What’s open and closed over the Christmas Day and New Years break in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland? Here’s a handy holiday services guide to show you what’s open and shut over the 2024 / 2025 holiday period.
City of Newcastle Christmas Operating Hours
Beaches: City of Newcastle lifeguards are now working a seven-day summer roster. Nobbys, Bar, Merewether, Dixon Park, Newcastle and Stockton beaches are patrolled, along with Merewether Ocean Baths, until the season end scheduled for April 2025. Find out more about beach patrols.
Pools: Lambton Pool, Mayfield Pool, Stockton Pool, Wallsend Pool and Beresfield Pool will be closed on Christmas Day and reopens on Boxing Day. For more information about the holiday schedule, visit Newcastle Pools website
Newcastle Museum: Will be closed Friday 20 December, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Newcastle Art Gallery: Currently closed for renovation.
Libraries: Branches will close from midday on Friday 20 December 2024, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2025. Returns chutes will be closed at all branches (except Lambton). However, due dates will be extended beyond the closure period – so there’s no rush to return your items.
Lambton Library’s Open+ technology will provide access for library members aged 16 and up (and those aged under 16 accompanied by an adult or carer) anytime between 7am and 9pm, seven days a week through the holiday period
Blackbutt Reserve: Picnic facilities open from 7 am to 7 pm daily. Wildlife exhibits are free to enter from 10am to 4.30pm daily. Wildlife exhibits will be closed on Christmas Day.
Fort Scratchley: Closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Open as normal 10 am – 4 pm all other days. The Fort is closed on Tuesdays.
Civic Theatre: Open for scheduled performances only.
Visitor Information Centre: Closed Public Holidays: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Limited Trading Hours: Friday 27 December to Tuesday 31 December 2024, 10am – 2pm. Normal Trading Hours: Effective Thursday 2 January 2025.
City Administration Centre: Closed from midday Friday 20 December 2024, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2025.
Customer Contact Centre (phone enquiries) – All customer service operations will be closed for the festive period from midday on Friday 20 December 2024, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2025. For urgent matters, including those relating to public safety that require immediate attention, please call 02 4974 2000 for 24 hour assistance.
Waste collection: There will be no kerbside bin collections on Christmas Day. All services between Wednesday 25 December and Friday 27 December will take place one day later than usual. Please have your bins on the kerb by 5am on your revised collection day.
For more information, visit City of Newcastle website.
Lake Macquarie City Council Christmas Operating Hours
Beaches: Normal patrols at Blacksmiths, Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach and Redhead. Normal patrols are 9am-5pm.
Pools: Closed Christmas Day. Lake Mac Swim Centres will reopen Thursday 26 December 2024 without programs. Programs will resume Saturday 4 January 2025. Visit What’s open – Swim Centres – Lake Macquarie City Council.
Lake Mac Libraries
- 24 December – open until noon
- 25-29 December – all libraries closed
- 30-31 December – Charlestown and Toronto Libraries open 9am-1pm
- 1 January – all libraries closed
- 2 January – normal operating hours resume
- Self-access is available at Wangi Wangi, Cardiff, Belmont, Speers Point, Toronto and Sugar Valley Library Museum from 7am-7pm throughout the holiday period.
Museum of Art and Culture:
- 23-26 December – closed
- 27-29 December – 9am-3pm
- 30 December-1 January – closed
- 2 January – normal operating hours resume
Multi-Arts Pavilion Lake Macquarie, mima
- 23-26 December – closed
- 27 December – 9am-8pm
- 28 December – 9am-2pm
- 29 December – 9am-2pm
- 30 December-1 January – closed
- 2 January – normal operating hours resume
Waste collection: There are no waste, recycling and green waste collections on Christmas Day. All waste will be collected a day later. Bins will be serviced as usual from 29 December, including New Year’s Day. Awaba Waste Management Facility closed Christmas Day. normal operating hours resume on 26 December
Customer Service Centre, located at Speers Point Library. Closed from noon 24 December; reopens 9am 2 January. Normal operating hours are 9am-4.30pm
For more information, visit Lake Macquarie City Council website
Maitland City Council Christmas Operating Hours
Aquatic Centres:
- Closes 4pm Tuesday 24 December
- Closed Christmas Day
- 8.00am to 6.00pm Boxing Day
- Normal operating hours Friday 27 to Monday 30 December
- Open 6am to 4pm New Year’s Eve
- Open 10am to 6pm New Year’s Day
- Normal operating hours Thursday 2 January
Administration building: Closes 1pm Tuesday 24 December and will reopen Thursday 2 January 2025.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery: Closed from 3.00pm Tuesday 24 December and reopens Friday 27 December to Tuesday 31 December. Closed Wednesday 1 January. Normal operating hours Thursday 2 January 2025.
Libraries: All branches of Maitland Libraries will be closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December and will reopen Thursday 2 January 2025.
Visitor Information Centre: Closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day and reopens on Friday 27 December. Normal operating hours Friday 27 to Tuesday 31 December. Closed on New Year’s Day. Normal operating hours Thursday 2 January 2025.
