Newcastle is a city that is located just over
2 hours north of Sydney. It is a mix of old and new, as its industrial history is contrasted with new apartment buildings, funky street art, quirky pubs and fun events. You never know what you're going to find in Newcastle!
Since my family and I moved to
Port Stephens, 1 hour north of Newcastle, we have driven down to Newcastle several times each year to explore what the city has to offer. At first glance, it is an industrial city with coal trains driving to the docks and some run-down areas - but then when you delve into its secrets you find funky warehouses turned into bars, restaurants inside heritage-listed buildings, museums built inside old train workshops and brand new modern apartment complexes being built next to the river. The city centre is having a complete change and it is a fascinating mix of old and new. Here are 5 things to do while you're there!
Nobbys Beach, Canoe Pool and Newcastle Ocean Baths
around Newcastle are easily accessible from the city and this is where you will find most Novocastrians in summer. The most popular beach that we have visited is Merewether Beach, as it has the historical
Merewether Ocean Baths, the
Merewether Surfhouse (which has a cafe and
pizza kiosk downstairs) and a beautiful beach to have a swim. To get an overall look at the beaches, take the
Bathers Way coastal walking path along the coastline past Dixon and Bar Beach, read about the local heroes on the
Newcastle Memorial Walk, stop at Newcastle Beach (and a enjoy a burger at
The Kiosk and a swim at
Newcastle Ocean Baths), then continue along to Nobbys Beach and the lighthouse. One of Newcastle's biggest attractions are the beaches, so pack your swimming costume!
2/ The Cafe Scene is alive and well in Newcastle, with popular cafes serving amazing food in quirky historical buildings (see
The Signal Box), cute terrace houses on Darby Street (see
Three Monkeys Cafe), in colourful cafes by the river (see
The Beehive), vegan cafes in the city (see
Momo Wholefood Cafe) and along a whole street on
Beaumont Street in Hamilton. The choices are endless! Our family enjoy going for a walk around East Newcastle and stumbling upon a local favourite. Go for a walk and see what you discover!
Momo Wholefoods and Beehive Cafe
is one of the many reasons that our family travel into Newcastle, as there are so many different places to explore! During the
school holidays we regularly visit
Blackbutt Nature Reserve,
Richley Reserve Mega Adventure Playground,
Newcastle Museum (to watch the science shows in the school holidays) and
South Stockton Playground (take your scooters!) for some outdoor fun. If it's raining also check out
Holey Moly Mini Golf, Timezone (at both
Kotara and
Charlestown),
Revolution trampoline park and the
cinema.
If you are happy to go for a drive, then also check out
Hunter Valley Zoo, the
Hunter Valley Gardens (particularly in the school holidays and Christmas) and have some fun in the Stockton Sand Dunes in
Port Stephens.
Blackbutt Nature Reserve
is an enjoyable scenic walk (and scooter) that our family like to do along the Hunter River between the Honeysuckle Precinct and Nobbys Head. Each weekend the pavement is full of families, runners, cyclists and walkers, as they take in the views of the river and beyond. Watch the coal ships and tug boats move in and out of the harbour, as well as cruise ships when they arrive.
At one end of the walk, there is the Honeysuckle Precinct, with the
Honeysuckle Playground, Honeysuckle Hotel, Newcastle Museum and
Beehive Cafe, amongst other riverside venues. In the middle, there is
Lynch's Hub,
Scratchleys,
Harrys Cafe de Wheels,
Queens Wharf Hotel and the
Stockton Ferry, and then towards the mouth of the river, you can walk all the way up to the end of the Breakwall, around Foreshore Park and Horseshoe dog beach. If you have kids, take the prams, bike or scooters as it is a long way for little legs to walk.
Lynch's Hub and Beehive Cafe
is evident everywhere, particularly in the city centre along Hunter Street. The city has a long history in steel and coal and you will find many historical facades in the city centre which have been preserved for their unique historical features. Cooks Hill has terrace houses and the city centre has buildings dating back to the 1800s, which still stand proudly today. For more information on the history of Newcastle, catch the
light rail to the
Newcastle Museum, book a walking tour with
Newcastle Afoot or hit the pavement with your own
DIY Guide from Newcastle Council.
Newcastle is an interesting city - it may not have big attractions like Sydney or Melbourne, but it is a city that grows on you as you discover new places to visit and things to do. The people of Newcastle are friendly, so ask a local where they like to go for coffee or a night out and they are sure to share their secrets. It is a city worth exploring - why don't you visit this weekend?
