Just two hours north of Sydney, we’re really not sure why more people don’t weekend up here. The city of 500,000 is home to stunning beaches, delicious eateries and an all-around laid-back vibe that’s exactly want you want for a quick getaway.
Over the years we’ve spent a couple weekends in Newcastle and are certainly going to make a habit of coming up here more.
TL;DR: Weekending in Newcastle
- Where is it? New South Wales coast, two hours north of Sydney
- Budgeting: All activities mentioned in this itinerary are free (except food)
- What to do and see: Beaches, nature reserves, coastal walks and ocean baths
- When to go: November to February for the best beach weather
Our ideal Newcastle itinerary
There’s plenty to do in Newcastle, but if we were making a recommendation for a weekend stay, there’s a few must-dos on our list. We’ve been to the New South Wales city a few times, and if we had to craft a perfect weekend based on our experiences, here’s what we’d recommend.
Day 1 in Newcastle:
- Go for a walk to Nobby’s Lighthouse
- Swim at Nobby’s Beach
- Walk along the coast toward Newcastle Baths
- Have lunch at Estebar
- Head across the beach for another swim
- Sip rooftop drinks at the QT Hotel
- Indulge in dinner at Humbug
Day 2 in Newcastle:
- Take a stroll along Honeysuckle foreshore
- Breakfast at Merewether Surfhouse
- Have a dip at Merewether Beach
- Meet the locals at Blackbutt Nature Reserve
- Have a late lunch at Arno Deli before heading home
What we’ve done in Newcastle
For a city, there’s plenty of outdoorsy activities to do in town, so we recommend visiting when the weather is forecast to be warm and sunny. These are beaches and pools you’re definitely going to want to experience.
Climb up to Nobby’s Lighthouse
Where is it? At the end of Nobby’s Beach in the CBD.
Entry fee: Free
Facilities: None.
Swim at Newcastle Baths
Where is it? Shortland Esplanade in the CBD.
Entry fee: Free
Facilities: Toilets and showers.
Blackbutt Nature Reserve
Where is it? Carnley Ave, Kotara
Entry fee: Free
Facilities: Picnic facilities, toilets and parking (paid).
Take a dip at the beaches
Where is it? Various
Entry fee: Free
Facilities: Depends on the beach, but most have toilets, showers and kiosks.
- Merewether Beach
- Newcastle Beach
- Nobby’s Beach
Where we’ve eaten in Newcastle
Humbug
We’d been waiting months to try Humbug and, are happy to report, it was well worth the wait. This was easily one of the best meals we’d had in a while. Upon arrival, we thought everything on the menu sounded great, so we opted for the $105 per person “feed Me” menu. It changes frequently, but on our visit we were treated to house-made pastas and some of the best lamb we’d ever had.
Address: 87-89 Hunter St, Newcastle
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, from 5:30pm; Saturday from 12pm to 2:30pm
Arno Deli
We’re slightly obsessed with gourmet sandwiches and Arno did not disapoint. Now, this was a sandwich. The menu had all the items you’d expect from one, too. Mortadella, stracciatella, porchetta, jamon serrano and just about anything else you can drool over.
Address: 179/181 King St, Newcastle
Hours: Monday to Friday, from 8am to 2:30pm, Saturday to Sunday, from 8:30am to 3pm
Estebar
More about the view than the food, Estebar sits right across from Newcastle Beach. Sit outside on the footpath or inside where the wall of windows opens up to let the sea breeze inside. We came here for breakfast on a sunny Saturday morning and found it wasn’t too busy, considering the stellar location. Food-wise, the matcha we ordered wasn’t the best (although we are pretty picky with these!), but the smoked salmon bruschetta was pretty tasty, although the portions could have been bigger.
Address: 61 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle Beach
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:30am to 2:00pm
Merewether Surfhouse Beach Bar
Just south of the CBD and overlooking Merewether Beach, the surfhouse has a few restaurants and we had a sunny breakfast at the Beach Bar on the ground level. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, but on a warm, sunny day, the outdoor seats overlook the beach and are just perfection.
Address: 5 Henderson Parade, Merewether
Hours: Daily from 7am to 11:30am
Where we’ve stayed in Newcastle
Both times we’ve been to Newcastle we’ve stayed along Honeysuckle, and we’d happily stay there again. It’s by the river and close to a free car park (or affordable if during the week).
Rydges Newcastle
Full disclosure: We booked into the Rydges because we were in Newcastle for a conference, and this is where it was held. But, it ended up being a great stay regardless of why we booked. The rooms were spacious, the staff friendly, and the location great. There’s an outdoor pool with waterviews, too.
Book with the hotel directly | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Little National Newcastle
Cosy rooms with a bit of a Japanese vibe to them. The accommodations may be small, but, really, have everything you need. Rooms come complete with a nighttime tea and chocolate, coffee maker with St Ali pods for the morning and comfortable robes.
Book with the hotel directly | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Getting to Newcastle
Sitting 160km north of Sydney, you can either drive or take the train to Newcastle. From the city, it’s about a two-hour drive north along the M1. The train takes a bit longer; from Central it’s about 2 hours, 45 minutes to Newcastle Interchange. Trains no longer go directly into Newcastle’s CBD, but from Newcastle Interchange you can take a tram further into the city.
Depending on where you’re staying and how large your bag is, it may be easier to just walk from Newcastle Interchange, though. For example, the Little National is just 400m away. Other hotels, like Quest Newcastle West and the Holiday Inn Express are even closer.
If you’re coming from further away, like Melbourne or Brisbane, and flying in, Newcastle’s airport is about 25km north of the city toward Port Stephens.
