For an enjoyable few hours you can wander around the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri and enjoy the over forty murals that have been painted on the town’s buildings.
We did the walk early on a Sunday morning, when there were few other people around. The tourist information and coffee shop were open though, so we did get our morning fix. Parking was easy in the main street and most of the murals are available either on, or just off Lang Street.
By following the local tourist map, we did not miss any in the town centre.
Kurri Kurri Buildings
The walk was very easy and on the trip, you get to see some of Kurri’s other interesting sites. There are two hotels on the main Lang Street, the Kurri Kurri Hotel and the Chelmsford. The Chelmsford looks like it needs some attention, but the Kurri Kurri looks very nice.
Kurri Kurri Hotel Chelmsford Hotel
On our walk around we ran across the Masonic Temple.
Masonic Temple Kurri Kurri
Kurri Kurri Rotary Park
In the centre of town, you will find the Rotary Park. This contains the Big Kookaburra, the Miner’s Memorial and the War Memorial. The miner’s memorial commemorates all miners killed in the local coal mining industry. There is also a commemoration of the miners at Hill 60 near Ypres in World War One. We have visited this in our recent European trip and it was great to see this in the miner’s home town.
Rotary Park The Big Kookaburra Miner’s Memorial in Rotary Park Coal Mines Memorial Hill 60 Memorial
Kurri Kurri Murals
And of course the street murals, which were the main reason we came here. Click on the thumb nails for a full size view.
Toilet Block MuralANZACFire BrigadeStreet MuralStreet MuralGalloway’sStreet MuralWerakataThe MinerThe Ashes 2002Street MuralCamp FireStreet MuralMural in the Kurri Kurri SchoolMural in the Kurri Kurri SchoolThe BullockyMaypoleStreet MuralSewingBack BurnersSteam TrainDrive-InRothbury RiotThe KookaburrasStreet MuralStreet MuralKoori ArtTime TunnelCar 54 Kurri Kurri MuralMural in the Kurri Kurri SchoolThe BachelorSchool YardWorking UndergroundMural in the Kurri Kurri SchoolMural in the Kurri Kurri SchoolStairway to NowhereStreet ArtGarageMilk BarPipe BandRadioBlacksmiths
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
There are some great beaches south of Newcastle as well as some interesting sights to view along the way. The beaches are nearly all fantastic and most of them are good for surfing as well as a swim or relaxing on the sand.
Lifeguards do not patrol all of these beaches, so if you plan a swim, you should go to a patrolled beach and swim between the flags. This way, if you or someone with you gets into difficulty in the water, a lifeguard is nearby.
Snapper Point is part of the New South Wales National Parks Monmouth State Conservation Area. As such you need to abide by any sign they have placed. There is a small car park when you arrive and a small fee for using the park. This was the only place we visited on the day with a parking fee.
As the name implies, it is a popular fishing spot. It is popular with rock fishers, who cast out into the ocean for the fish. From the number of memorials there, it has also proven fatal to some fishermen who have been swept from the rocks and drowned. There are now safety rings in place should anyone fall in.
We stayed clear of the lower wave washed rocks and admired the views from the top. There is a series of sea caves cut into the cliffs nearby and they are clearly visible from the lookout. The ocean views are great, but it was the sea caves that we came to see and watching the ocean waves rolling into them was amazing.
Snapper Point Sea Cave
Snapper Point
Frazer Beach
Frazer Beach is in
the Lake Munmorah State Conservation Area so is very close to Snapper Point and
adjacent to Bongon Beach. It has a camping ground right next to the beach or
you can pay for a day pass at the machines in the car park.
The beach is amazing
being wide and sandy with rock platforms on either side. Surfing is popular
here and a few groups were out in the surf when we arrived. This isn’t a
patrolled beach so swimming is not advised.
To the north of the
beach is Bongon Beach and Snapper Point while to the south is a large rock
platform, which we walked over. It has some interesting rock pools and
geological features although we found the rock pools at Bongon Beach to be
better. There were also a few rock fishermen here trying their luck.
Frazer Beach
Geological Formation South of Frazer Beach
Bongon Beach
Bongon Beach, located between Snapper Point and Frazer Beach is a very small sandy beach but has some very nice rock pools in the adjacent rock platform.
We walked to Bongon from Frazer Beach by climbing over the rock ledge dividing the two beaches. The platform near Snapper Point was very interesting as we arrived at low tide and all of the rock pools were exposed. Some were very nice with great colours and it was nice to watch the tide forcing the water into them. During the summer months these rock pools would definitely be the place to sit and relax.
