April 26, 2023
7 mins Read
We scoured the city to find everything from cultural tours to street art and historic architecture; venture into the heart of the Newcastle art scene and you’ll also find the city’s neighbourhoods packed with vibrant restaurants and bars.
Follow our 48-hour guide for what to do when the open road beckons, and you’ve got a few days to look at Newcastle anew.
You already know Newcastle has stunning natural scenery, now prepare yourself for the artistic kind.
Culture lovers need to eat. Head to Arno Deli in the heart of Newcastle for coffee and a decadent breakfast cannolo. Word to the wise: pick up a mortadella, pistachio and stracciatella panini to refuel on the go, allowing for more time to enjoy artworks along the way.
Fuel up for the day at Arno Deli. (Image: David Griffin Photography)
Military buffs will be interested to learn that Fort Scratchley was the only fortification in the country to fire on an enemy naval vessel during the Second World War. The fort was built looking out over the ocean in the late 1880s and is also a historical museum.
Learn some modern history at Fort Scratchley. (Image: Eluminate Media)
You’ll see great examples of Newcastle’s street art scene everywhere: from eclectic Hamilton to the harbourside precinct of Honeysuckle, and from the beaches back to Bolton Street. Download a map from the Big Picture Fest or sign up for a tour with Newcastle Afoot to find everything from a giant geisha girl to a large-scale portrait of David Bowie. Rebecca Murray has also left her mark on everything from signal boxes to posts as part of the Pillar People project.
Discover an artistic side with Newcastle Afoot.
Humbug Newcastle is a neighbourhood restaurant and bar serving an inventive roster of pasta dishes, as well as bar snacks and an all-sustainable wine list. This cool space doubles as a gallery, with framed works from local artists lining the walls and adding pops of colour to the elegant dining room. It’s one of the best places to eat and drink in Newcastle.
Chow down on an an inventive roster of pasta dishes at Humbug. (Image: Daina Marie Photography)
Book a Muurrung Marai tour to learn more about the Awabakal and Worimi peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters within Mulubinba (the Indigenous name for Newcastle). Join founder Amos Simon on a bus tour that loops around Nobby’s Head and Glenrock State Conservation Area to gain a deeper understanding of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region through an Indigenous lens.
Learn more about the Awabakal and Worimi peoples.
Wickham was made wonderful when Flotilla anchored itself to the backstreets of the neighbourhood. Awarded a hat in the 2023 Good Food Guide, the restaurant – led by charismatic manager Eduardo Molina – is a shining example of the city’s elevated culinary scene. Flavour comes first at Flotilla, but head chef Jake Deluca also uses the ceramic plates as a canvas to artfully arrange each seasonally inspired dish. Everything, from the food to the service to the vibe, is stellar.
Treat your tastebuds at The Flotilla. (Image: DNSW)
See a whole other side of Newcastle after dark. Explore hidden speakeasys, rooftop bars and cool craft breweries. Don’t miss the boozy rum cocktails at Rum Diary Bar. With a shipwreck theme, secret passageways and Newcastle’s first cigar lounge on the upper terrace, there’s more than just cocktails to make this an eventful night out.
Follow in-the-know locals to Elementa, a small local eatery framed by a leafy outlook on the banks of Throsby Creek. Located just a four-kilometre walk from Newcastle CBD, the waterfront dining spot feels like a find. Do as the locals do and order the avo on toasted sourdough with seasonal greens, a staple on the all-day brunch menu. Elementa is one of the star venues during Newcastle Food Month, one of many incredible annual festivals held in the harbour city.
Follow in-the-know locals to Elementa.
The ultimate art lover’s guide to Newcastle should include a self-guided tour of Newcastle’s architecture. Spend the day strolling around buildings, where it’s clear that cultural and creative forces have collided to create spaces that have enhanced Newcastle’s liveability. Pinball around landmarks such as Newcastle City Hall, the Civic Theatre and Baptist Tabernacle, and admire the Edwardian-era freestanding terrace of Miss Porter’s House.
Take yourself on a tour of Newcastle’s architecture, including the Watt Street terraces.
The back story of Earp Distilling Co. is that it was fitted out with a selection of tiles from sister business Earp Bros, one of Australia’s oldest family-run businesses. It’s for that reason alone it deserves to be on our art lover’s guide. Design geeks will also appreciate the fact that the botanical artworks dotted around the distillery were drawn by Roslyn Earp, the family matriarch. Book a gin blending class in the industrial chic distillery to enjoy alongside a dozen Dawson’s oysters.
Have a tipple at Earp Distilling Co (Image: Tyson Mayr)
Take a dip at Newcastle Beach before wandering around The Lock-Up, an 1800s police station reimagined as a contemporary art space. The Lock-Up is housed within one of Newcastle’s most significant heritage buildings and includes a purpose-built gallery space, heritage-listed cells, and an installation square that was once the prisoner’s exercise yard. One of the keys to getting the most out of The Lock-Up is to start at the Past Meets Present: The History of the Lock-Up exhibition.
Visit the 1800s police station turned contemporary art space.
Try your own hand at getting creative with an adults-only workshop at Decked Out with local artist Mitch Revs. Design and paint your own skate deck (just add wheels once the paint has dried) or learn the fundamentals of canvas art.
Create your own art at Decked Out.
Is music more your thing? Roll on to the east end of the city to The Lucky Hotel, where you can bend an elbow with Newcastle’s bohemian set while listening to live music. It’s all pink flamingos, pineapples and cacti at this playful Palm Springs-inspired pub that’s a top spot for a bop and a beer. Enjoy BBQ king prawns and tuna tostadas in the open-air courtyard before ambling upstairs to your perfectly pared-back room.
Bounce between Cooks Hill Galleries, Curve Gallery, cStudios Art Gallery, Newcastle Art Space and Blackstone Gallery to see works by Newcastle’s up-and-coming artists. Head to The Creator Incubator if you’re pressed for time: the lively hub houses 38 resident artists, designers, makers and thinkers. Newcastle Art Space also hosts regular exhibitions, inspiring art talks and workshops.
Wander the best of Newcastle’s art galleries, like The Creator Incubator.
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