Two hours north of Sydney, the former steel town of Newcastle has reinvented itself. It’s now a thriving yet laidback city with amazing beaches, fun-filled parks, fantastic restaurants and unique shopping. You don’t need to worry about spending loads of money – there’s lots of free fun to be had, with many attractions, activities and icons that won’t cost you a cent. Here are 25 fun (and mostly free) things to do in and around Newcastle, NSW.
Stroll along the Anzac Memorial Walk
Go for a walk along the Anzac Memorial Walk and remember World War 1 service personnel while you enjoy Newcastle views. This 450 metre, cliff top walkway at Bar Beach is a stunning walk along the coastline. It features incredible 360 degree views of Newcastle from the coast to the city.
As it’s a tribute to the Anzacs, the memorial walk features history panels with information about different aspects of the conflict, names of local servicemen and servicewomen as well as listing the geographic place names of various conflicts.
Visit Newcastle Museum
To learn more about the history of Newcastle, visit Newcastle Museum. It’s free admission and contains many exhibits which chart the development of the city from convict beginnings to a modern, vibrant city.
Be sure to catch the 6-minute BHP Steelmaking show which features special effects. It runs every hour, on the hour, and provides a fascinating and entertaining history about Newcastle’s steelmaking past.
Discover the past at Fort Scratchley
Visitors can take a self-guided tour around Fort Scratchley viewing the cannons and other above ground defence structures. General admission to Fort Scratchley is free.
If you would prefer a full site tour and a chance to explore the underground tunnels, pay for a guided tour with one of the Fort Scratchley Historical Society volunteers.
Fort Scratchley is open six days a week, 10am to 4pm (closed Tuesdays). You can experience the Field Gun Firing at 1pm every day (excluding Tuesdays).
Walk along Bathers Way
For a scenic city walk, stroll along Bathers Way from Nobbys Beach to Merewether Ocean Baths. This 6 kilometre route takes in some of Newcastle’s iconic beaches and often you’ll see dolphins frolicking in the waves.
Spot koalas and kangaroos at Blackbutt Reserve
See native Australian animals like koalas, kangaroos and emus up close at Blackbutt Reserve. This popular attraction covers 182 hectares in the middle of Newcastle’s suburbs and features native animals, walking trails, playgrounds and tranquil picnic areas. Admission is free but there’s a charge for parking.
Walk out on Nobbys breakwall
Nobbys Beach is a favourite with tourists and locals alike for its views of Nobbys Headland and Stockton Bight. Work up a sweat walking to the end of Nobbys breakwall and then cool off with a swim at Nobby’s Beach (patrolled year-round). You can learn more about the city’s maritime history through the interpretive signs dotted along Macquarie Pier. Visit on a weekend and you can walk up to Nobbys Headland.
Swim at Newcastle Beach
Go for a surf or swim at Newcastle Beach. If the waves are a bit rough, go for a swim at the nearby Newcastle Ocean Baths. With its historic Art Deco façade, it’s a great place to float and count the coal ships moored offshore. There’s plenty of room to swim laps or splash around and the sandy bottom of the pool feels great squished between your toes. Please note: The Newcastle Baths are currently closed for revitalisation. Works are expected to be finished mid-2023.
Visit the Bogey Hole
If it’s a hot day, check out this popular bathing spot located in King Edward Park. The Bogey Hole is a favourite with tourists and locals alike. The Bogey Hole was built by convict labour by order of Commandant Morisset who served as Commandant of Newcastle from 1819 to 1822.
Try your luck at a local fishing spot
Fishing is a fun and inexpensive way to make lasting memories with your family and, with so many beautiful waterways in the Newcastle region, you’re sure to discover a new favourite fishing spot. Try dropping a line in the harbour from Carrington or Honeysuckle Wharf, or head a bit further out and fish in Lake Macquarie from Wangi Point or the jetty at Green Point Reserve. Read our tips on fishing with kids in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter.
Swim at the famous Merewether Beach & Ocean Baths
Another popular Newcastle Beach is Merewether Beach. Home to the famous surfing competition Surfest, it’s popular with surfers and swimmers alike. Definitely worth a visit. Go for a swim at Merewether Ocean Baths, the largest ocean baths complex in the Southern Hemisphere. As well as being a massive pool, it’s extremely scenic with views out to the ocean.
Do a street art walking or cycling tour
There is no shortage of street art throughout Newcastle. From larger pieces of art and murals to lesser-known back alley artworks, you’ll find multiple artworks around town by some of Newcastle’s favourite artists, like Trevor Dickinson, Matt Adnate and Jordan Lucky.
The nature of street art is that it is forever changing, much like the city itself, so grab the kids and go out on a walk or bike ride in the city, take some some photos and be inspired!
Explore Newcastle Harbour
Swap ocean views for harbour views and walk along Newcastle’s working harbour. As one of the world’s largest coal export ports, this busy working harbour is full of coal ships gliding in and out of the harbour. They’re joined by an increasing number of cruise ships. If you’re lucky, you might spot a coal ship entering or leaving the harbour, dwarfing the tugboats besides them.
Go “overseas” to Stockton
If you have time, take the ferry (it takes 5 minutes) over to to Stockton to see back to Newcastle. With ferries running every 15 minutes departing from Queen’s Wharf, you can check out Stockton by foot or by bike before returning on the ferry.
