When summer temperatures soar in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Hunter regions, keeping kids cool and entertained can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re dealing with a scorching 35-degree day or an extended heatwave, this comprehensive guide will help you and your family stay comfortable, safe, and happy during the hottest months of the year.
From local pools and beaches to air-conditioned indoor activities, we’ve covered all your options for beating the heat. Plus, if you’re planning to stay home, we’ve included practical tips for keeping your house cool and your kids occupied without leaving the comfort of your own four walls.
Go for a swim
When the temperature climbs, there’s nothing better than cooling off at a local pool.
Newcastle swimming pools
The City of Newcastle runs several fantastic pools that will be open soon for the swimming season. Great news for budget-conscious families—it’s just $2 entry for Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton, and Wallsend pools as part of a Council intiative of reduced entry fees.
Lambton Pool remains the star attraction with its impressive aquatic playground, shaded toddler pool, learner pool, and the ever-popular giant waterslide. Remember to check opening hours for the playground to avoid disappointment.
Other Newcastle pools include Stockton, Mayfield, Wallsend, and Beresfield. Each offers family-friendly facilities and relief from the heat. Just remember to plan your visit around the hottest part of the day—try to avoid being outdoors between 11am and 5pm. These open just in time for September school holidays.
Maitland swimming pools
The outdoor pool at Maitland Aquatic Centre is an excellent spot for families. The giant bucket at the aquatic playground operates on weekends, providing endless entertainment for kids. The centre features shaded baby pools, a café, and picnic areas for a full day out.
East Maitland Pool offers an Olympic-sized outdoor pool perfect for serious swimmers and those who want more space to splash around.
Lake Macquarie swimming pools
In Lake Macquarie, there are six pools in which to cool off – Charlestown Pool (which has a splash pad), Morisset, Speers Point, Swansea, Toronto and West Wallsend.
Morisset Swim Centre, Speers Point Swim Centre and Swansea Swim Centre reopened for the season so they are a great place to cool off when it’s warm. Charlestown Swim Centre, Toronto Swim Centre and West Wallsend are open year round.
Cool down at the beach or ocean baths
If you prefer salt water, head to the coast before the day gets too hot.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have some fantastic family-friendly beaches and ocean baths. Check out our guide to the 15 Best Beaches and Ocean Baths for Families to find somewhere to cool off.
For beach fun with little ones, check out the Canoe Pool at Newcastle Beach. The water isn’t too deep and the sand is perfect for erecting sandcastles. Just don’t forget a sun shelter to get some shade and make sure that the sand isn’t too hot.
Bigger kids can splash around in the Newcastle Ocean Baths. It’s been recently renovated and is a top spot to cool down.
Merewether Ocean Baths are also a great choice in the summer months. It also has a shallower sandy area protected by rocks from the ocean on the side of the baths, which is suitable for younger kids.
In Lake Macquarie, take kids to Grannies’ Pool. It’s a swimming lagoon near Blacksmiths Beach in Lake Macquarie. Facing the Swansea Channel, this shallow tidal pool is perfect for the preschooler set to splash around. As it’s a tidal pool, the depth varies so don’t go at low tide.
Older kids will love splashing around in Belmont Baths. The swimming enclosure consists of a shark-netted swimming area 70m long and 45m wide along with a 70-metre jetty that’s fun to jump off. There’s plenty of room for everyone including those with inflatables.
The upgrade of historic Toronto Baths was completed in 2024, and is great for a swim in hot weather if you’re on the west side of Lake Macquarie. This bathing area is now fully enclosed and more accessible. Upgrades include a new accessibility ramp into the water, new jetty decking and netting around the baths.
If you can’t be bothered to drag the kids and all the required paraphernalia to a pool, make your own aquatic fun at home. There are lots of fun water activities you can enjoy at home including running through a sprinkler, water balloons, water gun fights, water spraypainting and more.
Have some water fun at home
Don’t feel like packing towels, swimmers, sunscreen, snacks and everything else required for a trip to the pool?
Stay home and get wet instead.
Running through the sprinkler, water balloon fights, water guns, sponge races and water painting can keep kids entertained while helping them cool down.
We’ve rounded up 25 Water Play Activities To Do With Kids All Summer Long, with ideas for everyone from babies and toddlers through to teens. Just remember the sun protection and save outdoor water play for earlier or later in the day when temperatures are more comfortable.
Visit the playground early
If your energetic kids need to burn off steam at a playground, timing is everything. Head out very early in the morning before the heat builds and before metal slides and other equipment become too hot to touch.
Looking for a park with plenty of shade? Check out our list of shaded playgrounds in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Hunter. Some feature natural tree coverage, others have shade provided by shade sails, and many offer both. Shaded play areas can be several degrees cooler than unshaded ones, making morning play sessions more comfortable.
Stay home in the cool
Sometimes the best place to be on an extremely hot day is home.
Close curtains and blinds before the day heats up, use fans or air conditioning if you have them and spend time in the coolest part of the house.
Keep kids occupied with board games, movies, craft, LEGO, puzzles, books, video games or an indoor treasure hunt. Need more inspiration? We’ve got plenty of ideas on keeping kids entertained at home.
Cool down at the library — for free
When you need a break from the heat, go enjoy someone else’s air conditioning. Libraries are great places for some free cold air. Each City of Newcastle library is a designated “community cool spot”, which residents can visit for free to cool down. You and the kids can cool down plus borrow some books, magazines,and other stuff including Maker Kits. Lake Mac Libraries are also cool spots so visit them if there’s a branch close to you.
In the Hunter Valley area, visit one of the Maitland City Council library branches such as Maitland Library, East Maitland Library, Rutherford Library or Thornton Library. Cessnock & Kurri Kurri libraries are also designated community cool spots so visit them to escape the heat.
Visit a museum or art gallery
Also, check out museums and galleries such as the Newcastle Museum, Newcastle Art Gallery, Museum of Art and Culture and Maitland Regional Art Gallery. The kids will enjoy themselves and they might even learn something.
Head to an indoor play centre
If you don’t mind paying, indoor play centres like Kids World Playland at Stockland Green Hills, Pixie Play Cafe in Rathmines, and Chipmunks in Belmont (pictured below) can be a godsend in the heat. Here’s a list of indoor play centres in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter.
Go to the movies
Don’t forget about a chilled movie theatre. For those with babies, enjoy a session of Spit the Dummy at Reading Cinemas Charlestown or Bring Your Baby at Event Cinemas at Glendale and Kotara during the week. For older kids, there are usually kids movies screening at the cinemas.
Go bowling, play mini golf or hit the arcade
Get out of the heat and have some fun at Dullboys in Warners Bay or Rutherford for bowling and arcade games. Challenge your friends or family to a game of bowling or some indoor mini golf at Rutherford. You can also visit Strike Bowling and Holey Moley at Charlestown Square.
And if all else fails, there’s always an air-conditioned shopping centre. Charlestown Square, Westfield Kotara and Stockland Green Hills can provide some welcome relief on an extremely hot afternoon.
Go ice skating
A top place to go in a heatwave is the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay. You can cool down and try ice skating. Skate hire is included in the price.
Stay Safe in Hot Weather
On extremely hot days, make keeping everyone cool and hydrated the priority. Take plenty of water, use sun protection and consider outdoor activities earlier or later in the day when conditions are more comfortable.
Keep an eye on heatwave warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and follow current advice from NSW Health during periods of extreme heat.
For more practical tips, read our Australian family guide to keeping kids cool during a heatwave, including hydration, easy meals, cooling your home, sleep and coping with multi-day heatwaves.
Stay cool!
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