What’s on in April? Here’s the month’s top events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & The Hunter specially selected for families. There is a mix of ticketed and free events for parents, grandparents and carers to enjoy some family fun.
Look for this icon showing our Featured Events this month!
Mega Creatures
Enjoy some MEGA fun activities at Hunter Valley Gardens. Explore & discover amazing prehistoric dinosaurs, crawling insects and mythical creatures, including the giant T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Spinosaurus and more.
Date: 1 – 30 April
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens
Cost: Tickets from $28
Website
Young People’s Theatre presents The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
An old house in rural England becomes the home base for four children who wander into an incredible country through an old wardrobe and help the country return to summer.
Date: 11 April – 13 May
Location: Young People’s Theatre Newcastle, Hamilton
Cost: All standard tickets are $25 – adults at children’s prices.
Website
Youth Week – Lake Macquarie City
NSW Youth Week will be held Thursday 20 April until Sunday 30 April 2023. See the Lake Macquarie City Website for an interactive schedule of the activities and events on offer this year including ‘Decked Out’ Skateboard Decorating Workshops, Art Mural Program, RAW Challenge, Learn to Skate Clinics and more.
Date: April 20 – April 30
Location: Lake Macquarie
Cost: Free
Website
Street Eats – Raworth
Street Eats is a Council run program that opens the doors to mobile food in public places. Come down for one of their Get Togethers that brings together a variety of food trucks paired with live music across Maitland Local Government Area. Bring the family or catch up with friends with a picnic and a bite to eat.
Date: 28 April
Location: Bakers Brickyard Quarry
Website
Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest
Steamfest features a diverse program of family friendly entertainment. Enjoy live music, roving performance, historic heritage walks, market stalls, gourmet food stalls and more. The heart and soul of Steamfest is its impressive assembly of steam trains
Date: 29 & 30 April 2023
Location: Maitland Station Precinct
Cost: Tickets $10 to enter rally ground
Website
Edgeworth Trains
Ride on a miniature train. Lake Macquarie Live Steam Locomotive Society hosts monthly public ride days. There’s a variety of miniature trains such as steam and diesel and different rail routes (both elevated and ground-level) so you can easily spend a couple of hours watching and riding trains. Their public ride days run on the last Sunday of each month excluding December.
Date: Sunday 30 April 2023
Time: Trains running from 12:30pm till 3:30pm (weather permitting). The park is open from around 9:30am.
Location: Velinda Street, Edgeworth
Age Group: All ages
Cost: It costs $2.50 per train ride. Children under 2 years old are free.
Website
Street Paws Festival
Street Paws Festival are heading back to one of their favourite locations ,The Station Newcastle. They will bringing you the usual pet brand stalls, supporting local and small businesses. Rescues, food stalls, coffee, competitions and more
Date: April 29
Location: The Station Newcastle
Cost: Free
Website
Maho Magic Bar
Be whisked away to Tokyo, without leaving Newcastle, for a dazzling night of mischief, magic, and laughter. There are two show offerings: Afternoon matinees (suitable for kids aged 6+ and their families) and evening sessions.
Date: Until 7 May
Location: Spiegeltent Newcastle. Civic Park
Cost: Tickets from $59
Website
Archibald Prize 2022 Regional Tour
Head to Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) yapang in Lake Macquarie to see all 52 finalists works from the Archibald Prize 2022.
Date: Until 21 May
Location: Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) Yapang
Cost: Kids 5 – 12 $5, Student $8, Adults $12
Website
The Birds of Australia Exhibition
A new exhibition from the Australian Museum showcases the incredible world of Australia’s birdlife. Presented on STORYBOX, an interactive storytelling cube, The Birds of Australia, brings to life the iconic bird illustrations of John and Elizabeth Gould together with First Nations storytelling and knowledge.
Date: Until 25 June
Location: Newcastle Museum
Website
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What’s On Next Month?
Looking for more events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter? Check out our What’s On Guide with information about events all year long. The guide provides a list of local family-friendly events organised by month.
Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.