Nobbys Beach, NewcastleCredit: Destination NSW
Surfers enjoying a morning in the water off Nobbys Beach, Newcastle.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Embrace the contrast of Newcastle’s dramatically beautiful stretch of coast and its former industrial prosperity, which is etched in grand buildings and architecture repurposed to service a vibrant, blossoming city. Ease into a relaxed city escape in this must-visit metropolis just two hours from Sydney as you explore a contemporary downtown crammed with arts, culture and design gems and an enviable food scene.
Seek out history, art and treasure
Get your bearings in this ocean-side city with a sedate sojourn aboard Newcastle’s Famous Tram. Allow yourself to be transported back in time on the detailed replica of a 1930s tram and gain insights into Newcastle’s rich heritage during a commentated city tour.
Take in the city’s Pacific-gazing splendour from Fort Scratchley, which has stood sentry over Newcastle since 1882. Feel yourself drawn into the port city’s fascinating convict history as you learn how an incarcerated workforce created Australia’s first coal mine.
Satisfy your cultural yearnings with a dip into the program of exhibitions, performances and events at the heritage-listed Civic Theatre in the city centre, connecting with local creatives over a rotation of comedy, drama and music in this lovely theatre from the 1930s.
If you love the thrill of a good garment hunt, set aside some time to scour the city’s treasure-laden vintage shops and artisan markets. Lose track of time as you browse the wares of the area’s established and emerging artists, designers, makers and producers at Newcastle’s Olive Tree Market, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month at Civic Park. Or get your rummage on at The Conscious Exchange in Islington, where you’ll find pre-loved and vintage clothing, accessories and homewares, plus eco-skincare and nature-care play products. You’ll also find Stoned Saint Moon and Hide and Seeker in Islington, among many more second-hand stores pocketed around the city.
Embrace the outdoors
Let Newcastle’s enlivening ocean-laced breeze guide you from the city to its outskirts and bushland beyond on your favourite mode of transport, be by foot and on wheels. Cover plenty of ground on a cycle from the city to the suburbs with Newy Rides’ three-hour Newcastle Essentials tour, or discover the area’s history, street art and cafés at a slower pace with Newcastle Afoot walking tours.
If that offshore, deep-blue water is beckoning you with the promise of an awe-filled adventure, jump on a custom-built vessel with CoastXP. From sightseeing year-round to whale watching between June and October, you’ll learn about local marine life, geology, Aboriginal heritage and unique landmarks, including wrecks, islands and sea caves. Or gather your inner circle and charter a working harbour boat via Spitfire Pilot Boats for a memorable bespoke cruise in the waters around Newcastle.
Take the plunge in Merewether Ocean Baths, the largest man-made ocean pool in the southern hemisphere, or dip into the ocean at one of the city’s sandy beaches. Then lace up your walking shoes and follow a self-guided walking trail, such as the 6km Bathers Way; the 5km Convict and Industry Walk; the 3.2km Shoreline Walk; or the short (450-metre) but deeply moving Memorial Walk that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and the pioneers of steel-making. Immerse in the worlds of science and history on the 10km Newcastle Coastal Geotrail, which follows clifftops and coastal trails from Nobbys Beach to Merewether headland.
More lush green reserves invite you to commune with nature and exhale deeply. Delve into nearby Blackbutt Reserve, Glenrock State Conservation Area, Blue Gum Hills Regional Park, Kooragang Wetlands, and the 15km Fernleigh Track, which runs along a disused rail line between Newcastle and neighbouring Lake Macquarie.
CoastXP, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
The CoastXP vessel taking guests on a boat tour of Newcastle.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
CoastXP, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
The CoastXP vessel taking guests on a boat tour of Newcastle.
Newcastle Memorial Walk, The Hill Credit: Destination NSW
Couple walking along the Newcastle Memorial Walk, The Hill.
#newsouthwales #feelnsw
Newcastle Memorial Walk, The Hill Credit: Destination NSW
Couple walking along the Newcastle Memorial Walk, The Hill.
