Hotels in Newcastle

Book your cheap hotel in Newcastle

The second-oldest city in Australia, Newcastle is the second-largest city in New South Wales. It sits on the estuary of the Hunter River about 170 kms north of Sydney and is an important port. Known locally as “Newy”, it is a city of coal (it is the largest coal exporting port in the world), indigenous heritage, historical architecture, beaches and modern entertainments. Newcastle is the ideal destination for a seaside or surfing holiday, whale watching, walking and enjoying cultural pursuits.

As a host to around 5 million domestic and international visitors every year, the city has a good range of holiday accommodation ranging from campsites to B&Bs, cheap hotels and luxury resorts.

Neighbourhoods of Newcastle

With some interesting areas as a choice of place to stay, it pays to understand the various suburbs.

  • Central Business District and Newcastle East: The CBD is home to the city’s main historical and cultural attractions as well as the most central beaches. Main shopping and entertainment streets are Darby Street and Hunter Street.
  • Merewether: A suburb running along the coast with a relaxed atmosphere, it is popular for its beaches and surf. It’s also home to the Merewether Ocean Baths, a large open-air swimming pool.
  • Hamilton: Just west of the CBD, this mainly commercial and residential area has some interesting architecture and some of the best cheap hotels in Newcastle. The best shopping and entertainment streets are Tudor Street and Beaumont Street.
  • Stockton Beach: Referring to the area and not just the beach, it’s the place to escape the busyness of the city and enjoy a more natural setting as much of the suburb is within Worimi National Park.

What to see and do in

As a large city, you expect a lot of diverse things to see and do, and Newcastle certainly delivers. Top attractions include:

  • The beaches: There are some excellent surfing beaches as well as safe beaches for swimming. Notable ones are Newcastle Beach for surfing, Nobby’s Beach for families and Cave Beach for exploring.
  • Bather’s Way: Connecting the beaches and stretching between Merewether Beach and Nobby’s Beach, this coastal walk takes in Bogey Hole, a heritage-listed sea bath built by convicts.
  • Fort Scratchley: Built in the 1880s, the fort has a maze of underground tunnels and is a great viewpoint for watching for migrating whales.
  • Newcastle Museum: Learn the story of the city from its indigenous Awabakal origins to the present day through some interesting and interactive exhibits.
  • Merewether Aquarium: This quirky installation is actually a pop-art underwater world in a pedestrian underpass.
  • Christ Church Cathedral: The city’s main church dominates the skyline and has a stained glass windows by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones and fantastic views from the bell tower.
  • Blackbutt Reserve: Take the chance to observe wildlife including koalas, wombats, wallabies and a host of native birds by visiting this area of bushland.

What to eat in Newcastle

The culinary scene in Australia is very fluid and subject to influence from many global cuisines but South East Asian food is very popular. Newcastle follows the national trends. Dishes/ingredients to look out for include:

  • Fish and Seafood: Being on the coast, marine food is popular. Look out for Barramundi, yellowfin tuna, kingfish, prawns, crab and oysters. Fish and chips is as popular here as in the UK.
  • Meat pie: A snack food, it’s popular all over Australia.
  • Lamington If Australia had a national cake it would be this square of cake with chocolate and coconut.
  • Wine: Being on the doorstep of the Hunter Valley wine growing region, it would be criminal to not taste locally produced wines.

Typical events and festivals in Newcastle

As a major regional centre, the city holds a number of significant events. Make a note of:

  • Newcastle Regional Show: For three days every May, the showground is a community festival showcasing life, business and culture.
  • Mattara Festival: A large country fair-style annual event, it is held in Wallsend Park in October.
  • Newcastle Jazz Festival: Performers from all over Australia converge for three days in August at the City Hall.
  • This is Not Art: One of the country’s leading cultural festivals, it takes place over a weekend in October.

How to move around in Newcastle

Via Bather’s Way it is easy to get to the beaches and with buses and ferry services, most of the city is easily accessible. There are nearly 20 docking stations for electric bikes to hire. Newcastle is connected by road and rail and the international airport is just north of the city.

The climate in Newcastle

The humid tropical climate gives the city warm to hot summers and mild winters. January is the warmest month with an average daily high of 25.6° and the coldest month is July at 8.5°C. Summer tends to be wetter than winter but December through February is still the best time to visit.

Newcastle today 73°F
73°F | 68°F

In Newcastle we will have soft rain, soft clothing is recommended as the temperatures will be warm throughout the day.

    • Friday
    • 72°F | 66°F
    • Saturday
    • 73°F | 63°F
    • Sunday
    • 73°F | 63°F
    • Monday
    • 73°F | 64°F

99 Accommodations in Newcastle

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Hotel Honeysuckle Executive Apartments

Hotel Honeysuckle Executive Apartments

1,225 yd from city centre Good location
from55
Hotel Rydges Newcastle

Hotel Rydges Newcastle

920 yd from city centre Excellent location
from82
Hotel Ibis Newcastle

Hotel Ibis Newcastle

1.1 mi from city centre Good location
from35

Frequently asked questions about Hotels in Newcastle

The most centrally located hotels in Newcastle with the best ratings are: Hotel Noah S On The Beach, Hotel Rydges Newcastle and Novotel Newcastle Beach.

It depends on the category of the hotel. If you want to stay at a 4-star hotel in Newcastle, the average price per night is 48 , while you will pay an average of 37 for a 3-star hotel, and in a more luxurious 5-star hotel, you'll pay around 100 .

You can make reservations at Novotel Newcastle Beach if you´re looking for a hotel with valet service for your visit to Newcastle.

If you need a hotel with disabled access in Newcastle, we recommend Hotel Quest Newcastle and Novotel Newcastle Beach.

According to our clients, if you´re travelling with children, the best hotels in Newcastle are Hotel Best Western Blackbutt Inn, Novotel Newcastle Beach and Hotel Rydges Newcastle.

If you want to save time, the hotels in Newcastle with express check-in and check-out are Hotel Quest Newcastle and Novotel Newcastle Beach.

Some of the options for hotels with non-smoking rooms in Newcastle are Hotel Quest Newcastle, Hotel Rydges Newcastle and Novotel Newcastle Beach.

In Newcastle, Hotel Noah S On The Beach, Novotel Newcastle Beach and Hotel Ibis Newcastle offer 24-hour front desk service.

If you're bringing a vehicle, we recommend that you book a hotel with parking in Newcastle, like Hotel Quest Newcastle or Novotel Newcastle Beach.

The best hotels with a pool in Newcastle are Hotel Quest Newcastle and Hotel Rydges Newcastle.