Newcastle

Newcastle is New South Wales’ second-most populous city (behind Sydney). With a population of about 540,000 residents, Newcastle maintains a small-town character while offering a variety of big-city amenities. The town’s growing arts scene, blue-collar roots and laid-back attitude make it a charming alternative to Sydney.

Newcastle enjoys good weather on a year-round basis. Its location is conducive to warm winters and hot summers, with temperatures peaking at around 30 degrees Celsius at the height of the warm season (January). In the winter months, the temps dip to a mild daytime high of about 17 degrees.

Newcastle Local Area

The city is surrounded by water, making it a great summertime destination for wannabe beach-goers. Walk along Darby Street, Cooks Hill or Newcastle East to enjoy funky cafes, browse local boutiques and whet your appetite for window shopping.

Much of Newcastle’s claim to fame lies in its beautiful coastline. The city is home to eight beaches, with Newcastle, Nobbys, Merewether and Bar beaches being the most popular. Fishing and surfing, in particular, are great activities to enjoy on the beaches of Newcastle.

You can pull up a seat along the harbour to enjoy views of the fishing boats, ships, ferries, yachts and kayaks that grace its waters. Newcastle is a hub of activity, and you won’t want to miss the exciting sight of large freight ships pulling into the harbour.

Newcastle also offers a variety of cultural attractions you should definitely check out. Fort Scratchley was built during the Crimean War to offer protection, and saw action in World War II in fights against Japanese war ships.