Water play and swimming for kids in Newcastle & the Hunter

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48 places to cool off across the region: water parks, pools, beaches, lakes and swimming spots, nearest first from Newcastle. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.

Everything on the map

Over the border

Blue Mountains →Central Coast NSW →Dubbo, Orange & Central NSW →Armidale, Tamworth & New England →NSW North Coast →Western Sydney, Penrith & the Hawkesbury →
Nearest first, from Newcastle

Beaches and islands

Beach illustration
Beach
Newcastle Beach
Newcastle
under 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Bar Beach
Bar Beach
under 5 min
Nobbys Beach
Beach
Nobbys Beach
City beach at the foot of Nobbys Head, where the breakwall walk starts.
under 5 min
Photo: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Dixon Park Beach
Merewether
under 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Merewether Beach
Merewether
under 5 min
Stockton Bight sand dunes
Beach
Stockton Bight sand dunes
Worimi Conservation Lands
Largest moving coastal dunes in the southern hemisphere; driving needs a 4WD and permit, sandboarding tours run from Anna Bay.
about 15 min
Photo: Cherry Laithang laicho, CC0
Over 30 minutes
from Newcastle
Caves Beach
Beach
Caves Beach
Sea caves at the southern end can only be explored at low tide; BBQs and picnic areas.
about 30 min
Photo: Lyndi&Jason, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Ghosties Beach
Catherine Hill Bay
about 40 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Kingsley Beach
Boat Harbour
about 40 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Little Kingsley Beach
Boat Harbour
about 40 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Boat Harbour Beach
Boat Harbour
about 40 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Marys Beach
Soldiers Point
about 45 min
Beach illustration
Beach
One Mile Beach
One Mile
about 45 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Samurai Beach
One Mile
about 45 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Bagnalls Beach
Corlette
about 45 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Dutchmans Beach
Nelson Bay
about 50 min
Fingal Bay
Beach
Fingal Bay
Patrolled by council lifeguards; BBQs and beginner surf lessons.
about 50 min
Photo: popejon2 from Paddington, Australia, CC BY 2.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Little Beach
Calm Nelson Bay beach with picnic tables and BBQs.
about 50 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Box Beach
Shoal Bay
about 50 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Fingal Spit
Fingal Bay
about 50 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Fingal Spit
Fingal Bay
about 50 min
Shoal Bay
Beach
Shoal Bay
Sheltered bay beach below Tomaree Head with BBQs near the sand; popular for paddleboarding.
about 50 min
Photo: Phil Whitehouse from London, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Wreck Beach
Shoal Bay
about 50 min

Waterfalls, lakes and swimming

Bogey Hole
Swimming spot
Bogey Hole
Convict-cut 1819 rock pool below King Edward Park, reached by stairs (no pram access); waves wash in on big swells.
under 5 min
Photo: DaHuzyBru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Newcastle Ocean Baths
Swimming spot
Newcastle Ocean Baths
Open year round, closed Wednesdays for cleaning; the shallow Canoe Pool next door suits younger children.
under 5 min
Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pool illustration
Pool
Stockton Swimming Centre
Stockton
under 5 min
Merewether Ocean Baths
Pool
Merewether Ocean Baths
Merewether
about 5 min
Photo: DaHuzyBru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot illustration
Swimming spot
Merewether Ocean Baths
Sandy, shallow kids' pool beside the 100 m main pool; closed Thursdays for cleaning.
about 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Mayfield Swimming Centre
Mayfield
about 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Lambton Park Memorial Pool
Lambton
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
The Forum Sports & Aquatic Centre
Callaghan
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Charlestown Swim Centre
Charlestown
about 15 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Wallsend Swimming Centre
Wallsend
about 15 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Speers Point Swimming Pool
Speers Point
about 20 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Valentine Hydrotherapy Pools
Croudace Bay
about 20 min
Swimming spot illustration
Swimming spot
Belmont Baths
about 25 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Beresfield Swimming Centre
Beresfield
about 25 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Swansea Swim Centre
Swansea
about 30 min
Over 30 minutes
from Newcastle
Pool illustration
Pool
East Maitland Aquatic Centre
East Maitland
about 35 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Maitland Aquatic Centre
Maitland
about 35 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Mallabula Sports Complex
Mallabula
about 40 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Kurri Kurri Aquatic Centre
Kurri Kurri
about 40 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Nelson Bay Swimming and Wellness Academy
Taylors Beach
about 40 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Clarence Town Swimming Pool
Clarence Town
about 45 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Cessnock Swimming Pool
Cessnock
about 50 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Branxton Pool
Branxton
about 55 min
Over 1½ hours
from Newcastle
Lake illustration
Lake
Lake Glenbawn
About 14 km east of Scone; day visitors get picnic tables, BBQs, a playground and swimming (day pass).
about 2 hr 15

Big playgrounds

Big playground illustration
Big playground
Thomas H Halton Park playground
Eleebana
Lakeside playground with a pirate-ship climbing structure, water play and an inclusive carousel.
about 20 min
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.