Holiday and Travel information for Newcastle

Newcastle is one of Australia’s largest cities and even though its history is set in the coal and steel making industries, it is also a fantastic holiday destination in its own right. It is located on Australia’s east coast about an hour and a half’s drive north of Sydney along a modern motorway. It lies at the center of a fantastic holiday region. To the south is the magnificent beaches and lakes of the Lake Macquarie region. To the west are the rolling hills and valleys of the Hunter Valley wine growing region with its fantastic wineries and weekend resorts and to the north is the beautiful Barrington Tops mountain forest region and to the east are the great beaches and the fantastic ocean front holiday region at Port Stephens.

Until recent times the steel industry was the backbone of the Newcastle economy. The harbour front areas where the steel mills once stood have now been redeveloped into trendy new accommodation suburbs with great waterfront shopping and eateries. The harbour still booms with coal exports from the mines in the western Hunter region supplying huge quantities of high quality coal to fuel the growth in industry in Japan and China. On any one day you will find more than twenty bulk carriers anchored off the Port of Newcastle waiting to berth and load their cargo.

Newcastle has an excellent port and consequently, boating and fishing activities are popular. Fishing charters are available and whale watching trips are also available during the annual migration of the southern humpback whales. Sailing on Lake Macquarie is really popular and the region has tens of kilometres of pristine surfing beaches with some of the best surf breaks on the east coast. Most of the beaches have their own surf clubs and the beaches are all patrolled by lifeguards from the local surf club. This is a spectacular region to come and watch the surf carnivals as competition here is always fierce and the surf is always up.

There is plenty of excellent accommodation for holiday makers coming to stay in Newcastle. The city area has lots of quality hotels and plenty of apartment style accommodation is also available. Newcastle also has plenty of exciting nightlife, with a choice of great restaurants, lots of quaint cafes, boisterous pubs and late night, night clubs all to be enjoyed. Newcastle has now changed from an industrial giant to a modern vibrant city with plenty to offer the family holiday maker.