My first stop on my East Coast Adventure around Australia was to Newcastle, a seaside town only two hours from Sydney. It was a good first stop because it eased me into the trip and if anything happened I could hop on a train and be back in the city in a matter of hours.
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I stayed at the Newcastle YHA because there are basically two or three hostel options and this one was a beautiful old building right by the bus station. Many of the buildings in this city have remained unchanged for the last 200 years and even back to the days when Newcastle housed the colony’s worst convicts.
I must admit that there’s not a whole lot to do in Newcastle, but that can be a good thing. It’s not about checking all the items off your list, but more about having a nice quiet breakfast at a cafe, wandering around town, finding a used bookstore (!) and strolling down to the beach.
I only have two “must-dos” for Newcastle and they are the Bogey Hole, a rock pool carved out by convicts, and walking out to Nobby’s. The lighthouse at Nobby’s is only open on two Sundays per month, but walking out to the very end gives you beautiful views of the coast. You may even spot a dolphin pod, as I did while watching the waves crash against the Bogey Hole.
Even if you aren’t traveling up the whole coast like me, Newcastle makes a great day trip from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Sydney.
Love Newcastle. Been there quite a bit. the nightlife is awesome as it is a student town and there are lots of great things to do around the area. It was on Lonely Planet’s must see destination for 2011 list.
It’s definitely an underrated spot! I thought it was beautiful, especially all the old buildings.