From the wharf in Stockton, you can walk to Stockton Beach and out to the breakwater on the Shipwreck Walk. There you’ll see remnants of The Adolphe Shipwreck and more.
Find some quiet at Christ Church Cathedral
This imposing Anglican cathedral dominates Newcastle’s skyline. Visitors are welcome and you’re able to go inside and see beautiful stained glass art, religious artifacts and tapestries. During certain hours of the week, visitors are able to climb the cathedral tower for a $10 donation.
From the top, they can see 360 degree views which extend up and down the coastline and across the entire city including the working harbour. Wander through the graves at the back of the cathedral. They date back to Newcastle’s early history as Australia’s second settlement outside Sydney.
Get arty at Newcastle Art Gallery
Get a dose of artwork at Newcastle Art Gallery. The gallery features a rotating display of exhibitions. In front of the gallery, get your photo taken with the Brett Whitely egg sculpture in front of Newcastle Art Gallery. From the right angle, the egg and nest sit right on your head. Please note: Newcastle Art Gallery is currently closed for refurbishment and expansion. It is set to reopen in 2024.
Visit the Newcastle Digital Library
The Newcastle Digital Library opened in 2020 in Newcastle West. It is located on Level 1 of the City of Newcastle’s Central Administration Centre and offers increased access to cutting edge technologies like Magic Box, where visitors can browse digital content such as digitised print, image galleries, 3D views and movies inside an illuminated display cabinet.
You can also see Pepper, the semi-humanoid robot, the digital story wall and more. If traditional libraries are more your thing, you might like to visit Newcastle (City) Library, located at the War Memorial Cultural Centre in Laman Street, open Monday to Saturday.
Find wildife at the Hunter Wetlands Centre
Get outside and into nature at the Hunter Wetlands Centre. The wetlands are filled with a variety of biodiversity including 217 species of bird (including magpie geese) and several types of mammal, reptile, frog and fish. There’s reptile talks, bird feeding talks, guided walking tours as well as walking and cycling tracks.
Have a wander around a weekend market
Newcastle is home to a plethora of talented makers and artisans and, most weekends, there’s a selection of markets to choose from. The Newcastle City Farmers Market and Glendale Farmers and Artisan Market are good choices for locally grown produce and food stalls.
The popular Olive Tree Market in Newcastle’s Civic Park showcases some of the region’s finest artists, makers and live, independent music or, if a trash’n’treasure market is more your thing, you can’t go past the Lions Club of Adamstown Markets held every Sunday. See our article for a list of 15+ markets to visit in the Newcastle region.
Climb Stockton Bridge
Did you know that Newcastle has it’s very own bridge climb? The Stockton Bridge can be seen from many points in Newcastle and has a fascinating history. You can park under the Kooragang side or the Stockton side of the bridge and walk either way.
There are stairs on both sides leading up onto the bridge and a shared, fenced pathway running along the middle between the two directions of traffic.
It isn’t for the faint-hearted, with traffic whizzing by on both sides but, from the top, you’ll get great views in all directions. There are also some beautiful murals of local wetland birds painted on the bridge pylons on both sides.
Experience nature at Glenrock Lagoon
Enjoy a hike followed by a swim in Glenrock Lagoon. The Yuelarbah Walk at Glenrock State Conservation Area near the suburb of Kahibah is a 4.6km return walk through the bush that ends up at a secluded beach.
Glenrock State Conservation Area is a 500 hectare area between Dudley and Merewether, is a wonderful natural escape so close to the city and offers opportunity for fishing and mountain biking as well as hiking.
Take some photographs from the Obelisk hill
The white obelisk is one of Newcastle’s oldest navigational markers visible to sailing vessels along the coast. Walk to the top of the Obelisk hill via the steps at Tyrrell Street, The Hill. It’s a popular park and lookout and you’ll be able to snap some great selfies with expansive beach, harbour and city views.
Spot the Shark Tower at Redhead Beach
Visit Redhead Beach and spot the iconic Redhead Shark Tower. Redhead is named for it’s red cliff headland. Go for a swim when the beach is patrolled from the September school holidays until April. From here, you can also do the Awabakal Walk, a clifftop walk from Redhead to Dudley.
Discover outdoor art along the Sculpture Walk
The Warners Bay foreshore has been transformed. It now features an outdoor sculpture trail as well as exercise stations in the stretch between Eleebana and Warners Bay. The sculptures are created by nationally and internationally renowned artists.
Among others, the works include a flying pig, an oversized Buddhist monk-child and a mauve bust of Charles Darwin. It’s a fun excursion combining culture with some physical exercise.
Explore Lake Macquarie
Nearby Lake Macquarie is Australia’s largest salt water lake and offers no shortage of water based activities. Enjoy fishing, kayaking, boating and sailing in this lake. If you’re looking for a peaceful and scenic walk around the lake, you can’t go past the Green Point Foreshore Walk, between Belmont and Valentine.
Explore sea caves at Caves Beach
Caves Beach, located in neighbouring Lake Macquarie, features a network of sea caves with weathered rocks and unusual formations. Visit at low tide and you’ll discover a variety of different sized caves to explore, some of them with narrow openings to crawl through.
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Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.