Known as the ‘Steel City’ Newcastle, NSW, Australia has gone through a huge cultural shift in the last 10 years, becoming one of Australia’s most exciting regional escapes – complete with a booming coffee, art, culture and dining scene.
Newcastle has always been known for an impeccable coastline (and yes, you can still get a carpark at the beach here in the peak of summer) and the stunning Glenrock National Park just 10 minutes from the CBD.
Newy, as Novocastrians like to call it, is a 2-hour drive north of Sydney (also connected with a frequent train schedule) and is in the Hunter Region of NSW (best known as a world class wine region). Newcastle Airport is expanding with international flight infrastructure and capabilities so it will be highly likely travellers can visit via cities in South East Asia.
Gone are the days of Newcastle’s industrial past as it emerges as a cultural playground with something here for all styles of travelers.
Credit: Destination NSW
Locals are obsessed with Newcastle and for all of these reasons we hope you’ll become obsessed too.
Connectivity
Newcastle is the second largest city in NSW (next to Sydney) however is yet to move into a congested metropolis status. When visiting Newcastle, you’re a 10 minute drive from most places or a quick light rail / train ride away.
Coffee & Brunch
Novocastrians are just as obsessed with coffee as the Melburnians – but we boast better weather and beaches. You can expect a plethora of high-quality cafes throughout the city and deep in the suburbs. With brunch spots aplenty, travelers can well and truly have their morning itinerary sorted with a delicious breakfast and a hot cup of coffee.
Bars & Pubs
With an industrial past you won’t be surprised to learn that Newcastle has pubs on most corners across the city. We’re still one of the only cities that recognise a pub as a place of community, with great respect taken to restore them to their past glory (and well into the future). Newy has a burgeoning small bar scene, everything from wine bars, craft beer dens with open air rooftops, tiki bars and gin distilleries.
Credit: Newy Rides
Dining Out
There is something for every budget and taste, from the cheap and cheerful to chef hatted restaurants (Australia’s version of the Michelin star rating system). We even have a kebab shop tucked inside a rock ‘n’ roll pub owned by an ex-Rockpool chef. If you want huge expansion ocean views with your dinner – we have that too.
Credit: Newy Rides
Street Art & Galleries
Newy is an artists city. There is street art absolutely everywhere, adorning walls throughout the CBD and the suburbs. The City of Newcastle has commissioned many of the works and locals are quickly developing the scene more and more with yearly street art festivals, gallery openings and initiative. We really are Melbourne by the beach!
Credit: Newy Rides
Beaches
Newcastle is rare in the fact that we are one of the only cities with it’s CBD on the beach – meaning most office workers can spend their lunch break in the ocean before donning the suit and tie for an afternoon of board meetings (or bored-meetings depending how you look at it).
With a plethora of city beaches all within a stones throw of the CBD, you will find bustling suburbs filled with cafes, restaurants, surf clubs and bars to visit after a swim. We also have 2 huge public ocean baths, separated by an epic coastal walk meaning you can have a swim in one, walk along the coast and finish the itinerary with a dip in the other pool
Credit: Newy Rides
Riding Bikes
The best way to discover Newy is by bike. With kilometres of paved cycleways, Newcastle is one of Australia’s premier cycling cities (not to mention world class mountain biking in Glenrock National Park) with safe, easy bike access to the main sights throughout the city.
Local bike tour operator, Newy Rides, combines the ease of cycling in Newcastle by connecting visitors to the essential and local fabric of the city by visiting many of the above cultural attractions for an authentic experience.
Owner, Ben Ogden, says
“Our tours really have something for everyone – foodies, beach-goers, the coffee obsessed and those that want to learn a bit about the city’s history”
Credit: Destination NSW
Newy Rides offers 4 main experiences;
Morning Essentials – A 2.5 hour coffee-ride which hits the major sights finishing with a coffee in a locally loved cafe
The Essentials x The ‘Burbs – An all-inclusive 3.5 hour tour including samples at some of Newcastle’s best breweries and distilleries finishing with lunch
Fernleigh Explorer – A 30km ride along the Fernleigh Track rail trail, immersing guests in rail and proud Indigenous history
The Ride Along Series – Bespoke, one-off events co-hosted by local personalities including chefs, artists, musicians and more showcasing their side of the city
Newy Rides
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
