Top 20 Things to Do in Newcastle

From steel city to city of style, sass and substance, Newcastle is a region that has been well and truly revitalised.

Newcastle has it all – from beautiful beaches and ocean baths to locally run boutiques and stunning nature reserves that are perfect for forest bathing. Here are 20 of the best things to do in this sunny beachside city.

1. A self-guided walking tour of Newcastle’s architecture

NESCA house newcastle — The Art Deco beauty that is NESCA House.

Newcastle is a destination for its historic architecture, from red-brick factories to beautiful Victorian terrace houses, a Gothic Revival cathedral and heritage-listed City Hall. Discover a rich diversity of architectural styles on a self-guided walking tour that takes in landmark buildings dotted around the city. Don’t miss the Baptist Tabernacle, which opened in 1890, and the Art Deco beauty that is NESCA House.

2. Walk along the Bathers Way

Newcastle Memorial Walk in Newcastle, NSW — The Newcastle Memorial Walk is part of Bathers Way. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Bathers Way walk stretches six kilometres from Merewether Ocean Baths to Nobbys Lighthouse, which has been protecting this part of the coastline for centuries. It also snakes past the Bogey Hole, Australia’s oldest ocean pool on the east coast and one of the city’s best swimming spots. The Anzac Memorial Walk is also part of Bathers Way, which as well as being a tribute to the city’s Anzacs, proudly celebrates Newcastle’s heritage as a steel-making port.

3. Find Newcastle’s street art

Newcastle beckons for admirers of street art and you can hear all about it on a guided Street Art Walking Tour with Newcastle Afoot. Hotfoot it along the two-kilometre walk to large-scale artworks like the Tattooed Woman by Inari, which looms over the University of Newcastle, to Fintan Magee’s hyper-coloured Shadow. The tour will steer you towards the best of Newie’s crowd-pleasing works and past some of its best cafes, where you can refuel with a snack.

4. Visit Newcastle’s array of markets

Homegrown Markets at the Station in Newcastle, NSW — Browse over 100 stalls at the Station. (Image: Homegrown Markets x AK Photo)

This is a popular Newcastle activity that simply must be put on your radar when visiting the city. Newcastle’s eclectic range of markets – from the Newcastle City Farmer’s Market to the Made & Found Market – are bursting with creativity and community. No matter the season, you’ll find stalls overflowing with photogenic mounds of fruit, artisan treats, handmade homewares and trinkets galore.

5. Have a picnic at King Edward Park

King Edward Park newcastle — King Edward Park from above.

King Edward Park is a paradise for active travellers in search of green space and a good view over the ocean. The spectacular park, which was earmarked as a recreational reserve in 1863, is the perfect spot for a summer picnic or barbecue. It’s also just a stone’s throw from the Bogey Hole, the sea pool at the bottom of the cliff face that flanks the recreational park.

6. Wander along the Stockton Breakwall

The Shipwreck Breakwall gives visitors a bit of a nudge about Newcastle’s maritime history.

The one-kilometre-long walk along the Stockton Breakwall gives visitors a bit of a nudge about Newcastle’s maritime history, with interpretative signage along the way. During the 19th and early-20th centuries, many ships crashed here while trying to navigate their way into Newcastle Harbour. Whether you walk, ride your bike or skate, the level foreshore walk is one of the easiest in the city to accomplish.

7. Go for a surf at Newcastle’s best beaches

Surfing at Nobbys Beach in Newcastle, NSW — Locals know the best spots to catch a wave. (Image: Destination NSW)

The beaches of Newcastle are busy from dusk to dawn with Novocastrians who enjoy surfing. Newcastle Point is one of the preferred spots to catch a wave, while Mereweather Beach has been titled one of Australia’s National Surfing Reserves. Can’t surf? Book a lesson with Phillipa Anderson Surf School and you’ll be standing up in no time.

8. Visit Newcastle Museum

a family looking at the gallery display inside Newcastle Museum — Dive into the city’s past at the Newcastle Museum. (Image: Destination NSW)

As well as showcasing world-class collections, the Newcastle Museum works to fire up the imagination. It is also a must for those keen to learn about the city’s past, present and even the future. The Lock-Up , the city’s first gaol, is another one of many inspired art spaces in Newcastle.

9. Go forest bathing at Blackbutt Reserve

a man enjoying a scenic walk through Blackbutt Nature Reserve, Kotara, Newcastle — Opt for a scenic walk along Blackbutt Reserve. (Image: Tyson Mayr)

Blackbutt Reserve offers 182 hectares of respite just six kilometres from Newcastle’s CBD. The undulating environment is like a green blanket thrown in a heap; the family-friendly park includes wildlife exhibits where visitors can spot koalas, wombats, emus and kangaroos. Committed tree-huggers should head to the park’s pocket of restored rainforest, while birdwatchers should beeline for the nearby Hunter Wetlands National Park.

