A Go-To Guide to Newcastle Beaches | Australian Traveller

From calm swimming spots to famous surf breaks, here’s your guide to sand-hopping around Newcastle’s best beaches.

How many cities in the world can claim a cosmopolitan urban centre that’s fringed by beautiful beaches, epic surf and historic ocean baths? Australia’s second-oldest city, Newcastle, can. While its dynamic neighbourhoods boast an ever-increasing roster of outstanding accommodation and dining spots, its coastline has provided a constant source of beauty for swimmers, surfers and sunbathers alike.

Newcastle Beach

The city’s main beach is a people pleaser. Newcastle Beach, wedged between cliffs and rock pools, is a 600-metre stretch of sand that is well patrolled during summer. It’s also home to the city’s iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths, which provide a calm pool for swimming laps as well as a shallow tidal pool for kids. Beach-goers will find keen surfers riding the ‘Southie’ break and permanent volleyball nets that call for friendly games in the sunshine.

Nobbys Beach

Created by the convict-built Nobbys Breakwall, which was constructed to make Newcastle’s Harbour safe for ships, Nobbys Beach is a popular place for families and amateur surfers. Often frequented by dolphin pods, it’s also home to Soldiers Baths, where snorkellers can seek out macro marine life. Walk along the breakwall to the still-active 1854 Nobbys Lighthouse, an iconic landmark of the city and the start of the five-kilometre Bathers Way, a scenic pathway that’s become one of the best things to do in Newcastle.

Merewether Beach

Merewether Ocean Baths in Newcastle, NSW — The Merwether Ocean Baths were built in 1935. (Image: Destination NSW)

At the other end of Bathers Way, Merewether Beach is home to the largest ocean baths in the southern hemisphere. Built in 1935, the Art-Deco Merewether Ocean Baths comprise lap lanes as well as a shallow pool for languid dips. The beach is a famous spot for riding waves and plays host to Australia’s largest surf festival, Surfest . While only a short distance from the city, the suburb has the chill factor dialled up and is a relaxing spot for a beachside break.

Horseshoe Beach

On the harbour side of Nobbys Breakwall, Horseshoe Beach is both family-friendly and dog-friendly. An excellent base to launch a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, the beach is right by the bustling Newcastle Harbour and Nobbys Lighthouse. You will also see small keelboats flitting about the harbour, which you can learn to sail yourself with the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (operating from Wickham).

Bogey Hole

Hand-hewn by convicts in 1819 for the personal use of the long-serving commander of Newcastle, Major James Morisset, the Bogey Hole is one of the earliest known examples of a purpose-built ocean swimming pool. Accessed by a staircase at the bottom of King Edward Park. the turquoise waterhole is idyllic for a refreshing dip and has become an Instagrammer hotspot. The swell can be dangeorous on big surf days, so it’s best to visit when conditions are calm.

Stockton Beach

Just north of Newcastle, the famous Stockton sand dunes are the largest shifting dunes in the southern hemisphere, stretching for 32 kilometres along the coast. Set within the Worimi Conservation Lands , this ethereal landscape is a magnet for adventurers who come here for surfing, sandboarding and quad biking. View this desert-like landscape on a sunset session with Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides.

Dudley Beach

At the other end of the Newcastle coast, south of Merewether, you’ll find one of the last surviving pockets of coastal rainforest in Glenrock State Conservation Area . It’s hard to fathom you’re just a few kilometres from Newcastle city when standing on the Dudley Beach, where you may only spot a handful of keen surfers or sunbathers on the sand. Cool off here after a bush walk through the surrounding protected wilderness, but remember, this is an unpatrolled beach.

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

A go-to guide to Newcastle’s best beaches