Living in Newcastle
Are you thinking about coming to Newcastle to study or work? Newcastle, Australia is a vibrant and diverse city with a population of 550,000. Situated on the east coast of NSW, Newcastle is surrounded by golden sand beaches, a breathtaking coastline and a beautiful working harbour. The cafes, restaurants, and bars, unique architecture and rich history stretch from the city to the suburbs. This place is known as one of the top smart cities and it won’t disappoint you at all!
Newcastle is an all-around wonderful choice for a safe and friendly location to live, nestled on Australia’s gorgeous NSW coast and bordered by some of the state’s most popular destinations.
The city itself has a lot to offer: stunning surroundings, an unrivaled lifestyle, and a lively cultural character that is genuinely unique. The city is known around the world for its continuing metamorphosis and has gone a long way since its 90-year existence as the “Steel City.”
There are lots of ways to get to know the city of Newcastle and plenty of information available to help you. Visit our Getting to know Newcastle page to get started.
Beautiful surrounds
When you choose Whitehouse International College, Australia for work or study, you will be able to enjoy the area’s spectacular landscape and world-famous sites, such as the Hunter Valley Wine region, historic Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Barrington Tops National Park. Newcastle is also the starting point for trips to the state’s north shore.
The city itself is an unusual blend of ancient and new architecture, dominated by the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, which lies atop The Hill and offers views of the busy harbour, the city, and the coastline.
Getting around
Take in the breathtaking scenery by walking the 6km Bathers Way, which extends from Nobby’s Beach to Merewether. Why not have a dip at one of the stunning beaches along the way?
On a self-guided walking tour, you may learn about the city and some of its most important sights and monuments.
Cycling is also highly popular in Newcastle, and there is a large network of dedicated bike paths and on-road bike lanes that will take you around the harbour foreshore and farther afield. Don’t miss a trip down the Fernleigh Track, which runs for 15 kilometres from Newcastle to Lake Macquarie on a defunct coal haul train route.
Places to see
Newcastle has all of the typical city amenities, such as fantastic restaurants, cafes, parks and gardens, theatres, art galleries and museums, shopping malls, and nightclubs. Some of these are listed on our Out and About page.
Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal lake, is a few kilometres south of the city and the site of several national and international sailing events. Traveling a little further will get you to the Central Coast.
Port Stephens, a popular destination for big game fishing, sailing, surfing, and sailboarding, is less than an hour’s drive to the north. To the west are the world renowned Hunter Valley wineries, many of which are over a century old.
Traveling to Newcastle
Whether you start your journey by bus, train or place- reaching Newcastle is easier!
How to get here?
From Sydney, you just have to move north and then after over an hour, go for Newcastle. Follow the signs and the CBD will be there within 30 minutes. If you start from the north, then head to the south on pacific highway/A1, after that all you have to do is to follow signs!
How do get around?
There are regular trains that connect the suburbs of Newcastle. Just get into it and roam around. You can use the coastline of Newcastle or Central too!
Get some local help
Need to know about what is around you? Trying to get some local tours or souvenirs? Newcastle visitor information center is all here for you!