Things to do in Newcastle
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This Is Not Art Festival
Young writers, artists and music-makers celebrate.
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Blue Water Pizza
Bright and brassy, this lively waterfront eatery is the place to come for wood-fired pizza, particularly on a Monday when all pies are a bargain $14.
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Estabar
Start the day with an excellent coffee or a Spanish-style hot chocolate at this sun-drenched cafe overlooking Newcastle Beach. When the temperature soars, stop in for the best gelato in town.
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Lass O'Gowrie Hotel
Built in 1877 this is the oldest pub in Newcastle and has been the heart of the local music scene for the last 15 years. See local original acts here most nights.
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Newcastle Regional Museum
Opened in May 2011 to great fanfare, the city's flagship museum occupies the restored Honeysuckle rail workshops on the foreshore and focuses on the people, activities and places of the Hunter region.
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Sticky Rice Thai
Beach-style Thai served up with typical Novocastrian zest and five beers on tap.
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Rainbow Festival
An October festival celebrating Hunter gays and lesbians.
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Fort Scratchley
Originally constructed during the Crimean War to protect the city from possible invasion, this recently restored fort perched high above Newcastle Harbour was one of the few gun installations in Australia to fire a gun in anger during WWII. On 8 June 1942, a Japanese submarine suddenly surfaced, raining shells on the city. Fort Scratchley returned fire, negating the threat after just four rounds. Learn all about it on a guided tour.
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Wetlands Centre Australia
The Wetlands Centre Australia was born out of a desperate bid to stop the highway storming through the guts of this former rubbish tip. Now it’s 45 hectares of swampy wonderland, home to over 250 wildlife species. Mosquitoes are plentiful, so you’d best keep on walking, cycling or canoeing. The centre is a short walk from Sandgate train station.
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Silo
Laughter refracts from the red-and-silver wallpaper and ricochets off the glass chandeliers. Silo specialises in local produce and sports a tremendous selection of beers, cocktails, liqueurs and spirits in general. A DJ spins up a storm Friday and Saturday night (from 9.30pm) and on lazy Sunday afternoons.
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Scratchleys
This glass-fronted block stretches out over the water and is popular for business lunches, romantic dinners and family celebrations (think golden oldies toasting their 40th wedding anniversary). The extensive menu is sure to please seafood lovers.
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Fishers @ Honeysuckle
Fishers @ Honeysuckle hires bikes and buggies and is also a booking agent for several cruise companies in the area which specialise in drifting around the harbour, sauntering over to Stockton or floating as far afield as Morpeth.
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Blackbutt Reserve
Sitting in a tract of bushland with plenty of walking trails and picnic areas, this council-run reserve has enclosures featuring native critters, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats, along with a cacophonic chorus of native birds. Take bus 224 or 317 (30 minutes) to the park's edge then walk 1km to the entrance.
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Newcastle Region Art Gallery
This excellent regional gallery has a permanent collection of works by revered Australian artists (Drysdale, Nolan, Whiteley) and hosts exciting temporary exhibitions.
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Delaney
Something of a Newcastle institution, the ‘Del’ is grotty and grimy but it does guarantee a cracking night out. Friendly staff, friendly punters and excellent live music make this pub a hard act to follow.
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Newcastle Maritime Museum
Explore maritime memorabilia at the Newcastle Maritime Museum, including old captains’ logs, photographs, uniforms, and the flotsam and jetsam washed up with shipwrecks.
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Queens Wharf Brewery
If the beaches are empty then check the Brewery, one of Newcastle’s most popular pubs with over 40 craft beers. Sunday afternoons drift into evening with live music on the wharf.
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Customs House Hotel
The shaded courtyard is a great spot for an afternoon bevvy; inside the bar is all polished floorboards, low-lying banquettes and dressed-up Novocastrians strutting their stuff.
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Paymaster’s Café
White linen tablecloths, wicker chairs and heritage surrounds make dining here an absolute delight – and that’s before you’ve even sampled the excellent Asian-inspired menu.
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Scotties
Locals love this laid-back place for its fish and chips, burgers and old-fashioned milkshakes. Takeaway or eat in at one of the rickety tables and watch the people pass by.
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Cambridge Hotel
This backpacker favourite launched Silverchair, Newcastle's most famous cultural export, and continues to showcase touring national bands and local acts in live gigs from Wednesday to Sunday.
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Queens Wharf Tower
Get your bearings (and your heart racing) with a climb up 180 steps to the top of the 40.3m-high Queens Wharf Tower for a 360-degree view of the city.
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Jonah's on the Beach
In a four-star hotel overlooking Newcastle Beach, Jonah's offers magnificent views and a menu full of robustly flavoured delights. The wine list has a strong representation of Hunter Valley drops and there's live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
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Fannys
See boys and gals out on the razzle-dazzle wearing their shortest skirts and strongest aftershave. A strict dress code applies (yes, really!).
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Last Drop
A fabulous funky cafe that’s big on service, good food and great coffee. The Turkish sandwiches are best enjoyed on the comfy couch out back.
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