Newcastle travel guide — Newcastle tourism and travel information

Newcastle travel guide

about Newcastle

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, is an industrial port city 160km north of Sydney, on the mouth of the Hunter River. With its sister City of Lake Macquarie Newcastle forms part of Australia's sixth largest population centre.

The first European to explore the area was Lt. John Shortland in 1797, and in 1798, coal mined from the area was the New South Wales colony's first export. An attempt to establish a permanent settlement in the area (then called Coal River) failed but in 1804 the current city (briefly called King's Town) was established. Initially it was a penal settlement, with agriculture the only industry.

Coal mining began in earnest in the 1830s. In the 1890s a zinc smelter was built by Cockle Creek. In 1915 the BHP steelworks opened beginning a period of some 80 years dominated by the steel works and heavy industry. With the closure of the steel works in 2000 and the expected closure of the Sulphide Corporation works by 2006 the era of heavy industry is passing and the city's population is growing, attracted by its coastal lifestyle, excellent education and health services and improving employment opportunities in the tertiary sector. Newcastle's cliched image as a grimy steel town is fading.

The Port of Newcastle remains the economic and trade centre for the resource rich Hunter Valley and for much of the north and northwest of New South Wales. Newcastle is the world's busiest coal export port and Australia's oldest and second largest tonnage throughput port, with over 3,000 shipping movements handling cargo in excess of 90 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), of which coal exports represent more than 90%.

On December 28, 1989, Newcastle experienced an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale which killed 13 people. Coincidentally, a small island now known as Nobby's Head was joined to the mainland, a distance of about 50 metres, with rubble from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Newcastle is also often recognised by San Franciscans as having a similar culture to that city, albeit on a smaller scale.

The University of Newcastle (formerly part of the University of New South Wales) obtained its autonomy in 1965 and now with a student population of just over 20,000 offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate courses, delivered via five Faculties - Business and Law; Education and Arts; Engineering and Built Environment; Health; and Science and Information Technology.

Newcastle has a thriving sports culture centred on the Newcastle Knights Rugby League team. Other major spectator and participant sports include Netball, Basketball, Soccer, AFL, Rugby Union, Hockey and Surfing.

Newcastle hosts the annual surfing contest 'Surfest' on the world professional surfing tour. Four time world champion surfer Mark Richards grew up sufing at Newcastle's Merewether Beach.

Newcastle has an active youth music culture. Bands and groups produce in both guitar based and computer based music for a pub based concert scene.

Unlike those of its British namesake, who call themselves "Geordies", residents of Newcastle, NSW refer to themselves as "Novocastrians", a word not widely understood elsewhere, certainly not outside Australia.

Near cities to Newcastle

• Maitland travel guide 30 km
• Cessnock travel guide 40 km
• Gosford travel guide 68 km
• Sydney travel guide 120 km
• Wollongong travel guide 180 km
• Port Macquarie travel guide 200 km
• Bathurst travel guide 210 km
• Tamworth travel guide 220 km
• Nowra travel guide 240 km
• Orange travel guide 250 km

Near webcams to Newcastle

• Forster - MidCoast Water webcam 110 km
• Sydney - Opera House webcam 110 km
• Bondi Beach webcam 120 km
• Sydney webcam 120 km
• Sydney - Belmore Park webcam 120 km
• Sydney - Port webcam 120 km
• Sydney - port webcam 120 km
• Sydney - Bankstown Airport webcam 130 km
• Sydney webcam 130 km
• Falls Creek 1 webcam 250 km

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Newcastle travel services

cheap flights to Newcastle

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Newcastle, cheap flights Newcastle, also available cheap airline tickets to Australia and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Newcastle deals also available.

cheap Newcastle hotels

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Newcastle, Australia hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Newcastle hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Newcastle vacations

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Newcastle, Australia vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Newcastle vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Newcastle

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Newcastle, car hire in Australia and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Newcastle car hire deals also available.

Newcastle travel insurance

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Newcastle, accident health Newcastle travel insurance, all using our online Newcastle travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Australia. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Newcastle real estate

• Newcastle real estate guide »
• real estate listings in Australia »

City Travel Guide comes with Newcastle real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Newcastle property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Australia, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Newcastle.

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Newcastle travel books

Newcastle travel guide books

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Newcastle maps and atlases

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