Top 20 Things to Do in Newcastle

From steel city to city of style, sass and substance, Newcastle is a region that has been well and truly revitalised.

Newcastle has it all – from beautiful beaches and ocean baths to locally run boutiques and stunning nature reserves that are perfect for forest bathing. Here are 20 of the best things to do in this sunny beachside city.

1. A self-guided walking tour of Newcastle’s architecture

NESCA house newcastle — The Art Deco beauty that is NESCA House.

Newcastle is a destination for its historic architecture, from red-brick factories to beautiful Victorian terrace houses, a Gothic Revival cathedral and heritage-listed City Hall. Discover a rich diversity of architectural styles on a self-guided walking tour that takes in landmark buildings dotted around the city. Don’t miss the Baptist Tabernacle, which opened in 1890, and the Art Deco beauty that is NESCA House.

2. Walk along the Bathers Way

Newcastle Memorial Walk in Newcastle, NSW — The Newcastle Memorial Walk is part of Bathers Way. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Bathers Way walk stretches six kilometres from Merewether Ocean Baths to Nobbys Lighthouse, which has been protecting this part of the coastline for centuries. It also snakes past the Bogey Hole, Australia’s oldest ocean pool on the east coast and one of the city’s best swimming spots. The Anzac Memorial Walk is also part of Bathers Way, which as well as being a tribute to the city’s Anzacs, proudly celebrates Newcastle’s heritage as a steel-making port.

3. Find Newcastle’s street art

Newcastle beckons for admirers of street art and you can hear all about it on a guided Street Art Walking Tour with Newcastle Afoot. Hotfoot it along the two-kilometre walk to large-scale artworks like the Tattooed Woman by Inari, which looms over the University of Newcastle, to Fintan Magee’s hyper-coloured Shadow. The tour will steer you towards the best of Newie’s crowd-pleasing works and past some of its best cafes, where you can refuel with a snack.

4. Visit Newcastle’s array of markets

Homegrown Markets at the Station in Newcastle, NSW — Browse over 100 stalls at the Station. (Image: Homegrown Markets x AK Photo)

This is a popular Newcastle activity that simply must be put on your radar when visiting the city. Newcastle’s eclectic range of markets – from the Newcastle City Farmer’s Market to the Made & Found Market – are bursting with creativity and community. No matter the season, you’ll find stalls overflowing with photogenic mounds of fruit, artisan treats, handmade homewares and trinkets galore.

5. Have a picnic at King Edward Park

King Edward Park newcastle — King Edward Park from above.

King Edward Park is a paradise for active travellers in search of green space and a good view over the ocean. The spectacular park, which was earmarked as a recreational reserve in 1863, is the perfect spot for a summer picnic or barbecue. It’s also just a stone’s throw from the Bogey Hole, the sea pool at the bottom of the cliff face that flanks the recreational park.

6. Wander along the Stockton Breakwall

The Shipwreck Breakwall gives visitors a bit of a nudge about Newcastle’s maritime history.

The one-kilometre-long walk along the Stockton Breakwall gives visitors a bit of a nudge about Newcastle’s maritime history, with interpretative signage along the way. During the 19th and early-20th centuries, many ships crashed here while trying to navigate their way into Newcastle Harbour. Whether you walk, ride your bike or skate, the level foreshore walk is one of the easiest in the city to accomplish.

7. Go for a surf at Newcastle’s best beaches

Surfing at Nobbys Beach in Newcastle, NSW — Locals know the best spots to catch a wave. (Image: Destination NSW)

The beaches of Newcastle are busy from dusk to dawn with Novocastrians who enjoy surfing. Newcastle Point is one of the preferred spots to catch a wave, while Mereweather Beach has been titled one of Australia’s National Surfing Reserves. Can’t surf? Book a lesson with Phillipa Anderson Surf School and you’ll be standing up in no time.

8. Visit Newcastle Museum

a family looking at the gallery display inside Newcastle Museum — Dive into the city’s past at the Newcastle Museum. (Image: Destination NSW)

As well as showcasing world-class collections, the Newcastle Museum works to fire up the imagination. It is also a must for those keen to learn about the city’s past, present and even the future. The Lock-Up , the city’s first gaol, is another one of many inspired art spaces in Newcastle.

9. Go forest bathing at Blackbutt Reserve

a man enjoying a scenic walk through Blackbutt Nature Reserve, Kotara, Newcastle — Opt for a scenic walk along Blackbutt Reserve. (Image: Tyson Mayr)

Blackbutt Reserve offers 182 hectares of respite just six kilometres from Newcastle’s CBD. The undulating environment is like a green blanket thrown in a heap; the family-friendly park includes wildlife exhibits where visitors can spot koalas, wombats, emus and kangaroos. Committed tree-huggers should head to the park’s pocket of restored rainforest, while birdwatchers should beeline for the nearby Hunter Wetlands National Park.