Bite into a vibrant foodie scene
Savour the fresh flavours sourced from producers and wineries from the nearby Hunter region and enhanced by welcome bursts of creative energy across Newcastle’s super-charged dining landscape.
Feel spoilt for choice in Newcastle East, between the harbourside Foreshore Park and the ocean, where outstanding fare is easy to stumble upon. Start the day with an eponymous Monkey Fry featuring South American sausage at Three Monkeys Café in Cooks Hill or enjoy seasonal dishes starring locally sourced ingredients at East End Hub, on the Newcastle Beach end of King Street. Indulge a love of books as you settle in for great coffee, an intellectually inspired toastie and vintage reads at The Press Book House on Hunter Street.
Once the morning begins to ebb into lunch, take a seat at the elegant Signal Box in the Market Street Lawn precinct. Here, the food ethos centres on ingredients that can be hand-made in-house. Spend a long and languid lunchtime (or dinner) grazing on the likes of whole-roasted snapper and rock lobster mornay.
Feast on classic, abundant seafood plates at Scratchley’s on the Wharf. Experience a contemporary imagining of the ocean’s harvests at Scotties Beach House near Newcastle Beach, or slurp fresh oysters while absorbing the spectrum of Pacific blues at Noah's on the Beach. Delight your taste buds with vibrant, beachside-breezy Asian fare at the Newcastle instalment of Byron Bay-born eatery Light Years.
If you’re in celebration mode, book a table at Subo, on Hunter Street in the central Newcastle, where you can go all out with the five-course menu matched with top-notch Australian wines.
In nearby Newcastle West, dig into Greek, Spanish and Lebanese-inspired dishes at The Wickham Boatshed, a relaxed space overlooking the working harbour. Watch the talented chefs conjure up perfectly balanced flavours at Flotilla, also in Wickham, or continue away from the city centre to discover Equium Social in Mayfield, where deliciously wholesome fare is served in an art-filled space that supports local creatives.
Relax with drink before dinner
Newcastle isn’t short of watering holes to replenish your stamina after a day diving under breakers or exploring the city’s nooks. Relish the moody and intimate space at The Koutetsu, a Newcastle West bar specialising in innovative cocktails and premium whiskies.
Sample the house-made delicious spirits at the smart bar lined with barrels at Earp Distilling Co., set within an historic warehouse precinct in Carrington, a 10-minute drive north of the city centre. You can also unravel the mystery of distillation during one of the Earp’s masterclasses in the fine art of gin-making.
Newcastle East has plenty of options, too. Enjoy boutique beers with pizza and burgers at FogHorn Brewhouse’s art deco warehouse; soak up the 1920s vibe as you sip on cocktails and graze on lavish share plates at Babylon; and delight in delicious yum cha with tasty cocktails at Ginger Meg’s.
While away the late afternoon at the beautiful art deco bar and beer garden at Clarendon Hotel on Hunter Street, or sample fine craft beers at The Grain Store in a generously proportioned café space near Newcastle Beach.
Elevate your evening with a well put-together cocktail or Brazilian-style barbecue meal at Meet, or grab a seat at the rooftop bar at the QT Newcastle for a sophisticated sunset dalliance that slips seamlessly into the evening.
Recharge for another day in Newy
There’s no shortage of fine establishments to rest your head after a day sampling the city’s many inspiring experiences. Immerse in the lavish interiors of the impeccably styled Crystalbrook Kingsley, the city’s first five-star hotel. Housed within a rotund, brutalist building, this destination hotel comes complete with a rooftop restaurant, Roundhouse. Let hours slip away as you indulge in Roundhouse’s dishes of beautifully compiled flavours while looking out over Nobby’s Beach, or take in stunning city views from the hotel’s sleek Romberg’s bar.
Take your cue from hotel chain QT’s playfulness at design-led QT Newcastle as you lean into the sleek aesthetic and quirkiness of your room, and be intrigued by the locally focussed, contemporary Australian menu at the hotel’s restaurant, Jana, which features plates from the grill.
