Child development 10 FREE / Low Cost Activities for your child Newcastle Museum: 6 Workshop Way Honeysuckle Newcastle – Free entry “Mininova” for toddlers with plenty of equipment with soft mats for safe play “Supernova” for older kids with lots of interactive science exhibits for ‘hands-on’ play Phone for times and information: 02 4974 1400 Website: www.newcastlemuseum.com.au Newcastle Art Gallery: 1 Laman St, Cooks Hill – Free entry Free “Art Cart” activities for children each weekday morning. Bookings are required. “Children’s Art Trails” These free, do-it-yourself Gallery activity booklets are available with selected exhibitions and are there for the whole family to enjoy. The art trails are a great way to entertain children in the gallery, offering questions, puzzles, clues and quirky pieces of information. Phone for further information: 02 4974 5100 Website: www.nag.org.au Blackbutt Reserve: Carnley Ave, Kotara Free entry, however parking is $4 per hour or $ 12 per day. Exhibits are open 10am – 5pm daily, however picnic facilities are open 7am – 7pm There are many things to do at Blackbutt, including nature walks, daily animal feeding and a fun adventure playground. There are picnic facilities which are fully accessible. Phone: 4904 3344 Website: www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/blackbutt-reserve Richley Reserve: Freyberg St, New Lambton Free entry, however parking is $4 per hour or $ 12 per day. The entrance to Richley Reserve is off Freyberg Street New Lambton. There is a beautiful, peaceful picnic area with large grassy flats, barbeques, and picnic tables, one of which is accessible. The adventure playground features rope courses, bridges, swings and slides, an adventure tower, and plenty of space for everyone from toddlers to tweens, and all abilities.Natural tactile elements like timber, stone, sand, and water connect kids with nature, encourage self-directed play, and provide a safe but challenging environment for kids to build their confidence and resilience. In this playground kids can get dirty, take risks, play hard and enjoy the outdoors, in a safe and welcoming environment. Those with mobility challenges can also get amongst it, with wheelchair access to the playground enabled via a new pathway, and a specially designed carousel. Richley Reserve is open 24 hours per day Phone: 4904 3344 Website: https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/blackbutt-reserve/plan-your-visit/facilities/richley-reserve Hunter Wetlands Centre: 1 Wetlands Pl, Shortland NSW 2307 There is an entry fee: $7.50 per adult, $5 per child 4-15 years, $5 concession, $20 per family, children 0-3 are free. The Wetlands have accessible parking and paths, as well as a lift to access ground level from the visitors centre. There are guided tours, walking trails and a children’s playground. School holiday programs are also offered. Other activities are available at additional cost, such as canoeing and dip netting. Closed in shoes, hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent are strongly recommended. Closed in shoes are required for some activities. Hunter Wetlands Centre is open 9am – 4pm 7 days per week. Phone: 4951 6466 Website: www.wetlands.org.au Fairy Garden: Australia Road Broadmeadow Free and always open This enchanted garden has winding paths, lots of lush plants, and many figurines. It is a lovely spot to take young children, with little tables for a picnic or tea party. Spot fairies, frogs, and lots of other treasures as you explore this garden. Help your child write a letter to the Fairy Queen and post it in the fairy letter box. Do not forget to include a return address, your child might just receive a letter back from the Fairy Queen. Your Local Library Our local libraries provide much more than amazing books for us to borrow for free. They also offer regular activities for a wide variety of age groups. 0 – 1 years: Babies into Books 1 – 3 years: Read and Rhyme. 3 – 5 years: Storytime for Pre-schoolers Some libraries also offer after-school and school holiday activities for school aged children. Contact your local library for information. Websites: https://library.lakemac.com.au/Whats-On/Kids https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/library/experience/children-s-activities/storytime https://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/live/library Grannies’ Pool: Follow the signs to Grannies’ Pool from blacksmiths Surf Lifesaving Club, 118 Ungala Rd, Blacksmiths Free car parking. Disability access via a concrete ramp down to the pool which is easy for prams and wheelchairs. Grannies’ Pool is near Blacksmiths beach and is a shallow, tidal pool which is perfect for young children to splash around in. Caves Beach: 127/139 Caves Beach Rd, Caves Beach Explore the Caves at Caves Beach, a lovely beach near Swansea in Lake Macquarie. It would be advisable to visit this beach in calm conditions only so that the caves can be easily accessed. Go for a walk along the beach, explore the caves and many rock pools. Free parking. Sheltered picnic area and barbeques. Visit a Fully Fenced Playground - Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Areas Adamstown: Laneway Park Playground 4 Moira Street Adamstown Belmont: Spinnaker Ridge Reserve Playground 10 Genoa Close Belmont Cameron Park: Country Grove Reserve Playground Country Grove Drive Cameron Park Charlestown: Tallwood Circuit Park Playground Tallwood Circuit Charlestown Garden Suburb: Forest Hills Reserve Playground Gymea Drive Garden Suburb Hillsborough: Percy Street Playground Percy Street Hillsborough Lambton: Pilkington Street Reserve Playground Cnr Pilkington and Michael Streets Lambton North Morisset: Bernie Goodwin Oval Playground Newcastle Street Morisset Pelican: Pelican Foreshore Park Playground 1A Lakeview Parade Pelican Redhead: Redhead Winderhouse Playground Geraldton Drive Redhead Speers Point: Lake Macquarie Variety Playground Park Road Speers Point Toronto: Toronto Bay Foreshore Playground Victory Row Toronto Warners Bay: Warner Park Playground John Street Warners Bay Whitebridge: Harold Wesley Knight Park Playground Lonus Avenue Whitebridge Wyee: Wyee Community Hall Reserve Playground 114 Wyee Road Wyee Manage Cookie Preferences