A freshly brewed coffee and a cafe menu to select from can turn a simple trip to the playground with kids into something special. Whether you need a caffeine hit to unwind and de-stress while the kids play or you are meeting friends for a playdate, here is a list of playgrounds located close to cafes and coffee shops that you can visit before or after a park play. Have we missed one? Let us know so that we can add it to the list.
Caldwell Street Park Playground, Merewether
There’s a neat little playground tucked away behind the KU Merewether Preschool on Caldwell Street at Merewether. Just a short walk away, you can get a takeaway coffee from Arlo’s Coffee Caravan, they are located outside the Merewether Bowling Club and currently operate Mondays and Tuesdays 6.30-1.30pm and Wednesday to Sunday from 6.30-12pm.
Centennial Park, Cooks Hill
Centennial Park is a beautiful park with lots of open grassed areas, a rotunda and the playground has plenty to keep kids of all ages entertained. Lowlands Bowling Club next door offers a coffee kiosk or you can walk down to Darby Street and take your pick from some of Newcastle’s finest cafes including Goldbergs Coffee House, Three Monkeys Cafe and The Autumn Rooms Cafe. Read more about Centennial Park.
Dixon Park Beach Playground, Merewether
If you’re out and about on a weekend and feeling like a coffee while the kids play, visit Dixon Park Beach Playground. Grab a coffee at Sunnyboy Kiosk. Read more about Dixon Park Beach Playground.
Dobell Memorial Park, Wangi Wangi
A great little park on the shores of beautiful Lake Macquarie, Dobell Memorial Park has swings, slides, monkey bars and more. While the kids play and enjoy themselves, relax with your coffee at one of the shaded picnic tables. Pick up a takeaway coffee from across the road at Wangi Deck Cafe.
Empire Park, Bar Beach
The play equipment at the small playground located at Empire Park Playground is suitable for younger kids, with swings and a small slide. Pick up a coffee nearby at Swell Kiosk Bar Beach or from the rustic mobile coffee bar, The Globetrotter, situated in the car park of Bar Beach Bowling Club. . Read more about Empire Park.
Fingal Bay Foreshore Reserve Playground, Fingal Bay
If you’re up at the Bay, have a play at Fingal Bay Foreshore Reserve Playground. Located on scenic Marine Drive, this playground has plenty of equipment to suit kids of all ages including a spiderweb swing, spinner, slides and climbing equipment. There are also undercover picnic tables and it’s only a short walk to Fingal Beach. Conveniently located next to the park is Longboat Cafe.
Gillieston Heights Playground, Gillieston Heights
Enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat at Sherwood Coffee, or pick up a Glitch coffee from local Lovey’s Grocers IGA on Redwood Drive, Gillieston Heights and then wander down to the shaded playground. Featuring equipment suited to toddlers and preschoolers plus a half basketball court and netball hoop for older kids, there are plenty of benches to sit, enjoy your coffee and watch the kids play.
Honeysuckle Park, Honeysuckle
The undercover picnic tables at the marine-themed playground at Honeysuckle are a perfect spot to sit and enjoy a coffee while your little ones play in, on and around the ‘pirate ship’. Pick up your coffee, tea or cold drink from the nearby The Beehive Cafe. Read more about Honeysuckle Park.
Kahibah Park Playground, Kahibah
Located on Hexham Street, Kahibah, Kahibah Park playground is a large, but quiet playground with something to suit kids of all ages including a baby/toddler swing, spiderweb swing, two slides, rope climb, short flying fox and more. Grab your takeaway coffee from Sherwood Coffee Bar located just across the road on the corner of Hexham Street and Glebe Street.
Ken Lambkin Reserve Playground, Belmont South
The small playground at Ken Lambkin Reserve features swings, slides and climbing equipment. Grab a hot drink to takeaway at Mischief Kitchen, located a short walk away, on the Pacific Highway. Mischief Kitchen is a family-friendly cafe featuring a wonderful courtyard where kids can play and explore.
Kids Home Playground at HomeCo Kotara
There is a fully-fenced kids playground located outdoors between Domayne and The Golden Goat Cafe at Home Co. Kotara. The playground gates are open between 8.30-5pm daily. The playground is shaded with a shade sail and is recommended for kids between the age of 3 and 8. At The Golden Gate Cafe you can choose from a selection of burgers, fresh juices, toasties, pastries, wraps and more.
Lambton Park, Lambton
With lots of shade and picnic tables, there are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy your coffee at Lambton Park while the kids are kept busy in the large playground. There’s equipment to suit all ages at Lambton Park, from the small cubby house and water play area for younger kids to the huge climbing structure for older kids. Grab your coffee from 3A Cafe located opposite on the corner of Elder Street and Morehead Street and open until 1pm seven days a week or, right next to the park, you’ll find Lambton Park Tearooms open from 9am-2pm Monday to Saturday. Read more about Lambton Park.
Lions Park Playground, Belmont
Grab a coffee from Common Circus located on Brooks Parade at Belmont and then walk across the road to the fully fenced and recently upgraded Lions Park Playground. There’s swings, including a toddler swing and spider web swing, a slide and equipment to climb. It’s a beautiful location, right on the lake.