Make the most of the city’s sandy shores by staying at Noah’s on the Beach, directly opposite Newcastle Beach in the city’s east – many of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto balconies. Let those holiday feelings take hold when you pop downstairs to the restaurant for sundowners.
Appreciate the convenience of being within walking distance to the area’s attractions at Novotel Newcastle Beach Hotel, which offers contemporary accommodation on a corner position on King Street. Also on King Street, the budget-friendly Holiday Inn Express is handily located right next to the Newcastle Interchange, the city’s major transport hub.
Romberg's, Crystalbrook Kingsley Credit: Crystalbrook Kingsley
Romberg's is the hotel's the rooftop bar. Newcastle’s hotly anticipated Crystalbrook Kingsley opened its doors 9 June 2021. It is a 130 room five-star hotel.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Romberg's, Crystalbrook Kingsley Credit: Crystalbrook Kingsley
Romberg's is the hotel's the rooftop bar. Newcastle’s hotly anticipated Crystalbrook Kingsley opened its doors 9 June 2021. It is a 130 room five-star hotel.
Jana Restaurant & Bar, QT Newcastle Credit: QT Hotels & Resorts
A selection of dishes from Jana Restaurant & Bar, QT Newcastle
#feelnsw
Jana Restaurant & Bar, QT Newcastle Credit: QT Hotels & Resorts
A selection of dishes from Jana Restaurant & Bar, QT Newcastle
Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk, Palm BeachCredit: Destination NSW
Along the walk from Barrenjoey to Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
While famous coastal walks like Bondi to Coogee are busy with locals and tourists alike, Sydney’s lesser-known beaches are hiding coastal hikes that are just as spectacular but far less trafficked. Make the most of the warmer weather by heading outdoors and planning a whole weekend around one of these scenic coastal walks: book into waterside glamour and spend the days finding serene strolls, adventurous clifftop climbs and everything in between. Once you’ve seen the stunning views, picnicked the secluded sands and swum in the pristine waters, settle in for a meal beside the water with the satisfaction of feeling like you’ve uncovered a local’s secret
Barrenjoey Lighthouse to Avalon Beach, Northern Beaches
The walk begins at the most northernmost point of Sydney’s coastline with a steep hike up Barrenjoey Headland, giving spectacular views of Pittwater on one side, Broken Bay on the other, and the century-old, sandstone Barrenjoey Lighthouse on the headland itself. The walk then traverses Palm Beach, the serene bushland of McKay Reserve (a popular spot for weddings), Whale Beach, the rugged Bangalley Head (the highest point on the Northern Beaches coastline) and finishes at Avalon Beach. Pick out the five species of banksias as you walk, then stand still for a moment to see if you can catch a glimpse of the delicate honeyeaters that come to sup on the plants.
Eat, stay, play:
Palm Beach has as many one-of-a-kind stays as it does world class beaches. Families and groups should book the ocean view luxury of Rockridge or the five-bedroom, magnesium pool and cedar hot tub of Crane Lodge, a private retreat surrounded by angophora bushland. Couples can get a romantic room at local boutique hotel Jonah’s (check out the award-winning restaurant, too) or a loft above the cute Barrenjoey House where you can pick up fish and chips or an Italian-inflected three-course meal. If you book the latter, it’s a short walk to the Palm Beach Headland at night where you can see one of the clearest night skies in Sydney (Australia’s first Urban Night Sky Place). The next morning, drop into The Joey for coffee on the water then book in with Salty Safaris for a Northern Beaches adventure that includes a surf lesson and a Bush to Bowl-led Indigenous cultural tour.
Narrabeen Lagoon to Manly Lagoon, Northern Beaches
This 12km Northern Beaches walk has it all: headlands, beaches, rock pools, lagoons and, if the season is right, bright wildflower blooms. Begin at the foreshore of Narrabeen Lagoon (also known as Narrabeen Lake), then wind your way across the long sands of Narrabeen and Collaroy Beach. Snap a photo of the view at the Long Reef Headland then pass the lagoons and beaches of Dee Why, Curl Curl and Freshwater, dropping in for a revitalising swim at each. The hike will take most of the day, but if you want to cut it short, there are bus stops at various points along the trail.