Bongon Beach
Rock Pool Near Bongon Beach
Rock Pool Near Bongon Beach
Waves Filling a Rock Pool Near Bongon Beach
Catherine Hill Bay
Catherine Hill Bay is one of the best surfing spots on the coast. It has a great beach, surf house; and the town’s pub is legendary. Unfortunately for us there was a lot of road work being done in the town and the pub was full. So instead, we walked on the beach for a while and then checked out the old heritage listed coal loading pier.
Catherine Hill Bay Surf Club
Catherine Hill Bay Beach
The Beach at Catherine Hill Bay
Catherine Hill Bay Coal Loading Pier
It is a very pleasant spot and very relaxing. As we walked along the beach we were able to see people surfing and some old wooden piers sticking out of the sand, slowly being weathered away.
Coal Loading Pier at Catherine Hill Bay
Old Wooden Piers at Catherine Hill Bay
Caves Beach
Another of the great beaches south of Newcastle is Cave’s Beach named not surprisingly after the sea caves in the area. If you want to explore the cave, make sure you go at low tide. You can check this on the internet. At high tide, the cave is flooded, and access is cut off. 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.
Cave’s Beach Sea Cave at High Tide
Main Cave at Cave’s Beach
Main Cave at Cave’s Beach Looking Out
Looking out of the Main Cave
Rock Platform at Cave’s Beach
Rocks and Algae at Caves Beach
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 as the rocks can be slippery.
There is a kiosk next to the beach selling snacks and cold drinks during the week. On the weekends, there is a bar that also opens.
A larger post on Caves Beach and surrounding walking tracks can be found here.
Swansea Heads and Reid’s Mistake
Swansea Headland looks over the entrance to the Swansea Channel and down onto Reid’s Mistake Head. There is a great view from here and if you drive to the end of the track, you will find the Maritime Rescue Station with more great views.
Below the headland, you can access the base of the cliff and the rock platform from a car park near Reid’s Reserve. If you look carefully at low tide, you will find the remains of a petrified forest that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption and buried in volcanic ash. The cliff is made of tuff, a stone made from the ash of the volcanic eruption.
Volcanic Tuff in the Cliff at at Reid’s Mistake
Reid’s Mistake Fossil Tree
Fossilised Tree Trunk
Fossilised Tree Trunk
Rock Patterns
Reid’s Mistake Rock Platform
Redhead Beach
Our last stop heading north was Redhead Beach. This is a very popular Newcastle beach and has a big car park and facilities. The most striking feature, apart from the excellent beach is the old shark spotting tower perched on rocks in front of the club house.
Redhead Beach Shark Tower
So, if you want to visit some beaches south of Newcastle and do more than just swim or sunbathe, give some of these places a try.
As you drive along the highway, see if the can spot the Big Prawn on top of the sign for a closed shopping centre. Australia loves its “Big” things.
The Big Prawn
If you want to read about Newcastle Beaches, click here
Bar BeachNewcastle is an excellent place for a relaxing half day. It’s very easy to get to and has a nice large car park. The ANZAC Memorial Walk is to the north. Dixon Park Beach, Merewether Beach and the Ocean Baths are to the south. They are all connected by a foot/bike path, or you can walk along the beach.
Swell at Bar Beach Coffee Shop
There is a coffee shop at Bar Beach, Swell at Bar Beach. We usually buy a coffee and muffin here. On a busy day be prepared to wait for your order to be filled as it is very popular. While you wait, relax and watch the surf. There is plenty of undercover seating if it is too hot, or raining. We chose to sit down near the beach so that we could watch the waves roll in.
Susan Gilmore Beach
To the north of the beach is a rock platform and Susan Gilmore Beach. This area is not accessible at high tide. We walked over the rocks checking out the rock pools. Be careful of the green slime, it can be a bit slippery.
Rock Platform at Bar Beach
Rock Platform at Bar Beach
Bar Beach Rock Pools
Rock Platform at Bar Beach Newcastle NSW
The shells and rocks can also be quite sharp, so you might want to put some shoes back on when walking over them. Be aware though that your shoes will get wet.
Merewether Beach
We walked back along the beach to Merewether Ocean Baths. It’s about a 2km walk, but very relaxing on a nice day.
Merewether Beach
As you walk back, so can see surfers having fun on the waves. Look out to sea and you will see the coal ships waiting to come in to be loaded at the Port of Newcastle.
Surfing at Dixon Park Beach
We walked back to Bar Beach on the pathway above the beaches. It’s very well laid out and there are also several places to stop for a meal or coffee along the way.
Merewether Beach Looking at Bar Beach
We do this walk regularly, at least twice a month on weekends. Always enjoyable and good exercise.
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
