Things to do in Newcastle

Port Stephens

Port Stephens, located in the north of Sydney, South Wales, Australia, is known as the "Blue Water Paradise", integrating fishing, whale watching, rowing, sandboarding, flying, and outdoor barbecues. It is about two and a half hours' drive from Sydney, and it is very convenient to come by car. 1. Dolphin and whale watching Dolphins and whales are the biggest highlights of Port Stephens. There are more than 90-120 bottlenose dolphins living here all year round. You can take a dolphin-watching cruise, dolphins will jump out of the water to greet you, and you can lean on the rails and play with them. Port Stephens is also a suitable home for thousands of whales. Every year from the end of May to the beginning of November, swarms of humpback whales will come and go here. They are huge, some weighing more than 40 tons. Take a seasonal whale watching cruise to see their adorable naivety! Fisherman's Bay and Anna Bay in the south are good whale and dolphin watching spots. 2. Port Attractions There are many viewing points in the port, and you can climb up and overlook any one of them, and have a panoramic view of the coastal scenery. The lighthouse in Nelson Point at the entrance of Port Stephens is still in play. The lighthouse is currently open to the public. There is a renovated small museum under the tower, as well as restaurants and canteens. Just a few minutes walk to the Flying Point Marine Conservation Area, overlooking the stretch of coastline. 3. Port Stephens Port Stephens has a vast sandy land with soft sand, making it a famous sandboarding paradise in the southern hemisphere! As far as the eye can see, the west of Anna Bay is a few kilometers of sand dunes, which are larger in the southern hemisphere. You can sign up for sandboarding, or you can take a quad bike or four-wheel drive to explore the Stockton Dunes.

Merewether Surfhouse

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Hunter Region

Oakvale Wildlife Park

The zoo features numerous free-roaming animals such as kangaroos, emus, alpacas, and lambs that visitors can feed and interact with up close without barriers. Additionally, Oakvale Wildlife Park is one of the few zoos in New South Wales where visitors can touch koalas. The park offers various interactive performances including feeding demonstrations (farm animal babies and cow milking), ring-tailed lemur encounters (weekends and school holidays only), reptile shows, koala interactions, Tasmanian devil shows, and cassowary presentations. Performance times may vary by season and daily conditions, so it's recommended to check the official website or on-site for the latest schedule.

Newcastle Memorial Walk

Blackbutt Nature Reserve

Black Butt Sanctuary is a great place to have a picnic with the family! There are clean and convenient facilities and BBQ facilities, jungle gym for the kids. Many Australian animals can also be seen up close. There are also many wonderful bushwalking paths worth exploring.

Belmont 16s Sailing Club

Newcastle Museum

Newcastle Museum was established in 1988. The exhibitions are divided into several sections, generally including the history of Newcastle, a steelmaking light show, galleries, and transportation science, among others.

Speers Point Park

Nobbys Beach

McDonald Jones Stadium