Planning around public holiday closures can be tricky, so we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about what’s open and shut across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and nearby councils over the 2025 / 2026 festive break.
From pools and beaches to libraries, customer service, shopping centres and waste collection, here’s your go-to guide for the holidays.
Quick Summary: What’s Open & Closed (At a Glance)
- Christmas Day: Most venues, shops and public facilities closed
- Boxing Day: Major shopping centres open, pools reopen, waste collection delayed
- New Year’s Day: Some attractions open, many centres closed
- Pools: Most are closed on Christmas Day, reopen Boxing Day
- Libraries: All councils close from Christmas Eve or Christmas Day; reopen early January
- Waste collection: No collection Christmas Day; all services shift one day later
- Supermarkets & bottle shops: Closed Christmas Day; open Boxing Day
- Cinemas: Most closed Christmas Day except Hoyts Charlestown (reduced hours)
Newcastle – What’s Open & Closed
Beaches & Pools
- Lifeguards are on a seven-day summer roster across Nobbys, Bar, Merewether, Dixon Park, Newcastle and Stockton beaches, plus Merewether Ocean Baths.
- Pools (Lambton, Mayfield, Stockton, Wallsend, Beresfield):
- Closed Christmas Day
- Reopen Boxing Day
Museums, Galleries & Attractions
- Newcastle Museum: Closed 23 December, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
- Newcastle Art Gallery: Closed for renovation
- Blackbutt Reserve:
- Wildlife exhibits open daily 10am–4.30pm
- Closed Christmas Day
- Picnic areas open 7am–7pm
- Fort Scratchley: Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day (closed every Tuesday)
- Civic Theatre: Open for scheduled performances only
Libraries
- All branches close midday Tuesday 23 December 2025, reopening on Monday 5 January 2026
- Returns chutes closed (except at Lambton)
Visitor Information & Customer Service
- Visitor Information Centre:
- Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day
- Limited hours 27–31 December, normal hours from 2 January
- City Administration Centre & Customer Contact Centre:
- Closed from midday 23 December
- Reopen 5 January
- For urgent public safety issues call 02 4974 2000 (24-hour assistance)
Waste Collection
- No kerbside bin collection on Christmas Day
- Collections 25–26 December occur one day later
- Have bins out by 5am on your revised day
For more information, visit the City of Newcastle website.
Lake Macquarie – What’s Open & Closed
Beaches & Pools
- Lifeguard patrols continue at Blacksmiths, Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach and Redhead (8.30am-6.15pm throughout the school holidays)
- Swim Centres (Charlestown, Speers Point, Swansea, West Wallsend):
- Closed from noon 24 December
- Reopen with reduced hours and no programs from Boxing Day
- Normal hours resume 5 January
- Morisset and Toronto Swim Centres set and advertise their own hours.
Libraries
- 24 December – open until noon
- 25 December-1 January– all libraries closed
- 2 January – normal operating hours resume
- Self-access available at participating branches from 6am-9pm throughout the holiday period
Galleries & Cultural Venues
- Museum of Art and Culture:
- Closed from noon 24 December
- Open 27,28, 30, 31 December
- Closed 1 January Normal operating hours resume 2 January
- Multi-Arts Pavilion (mima):
- Closed 22-26 December
- Open 27-28 December
- Closed 29 December-1 January
- Normal operating hours resume 2 January
Customer Service & Waste Collection
- Customer Service Centre closed from noon 24 December; reopens 2 January (9am–4.30pm)
- Waste collection: No service Christmas Day; all bins collected one day later. Awaba Waste Management Facility closed Christmas Day.
For more information, visit the Lake Macquarie City Council website.