10. Swim laps in Newcastle’s ocean pools

The Bogey Hole in Newcastle, NSW — The Bogey Hole is one of the city’s best spot to swim. (Image: Time Out)

Set yourself a daily schedule that involves doing some laps at one of Newcastle’s stunning ocean pools, from the 100-metre-long Merewether Ocean Baths to the heritage-listed Bogey Hole. While Mereweather Ocean Baths is known for being the largest in the southern hemisphere, the convict-built Bogey Hole is an Instagram-feed favourite that dates back to 1819.

11. Hop between the city’s best breweries

Modus Merewether in Newcastle, NSW — Craft beer enthusiasts will have a field day at Modus. (Image: Destination NSW)

This industrial powerhouse of a port city is known for its lively drinking dens and brewpubs. Bounce from Good Folk Brewing to sample hero beers that put Newie on the map to Modus Brewing in Merewether, where the operandi is to brew a better standard of beer. Foghorn Brewing was the first modern craft brewery to open in Newcastle and the industrial-sized space is a top spot to inhale New York-style pizza and a couple cold ones.

12. Visit the annual Newcastle Food Month

Newcaslte Food Month in Newcastle, NSW — Eat like a king at Newcastle Food Month.

Visit Newcastle during April for the ultimate foodie weekend. Newcastle Food Month takes over the city and is a brilliant way to check out the local food and wine scene, pulling diners from around the country for brewery tours, degustations, wine tastings, foodie masterclasses and more. The annual Le Diner En Blanc is a highlight, in which all attendees dress up in white.

13. Have a go at Treetops Adventure

a woman crossing over an obstacle at the Treetop Adventure Park — Conquer the hanging obstacle course at Treetops Adventure Park. (Image: Eluminate Media)

Those keen on indoctrinating their children to require a regular shot of green will appreciate swinging through the forest canopy at Treetops Adventure Newcastle . Put your best hiking boot forward into the forest and inhale the air, which is filled with the scent of gum leaves. There are more than 90 elevated obstacles at the adventure park, located in the beautiful Blue Gum Regional Park.

14. Take a tour of Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, NSW — Fort Scratchley is at the top of Flagstaff Hill. (Image: Destination NSW)

History boffins should head up to Fort Scratchley , a historical museum just a stone’s throw away from the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, the fort was the only coastal fortification in Australia to fire on an enemy naval vessel during the Second World War. Stand atop the concrete structure on Flagstaff Hill, which was built in the late 1880s, looking out over the ocean.

15. Listen to live music at The Lucky Hotel

The Lucky Hotel in Newcastle — Settle into the vibrant courtyard at The Lucky Hotel.

The Lucky Hotel is a beauty of a pub that boast a Palm Springs-inspired palette of Barbie pinks and orange, offset with lots of greenery and mood lighting. And there’s no shortage of legendary musicians coming to play shows in Newcastle, which gifted the world with great bands such as Silverchair and the Screaming Jets. The Lucky goes off, like a frog in a sock, on a Sunday.

16. Spot majestic giants on a whale-watching cruise

Coast XP whale watching in Newcastle, NSW — Spot whales off the Newcastle coast with Coast XP. (Image: Destination NSW)

The time to go whale watching in Australia is between April and November on the east coast, when the Pacific becomes a highway for migrating humpbacks. Coast XP offers an incredible whale-watching experience onboard its custom adventure boat, designed to give passengers unobstructed 360-degree views to capture the moment. The boat also traces the coastline looking for dolphins and long-nosed fur seals year-round.

17. Get an Indigenous perspective on Stockton sand dunes

Pump up your adrenaline on a Quad Bike tour at Stockton Sand Dunes. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Stockton Bight sand dunes are said to be the largest coastal sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. A whopping 4200 hectares of the undulating dunes form the Worimi Conservation Lands , a joint management arrangement between Traditional Owners and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. There are many ways to experience the sand dunes, including a tour with Sand Dune Adventures .

18. Hit the tracks in Glenrock State Conservation Area

Glenrock State Conservation Area near Newcastle, NSW — There are plenty of bike tracks among the trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

The light from above brightens the blues and greens of the sea, as if viewing it through a filter, at Glenrock State Conservation Area . You will get glimpses of the glittering ocean from lookouts clinging to the clifftops when you bike or hike your way around the rugged park. Only five kilometres from Newcastle, it’s laced with interconnecting trails which are graded from easy to difficult.

19. Hit the shops for take-home treasures

flowers on display at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets — Find pastel-hued bouquets at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets.

Shopping remains a central attraction in Newcastle where it’s all at your fingertips – from inspired paper products to artisanal coffee, designer dresses, hand-hammered jewellery and local art. Grab a bold bouquet from the Newcastle Food & Flower Markets . Pick up sustainable, second-hand fashion from The Retro Wardrobe . Or bounce between boutiques on Beaumont Street and Darby Street, home to some of the city’s top retailers.

20. Go on a True Crime Guided Tour

Discover the dark side of Newcastle on a True Crime Tour that focuses on the killers who once dominated the alleys and winding lanes around the city. As well as learning about Newcastle’s links to hardened criminals, the chilling tour crawls through the Convict Lumberyard and original Newcastle jail. The 90-minute tour also revisits the scenes of infamous crimes and we’ve got chills, they’re multiplying…

For more travel tips and insider stories, read our guide to Newcastle before you go.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .