Only two and a half hours drive south of Sydney, Nowra is a great place to explore the nearby Kangaroo Valley and Shoalhaven District. Public transport by train and bus goes to Nowra, but you will then need to organise personal transport to explore outside of the town.
Where Did We Stay
While in Nowra, we stayed at Springs Shoalhaven, because it was in a quiet location and had an on-site restaurant at the adjoining club. The clean rooms and great views over the golf course we a nice place to relax before going out for dinner. The meals at the club were great and the staff friendly.
Nowra’s Buildings
Wandering through Nowra’s business district, we found several nice old buildings, which were worth stopping to look at.
Roxy TheatreMechanics’ Institute and School of ArtsSaint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Nowra Street Art
Walking through the central shopping district of Nowra, you will come across many pieces of excellent street art decorated buildings. Mostly located around the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, others can be found in side streets, which makes them fun to track down while exploring.
Aboriginal Child – Street Art NowraQuest Street ArtStreet ArtStreet ArtCar on Garage Door Street ArtCar on Garage Door Street ArtStreet ArtStreet ArtCar on Garage Door Street ArtStreet ArtStreet ArtCockatoo Street ArtStreet ArtStreet Art
Ben’s Walk
The walk loops around the Shoalhaven River, through its gorges and forests. The walk begins at the Nowra Showground, where you can enjoy a barbecue, and superb views of the river and mountains from Hanging Rock. The complete track provides a return walk of about 5.5 kilometres taking around two hours. A short return walk from the footbridge to the Showground and Hanging Rock takes around 10 minutes. A suspension bridge provides a fun crossing of the river.
Hanging RockShoalhaven River From Hanging Rock LookoutShoalhaven River From Hanging Rock LookoutStairs to Ben’s WalkSuspension Bridge Across Nowra Creek
Soldiers’ Monument
Opened in 1931, this memorial commemorates all those who served in conflicts that involved Australia. The bronze statue represents an Australian soldier, his helmet and rifle discarded now that has won and returned home, but remains forever vigil.
Nowra Soldiers MemorialNowra Soldiers Memorial
Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum
The museum has an almost complete collection of the aircraft operated by the RAN. This ranges from the early 1950s when HMAS Sydney and Melbourne were acquired to a recently retired Seahawk helicopter. A purpose-built air-conditioned building houses all the displays. Inside a raised mezzanine floor provides an excellent overhead perspective of the displays. This is something that many aviation museums are lacking. There is also plenty of space between each display so that they can be seen easily without the crowding that some museums use.
To read the full story of our visit there, follow the link.
RAN Fairey Firefly AS.5
What Did We Think of Nowra?
A great place to stay with a range of activities to do and things to see. We used it as a base for exploring Kangaroo Valley and further afield to Kiama and the Illawarra.
Our eight-day driving tour of Ireland was the first stage of a 35 day trip to Europe and was a amazing place to start. We flew into Ireland from Sydney with British Airways, via Singapore and London making it a long tiring trip, The arrival time was 7:30 am so to make the most of our time, we jumped in our hire car and drove into Dublin. Fortunately our room at the Trinity City Hotel was ready, so we left our luggage, gave the car to the valet and started walking around the city.
Our first stop was Trinity College, to view the Book of Kells and The Long Room.. Walking around the old university grounds to get to the library is worth the visit in itself. Old architecture, grand buildings and statues fill the grounds. Our pre booked tickets took us straight inside and we were pleased that few others had arrived early on a cold winter’s morning.
The display for the Book Of Kells is well thought out, explaining not only its history, but that of the other illustrated books that have been found. Many of the book’s pages are reproduced and exhibited, with explanations about their significance. This is particularly good as the original book is only open in a case with one page viewable.
The Book Of Kells itself is magnificent and is a major tourist draw card apart from its historical significance.
On the second floor of the building is the Long Room. This ancient and still operating library is wonderful to walk around because you feel surrounded by the ceiling high bookcases and their smells. There are guards posted all around, as well as designated areas to walk within.
The Long Room Trinity College LibraryBook of Kells
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral in central Dublin, is an impressive building with wonderful interior decorations, stain glass windows and a crypt. Unlike many old churches, there was little in the crypts apart from a small collection of religious artefacts.
Next to the church is an elevated connection to the museum on Winetavern Street. Unfortunately we could not find out how to access it, but took some photos from the road.
Christ Church Cathedral Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral Crypt Dublin
Winetavern St. Next to Christ Church Cathedral
Molly Malone Statue
A quick stop on our walk was at the Molly Malone Statue in Suffolk street. Presented to the city in 1988 as part of the Dublin millenium celebrations, the statue was donated by Jury’s Hotels. The song Molly Malone is the unofficial anthem of Dublin, and tells the story of a fishmonger who sells seafood on the streets of Dublin.
