Picture this: alarms flashing, puzzles to crack, dinosaur fossils to collect and laser guns to aim – all while your kids race around in Akubra-style hats and science coats like they’ve stepped straight into their own adventure movie.
That’s the energy inside Jurassic Island at Escape Reality Escape Rooms – Newcastle – a family escape room that drops your whole crew straight into a cinematic dinosaur adventure. And it's seriously fun.
For Coasties who have already tackled the family room at Escape Reality Escape Rooms – Central Coast, this will be exciting news. Our region now has three family rooms: Jungala at Escape Reality Central Coast (which we've also visited; see our review here) and two in Newcastle – a pirate-themed room called Tortuga Pirates and now Jurassic Island.
We were lucky enough to visit the Jurassic Island escape room within a few weeks of it opening – and it’s safe to say our group of 10-year-olds were completely hooked.
Click below to book Jurassic Island or scroll down to read more about our experience.
Here's the premise of the Jurassic Island room: Deep in the Pacific Ocean sits Jurassic Island – a storm-shrouded island where dinosaurs still roam. Your mission? Break into an abandoned research facility, secure a priceless velociraptor egg and escape before a rival team gets there first. Oh… and before the extraction helicopter leaves in one hour.
The theme feels like stepping into a Hollywood adventure. Think Jurassic Park vibes brought to life – but instead of watching the action on screen, your family is right in the middle of it.
From the moment the game begins, the room is packed with puzzles that get everyone involved. Some challenges require logical thinking, others need spatial problem-solving, and plenty rely on teamwork. There are padlocks to crack, codes to decipher, laser targets to hit and hidden clues to uncover.
Along the way you’ll find all sorts of surprises: colour-changing balls, solar panels, computer keyboards, dinosaur figurines and secret compartments that pop open when you least expect it. Lights flash, buttons trigger hidden mechanisms and doors suddenly reveal new pieces of the puzzle.
One of the biggest hits with our kids was the costumes scattered throughout the room. At various points they found Akubra-style explorer hats, lab coats and sunglasses – and absolutely loved throwing them on while they solved the next challenge. It adds a playful, theatrical layer that makes the whole experience feel even more immersive.
Our verdict on Jurassic Island!
It’s clear word of this adventure is already spreading. Jurassic Island is booking out days – sometimes weeks – in advance, which tells you everything you need to know.
If you’ve already tried the Central Coast venue’s Jumanji-style family room (and if you haven’t, you absolutely should), this Newcastle adventure deserves a spot on your family’s to-do list too.
Jurassic Island is clever, energetic, wildly imaginative and genuinely fun for both kids and adults. In other words – exactly the kind of family adventure we love discovering.
Escape Reality Newcastle is a huge venue packed with fun
Escape Reality Newcastle has five escape rooms in total. Tortuga Pirates and Jurassic Island are their two family-friendly adventures, while Alcatraz, Bank Job and Enigmista are better suited to adults and teens who enjoy a few spooky twists and higher-stakes puzzles.
They've got two additional rooms in the works and we're personally pretty excited for the sound of The Wizard Cup – it’s giving us serious Harry Potter vibes.
But the fun here goes well beyond escape rooms.
The venue also has two private karaoke rooms and QUIZY – a gameshow and quiz room experience where teams compete in fast-paced trivia and challenges. Both are family friendly and make great options if you’re visiting with a bigger group.
The whole space is clearly designed with families in mind. The foyer is filled with quick board games for kids to play while they wait – think Connect Four, the classic pirate popping game and stacks of card decks. It creates a relaxed, welcoming vibe and turns the visit into a proper outing rather than just a one-hour activity.
And yes – there’s even a bar. So while the kids are busy celebrating their escape, the grown-ups can enjoy a well-earned drink too. Hello, grown-ups' night out!
Escape Reality Escape Rooms – Newcastle
Open: Wednesday to Friday 11am to 8:30pm | Saturday and Sunday 11am to 9:30pm.
Ages: There are different experiences for different ages. Tortuga Pirates and Jurassic Island are designed for families and groups of kids and teens. Players aged 15 and under must be accompanied in the room by a paying adult aged 18 or over. While there’s no specific minimum age, children will enjoy the experience most if they are confident readers.
Price: From $43 per person. The rooms can fit up to 7 people. Gift vouchers can be purchased.
Phone: 0480 488 338
Email: [email protected]
Address: 255 Hunter St, Newcastle.
Escape Reality Escape Rooms – Newcastle Website
Escape Reality Escape Rooms – Newcastle Facebook page
Escape Reality Escape Rooms – Newcastle Instagram page
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
