Destination's Journey

Category: Newcastle

  • Caves Beach Amazing Beautiful Views

    Caves Beach Amazing Beautiful Views

    Caves Beach

    Located only 40 minutes south of Newcastle, Caves Beach is a relaxed southern suburb of Lake Macquarie.  Named after the network of sea caves to the south of the beach, it is a great place to relax and explore the coast. If you want to explore the cave, make sure you go at low tide because at high tide, the cave is flooded, and access is cut off.  You can check this on the internet.  During the week we have found it to be quiet, but on a sunny weekend, it will be crowded, with people swimming and exploring the cave.

    If you want to swim in the ocean, check that a lifeguard is on duty in the tower and swim between the flags to be safe.

    Near the lifeguard tower is a steel sculpture, Norfolk 2019 by Kelly-Ann Lees, which reflects the seed cones dropped by the Norfolk Pines which are found in the area.

    • Lifeguard Tower
      Lifeguard Tower
    • Sculpture Norfolk 2019 by Kelly-Ann Lees
      Norfolk 2019 by Kelly-Ann Lees

    The Caves

    Entering the cave is not dangerous.  There are no warning signs and access is free. You can walk through the cave and out the other side to a rock platform.  The cliff here also has some smaller caves to look at.  The platform itself is quite interesting, with rock pools with algae growing in them.  Be careful of your footing because the rocks can be slippery. Remember to check the tides, because the cave and rock platform are flooded at high tide.

    • Cave's Beach Sea Cave at High Tide
      Cave’s Beach Sea Cave at High Tide
    • The Large Sea Cave at Caves Beach
      The Large Sea Cave at Caves Beach
    • The Large Sea Cave at Caves Beach
      The Large Sea Cave at Caves Beach
    • Looking Out of the Cave
      Looking Out of the Cave
    • Looking Our From The Large Sea Cave at Caves Beach
      the Sandy Entrance to the Large Sea Cave at Caves Beach
    • Looking out of the Main Cave
    • Rock Platform at Cave's Beach
      Rock Platform at Cave’s Beach
    • Rock Platform
      Looking Over The Rock Platform
    • Rock Pools
      Rock Pools

    Food and Refreshments

    There is a kiosk next to the beach selling snacks and cold drinks during the week.  Not far before the entrance to the carpark, you will find cafes and restaurants, if you want something more substantial. The beach area near the surf house also has barbecues and picnic area, along with a change house and toilets.

    Caves Beach to Pinny Beach The Wallarah Coastal Walk

    For some excellent views of the coast and to see some nice beaches, there is a walking trail from Caves Beach to Pinny Beach. The trails are rough in places and there are steps to climb, but it is generally an easy three kilometer one way walk. Along the way, lookouts let you look over beaches and rock platforms. Small trails also allow access to the beaches, which is a great way to extend your exploring of the area.

    • Caves Beach
      Caves Beach Viewed From the Cliff Top
    • Sea Caves, Rock Platform and Beach
      Sea Caves, Rock Platform and Beach
    • Coastal Cliffs
      Coastal Cliffs

    Spoon Rocks

    Originally built by a mining company for coal transportation, the breakwater’s shape is how this Spoon Rocks received its name. The spoon shape is visible on your way down the track to the beach.

    The mining venture, with Silver Valley Minerals, didn’t proceed after it’s construction. However, the breakwater remains and provides protection from the swell at the beach. Although the water looks inviting, Spoon Rocks Beach is not patrolled, so swimming is not advised.

    • Walking Trail
      Walking Trail Above Spoon Rocks
    • Spoon Rock
      Spoon Rock
    • Walking Trail to Spoon Rocks Lookout
      Walking Trail to Spoon Rocks Lookout

    Pinny Beach

    Located in Wallarah National Park, the Coastal Walk passes through locked vehicle gates. Designed to stop cars accessing the National Park, not people on foot, it’s safe to go past them. The views over the beach are amazing, but this was the end of our walk, so after a break for a snack, we returned to Caves Beach.

    • Pinny Beach
      Pinny Beach

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Norah Head Lighthouse and Beaches

    Norah Head Lighthouse and Beaches

    Norah Head

    Norah Head is home to beautiful beaches and a historic lighthouse, as well as the Merchant Mariners’ Memorial, making it a great place to visit.

    Merchant Mariners’ Memorial

    The memorial commemorates merchant mariners who have died in service or have been killed in action in times of conflict. Located in a beautiful setting overlooking the ocean, the main memorial is surrounded by plaques commemorating ships lost locally.

    • Merchant Mariners' Memorial
      Merchant Mariners’ Memorial
    • The Nimbin Memorial Plaque
      The Nimbin Memorial Plaque
    • The Age Memorial Plaque
      The Age Memorial Plaque
    • Iron Chieftain Memorial Plaque
      Iron Chieftain Memorial Plaque

    Norah Head Lighthouse

    Norah Head Light is an active lighthouse located at Norah Head, a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, close to Toukley. It is the last lighthouse of the James Barnet style to be built, and the last staffed lighthouse constructed in New South Wales.

    Officially displayed for the first time in 1903, the original vaporized kerosene burner was upgraded in 1923, electrified in 1961 and automated and de-manned in 1994, after more than 90 years of being staffed. It celebrated its centenary in 2003.

    The concrete block tower is 27.5 metres (90 ft) high, topped by a bluestone gallery. On top of the gallery is the original Chance Bros. lantern. This lantern holds the original housing of the Chance Bros. 1st order bivalve dioptric Fresnel lens.