Molly Malone Statue
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Founded in 1191, St Patrick’s Cathedral is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Its 43-metre spire is impressive and stands out, above the local buildings. There is a nice park next door, which was nice to walk around and relax in on our walk around the city. You do have to pay an entry fee here.
St Patrick’s Cathedral
St Stephen’s Green
The largest of central Dublin’s parks, St Stephen’s Green has been a public park since 1877. Before this time, access was restricted to local residence only. At nearly nine hectares in size, it contains ponds, walking tracks and a large number of statues and memorials.
Edward Delaney’s Famine Memorial St Stephen’s GreenSt Stephen’s Green
Merrion Square
Consisting of a central park and surrounded by red bricked townhouses, Merrion Square has been accessible by the public since 1960, prior to which local residence required a key for entry. Walking around the square, you will find some great sculptures as well as the National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces.
The Victims Merrion Square
National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
The National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology holds some of the great treasures of ancient Ireland. The museum covers Irish history from the Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. There are displays of items from Ancient Egypt, Cyprus and the Roman world, although these are not as large as the Irish exhibitions.
On the ground floor is a huge collection of Celtic gold artefacts which is well laid out with wonderful explanations about their importance. These items, dating from 2200 BC to 500 BC form one of the finest bronze age collections of gold artefacts in Europe, making it worth the visit to the museum in itself.
There is a great collection of weapons and armour from ancient to Viking times, including bronze axes, daggers, swords and shields.
Celtic Gold at the National Archaeological Museum
Celtic Shields, Swords and Armour at the National Archaeological Museum
Dublin Castle
Until 1922, Dublin Castle was the seat of British administration in Ireland and has since become an Irish Government complex and tourist attraction. A castle has stood on the site since at least the early twelfth century, with the current castle constructed in the 18th century.
We chose to take a guided tour because it allows access to the ruins under the castle and the chapel. The ruins date to viking times and have been well preserve with access via well made stairs and pathways. There is also an opportunity to see the River Poddle, which is otherwise covered by the castle.
The tour took us through the main rooms in Dublin Castle, where the President of Ireland is inaugurated and State Receptions are held. St Patrick’s Hall, with it’s display of banners and hatchment plates of the knights who were living at the time of Irish independence remain in place.
St Patrick’s Hall Dublin CastleRuins Under Dublin Castle
Guinness Storehouse
Originally a fermentation plant, the Guinness Storehouse has been redesigned around a glass atrium representing a pint of Guinness. This tourist attraction, takes visitors on a trip exploring the history of beer and Guinness in particular. It culminates at a bar where you are able to pour your own pint (included in the price of entry). Your beer can either be drunk here, or on the top floor, with views over Dublin.
Guinness Storehouse
Pouring Your Own Pint of Guinness
Famine Statue
On the bank of River Liffey is a series of statues commemorating the Irish Famine. The starved and desperate nature of the statues brings home how bad these times were. There is even a small starving dog.
The Famine Memorial Statue
Temple Bar
If you are looking for typical colourful Irish bars this is the area to find them. Most of them also provide live Irish music so they can be a great place to go after a busy day around Dublin.
Temple Bar Pub
Day 3 Dublin to Kilkenny
Our third day was a drive from Dublin to Kilkenny, stopping at Waterford and having a look at the Waterford Crystal factory as well as other towns along the way. This entailed nearly three hours of driving, but we stopped at many places along the way, so the driving was not bad.
St Mary’s Gowran
One of the highlights of day three was finding this old ruined church as we drove through Gowran on the way to Jerpoint Abbey. We saw it while looking for a quick coffee stop and decided to investigate. It was an interesting ruin and gave us a nice break from driving.
St Mary’s GowranSt Mary’s Gowran
Jerpoint Abbey
Constructed in 1180, Jerpoint Abbey is now a ruin, as it was destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s. The ruins of Jerpoint Abbey have been made tourist friendly with the addition of paths and walkways. Most of the ruins are accessible apart from a function room that can be booked for weddings and events.
Jerpoint AbbeyJerpoint Abbey
Thomastown
This nice little village with river and bridge made a nice rest stop on our trip before continuing to Waterford.
Waterford Crystal
A tour through the Waterford Crystal workshop is a great way to see whole production process from beginning to end. Our guide started with an overview of Waterford’s history, before we saw how the crystal was made.
We saw every stage of the crystal making process and were able to observe the craftsmen as they worked on pieces. The skill and level of detail was amazing. The tour ended in the gift shop, where the amount of quality items on display was staggering. As international tourists, we were entitled to a refund on the VAT on purchases, and the staff helped us with the paperwork that was required.
