Follow the tunes to the heart of the Hunter region where the vibrant town of Newcastle sets the stage for a star studded Great Southern Nights line-up from 8-24 March. There's over a dozen headline gigs as part of the 17-night music festival, and when the music stops a delectable food and wine offering awaits.

Great Southern Nights Gigs

The centre of town will be abuzz with artists galore including the all-female strong Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers at Hamilton Street Station (21 Mar), crowd favourites Cub Sport will play at the King Street Hotel (10 Mar), alternative rock singer Dan Sultan will grace the stage at the Playhouse Theatre (10 Mar) and the iconic Kate Ceberano can be seen at Belmont Sailing Club (9 Mar).

Bounce to the energetic beats of Anna Lunoe (9 Mar) and Godlands (15 Mar), both performing at the King Street Club. ELIXIR (Feat. Katie Noonan, Zac Hurren and Ben Hauptmann) (10 Mar) will share toe tapping tunes at Lizottes, legendary Peter Garrett and The Alter Egos at Newcastle City Hall (12 Mar) and indie singer songwriter Ruby Fields at King Street Hotel (24 Mar).

The harbourside city will also welcome a touch of country with James Blundell making an appearance at Newcastle Hotel (9 Mar).

Eat and Drink

Blanca

The city’s newest dining experience in the harbourside Honeysuckle precinct. Inspired by the coastlines of Greece, Sicily, and Turkey, Blanca – the Mediterranean restaurant is a first of its kind for Newcastle. 

Vecina

From Newcastle’s Flotilla team is a new venue that brings a Spanish-style bar to Newcastle’s Wickham. Alongside bar snacks like beef tartare, chicken liver parfait and empanadas is a neat list of cocktails and on Wednesdays the venue’s charcoal grill is lit to put dry-aged steak on the menu.

The Beach Hotel

Newcastle's beloved beachside gem, The Beach Hotel, has officially reopened, marking the completion of it's three-phased restoration. Located in the heart of Merewether and steeped in decades of sun, salt and hearty community spirit, it re-emerges with the launch of new experiences including elevated seaside dining restaurant Peregrin, classical coastal fare in the main pub at The Beach Hotel and retro beachside takeaway, Larrie's all now open.

Signal Box

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.

Light Years

Step into the palm filled oasis of Light Years Newcastle where you can delight your taste buds with vibrant, beachside-breezy Asian fare at the Newcastle instalment of Byron Bay-born eatery.

Earp Distilling Co.

Sample the house-made delicious spirits at the smart bar lined with barrels, 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.  

The Edwards Bar

Located in Newcastle’s West End, affectionately named ‘The Eddies’ by locals, you can enjoy food beverages, exhibitions and live acts. The menu is created with a focus on fresh, seasonal produce and top quality cuts. Check out the weekly specials for happy hour wines, beers and cocktails.

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Learn about the old and the new

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.

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.  

Explore the outdoors

Take the plunge in Merewether Ocean Baths, or the revitalised Newcastle Ocean Baths, 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.

For an awe-filled adventure, jump on a custom-built vessel with CoastXP who offer sightseeing year-round and whale watching between June and October. You can also

Stay

Crystalbrook Kingsley

Immerse in the lavish interiors of the impeccably styled five-star hotel (the city’s first). 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.

QT Newcastle

Take your cue from hotel chain QT’s playfulness at the design-led hotel as you lean into the sleek aesthetic and quirkiness of your room, and be intrigued by the locally focused, contemporary Australian menu at the hotel’s restaurant, Jana, which features plates from the grill.  You can also grab a seat at the Rooftop at QT and take in Newcastle’s skyline, sip on an abundant array of gins and whiskys, cocktails and food with a Japanese twist.

Noahs on the Beach

Make the most of the city’s sandy shores by staying 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.  

Novotel Newcastle Beach

If you’re looking for the the convenience of being within walking distance to all of Newcastle’s main attractions, stay on King Street. The Novotel offers 4.5-star oceanside comfort and has its own stylish Bistro Dalby.

Holiday Inn Express

Also on King Street is a more budget friendly option that features 170 well-designed rooms. It is also located right next to the Newcastle Interchange, the city’s major transport hub.  

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For more information on Great Southern Nights and to purchase tickets go to greatsouthernnights.com.au. Start planning your Great Southern Nights road trip and learn more about New South Wales’ diverse destinations and experiences at sydney.com and visitnsw.com.

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