Don’t settle for the crowds of
Sydney over the weekend! Escape the chaos and flee to Newcastle. With some of the best surfing beaches in the country, fab views and its own vibrant arts, dining and bar culture, you won’t miss a single thing about the bright lights of the city! Book your Newcastle accommodation with us below.
Baths and beaches
Super keen surfers will totally love Merewether Beach, one of Australia’s National Surfing Reserves. Everyone else should check out the popular Nobby’s Beach, which is patrolled by lifeguards. It’s beautiful too! Don’t miss the gorgeous lighthouse, which has fab views overlooking the city and the sea. But for a real treat, tackle Bather’s Way, a walk that winds past a historic fort, the breakwall, informative signs, parks, many beaches and beachside BBQs. Prefer to swim somewhere different to the beach? Take a historic dip in the Bogey Hole, cut into the ocean rocks by convict labour in 1819, or at the Newcastle Ocean Baths, with its brilliant Art Deco pavilion.
Cultural delights
This is no cultural backwater! You’ll love the galleries and boutiques in Darby Street, Newcastle East and Cooks Hill. The Newcastle Museum is free and provides fascinating insight into Australia’s second oldest city. For art, check out the Newcastle Art Gallery and Cooks Hill Gallery, or catch a show at the fabulously-restored Art Deco Civic Theatre. The Christ Church Cathedral, at over 190 years old, is also totally gorgeous in its spot overlooking the city!
Dining, partying & shopping
It’s easy to find great restaurants, trendy bars and outdoor cafes all around Newcastle. Whether you’re keen for cocktails with harbour views, fine dining or a casual beachside meal with wonderful sea breezes, Newcastle caters to all tastes and only continues to grow. But if it’s shopping that makes you salivate, drop into Darby Street in Cooks Hill for eclectic boutiques and cafes, The Junction for upmarket buys, the mainstream Hunter Street Mall or one of the local markets.
Green escapes
Away from the local beach and cosmopolitan scene, there is peace and quiet amongst the green. Explore Blue Gum Hills Regional Park for a day trip, or Blackbutt Reserve for something closer, only six kilometres out of town. There are also great barbecues and picnic areas at Back Creek Picnic Area, a popular spot for gatherings.
Getting there
Just two hours’ drive north of
Sydney and an hour from the rolling vineyards of the
Hunter Valley, Newcastle is in a sweet location for a night, a weekend or a whole week of fun, food and beachside frolicking. And we have cheap
flights to Sydney as well as
flights to Newcastle to get you there!
Loving the sound of this fab escape with its beautiful beaches and bustling local vibes with a touch of history and culture? Lock it in! We have tonnes of hotels in Newcastle to give you your beauty sleep between adventures.
Image credit
Tim J Keegan under
Creative Commons Image edited