Newcastle - 360 Degrees of Beauty

Woo hoo! My first ever post and I am so excited that it is about beautiful Newcastle! A place that I have been lucky enough to grow up in and over many years been able to enjoy all that it has to offer.

So what exactly does Newcastle have to offer? The answer is a lot! It is an incredibly diverse place and in my humble opinion has a little bit of everything for everyone. In this post however, the focus will be on being outdoors and enjoying the gifts of Mother Nature. Whether you travel North, East, South or West of this amazing place you are bound to have something wonderful to explore once you start moving those little feet of yours.

All of these places I mention today are found within an hours drive of the city, others just minutes. They all deserve their own post and lots of photos to show how amazing they are. That lovely people, will be in another time and another post. This is just a quick snap shot! Oh, and some of these places might be slightly more North West or South East than what I have mentioned, you get the idea. Finer mapping details aside, if you are in Newcastle, you are 100% guaranteed to be surrounded by beauty!

Heading East

Okie doke. Beaches! We have a lot of them and they are all amazing! Surfing, kayaking, swimming, walking, whale and dolphin watching and exploring the many rock pools are all possibilities if you come to Newcastle and spend some time on the coast. 

In the immediate CBD you are spoilt for choice. Nobbys, Newcastle, Susan Gilmore, Bar, Dixon Park, Merewether and Burwood are all within minutes of each other.

Cliffs atop The Bogey Hole. Perfect Zen!

All are unique and have their own drawcard for why you would go there. Our entire coastline is clean, friendly and always has an awesome vibe whatever the time of year.

The other gem that Newcastle has is Glenrock State Conservation Area, which is part of the Great North Walk. A bushwalkers and mountain bikers happy place. Tracks and trails for all levels and interests. Follow the lagoon down far enough and you'll up end up on your own private beach! If you are lucky enough to come here after rain, the waterfalls are incredible!

Overlooking Bar Beach and further down the golden strip is Dixon Park and Merewether.

Glenrock after a few days heavy rain...An amazing series of waterfalls and so easy to get to!

   Heading North

Start driving north up the M1 and you will find there is much to stop and look at. If you feel like some easy strolling and being surrounded by lots of birds, goannas and frogs the Hunter Botanic Gardens is your first port of call.

The Palm Garden...Just one of the lovely sections of the Hunter Botanic Gardens.

Mt Tomaree's 360' views over Port Stephens

If you didn’t get enough of a beach hit in Newcastle then Port Stephens and its twenty plus beaches and bays are calling you. Birubi, One Mile, Anna Bay, Fingal Bay, Dutchman's beach and Zenith are just a few of the aqua toned gems you can splash about in. There are lots of marine parks that are great for snorkelling and/or diving. Fly Point is loaded with marine life, just be careful of your fingers as those fish love to nibble at anything they think is food! Hungry fish aside, it is an underwater paradise! The Stockton dunes are another must see, especially at sunset when the sand can become transformed from pale yellow to a fiery orange. Like Newcastle beaches, the opportunities for beach going activities in Port Stephens are endless!

Crystal clear waters at Fly Point Marine Reserve

The incredible rock formations at Boat Harbour, Port Stephens. The perfect spot to watch sunrise, sunset and in migration season, the whales!

Heading West

West is best! Well almost… I am a beach gal at heart after all hehe! The wilderness of the Watagans National park is breathtaking! So many different ecosystems, the temperate rainforest section is particularly beautiful if you love all things mossy and green. 

Getting off the beaten track.

Only a 45 minute drive from Newcastle and great to explore in the cooler months when the water is a bit too chilly for swimming (and less snakes thanks to hibernation!) Bushwalking for all levels, huge waterfalls, amazing lookouts and perfect for nature lovers with the diverse bird and wildlife. The heritage of the Awabakal and Darkinjung people who once lived here is evident too. In several different spots you can see art and engravings. Struggling to think of reasons to not go here!

Gap Creek Lookout, keep an eye out for the many eagles that soar around off here!

Heading South

To be fair you are heading into Lake Macquarie now, not so much Newcastle. But hey, it’s all connected right? First of all, you will get more beaches, surprise surprise! Dudley and Redhead (did someone say shark tower?) will be the first you come across. You then have the Belmont Wetlands State Park. Hundreds of hectares full of sand dunes, walks, wetlands and beaches. Once you cross the bridge you are very close to a personal favourite, Caves Beach. Low tide allows for exploration in and around the sea caves. 

After exploring the rock pools enjoy the sunset.
Caves Beach, northern end.

From here you can jump on to the Old Pacific Highway and head to Munmorah State conservation Area.  Snapper point is a popular spot because of its massive sea cave. It looks over Frazer Beach too which is within a few minute’s drive. This drive takes you past the Palms walking track which is worth a quick look. Once at Frazer you can easily spend many hours exploring (Note: Just be aware of tidal and surf conditions). 

Norah Head Lighthouse

If you are keen to keep driving then Norah Head and Wyrrabalong National Park would be your next pit stop. Lots of great coastal walks and make sure you check out the lovely old lighthouse as well. If waterfalls are your thing coast down the M1 from Newcastle and stop off at Somersby Falls. An amazing set of layered falls that are especially wonderful after some steady rain.

An easy, one hour drive south of Newcastle and you can find yourself at Somersby Falls.

Snapper Point's Sea Cave, Lake Munmorah.

That's a Wrap

So all of this just an hour from Newcastle…that’s what I meant by lucky! If you are willing to travel a little further afield Barrington Tops National Park, Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve and the Myall lakes should be at the top of your list! They will have you travelling in all direction of the compass too, but all hold the promise of a beautiful day spent outdoors. The other great thing is that nearly all of the places are free to enjoy. The most you would pay for anything is maybe an entry fee here or there with your National Parks and other than that just some dollars for petrol.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to have a read. If you have any other places you would recommend to people visiting Newcastle, or for people already living in Newcastle to see something new, please leave a comment below.