Eat, stay, play:
The walk can be done in either direction and regardless of which way you go, you can end the day in a room overlooking the water. On the north end, book one of 47 sunny balcony rooms at the Narrabeen Sands Hotel and on the southern end, you can check into the stylish luxury at the Manly Pacific (recently renovated to the tune of $30 million). Instead of packing lunch, stroll up to a table at Pilu in Freshwater for a luxurious Sardinian experience or the Harbord Hotel in Manly for a classy pub meal. On your recovery day, forage, feast and learn about native produce with a bush tucker and Indigenous cultural tour run in collaboration with social enterprise Bush to Bowl and locally owned and operated tour company Australia by Nature.
Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Whale Beach Credit: Jonah's
Outdoor terrace at Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Whale Beach.
#feelnewsydney
Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Whale Beach Credit: Jonah's
Outdoor terrace at Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Whale Beach.
North Narrabeen Rockpool, Narrabeen Credit: Destination NSW
Sun rising over North Narrabeen Rockpool, Narrabeen.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
North Narrabeen Rockpool, Narrabeen Credit: Destination NSW
Sun rising over North Narrabeen Rockpool, Narrabeen.
Botany Bay Coastal Walk, southern Sydney
Venture to Kurnell, a rugged headland at the mouth of Botany Bay, for a 13km trail winding through the Kamay Botany Bay National Park and down the coast to Cronulla, passing sand dunes, rock formations, heathland, hanging swamps and one of the most spectacular and underrated headlands in the state, Cape Solander. The headland’s lookout and track are one of the best spots for whale watching during the migration season from May to November. The trail also passes through Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve, which is great for snorkelling and birdwatching (spot the endangered sooty oystercatchers and migratory waders). From the aquatic reserve, it’s a short walk down to the famous, long sands of Cronulla Beach.
Eat, stay, play:
Begin with a morning cuppa and a brekky roll at the waterside cafe Cook at Kurnell. When you reach your destination of Cronulla, The Shire’s cultural capital, treat yourself with beach views at Rydges Cronulla Beachside or, just to the north, Quest Woolooware Bay. There are countless quality dining options in walking distance. Embrace the local spirit and go for a stylish al fresco table at Italian-inspired Bobby’s or the relaxed modern Australian menu of Next Door. Use the next day to meander on Cronulla’s sands for 4km to Bass and Flinders Point, or get the historic ferry to Bundeena (the oldest operating commuter ferry in Australia) to explore the majestic Royal National Park, Australia’s first national park.
Jibbon Loop Track, Royal National Park
The 6.8km Jibbon Loop Track takes you from the pretty southern Sydney township of Bundeena and along a serene coast of the Royal National Park, introducing you to the wild scrub of the region, Aboriginal engravings and secluded beaches. You’ll quickly feel like you’re much further away from the city than just an hours’ drive. Take a little detour from the walk to check out Little Jibbon Beach, which has great views across to Cronulla, as well as Aboriginal engravings of local wildlife. Further along is Shelley Beach, a rocky bay that feels wild and isolated, and hosts expansive views off an unofficial lookout.
Eat, stay, play:
Start the walk early so you can finish the day with a dreamy kayak cruise of Bundeena and the Royal National Park with the eco-certified tour company Bundeena Kayaks. Before driving south, book into a Shared Knowledge tour where an Arakwal and Bundjalung guide will take you through the region’s Aboriginal culture, history and foods. Down south, wash off the salt water before an evening drink in front of water views from your room (or the bar) at Headlands on Austinmer Beach. Pick a South Coast beach to swim at the next day, drop into Darkes Glenbernie Orchard for an idyllic fruit picking experience and find out why Franco Pizza Bar is one of the most loved restaurants on this part of the coast.
Austinmer Beach, Austinmer Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Austinmer Ocean Pools, Austinmer Beach.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Austinmer Beach, Austinmer Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Austinmer Ocean Pools, Austinmer Beach.
Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell in Sydney's south.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell in Sydney's south.