Australia Day in Newcastle to feature family fun and free pool entry

Novocastrians can make a splash on 26 January without dipping into their pockets with City of Newcastle offering free entry to its inland pools from 1pm.

Standard fees will apply before 1pm at Lambton, Wallsend, Beresfield, Stockton and Mayfield Pools, with kiosks to be open at all five facilities, while the operating hours of the waterslide at Lambton will be extended until 5pm.

The free entry proposal was approved by the elected Council in June last year as part of a $2 entry fee trial at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend pools for the 2025/26 swimming season.

Councillor Callum Pull, who proposed the free entry, says it’s a great way for families to enjoy quality time together without the expense.

“Afternoon free entry on Australia Day allows the community to come together and enjoy the public holiday while promoting social cohesion and wellbeing,” Cr Pull said.

“Our $2 entry fee trial is proving popular at Wallsend, Beresfield, Stockton and Mayfield so I’m sure Novocastrians will take full advantage of free entry on Australia Day.

“City of Newcastle and our specialist pool operator BlueFit will ensure there is an appropriate number of lifeguards on duty to keep the community safe.”

City of Newcastle is also supporting a range of events and initiatives to bring the community together on the Australia Day long weekend.

Swimmers will be diving into a different body of water on 26 January with hundreds expected to take part in the 30th anniversary of Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club’s popular Newcastle Harbour Swim.

Competitors can attempt a single crossing from Stockton to Queens Wharf or the double crossing which also starts in Stockton, as part of the only legal swim across a working harbour.

On 25 January, City of Newcastle is supporting the fifth year of Ngarrama, a free public event in King Edward Park.

Councillor Deahnna Richardson, proud Wiradjuri woman and co-chairperson of City of Newcastle’s Guraki Standing Committee, said it’s an opportunity for the community to reflect on traditional life in Mooloobinba before 1788, and our journey towards reconciliation.

“Ngarrama celebrates the richness and resilience of First Nations culture, in particular the Awabakal and Worimi people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which Newcastle now stands,” Cr Richardson said.

“Ngarrama translates to ‘to sit, listen, and know’ and as the name captures, it will be a time for listening and quiet reflection through the sharing of stories, knowledge and culture.”

The long weekend will also feature the sixth action-packed edition of the Beach 5s Rugby Festival at Nobbys Beach from 24 to 26 January, with a record number of teams registering for the event and free entry for spectators.

The program for Monday 26 January includes several Indigenous exhibition games, the Liam ‘Grump’ Gallager memorial match and the All Star Legends clash featuring Kurt Gidley’s Newcastle Knights up against the Talk2MeBro All Stars.

Beach 5s rugby is based on modified rules of Rugby Union, Rugby League and Touch Football with no lineouts, scrums or conversions.

For a change of pace, Newcastle Museum is also hosting a free event featuring three days of fun on the water across the long weekend.

Museum Park will come alive with working model boats, hands-on activities for kids, science shows and plenty for families to explore.

The event will include live sailing circuits, docking and manoeuvring demonstrations, tugboats and steam-period demonstrations, while on Sunday visitors will have the chance to make and sail sustainable bark canoes.

For more information head to the VisitNewcastle website: https://visitnewcastle.com.au/