72 Hours in Newcastle: An easy escape north of Sydney

Day 1 (Friday) - Get out of Sydney

The vibe: Slow down, layer up and enter holiday mode. Newcastle has sunset coastal walks, heritage ocean pools, museums and galleries, cosy brewery taprooms and the best mix of foodie spots and nightlife.

Afternoon & Evening

Finish work, grab your bag, and head to Sydney’s Central station. NSW TrainLink services run direct to the Newcastle Interchange taking less than three hours, starting from $9.65 on an Opal card (Fridays through to Sunday). The second half of the journey weaves along the coast so you’ll be able to watch the surf breaking from the window. Once you’ve checked into YHA Newcastle Beach, warm up with a jacket and head to Newcastle Beach for the sunset, before making dinner plans. 

Best Bites:

• Grain Storein the Esst End has 21 kinds of independent Australian beer on tap, alongside an American diner-inspired menu including wings, ribs, burgers and fries.
• Foghorn Brewery on King Street has a $20 tasting paddle, with ales, pilsners and lagers, all brewed fresh on site.
• Scracthleys on the Wharf is a Newcastle institution with waterfront dining and fresh seafood mains meals starting from $29. Prices are higher here but worth the splurge.

Best sites:

• Nobbys Head has amazing views over the harbour. During winter, you’ll likely have the headland to yourself as the coal ships pass on the horizon, perfect for great photo ops and you may even see migrating whales.

Best nights:

• After dinner, head to one of Newcastle’s nightlife hubs. The suburb of Honeysuckle, right on the harbour has great bars and pubs like the rooftop at QT (open until 10pm), the Underground (under the Grand Hotel), and the Lucky Hotel, which has live music and DJs every weekend.

Can't miss:

• Coal & Cedar on Hunter Street is a hidden speakeasy with no signage on the door. You have to text the number on the wall, and wait for someone to let you in. Inside you'll find a cosy whisky and cocktail bar that's been named Best Regional Bar in Australia. 

Day 2 (Saturday) - Your full reset

The vibe: Clifftop walks, a 200-year-old ocean pool, slow bike rides and a tasting paddle at the end of it. Make this the Saturday that you came to Newcastle for.

Morning

After sleeping in, grab a takeaway coffee near Watt or Hunter street and head to the Bathers Way Coastal Walk towards Bar Beach. The 4km return loop is flat and free, and will take around an hour. You'll be on clifftop paths the whole way, and pass the Bogey Hole, a heritage-listed ocean pool which was carved into the rock face in 1819. If you’re feeling brave, jump in for a winter dip to really wake up. But if you just want to stay on the viewing platform, that’s fine too. Head back to Darby Street for breakfast. There’s lots of cafes here to choose from, and it’s a short walk from the YHA. Or hire a free bike from reception and do it all on two wheels. 

Best bites:

• Autumn Rooms for specialty coffee, pastries and breakfast items with a twist, like jalapeno cornbread, chilli eggs or berry hotcakes.
• Three Monkeys Cafe has everything from avo smash to pancakes, but locals love the Monkey Fry (essentially a big breakfast).
• Goldbergs Coffee House has been around for 25 years. It’s open from 7am to midnight, so you can get your caffeine fix pretty much any time of the day.

Afternoon

Choose your own adventure. Use your afternoon to get out and explore more of Newcastle.

Best sites:

• Brrow a free bike from the YHA and ride south to Merewether Beach and the Newcastle Ocean Baths. 
• Explorethe grounds of Fort Scratchley (also free) with the option to book a tunnel tour (from $15.80) if you want to dive deeper into the site’s history.
• The Stockton Dunes sandboard adventure (from $27) is on one of the largest dune systems in the southern hemisphere. For early risers, catch a sunrise on the dunes – completely free.
• Visit the Toboggan Hill Park (from $15) with 11 twists and turns on their 1km track, plus rock climbing and indoor roller skating. 
• Tandem Skydive Newcastle through YHA over Lake Macquarie (from $349).
• Between May and November, take part in a whale watching cruise (from $135). That's right through winter and spring, making it one of the best reasons to visit right now.
• If you love wine, the Nearby Hunter Valley hosts full day winery tours (from $229). 
• Explore coastal caves and spot sea life with Newcastle Coastal Adventure Tours (from $135).
• Discover  Newcastle with a three hour Guided Coastal & City Tour ($98). There’s also free, self-guided walking tours put together by the Newcastle Visitor Centre. 

Evening

Best bites:

• Pick up fish and chips from The Kiosk  at Newcastle Beach and eat on the sand. Scotties is another local favourite for fresh takeaway. Budget for between $20-$30.
• The Humble Thai on King Street, also a short walk from the YHA is one of Newcastle's best value cheap eats. Mains start from $21, and the crispy pork belly is a standout.
• Rosina's Pizza and Pastais another solid option with big portions and fair prices.

Best nights

• The Great Northern Hotel on King Street is a proper Australian pub, with cold beer, live music including open mic nights, and sport playing on the big screens. 
• The Queens Wharf Hotel sits right on the water at Honeysuckle. Head here for a nightcap with harbour views.
• For nightclub dancing, head to Newcastle's best known nightclub Kings Street Newcastle.
• For more live music and other entertainment, check out the Newcastle Live website, which has a weekly gig guide that’s regularly updated.

Can't miss: Between May and November, around 20,000 humpback whales migrate north past Newcastle. If you’re wanting a vantage point, Nobbys Head is one of the best land-based viewing spots on the NSW coast. Take binoculars, but clifftop sightings are common.

Day 3 (Sunday) - The last hurruh

The vibe: The best part of a weekend away is a slow and lazy Sunday morning. There’s no rush to head home straightaway – wake up rested in Newcastle before you return to reality.

Morning

After a big sleep in, check out and leave your bags at the property for no extra charge.

Best bites (breakfast is calling):

• Estabar on Shortland Esplanade is popular with locals, and has single-origin coffee and beachfront tables perfect for the morning sun.
• East End Hub on King Street is a two-minute walk from the YHA with freshly-baked muffins, homemade banana bread and toasted sourdough.

Best sites:

• Much of Newcastle’s cultural scene is free. The Newcastle Museum covers the city's convict origins, industrial history and natural environment in a heritage-listed former railway workshop. 
• The Newcastle Art Gallery is next door and holds one of the most significant regional collections in the country, including Indigenous and contemporary Australian work. Have a relaxed wander through and see what catches your eye.
• The Lock-Up runs contemporary exhibitions and live performances inside a heritage-listed former police station on Hunter Street. 
• Newcastle's streets double also as a free outdoor gallery, with large-scale murals found across Wickham, the Hunter Street Mall and beyond. Check out Adnate's First Nations mural in Wickham or Fintan Magee's Shadow at Museum Park.
• Darby Street and the surrounding Cooks Hill streets are full of independent galleries, design studios and artisan shops.

Afternoon

Collect your bags from the YHA and head to the Newcastle Interchange for the train ride back to Sydney, enjoying those views from the train window one last time as you farewell Newcastle.

*prices can vary based on season and event / holiday periods 

Words: Troy Nankervis