About two hours, almost 160 kilometres, drive north of Sydney, perched between a working harbour and beautiful beaches, Newcastle is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, bursting with energy and creative activity.
Discover Newcastle’s renowned surfing beaches on foot by taking the Bathers way, a scenic 5km coastal walk stretching from Nobby’s Light House to Merewether Beach, five of the city’s pristine beaches are on the eastern side of the promontory.
Further north is Nobby’s Beach; Newcastle’s best know beach and a favoured spot for kite surfers and those learning to surf. Opened in 1922, the art Deco pavilion of Newcastle Ocean Baths, south of Nobbys, is one of the city’s outstanding historic landmarks and also a popular open air studio for amateur photographers.
In late March each year, Newcastle Beach is the location of Vodafone Surfest, Australia’s largest annual surfing event.
South of Newcastle Beach is the Bogey Hole, a unique hand hewn ocean rock pool carved of a cliff face by convicts during the early 9th century. It’s popular with swimmers seeking a tranquil bathing spot only minutes from the city centre.
Bar Beach is the ideal family beach, featuring a sheltered rock pool for children. It’s also a great place to watch hang – gliders take off from nearby Strezelecki Lookout.
Dixon Park Beach is a popular surfing spot for locals, many of whom head out for early morning surf.
Merewether is the beach where four times world champion surfer Mark Richards learnt to surf. For those interested in surfing Richards also has a retail shop in Newcastle and continues to shape boards.
Just north of the city is Stockton Beach, only a ferry ride away from Newcastle Harbour. Offering sweeping views across the Stockton Bight to Port Stephens, it’s excellent beach for novice surfers.
Newcastle has become a vibrant cosmopolitan city with an emerging food scene and a strong arts focus. On Newcastle Harbour you will find Honeysuckle, where the former industrial whares have been transformed into The Boardwalk with open plaza surrounded by restaurants, cafes and bars, diners can sample fresh local produce prepared in a variety of styles as they watch the activity on the harbour.
Beaumont Street in Hamilton is a Newcastle institution, long established as a popular dining precinct. Here you will discover a variety of delicatessens, restaurants and cafes with a distinct Mediterranean feel; overlooking the busy port of Newcastle Harbour. Newcastle has several natural habitats that are easily reached from the city centre. The Hunter wetlands Centre at Shortland,12km north west of Newcastle, is where you can hire a canoe and explore a network of ponds that is home to a diverse range of waterbirds pick up a bird guide before you start. The centre also has a pleasant café with panoramic views.
Stockton Sand Dunes,20 minutes drive or a short ferry ride north of the Newcastle CBD, is the largest moving sand dune system in the southern hemisphere. Take a tour by quad bike or 4WD and explore the 33km of dunes, where you will also see the Sydney, the largest shipwreck on the Australian Coastline.
Author Resource:-
Charlotte Giles is a travel writer for last minute accommodation site - http://www.lastbeds.com.au LastBeds. Charlotte is currently backpacking around Australia, she loves staying in http://www.lastbeds.com.au cheap hotels in Sydney.
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