    Tours of the lighthouse are not currently available, however these may resume in the future, so you should check to see if they are running.

    Norah Head Lighthouse
    Norah Head Lighthouse

    Norah Head Beaches

    From the lighthouse, steps lead down to the rock platform and beach, making access easy. However, because of the uneven rock surface, the area is not suitable for prams and wheelchairs. Popular for fishing, the rock platform also offers some interesting geological formations to look at. Weathering has left some interesting patterns on rocks and the waves have cut channels in the platform.

    Following the shoreline south, you will find a nice sandy beach. However, to get there means climbing over some rocks, which we enjoyed, but others may not, as they are slippery, high and uneven. If the tide is fully out you maybe able to access the beach to get around them. At the edge of the beach are several small caves which were fun to sit in and watch the surf crashing on the beach.

    Further along the coast is Pebbly Beach, which has another rock platform and great views over the ocean.

    • Wooden Steps Down to Norah Head Rock Platform
      Wooden Steps Down to Norah Head Rock Platform
    • Caves on the Beach
      Caves on the Beach
    • Looking Towards Soldiers Point and Pebbly Beach
      Looking Towards Soldiers Point and Pebbly Beach
    • Fallen Boulders
      Fallen Boulders Below the Lighthouse

    Soldiers Beach

    Located south of Pebbly Beach and the lighthouse, Soldiers Beach is a popular swimming spot. Easy access from the carpark means that more people visit here than the beaches to the north of Soldiers Point.

    In addition to the excellent beach, walk over the point itself at low tide, there are some great rock pools to explore. A kiosk at the carpark serves snacks and drinks, which is great on a hot day.

    The amenities block has a beautiful whale painting on it, turning an otherwise boring building into something beautiful.

    • Soldiers Point Norah Head
      Soldiers Point Norah Head
    • Soldiers Beach Norah Head
      Soldiers Beach Norah Head
    • Whale Artwork at Soldiers Beach
      Whale Artwork at Soldiers Beach
    • Norah Head Lighthouse
      Norah Head Lighthouse

    Food and Drinks

    If the cafe at the lighthouse is not open, another great option is the General Store on Bush street. It has plenty of parking nearby and seating available outside, so that you can enjoy the relaxed surroundings.

  • Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie

    Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie

    Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie

    The Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, formerly known as Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, was established in 1980. First housed in Lake Macquarie’s former council chambers on Main Road at Speers Point, the gallery relocated to First Street, Booragul in 1996.

    The gallery originally occupied Awaba House on this site from 1996 to 2000 when a decision was made to construct the new state-of-the-art facility. At the time we visited there had been a fire and Awaba House had been extensively damaged. Launched in May 2001 the new art gallery building saw the addition of an art seminar room in 2008. In 2019, a further expansion provided additional gallery space.

    Entrance to MAC
    Entrance to Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie

    How to Get There

    Located at First Street, Booragul, the gallery overlooks Lake Macquarie, providing great views in a relaxing setting. A small car park next to the gallery is convenient, however, if this is full more is available on-street nearby.

    Sculpture Park

    Located on 5 hectares between the gallery and lakeshore, the Sculpture Park includes work by local and national artists. Launched in 1996, the sculpture park has continued to develop and currently comprises 16 sculptures by 11 artists.

    We spent some time walking around the sculptures before entering the gallery.

    • Sculpture Outside the Main Gallery
      Sculpture Outside the Main Gallery
    • Sculpture Outside the Main Gallery
      Sculpture Outside the Main Gallery
    • Mosaic Outside the Main Gallery
      Mosaic Outside the Main Gallery
    • Entrance Walkway
      Entrance Walkway
    • Fish Sculpture on the Entrance Walkway
      Fish Sculpture on the Entrance Walkway

    Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie Collection

    Comprised of four focus areas, the Visual Arts Collection includes works by highly-regarded national, international and Hunter-based artists.

    The collection has a core group of works by established contemporary Australian artists. This includes a number of works by Sir William Dobell, large-scale contemporary sculptures and Indigenous works.

    We loved walking around the gallery, because it has great diversity for such a small venue. We found it had a lot to offer and enjoyed our time there. With works ranging from Sir William Dobell to contemporary artists, the collection is worth the visit.

    • Gallery at the Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie
      Gallery at the Museum
    • The First Gallery Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie
      The First Gallery
    • Deanne Newland - Rejuvenating 2
      Deanne Newland – Rejuvenating 2
    • Saretta Fielding - Malang Kateya Part 2
      Saretta Fielding – Malang Kateya Part 2
    • Helen McLachlan - Rejuvenate 2020
      Helen McLachlan – Rejuvenate 2020
    • Susan Ryman - Whispering Pillars
      Susan Ryman – Whispering Pillars
    • Karen Murray - Sentinel Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie
      Karen Murray – Sentinel
    • Bronze Sculpture Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie
      Bronze Sculpture
    • Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie
      Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie
    • Thelma Wawrzonek - Wangi Power Station Ruins
      Thelma Wawrzonek – Wangi Power Station Ruins
    • Maureen Boyle - The Fisherman
      Maureen Boyle – The Fisherman

    Coffee Shop

    Sculpture Cafe is a licensed venue and offers morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Seating is both inside and on the deck overlooking the Sculpture Park and the lake. We enjoyed morning tea on the deck because of the wonderful views.

    View From the Cafe
    View From the Cafe

    What Did We Think?

    We enjoyed our visit because of the diverse range of art on display. The outdoor park was fun to walk around, while the quality works inside were amazing. To add to this was the wonderful location of the coffee shop with its great views.