Australia’s second oldest city and gateway to the Hunter Valley
Newcastle’s history is full of coal and steel. An old mining port, and Australia’s second oldest city, Newcastle has a long and fascinating history. For many years, and even as recently as a decade ago, travellers to New South Wales wouldn’t have given it a second thought, sticking to the more metropolitan delights of Sydney or the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains. However Newcastle has boomed in recent years, and been transformed into a dynamic and exciting location that punches well above its weight, while maintaining its authentic working-class soul.
Newcastle’s renaissance has largely been based around the emergence of a vibrant and exciting cafe culture, and places like Dark Horse, Suspension and Ground Up will satisfy even the most demanding of caffeine freaks. Wining and dining is an exceedingly enjoyable experience here too, with high-class restaurants like Subo, Estabar and Meet leading the way, and exciting night spots like The Queens Wharf Hotel, Coal and Cedar and Lizotte’s creating a real buzz in the city.
In reality, the city itself is perfectly set up to be a tourist hotspot. Superb surfing, gorgeous beaches, grand historical architecture, and the nearby Hunter Valley wine region make you wonder why it has taken so long for people to catch on! The attractions of this sun-drenched city mean that making the drive up from Sydney has become a no-brainer for most travellers.