Maitland – What’s Open & Closed
Aquatic Centres
- Closes 4pm Wednesday 24 December
- Closed Christmas Day
- 8am to 6pm Boxing Day
- Open 6am to 6pm Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 December
- Open 6am to 7pm Monday 29 to Tuesday 30 December
- Open 6am to 4pm New Year’s Eve
- Open 8am to 6pm New Year’s Day
- Normal operating hours from Friday 2 January
Administration & Customer Service
- Closed from 1pm on 24 December
- Reopens 5 January
Art Gallery & Libraries
- Maitland Regional Art Gallery:
- Closes 1pm Wednesday 24 December
- Closed Christmas Day
- Closed Boxing Day
- Normal operating hours Saturday 27 to Wednesday 31 December
- Closed New Year’s Day
- Normal operating hours from Friday 2 January
- Open Mondays during January
- Libraries: Closes 1pm Wednesday 24 December and reopens Monday 5 January
Visitor Information Centre
- Closed 24 December (1pm); closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day
- Open 27–31 December
- Closed New Year’s Day
Waste Collection
- Collections for Thursday 25 December will move to Friday 26 December
- Collections for Friday 26 December will move to Saturday 27 December
- Normal collection pattern resumes from Monday 29 December
For more information, visit the Maitland City Council website.
Cessnock – What’s Open & Closed (TBC for 2025)
Administration & Libraries
- Closed noon December; reopen January
Performing Arts & Visitors Centre
- Performing Arts Culture Cessnock closed
- Hunter Valley Visitors Centre closed
Pools & Aquatic Centres
- Cessnock & Branxton Pools:
- Closed noon Christmas Eve
- Reopen 7am Boxing Day
- Kurri Kurri Aquatic Centre:
- Christmas Eve: 7.30am–12pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 10am–4pm
- New Year’s Eve: 7.30am–12pm
- New Year’s Day: 10am–4pm
- 2 January public holiday: 10am–4pm
Waste Collection & Facilities
- No collections Christmas Day
- All collections one day late
- Cessnock Waste Management Centre closed Christmas Day only
For more information, visit Cessnock City Council website
Port Stephens – What’s Open & Closed
Administration
- Closed noon 24 December 2025
- Reopen 2 January 2026
Libraries
- Raymond Terrace
- Closing: 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025
- Opening: 9am Friday 2 January 2026
- Tomaree Library:
- Closing: 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025
- Opening: 9am Saturday 3 January 2026
- Tilligerry Library:
- Closing: 12pm Monday 22 December 2025
- Opening: 10am Monday 12 January 2026
Aquatic Centres
- Lakeside Leisure Centre:
- Christmas Eve: 10am–2pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 10am–4pm
- New Year’s Eve: 10am–2pm
- Tilligerry Aquatic Centre:
- Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day
- Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve: TBC
- Tomaree Aquatic Centre:
- Christmas Eve: 10am–2pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 10am–4pm
- New Year’s Eve: 10am–2pm
Visitor Information Centre
- Closed Christmas Day
- Open Boxing Day (10am–3pm)
- Open limited hours 27–31 December
- Closed New Year’s Day
Waste Collection
- No collections Christmas Day
- All collections run one day later
For more information, visit Port Stephens Council website
Shopping Centres – Holiday Trading Hours
Charlestown Square
- Charlestown Square open on Christmas Eve: 8am-5:30pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 8am–6pm
- New Year’s Day: 10am-4pm
- *Individual stores may vary (Cinemas, Fresh Food, Dining)
Westfield Kotara
- Westfield Kotara Christmas Eve: 8am – 5pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 8am – 6pm
- New Year’s Day: 10am – 4pm
Glendale City Centre
- Glendale City Centre Christmas Eve: 8am-5:30pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 10am – 4pm
- New Year’s Day: 10am – 4pm
Stockland Green Hills
- Stockland Green Hills Christmas Eve: 8am-5:30pm
- Christmas Day: Closed
- Boxing Day: 10am – 4pm
- New Year’s Day: 10am – 4pm
Supermarkets: Coles & Woolworths closed Christmas Day; reopen Boxing Day
Bottle shops: Closed Christmas Day; open Boxing Day & New Year’s Day
Cinemas – Holiday Hours
Hoyts Charlestown
- Hoyts Charlestown closed Christmas Day
- Reopen Boxing Day
Event Cinemas (Kotara & Glendale)
- Event Cinemas closed Christmas Day
- Open Boxing Day
Hoyts Green Hills
- Hoyts Green Hills closed Christmas Day
- Reopen Boxing Day
Reading Cinemas (Charlestown & Maitland)
- Reading Cinemas closed Christmas Day
- Reopen Boxing Day
Medical Services, Urgent Care & Chemists
Urgent Care Services
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.
GP Access After Hours
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.
Chemists
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 Contacts
- Triple Zero (000): Ambulance, Fire, Police
- SES: 132 500