Welcome to Newcastle See & Do Despite having inspired Lonely Planet's admiration, Newcastle is yet to be detected by the mass tourism radar. The seaside city of Newcastle is a great holiday destination with a rich history, quirky arts culture and a thriving dining and shopping scene. Embark on one of the many self-guided walking tours or learn how to surf. Spot local marine life aboard Moonshadow Cruises or Nova Cruises or get up close to Australian animals at Blackbutt Reserve, 182 hectares of natural bushland where you can walk the trails and discover the wildlife. Take a family day out to swing and climb like Tarzan at Tree Top Adventure Park, or for something more relaxing, pack up the picnic basket and head to King Edward Park, Foreshore Park or one of the many beautiful parks within Newcastle and enjoy the perfect picnic. For a full list of things to see and do, visitnewcastle.com.au What's on Winner of three International Festivals and Events City Award, Newcastle is home to many exciting major events. Keep an eye out for upcoming events at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Civic Theatre, Newcastle Jockey Club and Lizotte’s for great musical showcases, theatre shows, race days and exhibitions. Regular events include Rugby League home games for the Newcastle Knights and Soccer A-League, Newcastle Jets games taking place at Hunter Stadium. Annual events include the Newcastle Jazz Festival, Surfest, Craſt Beer Week, This is Not Art Festival, Newcastle Writer’s Festival and many more. For a full list of events - visitnewcastle. com.au or follow us on Facebook @visitnewcastle. Eat & Drink Newcastle has an emerging food scene that makes it an appealing spot to indulge in quality food and wine. In Newcastle East there's a new bar, cafe, deli, or restaurant throwing open its doors every week. Hamilton's Beaumont Street has long been a mecca for wining and dining, with a wonderful array of lively pubs and sidewalk cafes that have a strong Mediterranean focus. For those who prefer relaxed dining, Darby Street in Cooks Hill offers bohemian style cafes and galleries to browse. Enjoy lunch or a cup of coffee before heading off to shop through the variety of artisan stores. Or, for those who can't go past those waterfront views, right on the Harbour at Honeysuckle wharf, The Boardwalk is the place to head for sophisticated dining and opulent bars with spectacular Harbour views. For a full list of places to eat and drink visitnewcastle.com.au Newcastle aſter dark There’s no better way to describe Newcastle’s nightlife than electric. Small bars are constantly popping up all over the city, while some old favourites have truly kicked things up a notch. There are boutique beer bars for those beer aficionados, glamorous harbourside bars and local pubs playing live music around the city. Enjoy a delicious cocktail at one of the many wonderful venues along Hunter Street before finishing up with a late night coffee at the funky inner city Darby Street. Discover Newcastle is one of Australia's oldest and most interesting cities,offering a blend of new and old architecture, a rich indigenous history, and one of the busiest ports in the world. The land and waters of Newcastle are acknowledged as the country of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples, whose culture is celebrated in community events, place naming, signage and artworks. To learn more about Newcastle’s history, take a walk through Newcastle Museum, Newcastle Maritime Centre, or visit Fort Scratchley Historic Site, at its commanding position guarding the Hunter River Estuary. Explore Christ Church Cathedral and its exquisite architecture, beautiful grounds and wide views of Newcastle harbour. Stay It doesn't matter if you have spent your day exploring all of the wonderful things Newcastle has to offer, or if you've spent it relaxing, everyone needs somewhere to unwind and get a good nights sleep at the end of the day. Newcastle has a variety of accommodation to suit a range of tastes and budgets. From internationally branded hotels to beautiful boutique venues and backpackers and hostels, Newcastle has something for everyone. To search and book your Newcastle stay, visitnewcastle.com.au Newcastle's Beaches A trip to Newcastle is not complete without diving into the ocean. Close to the city is Newcastle Beach with the stunningly preserved Ocean Baths, while Nobbys is the picture perfect beach (and home to Horseshoe Beach, the dog-friendly beach). Bar, Dixon and Mereweather Beach is one long ocean crawl worth doing. Mereweather is home to the annual Surfest and the historic Mereweather Baths are not to be missed. You can even follow this line along to Glenrock Lagoon if you're feeling energetic. Burwood Beach is unpatrolled but great for surfing. If you're keen to venture out of the city centre a little, Redhead Beach is worth the trek, and even further is Caves beach (which is literally home to caves on the beach). Topographic information on some of these maps has been derived from material which is Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia, AUSLIG, Australia’s national mapping agency. All Rights reserved. Reproduction by permission of the General Manager, Australian Surveying and Land Information Group, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Canberra, ACT. 2417AUG16 Local Visitor Information Centres Maritime Centre 3 Honeysuckle Drive Newcastle, NSW 2300 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Sunday Hunter Wetlands Centre 412 Sandgate Road Shortland, NSW 2307 9am – 4pm, 7 days Both centres are closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Instagram @visitnewcastle_aus Facebook @visitnewcastle #visitnewcastle 5 ways to experience Newcastle like a local Get your caffeine fix - Over the past few years, Newcastle has created a coffee culture that gives Melbourne a run for its money. Rent a bike - Act like the city is yours. Hire a bike and enjoy some of the most beautiful cycle paths in the state. Shop local - Explore one of the many local markets for fresh local produce, wines, gourmet foods, arts, craſts, fashion, jewellery, home wares and much more at Newcastle Farmers Markets, The Olive Tree Markets and Hunt and Gather Markets. Get out your active wear - Start your morning with a walk along Bathers Way, one of the most beautiful coastal walks in the country, with rock pools and swimming spots dotted amongst amazing white sand beaches. Spend a day at the Beach - If your idea of fun is lazing around in the sun, Newcastle has plenty of options. OFFICIAL POCKET GUIDE AND MAP visitnewcastle.com.au For things to do, places to stay visitnewcastle.com.au