Bar Beach is a suburb located in southwest Newcastle & takes its name from a rock pool formation named The Bar. The natural rock pool tucked into the Northern corner of the beach is a favourite spot for families.

Bar Beach offers a range of accessible facilities via Cooks Hill Surf Club including an internal lift from street level to beach with ramps & matting down to the waters edge.  Both an adult & childs manual beach friendly wheelchair are available along with a beach power chair. Hoist & slings to enable transfers of beach goer into beach equipped wheelchairs.  Bookings are essential, email memberservices@cookshillsurfclub.com.au or Local Mobility 4956 9993.

Bar Beach offers ample free parking & paths providing level access to picnic tables & viewing areas.  

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Bar Beach

Dixon Park is located midway between Bar Beach and Merewether on the popular Bather’s Way walking track in Newcastle..

Covered picnic shelters overlooking the beach with lead-in pathways make this an ideal spot along with barbeques & water fountain.  Sunnyboys Kiosk can also be found at Dixon Park Beach.

A short walk/roll is is the fully fenced playground with a variety of play equipment surrounded by plenty of grass. There is also a timed off-leash dog area.

Accessible toilets can be found at Dixon Park Beach & Merewether Beach along with showers.  There are plenty of parking options at Dixon Park, Merewether Beach & Watkin Street.  

Dixon Park

Centennial Park is located in the middle of Cooks Hill with a large grassy area & modern playground.  There’s lots of climbing equipment, a fort with slides, see saw, swings (including a toddler swing, regular swing and a group swing), spinner & balancing equipment.  

There is a paved pathway around the park along with a Rotunda,  plenty of picnic tables & benches, BBQ, water fountain & a coffee stop next to the park.  The park is full of Norfolk pines & fig trees providing plenty of shade.

Accessible parking can be found 7 Council Street & the multi-storey at Marketown Newcastle.  Accessible toilets are located within the park & No 1 Sportsground Netball Courts on Union St.

Centennial Park Playground

Located just off Darby Street in The Hill, Nesca Park is a great place for a family picnic with lots of green space, palm trees, barbeques, covered picnic tables & water fountain.  

There is a modern playground with a variety of play equipment for all ages from swings to spinners & a wooden fort featuring a climbing area & rope bridge.

There are accessible toilets at Nesca Park, Centennial Park, King Edward Park & Bar Beach.  Free parking can be found on Cliff Street & lead-up pathways for easy rolling around the park.

Nesca Park Playground

A fully accessible restaurant, cafe, and bar. Plenty of space. Long and wide ramp leading up to entrance. An accessible parking space directly outside. A large accessible toilet.

Merewether Surfhouse

King Edward Park has a lovely big lawn & spectacular ocean views.   It also is a historical site having been dedicated as a recreation reserve in 1863.

There is a Victorian rotunda which is a great place for a covered picnic.  Alternatively take shade under the large majestic Norfolk Pines.  There are plenty of picnic tables dotted around along with electric barbeques & water fountain. 

There is a playground suitable for children of all ages, with new play equipment, swings,  climbing structures & swing bridge

The park has plenty of free parking & accessible public toilets next to the playground. 

King Edward Park

A really accessible public swimming pool – ramps down to the pool, good accessible changing and shower facilities.

Merewether Ocean Baths

Honeysuckle Park, the former industrial maritime land, is now a harbourfront park with a maritime-themed play area.  

There is a ship play structure with shade cloth, slide, climbing nets, rope bridge & softfall flooring.  

Next to this park is a shaded barbecue area with plenty of picnic seating & water refill stations.  Further west is another BBQ area separated by grassy area.

Near the park is the Honeysuckle Waterfront Promenade where you can bike, scooter, roll all the way to Wickham Marina or continue along Newcastle Foreshore to Nobbys Beach.

There is a regular public toilet block next to the playground, closest accessible toilets can be found at McDonalds King Street,  Newcastle Museum & Marketown Shopping Centre.  

There are plenty of cafes & restaurants nearby including The Kingfish Newcastle & Honeysuckle Hotel both doing great kids meals.  

Honeysuckle Park

Empire Park in Bar Beach is a little park suitable for under 5s surrounded by grassed area with plenty of shade .

There is a small slide a few wobblies including a cute sailboat themed wobbly on which little ones can hang on to the sail and bounce.  For older kids, there’s a climbing net and telescope. There’s also two swings (regular and baby) as well as a track around the playground perfect for bikes and scooters.  The oval is next to the park along with tennis courts & a tennis wall.

Accessible toilets can be found in the park, Bar Beach & Dixon Park Beach.  Accessible parking can be found at Bar Beach.  

Nearby cafes can be found at Swell Kiosk at Bar Beach, Bar Beach Bowlo and many others in Darby Street or at The Junction.

Accessible Playground In Empire ParkEmpire Park