NEWCASTLE

NSW ACCOMMODATION

SYDNEY

BYRON BAY

HUNTER VALLEY

KATOOMBA

LAKE TABOURIE

NAMBUCCA HEADS

PORT STEPHENS

Road Trip Australia

Day Eleven

Upon waking up I take a look at the map and realise that my intention of reaching Noosa by nightfall is beyond impossible. I am unwilling to spend another full...

Travel Newcastle

On first impressions you can't help but be impressed with Newcastle as a city. It may not be on the same scale as Sydney or Melbourne, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Just to look at, it's far more impressive. Sitting on a peninsula reaching out to the sea at the mouth of the Hunter River, the city is surrounded by stunning beaches and bustling harbour waterfronts, but with a thriving CBD.Novocastrians are extremely proud of newcastle beach picture their city and it's easy to see why. But this is not only a quality spot to live in, it does actually have an abundance of "backpackery" activities.

Beaches

One of the city's top selling points is its beaches. It has a magnificent coast line, from the rolling sand dunes in Stockton (and we all know how much fun, not to mention painful, sand dunes can be) in the north of the city to the world-class waves of Merewether in the south.I may not be an elite member of the surfing world (I clearly don't have a strong enough tan to become a affiliate of that club) but I do like to give it a go, and I can honestly say this is one of the best places for surfing in the country - what's more it does actually boast some of the top surfers in the world.

If you want to learn to surf then Stockton and the far more popular Nobby's beach are good places to head to. There are plenty of places where you can rent boards and a fair gathering of surf schools. Stockton also offers beachfront camping and is more than worth a visit even if the surf isn't a major turn on. The 32km of sand dunes, which reach up to 30 meters high, are far too much fun to resist. Whether you just want to slid down tentatively on you arse like wimp (that's me) or fancy a more high octane experience crashing around in various types of 4WD vehicles, the choice is yours.

Newcastle Beach is a better choice for the hardened surfer whilst Merewether Beach is a dream for your surfer with a death wish. Bar Beach, with its sheltered rock pool and Dixon Park Beach are also popular, whilst there are also two ocean baths - on called Newcastle, which is in the city, and another at Merewether.

Also take a dip in the Bogey Hole at the foot of Shepherds Hill, beneath King Edward Park, which was cut into ocean rocks by convict workers in 1819.

If you're not exactly the surfer type, and would rather just chill out and top up your tan after the long winter then these are decent little spots to visit, as for that matter are all the beaches around the town.