| As Captain Cook traveled north along the east coast | | | | districts. Continuing south, through the hilly, yet |
| in 1770, he made notes in his Captains Diary about a | | | | stunning gardens of King Edward Park, you will travel |
| headland, now called Nobby Head. However it wasn't | | | | down the long windy slope arriving at Bar Beach. |
| until 1797, while chasing escapees, that Lieutenant | | | | Further south the white sandy beaches of |
| John Shortland discovered the Hunter River and also | | | | Merewether, Dudley, Redhead and Blacks Beach will |
| large deposits of coal. | | | | greet you. All perfect for working on the tan, |
| Some four years later, in 1801 convicts began the | | | | catching some waves or cooling of on a hot |
| backbreaking work of mining coal and cutting timber. | | | | summers day. |
| Slowly, on the back of coal and the construction of | | | | For the non-beach goers, Newcastle Harbor and |
| the major prison in NSW (with over 1000 convicts) | | | | foreshore offers a variety of restaurants, cafes and |
| Newcastle begin growing, along with the schools and | | | | park area to sip on a latte, try a Newcastle Ale or |
| a flurry of buildings, its population grow to approx | | | | just chill out on the grass. For the more energetic, |
| 50,000 in 1890. | | | | the large look out tower located next to the |
| A major turning point in the town's history come in | | | | Brewery gives you a wonderful 360' view of the city |
| 1911, when the large steelworks, BHP, chose | | | | and it's vast coastline. Walking over the footbridge, |
| Newcastle as the its new location due to the | | | | located below the look out, you enter the Hunter |
| abundance of coal. BHP would remain in Newcastle | | | | Street Mall, full of more shops and cafés. |
| until the company decided to close its doors in 2000, | | | | For the day-trippers, a visit to the famous Hunter |
| despite record company profits. | | | | Valley Wineries is a great way to check out the |
| Today Newcastle is the second largest city in NSW | | | | internationally renowned wines of the region. Tours |
| (250,000 pop) and is growing in popularity with many | | | | can be private or in groups, by old vintage cars or by |
| Australians and foreign tourists. Located around | | | | bus. Whichever way you go, it is recommended that |
| 150km north of Sydney, Newcastle is easily reached | | | | you don't drive, allowing you to fully appreciate the |
| by road or rail in only a few hours. There are also | | | | character and flavor of Australia's leading wine |
| regular flights to and from Williamstown, just to the | | | | makers! |
| north. | | | | If history is your thing, Newcastle won't disappoint! |
| Once here, the wide and diverse choice of activities | | | | Downtown in the CBD you'll find the Newcastle Art |
| on offer will have you wondering in amazement. | | | | Gallery, City Museum and Botanical Gardens, along |
| Located on the coast, some of Australia's best | | | | with Fort Scratchley and the Maritime Museum. A little |
| beaches can be found only minutes from the CBD. | | | | out of the city, is the Wetlands Center and Blackbutt |
| Nobby's and Newcastle Main Beach, famous for | | | | Nature Reserve, both great for short walks, picnics |
| hosting the International Surfest Contest, are only a | | | | and learning about Australia's natural beauty. |
| 5-minute stroll from the main shopping and business | | | | |