Waste Collection: From Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 December, waste collections will run a day later than usual. Regular service will resume from Monday 30 December.
Maitland Resource Recovery Facility : Closed from 1.00pm Tuesday 24 December. Closed Christmas Day.
For more information, visit Maitland City Council website
Cessnock City Council Christmas Operating Hours
Administration: Closed from 12.00pm 24 December, to 9.00am 6 January 2025
Libraries: Libraries will close from 12.00pm 24 December, to 9.00am 6 January 2025
Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre: Performance Arts Culture Cessnock will close from 12.00pm 24 December, to 2 January 2025
Hunter Valley Visitors Centre: Closed Christmas Day only, open as normal thereafter
Branxton & Cessnock Pool: Cessnock and Branxton Pools will close at Midday on Christmas Eve and reopen at 7am on Boxing Day. Operating hours are subject to weather conditions.
Kurri Kurri Aquatic Centre: Christmas Eve open 7:30am to 12 noon, Closed on Christmas Day. Boxing Day open 10am to 4pm. New Year’s Eve open 7:30am to 12noon. New Year’s Day open 10am to 4pm. 2 January Public Holiday – 10am to 4pm. Normal operating hours on other days.
Garbage: No collections Christmas Day, all collection services delayed by one day, finishing on Saturday 28 December.
Cessnock Waste Management Centre: Closed Christmas Day only, open as normal thereafter: 8.45am – 4.30pm daily
For more information, visit Cessnock City Council website
Port Stephens Council Christmas Operating Hours
Administration:
- Closing: 12pm, Tuesday 24 December 2024
- Reopening: 8:30am Thursday 2 January 2025
Household bin collections – Due to public holiday closures, there’ll be no bin collections on Christmas Day. This will have a flow-on effect to collections on subsequent days. Kerbside bin collections will take place one day later than usual
Raymond Terrace & Tomaree Libraries:
- OPEN : 9am to 12pm 24 December 2024
- CLOSED: 25 December 2024 – 1 January 2025 inclusive
- REOPEN: 9am 2 January 2025
Tilligerry Library:
- OPEN : 10am to 12pm 23 December 2024
- CLOSED: 24 December 2024 – 12 January 2025 inclusive
- REOPEN: 10am 13 January 2025
Lakeside Leisure Centre: Open Christmas Eve from 7am to 2pm. Closed Christmas Day. Open Boxing Day from 10am – 4pm. New Year’s Eve from 7am to 2pm.
Tilligerry Aquatic Centre: Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Open Christmas Eve from 10am to 2pm. Closed Christmas Day. Open New Year’s Eve from 10am to 2pm.
Tomaree Aquatic Centre: Open Christmas Eve from 10am to 2pm. Closed Christmas Day. Open Boxing Day from 10am – 4pm. Open New Year’s Eve from 10am to 2pm.
Visitor Information Centre: Closing at noon on Christmas Eve. Closed on Christmas Day. Open on Boxing Day from 9am to 2pm. Open various hours from Friday 27 to Tuesday 31 December. Closed New Year’s Day.
For more information, visit Port Stephens Council website
Shopping Centres
Charlestown Square: Open 8am- 5:30pm Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day, open Boxing Day from 8am to 10pm. Closed New Year’s Day.
Westfield Kotara: Open 8am – 5pm Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day. Open Boxing Day from 8am to 9pm. Closed New Year’s Day.
Glendale City Centre: Open 8am – 5:30pm Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day. Open Boxing Day from 10am to 4pm. Open New Year’s Day from 10am – 4pm.
Stockland Green Hills: Closed Christmas Day. Open Boxing Day from 10am to 4pm. Open New Year’s Day from 10am to 4pm.
Coles and Woolworths stores will be closed on Christmas Day but reopening on Boxing Day.
Liquor stores will be closed on Christmas Day but will be open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Cinemas
Hoyts Charlestown will be open for reduced session times on Christmas Day, generally starting in the afternoon.
Event Cinemas Kotara and Glendale will be closed on Christmas Day but will reopen on Boxing Day for movie sessions.
Hoyts Green Hills will be closed on Christmas Day but will reopen on Boxing Day for movie sessions.
Reading Cinemas Charlestown and Maitland will be closed on Christmas Day but will reopen on Boxing Day for movie sessions.
GP Access, Urgent Care & Chemists
We’ve compiled information for free bulk-billed Urgent Care services in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock and Port Stephens. Urgent Care Services have been introduced in New South Wales to help reduce pressure on emergency departments. These services give people the treatment they need quickly for an illness or injury that is not an emergency, without waiting in a busy emergency department.
You can also access GP Access After Hours medical services. GP Access provides comprehensive and quality after-hours medical care and advice to people of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and surrounding areas.
To find a chemist open over the holidays near you, check out the Newy with Kids After Hours Chemist List. Most chemists will be closed on Christmas Day but will have varying hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. Call first to confirm opening hours.
Emergency Services
Ambulance, fire brigade and police on 000. State Emergency Service: 132 500.