Bathers Way Coastal Walk
Newcastle has three distinctly different sandy beaches, and they’re interlinked by one great coastal walk called Bathers Way. The total walking time from Nobbys in the north to Merewether in the south is three hours at a medium pace. You can walk back or check the bus timetable to bus back to the city centre.

Bathers Way highlights Newcastle beaches that have generated some of the World’s best surfers, but also features rugged cliffs and reefs, rock pools, huge salt water ocean baths, heritage sites and parklands. Information signs along the route highlight some of the natural and cultural features. Bathers Way is a sealed pathway and though there are some slopes, most families manage just fine. It’s also the local’s favourite walking and jogging route. At the end of the walk is Merewether beach, one of Australia’s surfing reserves, home to the international Surfest surfing competition, and location of the largest ocean baths in the southern hemisphere.

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Newcastle East Heritage Walk via cafes 
The Newcastle East Heritage Walk links spectacular coastal views and industrial heritage that is the essence of Newcastle. A comfortable 1 ½ to 2 hour self-guided tour has been mapped out to highlight the critical role that Newcastle East played in establishing Newcastle and the Hunter Region as the second busiest economy in the State. This local area has been intensively used and adapted by different types of industry, transport, and residential living. There are layers on layers that in many cities would have been lost by ‘progress’. Highlights include The Lock Up, Customs House, the Convict Lumber Yard, Fort Scratchley Historic Site, Newcastle Ocean Baths and Beach, Christ Church Cathedral, and several historic convict-era buildings.

Click here to see the Newcastle East Heritage Walk map

Newcastle Museum
Newcastle Museum is located in the historic Honeysuckle Railway workshops, right in the heart of Newcastle. It has become a must see destination venue for the Newcastle and Hunter community as well as domestic and international visitors to the region. It is a safe and welcoming community hub for visitors of all ages and interests to drop in or stay for the day.

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Newcastle Art Gallery
Newcastle Art Gallery has the second largest collection of art in NSW. Between our regional Gallery and a host of private galleries, you can immerse yourself in art in Newcastle, all day. Start with Newcastle Art Galleries impressive range of Indigenous bark paintings, 20th century Australian and Japanese ceramics, and contemporary Australian art. Look out for Grace Cossington Smith’s ‘Trees’ (circa1927) and Brett Whiteley’s ‘Summer at Carcoar’ (circa 1977). If you’re visiting on the weekend, start with an introductory one hour tour at 11am with a volunteer gallery guide and get the introductory skills to understand contemporary and historical art practice. When leaving the Newcastle  Art Gallery and heading for various private art galleries, lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants along Darby Street or The Junction. Most of the private galleries presenting and selling their wares are within walking distance of The Junction or Darby Street.

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Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve provides nature trails, wildlife exhibits, childrens playgrounds and recreational facilities. It is the perfect place for a relaxing family picnic or to explore the wonders of nature.

Consisting of Eucalypt Forests and pockets of significant remnant vegetation, Blackbutt boasts a restored Rainforest providing habitats for a number of rare and vulnerable species. It also features wildlife exhibits which are modern, spacious and allow close viewing of the animals.

The Reserve also offers a range of recreation opportunities including barbeques, playgrounds, picnic facilities, photography, bird watching and peaceful areas for relaxation. Blackbutt has over 16 kilometres of tracks providing the ideal location for enthusiastic walkers, joggers and other fitness enthusiasts. Tracks range from short and gentle to long and hilly.

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Hunter Valley Vineyards Tours
Hunter Vineyard Tours has been exploring and showcasing the Hunter region for over 13 years offering quality tours and charter services for thousands of visitors.

The professional and friendly guides will show you some of the best wineries the region has to offer ranging from smaller boutique to larger commercial ones. Learn the history of the area whilst enjoying the tranquil surrounds of the picturesque Hunter Valley vineyards. Lunch is an option offered by Hunter Vineyard Tours. You can enjoy a 2 course sit down meal at a selected restaurant within the Hunter Valley.

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Newcastle Golf Club

A true championship course of 6160 metres (6800 yards), it is based on undulating sand dunes like those of the great historic links of Great Britain and Ireland. However, instead of fairways lined by gorse and heather, Newcastle is carved out of a forest of Eucalypts and angophoras abounding in native flora and fauna, including kookaburras, bearded dragons and kangaroos, making it a delightful as well as a challenging course to play.

Although the course is situated only a few kilometres from the busy industrial city and port of Newcastle, the wide bands of trees separating the fairways give a feeling of peaceful isolation from the cares of the world.

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