10. Swim laps in Newcastle’s ocean pools

The Bogey Hole in Newcastle, NSW — The Bogey Hole is one of the city’s best spot to swim. (Image: Time Out)

Set yourself a daily schedule that involves doing some laps at one of Newcastle’s stunning ocean pools, from the 100-metre-long Merewether Ocean Baths to the heritage-listed Bogey Hole. While Mereweather Ocean Baths is known for being the largest in the southern hemisphere, the convict-built Bogey Hole is an Instagram-feed favourite that dates back to 1819.

11. Hop between the city’s best breweries

Modus Merewether in Newcastle, NSW — Craft beer enthusiasts will have a field day at Modus. (Image: Destination NSW)

This industrial powerhouse of a port city is known for its lively drinking dens and brewpubs. Bounce from Good Folk Brewing to sample hero beers that put Newie on the map to Modus Brewing in Merewether, where the operandi is to brew a better standard of beer. Foghorn Brewing was the first modern craft brewery to open in Newcastle and the industrial-sized space is a top spot to inhale New York-style pizza and a couple cold ones.

12. Visit the annual Newcastle Food Month

Newcaslte Food Month in Newcastle, NSW — Eat like a king at Newcastle Food Month.

Visit Newcastle during April for the ultimate foodie weekend. Newcastle Food Month takes over the city and is a brilliant way to check out the local food and wine scene, pulling diners from around the country for brewery tours, degustations, wine tastings, foodie masterclasses and more. The annual Le Diner En Blanc is a highlight, in which all attendees dress up in white.

13. Have a go at Treetops Adventure

a woman crossing over an obstacle at the Treetop Adventure Park — Conquer the hanging obstacle course at Treetops Adventure Park. (Image: Eluminate Media)

Those keen on indoctrinating their children to require a regular shot of green will appreciate swinging through the forest canopy at Treetops Adventure Newcastle . Put your best hiking boot forward into the forest and inhale the air, which is filled with the scent of gum leaves. There are more than 90 elevated obstacles at the adventure park, located in the beautiful Blue Gum Regional Park.

14. Take a tour of Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, NSW — Fort Scratchley is at the top of Flagstaff Hill. (Image: Destination NSW)

History boffins should head up to Fort Scratchley , a historical museum just a stone’s throw away from the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, the fort was the only coastal fortification in Australia to fire on an enemy naval vessel during the Second World War. Stand atop the concrete structure on Flagstaff Hill, which was built in the late 1880s, looking out over the ocean.

15. Listen to live music at The Lucky Hotel

The Lucky Hotel in Newcastle — Settle into the vibrant courtyard at The Lucky Hotel.

The Lucky Hotel is a beauty of a pub that boast a Palm Springs-inspired palette of Barbie pinks and orange, offset with lots of greenery and mood lighting. And there’s no shortage of legendary musicians coming to play shows in Newcastle, which gifted the world with great bands such as Silverchair and the Screaming Jets. The Lucky goes off, like a frog in a sock, on a Sunday.

16. Spot majestic giants on a whale-watching cruise

Coast XP whale watching in Newcastle, NSW — Spot whales off the Newcastle coast with Coast XP. (Image: Destination NSW)

The time to go whale watching in Australia is between April and November on the east coast, when the Pacific becomes a highway for migrating humpbacks. Coast XP offers an incredible whale-watching experience onboard its custom adventure boat, designed to give passengers unobstructed 360-degree views to capture the moment. The boat also traces the coastline looking for dolphins and long-nosed fur seals year-round.

17. Get an Indigenous perspective on Stockton sand dunes

Pump up your adrenaline on a Quad Bike tour at Stockton Sand Dunes. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Stockton Bight sand dunes are said to be the largest coastal sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. A whopping 4200 hectares of the undulating dunes form the Worimi Conservation Lands , a joint management arrangement between Traditional Owners and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. There are many ways to experience the sand dunes, including a tour with Sand Dune Adventures .

18. Hit the tracks in Glenrock State Conservation Area

Glenrock State Conservation Area near Newcastle, NSW — There are plenty of bike tracks among the trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

The light from above brightens the blues and greens of the sea, as if viewing it through a filter, at Glenrock State Conservation Area . You will get glimpses of the glittering ocean from lookouts clinging to the clifftops when you bike or hike your way around the rugged park. Only five kilometres from Newcastle, it’s laced with interconnecting trails which are graded from easy to difficult.

19. Hit the shops for take-home treasures

flowers on display at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets — Find pastel-hued bouquets at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets.

Shopping remains a central attraction in Newcastle where it’s all at your fingertips – from inspired paper products to artisanal coffee, designer dresses, hand-hammered jewellery and local art. Grab a bold bouquet from the Newcastle Food & Flower Markets . Pick up sustainable, second-hand fashion from The Retro Wardrobe . Or bounce between boutiques on Beaumont Street and Darby Street, home to some of the city’s top retailers.

20. Go on a True Crime Guided Tour

Discover the dark side of Newcastle on a True Crime Tour that focuses on the killers who once dominated the alleys and winding lanes around the city. As well as learning about Newcastle’s links to hardened criminals, the chilling tour crawls through the Convict Lumberyard and original Newcastle jail. The 90-minute tour also revisits the scenes of infamous crimes and we’ve got chills, they’re multiplying…

For more travel tips and insider stories, read our guide to Newcastle before you go.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.