Post Cards of Newcastle - NSW Australia

I often look at travel images and the beaches that people rave about all over the world but my thoughts keep returning to Newcastle and the continuous line of beaches that flow from this coastline. The area can boast a continuous line of surfing beaches from Budgewoi in the South, to Port Stephens in the North. For years we were hindered by people relating the area with an industrial city but this is way behind us now despite the billion dollar coal loader expansion, the many coal mines throughout the Hunter Valley and the employment that comes with such projects and industries.

and the guarantee of over 40 coal ships off the coast on any given day
Some even try to become too intimate
The mighty Pasha Bulker rocketed the city to fame during the 2007 June storms when it ran aground on popular Nobby’s Beach. Somehow all this activity and publicity adds faith to the economy of the area and tourism is flourishing.

What other city in Australia can boast what is unique to Newcastle and its surrounding region?

Newcastle has beaches and landmarks and wonderful walking tracks that can lead you along the water’s edge and offers the up-close and personal feel to the visit.

Newcastle has history It boasts a strong convict history from early settlement as a secondary penal settlement that grew to be the major stepping stone to the north west interior of the country via the mighty Hunter River.
A self guided or guided tour of the city buildings and its back streets will reveal the stories that have made this area such an important part of Australian history.

Newcastle enjoys a number of festivals with the Mattara Festival and the Maritime Festival being celebrated during the October school holidays. The hill climb through King Edward Park, art show, carnival events and a street parade are just a few of the popular attractions. The tall ships James Craig and the Endeavour are frequent visitors to the Port of Newcastle during these celebrations.

Newcastle has on its doorstep:

Lake Macquarie – the largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia This area is a city in its own right and joins onto Newcastle with no obvious boundaries visible. As well as the lake and the water craft and sports it attracts, you will find major shopping centres, surfing beaches and mountains.

The Watagans State Forest
is in portion part of the Lake Macquarie Shire and shares its boundaries with Wyong and Cessnock Shires. It boasts magnificent scenery, waterfalls, picnic and camping areas.

Port Stephens is a very popular tourist area with magnificent beaches and bays.

The Central Coast areas of Gosford, Woy Woy, Budgewoi etc that has in its own right the most magnificent coastal and forest scenery

Pokolbin Vineyards Enjoyed by many both as a day trip or an overnight stay. The area caters for the adults and children alike with magnificent resorts, golf courses, restaurants, picnic areas and quaint shops. One of the more recent draw cards to the area are the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens. Visit the gardens during December to experience and enjoy the magnificent Christmas lighting display.

The Hunter Valley Step back in time and enjoy the small townships, their history and shopping. Maitland, Morpeth and Singleton are only a few that can offer the day tripper a variety of antique shops, museums and scenery.

... and Newcastle is within a 2 hour drive of Sydney to the south, a 2 hour drive to Taree and Forster to the north and a two hour drive to the Blue Mountains to the west … with nothing but ocean to the east.

Newcastle shares its major airport with the RAAF Base at Williamtown and offers regular direct flights to the Gold Coast (1 hour), Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. A small sea plane also runs regular flights between Newcastle Harbour and Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour – a unique and different way to travel.

Newcastle is serviced by regular electric trains between all points south with other services north. Major tourist coaches also provide regular services into the heart of Newcastle from many major towns and cities. Major cruise ship companies are also making Newcastle a point of call … the magic of entering through the heads past Nobby’s Lighthouse at dawn to the boom of a three gun salute from the canons on Fort Scratchley is something visitors describe as unforgettable.

The people of Newcastle are unique too. They are a dedicated and fiercely home proud group of Novocastrians. The Newcastle CBD although undergoing a decline in the past decade is now on the rebound with the Newcastle Mall currently undergoing major renovations. The harbour foreshore has over the years been in a period of redevelopment with major highrise apartments, commercial premises, restaurants and museums veying for space in this much sought after area.

Newcastle enjoys a mild climate, an abundance of water supplies from multiple water sources at Grahamstown Dam, Chichester Dam and Tomago Sand beds, a major university campus, Christ Church Cathedral, wetlands, numerous botanical and showcase gardens, nature reserves, major hospitals and sporting facilities to cater for most codes of sport.

The F3 now bypasses Newcastle and many miss what is here to offer. So next time you see the sign, take a slight detour and visit for awhile … you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

For more information visit HERE

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Tags:

beaches, holiday stay, hunter river, lake macquarie, maitland, morpeth, newcastle, surf, tourism and watagans