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

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

Merewether Ocean Baths

Adamstown - Adamstown Station Lift No.2 Concourse to Platform 2

Waratah Park is located behind Callaghan College Waratah Campus, near Multicutural Communities.    The park features balancing equipment, bouncy & in-ground trampoline with soft fall surround, climbing tower & wall, timber balance course,  swings, bridge, fireman pole & spinner.

Shade comes from the big old trees with a number of shaded park benches & tables.  There are easy roll pathways throughout & plenty of grassy areas.  Parking is available but no oniste toilets, closest can be found at Waratah Village, Waratah Park Tennis Block & Train Station.  Nearest cafes can also be found at Waratah Village.  

Waratah Park, Callaghan College Waratah Campus

Waratah - WTH STN LIFT 1 Concourse to Platform 1

Waratah - WTH STN LIFT 2 Concourse to Platt St

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.

Empire Park

Harold Welsey Knight Park also known as Whitebridge Park is a fully fenced playground with lots of play equipment.  This includes slides, fireman pole, rope climbing bridges & ladders, roundabout, seesaw & cubby house. 

The park is set in natural grounds with a large grassed area, picnic tables & covered picnic shelter along with large gum trees that also provide shade.  

There is car parking available just next to the park (accessed via Waran Road), and there are a couple of public toilets located in the car park. There is also a water fountain available, but it’s a bit tricky to spot – it is hidden down in the back corner of the park, adjacent to the car park. The park is very close to the local Whitebridge shops, making it easy to grab a coffee or some morning tea for a picnic beforehand.

Harold Wesley Knight Park Playground

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

Lambton Park offers a range of play equipment from toddlers to school-aged kids.  These include a rope climbing ball, a roundabout, a small play house, swingset, slides and water play equipment along with the large climbing structure best suited to older children.

There is a track to roll or for kids to ride bikes & scooters & plenty of grass to run around or spread out a blanket relax & picnic on . Not forgetting, of course, the historical rotunda with walking/rolling tracks  around the park all the way from the park past Lambton Pool to Elder Street.  The wide walking paths along Howe Street are especially pleasant as they are flanked by large shady trees. 

The park has accessible toilets, a water fountain & plenty of picnic tables & benches including a covered picnic table and BBQ.  

Free accessible parking can be found at 87 De Vitre St.

The Lambton Tea Rooms are next to the playground & there are also cafes in Elder Street across from Lambton Park.

Lambton Park

Jesmond Park actually has two playgrounds at the park, the first being near Newcastle Road best suited to older kids.  There’s a climbing structure, roundabout, double seesaw (fits 4) and a flying saucer swing (fits as many as you can get in). 

At the back of Jesmond Park is another playground with a wide range of cool playground equipment suitable for kids from toddlers to older kids.  Around this  playground is a track suitable for wheelchairs, bikes and scooters. There’s also a half-basketball court as well as covered picnic shelters and BBQs.

The accessible toilets, bubbler and BBQs are next to this playground. Jesmond Park is a fantastic spot for a picnic as there are picnic tables and benches all over the park.

There is a signposed walking track along with a  walk up to John Hunter Hospital, a lovely walk except it is uphill.

Desginated parking can be found at 87 De Vitre St.

Jesmond Park

Islington Park offers plenty of covered shelters & benches, free barbeques & lots of tracks to scoot or roll around.

The playground has lots of fun play equipment including a disabled swing along with traditional swings, climbing structure, slide, boat, colourful sculpture. & water play area.

Public toilets are at 49 Phoebe Street, closest accessible ones can be found at Hamilton Train Station.  

Islington Park

Brickworks Park in Wallsend is a great spot for families to visit featuring a playground, nature trail & pond area.  

To access Brickworks Park, you’ll need to find a park on the road outside & then it’s 200 metres walk/roll along a paved path to Brickworks Park.

There are covered picnic shelters & barbeques with lead-up pathways & brick artworl along the way.  The playground is to the left offering a range of play equipment including swing set, roundabout & a big wooden fort with two slides & spiderweb climbing wall.

