Newcastle

Food touring in Australia's Newcastle

Adorned with handsome heritage architecture and fringed by sandy beaches, Australia's second-oldest city is slowly making waves on this country's celebrated foodie scene. With the Hunter Valley's farms and vineyards, Myall Lakes' oyster leases and Pacific Ocean's bounty all on its doorstep, Newcastle is now come of age in the kitchen.

Sydney weekenders and a mass homecoming of ex-pats (many tired of no-booking queues and big city egos) have helped see Newcastle's bar and restaurant scene booming once more. Here's the lowdown on the memorable mouthfuls and hippest haunts that chilled-out Novocastrians would probably prefer were kept to themselves.

Benedict Walker

Lonely Planet Writer

48 hours in Newcastle

For many years the Australian port city of Newcastle, a two-hour drive north of Sydney, has been on the brink of big things. Coal, steel and timber was once this city's lifeblood but the cultural, the gastronomical and the creatively entrepreneurial have been on the rise for a long while. Newcastle's time has finally come.

Today Australia's second-oldest city is punching well above its weight. Superb surf beaches, historic architecture and a sun-drenched subtropical climate are only part of the city’s charms. There is fine dining, hip bars, quirky boutiques, and a diverse arts scene. And did we mention the easy access to the delights of the Hunter Valley wine country and incredible coastline of Nelson Bay and the whale watching at Port Stephens? You’ll be surprised just how much variety you can jam pack into a 48-hour itinerary.

Miriam Raphael

Lonely Planet Writer