|
 Newcastle
is situated
on the Eastern Coast of Australia, 167 kilometres
drive north of Sydney, being New
South Wales' second largest city and the sixth
largest city in Australia. Newcastle City
reaches out to the sea on a Peninsula at the mouth
of the Hunter River. This distinctive geography
creates the only Australian City with a CBD
simultaneously on the beach and the harbour
waterfront. The
average temperatures ranges between 18 – 27
degrees Celsius.
Newcastle
is set on a breathtaking stretch of
Australia's Pacific Ocean coastline and is built
around a large harbour, accessed by both
recreational and commercial sea craft. The harbour
entrance is home to Nobbys Lighthouse and the
Breakwater. The
Foreshore area provides a relaxing venue for
enjoying a drink or a meal in one of the many
harbourside restaurants, cafes or bars. Visitors to
the foreshore can sit and relax while watching the
busy harbour traffic. High
above Newcastle Harbour is Fort Scratchley, a
defensive fort built during the Crimean War to
protect the city from invasion. At the height of the
Second World War the fort returned fire at a
Japanese submarine. It was the only Australian fort
to have engaged the enemy in a maritime attack.
The
harbour is edged by large expanses
of parkland, where people gather for picnics, bike
rides, rollerblading, jogging, or simply flying a
kite. A little further up the road is the Strzelecki
Lookout at Merewether Beach. As the highest point in
the city, the lookout is a favourite haunt of
Hangliding enthusiasts.Newcastle boasts some of
Australia's best beaches and waterways for swimming,
surfing, sailing and other water sports. Combined
with a low cost of living and a favourable climate,
Newcastle presents a relaxed and welcoming
lifestyle. With a regional population of about
500,000, Newcastle supports a thriving business and
commercial sector and an excellent network of health
care and educational facilities. Newcastle is home
to some of the best entertainment venues on
Australia's eastern coast and offers many of the
usual city comforts - restaurants, cafes, parks and
gardens, theatres, art galleries, shopping centres
and nightclubs.Newcastle has built a solid
international and domestic reputation for the wealth
of talent radiating from the city. From the
commercial success of rock-bands such as silverchair,
to the annual cultural activities such as the
Shootout Film Festival and the This Is Not Art
exhibition, Newcastle boasts a vibrant artistic and
creative scene, attracting attention world-wide.
Only
ten minutes drive from the city centre
visitors can get up close and personal with some of
Australia's unique and beautiful wildlife. Blackbutt
Reserve hosts spacious modern facilities which allow
close viewing of a variety of animals, such as
Kangaroos, Koalas, Emus, Wallabies, Wombats and a
significant array of species of Australian Birds. Nearby
Lake Macquarie is the largest coastal salt water
lake in Australia and is four times the size of
Sydney Harbour. In 2004 Newcastle celebrated
its 200th birthday. The Newcastle of today is a
thriving cosmopolitan city with a relaxed coastal
lifestyle, vibrant cultural life, and civic pride. The
city has many historic 19th century buildings some
of which have been recently restored to their former
glory. The dunes of Stockton Beach not far
from the city, is just a ferry ride away. The surf
culture is very strong in Newcastles, with many
surfwear and surfboard-makers. The biggest Surf
championships is held in March, and the city
has a large student community due the famous
University of New Castle. Newcastle is a place that
is redirectiong its portuary fame into a tourist
destination. It is a well kept secret.
Check
more...
|
Credits:
Images courtesy of Tourism New South Wales
|
|