There is a paved trail for easy rolling to an expansive covered picnic area endind at a large bird viewing area.  There are views of the quarry walls, gum trees & peaceful pond with plenty of birdlife.

Accessible toilets can be found at the entrance of the park & water fountains near the picnic tables.

Brickworks Park

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

Starting at Wickham Marina through to Honeysuckle at Cottage Creek is this fantastic waterfront promenade.  An uninterrupted 11 km walkway stretch going from Wickham all the way through to Merewether. 

A shared wide pathway used by walkers, cyclists & wheelchair users alike, also being child-friendly thanks to the double lanes and path markings, making sure everyone has enough space.  

Along the way you have views of the boats and yachts docked at Wickham Harbour. You might even spot one of the fishing trawlers offloading their daily catch to the Fishermans Co-op. 

There are some great fish & chip shops, cafes, restaurants dotted along the way along with luscious green spaces.  The quirky Cottage Creek Bridge officially connects Wickham and Honeysuckle.  Further along is Honeysuckle Park with a maritime-themed park with a Ship Jungle gym & play equipment.

The path has plenty of rest stops, water bubblers & sheltered picnic areas with BBQ.  There are regular public toilets at Honeysuckle Park, accessible ones can be found at Marketown Shopping Centre,  McDonalds King Street & Newcastle Interchange.  Accessible parking can also be found at Marketown Shopping Centre, Thorsby Creek & National Park.

Honeysuckle Harbourside Promenade

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

Connolly Park is located in the harbourside suburb of Carrington with a little playground with swings, seesaw, wobblies, cubby house & a spinner.  

There is a large covered shelter with picnic tables & benches.  Toilets can be found on the other side of the oval & next to Carrington Bowling Club but cannot confirm if they are accessible.  Ones can be found at Newcastle Interchange 1km away.

Next to the park is Carrington Bowlo with the Cowper Street Diner serving lunch & dinner, also open for breakfast on weekends & public holidays.  More cafes can be found on Young Street.

Connolly Park Playground

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.  

<span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(0,0,0);">memberservices@cookshillsurfclub.com.au</span>

Bar Beach

Set in the leafy surrounds of Richley Reserve at Blackbutt Reserve  in New Lambton is a great colourful 60 metre playground that encourages nature play & adventure.

The park is divided into two main sections, one area for younger kids with toddler swings, group swing, two slides, cubby house & rope bridge.   The other area is an adventure playground for older kids with climbing tower, bridges, slide, fireman pole, rope courses & tunnels.  

The park is surrounded by trees & grass, stone garden, a sand pit with water tap & is inclusive with pathways providing accessible routes to the play equipment. There is a ramp to get to the top of the tower & specially designed wheelchair accessible carousel with a lift up bar to snap in wheelchairs.  

There is plenty of shade, seating, picnic tables, BBQs, water fountain & amenities block next to the playground but no kiosk.  Parking is $4 per hour or $12 a day.

Richley Reserve

Richley Reserve Circuit is 731m return wheelchair accessible walk which travels through open grasslands that are surrounded by a healthy eucalyptus forest.  

Within the grasslands are two large ponds, with two black swans on the lower pond.  Do be careful though, the swans can get aggressive defending their territory.  

The wide sealed trail offers easy rolling, timber bridge over water, picnic tables & benches dotted along the way, playground & car park.

Richley Reserve Circuit

Laneway Park also known as Fletcher Park is a cute little neighbourhood playground nestled into the heart of Adamstown.  It’s between Fletcher and Moira down a laneway called Muraban Street on Google Maps. Parking is limited so park on Fletcher Street, but this is just regular parking.  

There is a range of play equipment from climbing net & bridge, swings, wobblier & sand pit.  The locals have created a community garden at the rear of the park.  There is also a covered picnic shelter but no toilets, BBQs  or water fountain. Closest accessible toilets can be found at Adamstown Library.

There is a cafe nearby on Fletcher Street called Fernleigh Cafe & The Gates Hotel is also nearby by car.  

Laneway Park

More Parks & Gardens nearby