
There are two additional water parks on our list but they are not open to the public. They are restricted to families staying at at the accommodation.
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
*** ONLY AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES STAYING THERE ***
The Rydges Resort Hunter Valley is a family-friendly resort, with a splash park that’s only open to guests of the hotel. It it not open to the public. In an amazing shade of hot pink and purple, the splash park is over two storeys high, with heated water allowing year-round use.
Kids will love sliding down the small enclosed and open slides, playing with the water cannons and splashing around the flumes and jets, but the highlight is the tipping water bucket. It’s a huge berry, which fills with 600 litres of water before emptying every few minutes in a gigantic splash!
The water park is unsupervised, so parents and carers need to keep an eye on children at all times, however there are plenty of lounges located around the park from which to supervise. The splash park at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley is open from 9am to dusk.
Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park
*** ONLY AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES STAYING THERE ***
With two waterslides, a 200-litre water tipping bucket, an umbrella-post water feature, in-ground water sprays and two water cannons, the splash park at Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park is great for kids big and small. The yellow slide is slow, so it’s great for younger kids. Bigger kids will love the faster blue slide. There are shade sails, as well as paths and ramps throughout, making it accessible to those with a disability. Stage two of the splash park, which was completed in 2023, added a toddler slide, spinning splashers and mini tipping buckets.
The splash park is only accessible to families staying at the Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park and their guests (guests must pay a fee to use the splash park). It it not open to the public.
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