Where: Ingall Street, Mayfield

Having received a stay of execution from Newcastle City Council last year, Mayfield Pool is a popular recreation spot for hundreds of local families.Given to the Newcastle community 42 years ago by the BHP, the pool was considered belated compensation for the loss of Mayfield’s Shelley Beach. The 50 metre ‘big’ pool provides for both the serious swimmer as well as the older kids looking for some fun, while the shaded ‘little’ pool is deep enough for younger kids to have a decent swim, but shallow enough so that mum and dad can watch from the sidelines. The grassy area has plenty of shade sails and leafy trees to relax under and, if you can smell the delicious aroma of sausages sizzling, it’s probably coming from the free BBQ which always gets a workout.