Get Moving with These Newcastle & Hunter Family-Friendly Runs {2023}

Whether you’re looking at getting back into shape, doing some fun runs with your kids or grandkids, supporting a cause or enrolling your kids in a specific kids run, here are some family-friendly walks and runs in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.

Parkrun (every Saturday)

Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are free, open to everyone and safe and easy to take part in. Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 8am. You just need to register on their website before your first run to get a barcode for registration and timing.

There are currently 11 Parkruns in the region.

• Avondale University College
• Blackbutt (Blackbutt Reserve) in New Lambton
• Blue Gum Hills in Minmi
• Fingal Bay
• Lake Mac (Booragul)
• Lakeview (Belmont
• Newy (Carrington)
• Nulkaba
• Stockton
• The Beaches (Bar Beach)
• The Terrace (Raymond Terrace)

For more information, visit the Parkrun website.

Stockton Sunset 7km (Friday 3 February 2023)

Part of the City of Newcastle Island Triathlon Festival, this 7km running event will be staged on Friday evening. It’s for anyone who is capable of running or walking the 7km course. The profile is very flat and the event is conducted on mostly concrete paths along the Foreshore of Stockton

For more information, visit the Island Tri website.

Raffertys Coastal Run (Saturday 4 February 2023)

Returning in 2023 is the Raffertys Kids Fun Run in conjunction with Raffertys Coastal Run. Giving kids aged 5 to 12 an event to get excited about, the Raffertys Kids Fun Run will take place within the grounds of Raffertys Resort. Approximately 1km in length, all runners will receive an official race bib and finishers medal.

For more information, visit the Rafferty’s Coastal Run website.

Relay For Life (Saturday 11 March 2023)

Relay For Life is a fun and moving experience that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services. Join the Newcastle team in the 2023 Newcastle Relay being held at Newcastle University, join the thousands of Australians who take part in Cancer Council’s Relay For Life each year and make strides towards a cancer free future.

For more information, visit the Relay For Life website.

Memory Walk and Jog (Sunday 26 March 2023)

Join the Memory Walk and Jog on the foreshore at Speers Point Park in Lake Macquarie on Sunday 26 March, 2023 for a morning of family-friendly fun, fitness and fundraising for Dementia Australia.  Select either 2km, 8km or timed 8km event as your preferred distance. Choose whether you want to walk, jog or run. Whichever way you decide to move, you’ll be helping beat dementia to the finish line. Open to all ages, however, under 18s will need an adult with them at the event.

For more information, visit the Memory Walk website.

Hill to Harbour (Sunday 2 April 2023)

Halfa Hill to Harbour 6km

The Halfa Hill to Harbour is a part of the NewRun Festival. You will start the event at the 6km point of the Hill to Harbour Course, which fits perfectly along Joy Cummings Parade (the old Tug Berth Rd) and runs the last 6km of the course past Queens Wharf, Honeysuckle and Newcastle Marina. It’s for runners or walkers who are not quite up to the full 12km of the longer event. Children aged 6-17 can enter.

2K4FUN

The 2K4FUN is a part of the NewRun Festival and is for anyone from age 4yo who wants to participate in the event atmosphere. Everyone gets a medal. Parents who have competed in the main event can accompany their kid. It’s a 2km run from the finish line of the main event, back 1km on the paths around Throsby Bay and back.

For more information, visit the H Events Hill to Harbour website.

Colour Frenzy Newcastle (Sunday 7 May 2023)

Colour Frenzy is a non-compete, fun run that welcomes all ages, all abilities and a great family event, work function or random fun for the weekend warrior. Smiling ear to ear, you’ll be laughing your way to the finish line in a frenzy of colourful happiness. Along the journey, you’ll be showered in colour, dowsed in bubbles, and you’ll take memories that last a lifetime. Colour Frenzy will be located at Foreshore Park, Newcastle.

For more information, visit the Colour Frenzy website.

Maitland River Run (Sunday 4 June 2023)

For a fun family walk / run, complete one lap (4km) or two laps (8km) of the Maitland River Run. The start, finish and lap location for the event will be the world class Maitland Regional Athletics Track on the eastern end of High St. The track has excellent facilities and allows great access to the field for runners and spectators. The event is open to kids aged 6+.

For more information, visit the Maitland River Run website.

Winery Running Festival (Sunday 16 July 2023)

Winery Wander 5km

The course runs in and around the spectacular Hunter Valley Wine Country. This is ideal for those wanting a hit out before lunch and those building their running/walking up.

Kids Marathon 2km

This event can be entered either as a stand along 2km run or as part of the Kids Marathon program, where kids run 5km per weeks for 8 weeks to accumulate 40km and then complete their marathon journey . Children able to run or walk the 2km course. Parents are allowed to accompany their children, however children are encouraged to run across the line by themselves. Children unable to complete the 40km of pre event running can still participate.

For more information, visit the Winery Run website.

Lake Mac Running Festival (2023) – Dates To Be Confirmed

4km Family Scamper

The 4Km Family Scamper is open to ages 6+ with four different age award categories for kids aged 6 to 15 years. The course is fully closed to all traffic, has police, ambulance and volunteers on course, drink stations and turn around points. It is 2km course out and back, starting and finishing at Warmers Bay. Kids are welcome to run on their own or adults can join the fun and enter to run with them.

Lake Macquarie 10.5km Fun Run

A 10.5km Fun Run which you can run or walk with your kids.

For more information, visit the Lake Mac Running Festival website.

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