Seaham Park Playground

Right next to the Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve, this spot is one of those low-key local gems that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. The walking path connects you straight into the trails, so it’s easy to make a whole afternoon of it — a bit of a wander through the bush, then let the kids burn off whatever energy they’ve got left. It’s set up with accessibility in mind, which makes it genuinely usable for more families than your average park. Honestly, if you’re in the Hunter Valley area and want something that trades plastic and primary colours for actual trees and fresh air, this is worth the detour.