Lynn Oval Playground, Stockton
Park at the Stockton Surf Club car park and grab a coffee from Lexie’s on the Beach or Coffee Down the Lane (located at the bottom of the Stockton Bowling Club, open Wednesday to Sunday until 1pm) and walk over to the small playground situated between the Surf Club and the Bowling Club. There are plenty of covered picnic tables and benches to sit and enjoy your drink while the kids play on the slide, swings and monkey bars. If you prefer to sit in before or after your visit to the playground, Coffee Down the Lane is both child-friendly and dog-friendly, with plenty of shaded tables situated on a large, unused bowling green, perfect for the kids to run around and play on.
Nesca Park, Cooks Hill
Nesca Park is a short walk from the Darby Street strip, where you can take your pick from some of Newcastle’s finest cafes including Goldbergs Coffee House, Three Monkeys Cafe and The Autumn Rooms Cafe. Nesca Park is a beautiful park with lots of open grassed areas and the playground has plenty to keep kids of all ages entertained. Read more about Nesca Park.
Smith Park Playground, Hamilton North
There’s loads of climbing on the ninja warrior-style playground located at Smith Park, Hamilton North. With swings, slides and covered seating, it’s also a great spot to meet friends for a playdate/coffee date. You can pick up a coffee at the North Hamilton Bowling Club located right next door. Read more about Smith Park Playground.
Speers Point Park, Speers Point
You need a coffee if you’re heading to Lake Macquarie Variety Park in Speers Point Park as you might be there for hours. It’s a dream playground for families as there is something for children of all ages. This two-hectare park sits on the shore of Lake Macquarie enabling you to enjoy family fun with scenic views and lake breezes. Order food or beverages from the on-site cafe. Table 1 Espresso offers breakfast and lunch offerings, ice cream, coffee and yummy milkshakes. It’s also a great place for mothers’ groups to catch up for coffee or lunch. Read more about Speers Point Park.
Stockton Active Hub, Stockton
Catch the ferry or drive to the Stockton Active Hub located near Newcastle Harbour at Griffith Park, Stockton. It’s a playground and skate park in one and the hub includes its very own cafe, Whispers on the Wharf. It’s the perfect Grab ‘n’ Go cafe serving not only hot and cold drinks, but cakes, takeaway food and more. There’s plenty of shaded spots to sit and enjoy a coffee while the kids are busy skating and playing. Read more about Stockton Active Hub.
Toronto Foreshore Playground, Toronto
Toronto Foreshore playground is a fully-fenced playground with views of Lake Macquarie and is suited to a wide range of ages. Not far from the playground, Tinto Espresso Bar & Infuzion Cafe, an alfresco lakeside cafe is the perfect spot to grab a hand roasted coffee. They’re open 8-3pm Tuesday to Sunday. Read more about Toronto Foreshore Playground.
Wangi District Workers Club Playground, Wangi
The Market Street Cafe at Wangi District Workers Club not only promises the best coffee in town but also serves up a delectable array of cakes and slices. The deck of the cafe overlooks a great kids playground. The playground features swings, slides, climbing structures and more and is shaded by tall trees, all with stunning views of Lake Macquarie.
Waratah Park, Waratah
There’s lots of fun to be had at Waratah Park, hidden in a quiet area behind Callaghan College Waratah Campus, near Hunter Multicultural Communities and Community Garden. Waratah Park is a top spot to relax in the shade while the kids play. You can grab a coffee at Godfather Espresso, located in Platt Street, a short walk away.
Warner Park, Warners Bay
Right across the road from fenced Warner Park is Ground Control Chippery. Ground Control serves coffee and cold drinks from their takeaway window opening onto Lake Street. Or just a short walk away, along The Esplanade, choose from a number of cafes including Lena’s Cafe and Table 1 Espresso. Read more about Warner Park.
Webb Park, Redhead
This beach-themed playground at Redhead is popular and in a great beachside location. Older kids will love the large wave climbing structure and flying fox. There is also a smaller climbing structure and swings.
With plenty of picnic tables to enjoy a coffee, grab one from The Joint Cafe & Pizza just across the road on Beach Road. Afterwards, enjoy a walk along the Ken and Audrey Owens Walk or stroll down to Redhead Beach. Read more about Webb Park
Whitebridge Park Playground, Whitebridge
Whitebridge Park (also known as Harold Wesley Knight Park) has a fantastic playground for kids featuring slides, a fireman’s pole, rope climbs and more for older kids plus a musical pipe feature, cubby house and more for younger kids.
There are shaded picnic tables to enjoy your takeaway coffee while the kids play or sit in at one of a number of cafes in the area before or after your visit to the playground. Within walking distance, there’s PEGS Cafe, The Whitecottage 163, Morning Market Coffee and The Whitebridge Cafe. Read more about Whitebridge Park.
Want more playground inspiration? Visit the Parks and Playgrounds section of Newy with Kids.
Meg is a born and raised Novocastrian whose interests include gardening, reading and writing poetry. In between writing for Newy With Kids and working as a School Learning Support Officer, Meg enjoys camping and travelling with her family and exploring Newcastle and all it has to offer. Meg has two energetic kids and is passionate about kids having the opportunity to be outdoors as often as possible.