NEWCASTLE
LOCATION
Newcastle is the second most populated area in New
South Wales, located 162 kilometres north-northeast
of Sydney in the heart of the Hunter Region and located
by the Hunter River.GETTING THERE
Newcastle Airport is a 30-minute drive from the centre
of Newcastle and is serviced by several airlines. If driv-
ing from Sydney, take the M1 Highway in a northerly
direction for what’s usually a two-hour drive.ACCOMODATION
Hotel/motel options are expected to be exhausted at the
time of the Coates Hire Newcastle 500. Tent City Hire
will provide the same camping options available at both
the Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour to Newcastle.
Nearby major areas where accommodation may be avail-
able include Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley, Port
Stephens and Maitland.HISTORY
Newcastle is a harbour city with plentiful beaches
linked by the Bathers Way, a coastal walk stretching
between Nobbys Beach and Merewether Beach. From
its convict settlements emerged a number of industrial
developments, namely coal, steel and copper. Newcastle
remains the world’s largest coal-export port.TO DO
Newcastle is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with a
vibrant nightlife and picturesque beaches. The coastal
walk between Nobbys Beach and Merewether Beach
provides access to Bogey Hole, a convict-built ocean
bath from the colonial period. Also on the path is the
1880s Fort Scratchley, a historic site and a viewpoint
for spotting migrating whales. There’s also plenty to
see and do in the surrounding areas: water sports at
Lake Macquarie, wineries and the wilderness of the
Hunter Valley, the sheltered bays of Port Stephens and
the historic town of Maitland.