Newcastle, 167 km north of Sydney at the mouth of the Hunter River, is the state’s second-largest city and one of Australia’s largest ports. It’s a major industrial and commercial centre, and the export port for the Hunter Valley coalfields and for grain from the north-west.
For many, Newcastle conjures up images of belching smokestacks. It’s an image that locals resent, and quite rightly. Newcastle is a relaxed and friendly place. The city centre has wide, leafy streets and some fine, early colonial buildings. There are beautiful clean surf beaches only a few hundred metres away.
Things to See and Do:
• The Newcastle Regional Museum located at 787 Hunter St, Newcastle West. It has interesting exhibits covering science, history and technology and hosts temporary exhibitions.
Newcastle Regional Art Gallery
• The Newcastle Regional Art Gallery is on Laman St, next to Civic Park. The permanent collection contains pieces by famous Australian artists including Brett Whiteley, Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd, while the touring shows often have a more international flavour.
• Blackbutt Reserve is an 182-hectare bushland reserve at New Lambton Heights, approximately 10km south-west of the centre, with bushwalks and aviaries, wildlife enclosures and fern houses. There is also a koala enclosure. Kotara train station is a short walk from the reserve, while the most direct buses from the city are Nos 232 and 363. A bus will give you plenty of time to explore.
• About 15km north-west of the centre, near Sandgate train station, the Wetlands Ecopark has lots of bird and wildlife as well as walks, canoe trails and picnic facilities.
Discover other tourist attractions in Newcastle Region today.