The start of the Manufacturing Process at Waterford CrystalWaterford Crystal Decanter
Kilkenny
St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower
Dating from the 13th century, St Canice’s Cathedral is built of limestone, with marble columns and beautiful arches inside. The cathedral’s interior with its wooden ceilings and carvings is beautiful
We arrived at St Canice’s just before closing but the staff were great and let us climb the tower and have a good look around the cathedral.
It was great fun climbing to the top of the tower especially as it was quite tight in places which added to the fun. The views from the top of the tower over town are spectacular and worth the climb. This is one of only three towers that can still be climbed in Ireland, so take the opportunity to climb it while you are here.
St Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower Interior of St Canice’s Cathedral Round Tower Next to St Canice’s Cathedral
Medieval Mile
Running from St Canice’s Cathedral to Kilkenny Castle the Medieval Mile, contains several historical buildings, as well as some great places to eat and enjoy a night out. Wandering along this tourist trail, you get to see ancient and modern Kilkenny at the same time, while enjoying a great walk through this lovely city.
Kilkenny CastleParliament St Kilkenny
Driving Tour of Ireland Day 4
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. We both kissed the stone by hanging upside-down over a sheer drop but whether it gave us the gift of eloquence is debatable.
Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens, which we loved and would have spent many more hours exploring them if time had permitted. There are paths touring the grounds with signs pointing out the various attractions such as a poison garden with a number of poisonous plants, including wolfsbane, mandrake, ricin and opium, as well as cannabis. Unfortunately, Blarney House, was closed when we visited, but this Scottish baronial-style mansion that was built in 1874 still looked impressive from outside.
Blarney Castle Interior Stairs at Blarney CastleInterior of Blarney CastleBlarney CastleOne of the Old Trees on the Grounds of Blarney Castle
Rock of Cashel
The ruins at the Rock of Cashel are an impressive collection of celtic and medieval buildings, not only for their historical importance, but also because of their impressive setting overlooking the surrounding countryside.A large car park nearby caters for the large number of visiting tourists and is only a short walk from the entrance.
The first building we walked through was the ruined cathedral, which even with its missing roof and ruined interior is impressive. The arches and remains of the interior gave off a great atmosphere and made for some great photos.
Next to the cathedral is a 28m tall Irish round tower, which unfortunately is not open to the public. It makes a great sight and has been restored in places with mortar for safety reasons.
The most intact building on the site is the chapel, which also forms the entrance to the Rock of Cashel complex.
Rock of CashelThe Rock of CashelInterior of The Rock of Cashel
Cahir Castle
Located in the town centre of Cahir, the intact Cahir Castle is one of the largest castles in Ireland. This very well presented building often contains exhibitions, and when we visited, it was on the castles of Ireland.
We loved Cahir Castle, as it is intact and let us see what it was like when used as a residence and place of power.
Parking was easy as a car park was located close by.
Courtyard of Cahir CastleCahir Castle
Fethard
Fethard is a Medieval town that we passed through on our forth day of driving. We found it best viewed from outside the town’s walls where you get a good view of the buildings.
Fethard Town Walls
Driving Tour of Ireland Day 5
This was planned to be a big day of driving with breaks along the way to see some great Irish countryside and towns to break up the day. We left Kilkenny very early, allowing us to make the most of the day and miss the heavy traffic.
Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry was a fantastic drive through picturesque Irish countryside, towns and villages. We stopped regularly to see things and took the whole day to get around, which broke up the long drive.. Some of the roads are narrow, we were lucky there were no busses, that usually cause problems in the summer months.
Scenic View From the Ring of KerryScenic View From the Ring of Kerry
Kenmare
Kenmare was our first stop at the Ring of Kerry, where we admired the town’s main street of colourful buildings, while having a much needed coffee and morning tea.
Colourful Buildings in Kenmare
Sneem
Another beautiful town we stopped at was Sneem , with rows of colourful shops and houses.
Sneem Main StreetSneem Main Street
Ring Of Kerry Lookout
This carpark has amazing views over the surrounding countryside as well as a lovely statue of Our Lady.
Statue of Our Lady at Ring of Kerry Lookout
Waterville
Passing through the small village of Waterville, we saw these two statues. The first iof Charlie Chaplin, commemorates his association with the area and the other Mick O’Dwyer, a famous local football identity. A great place to stop, take a break and admire the scenery.
Charlie Chaplin Statue WatervilleMick O’Dwyer Statue Waterville
Ring Forts
Two stone forts found next to each other are only a short walk from the car park. A pathway from the car park leads through the local farms for a short 10 minute walk. The is well maintained making the walk easy, however, once we ventured into the fields to get to the forts, the ground was very muddy and slippery, so take care. Even a slight incline was tricky to get up because it was very wet.
The Cahergall Stone Fort dates from the 7th century as a defended farmstead and is wonderfully maintained. the nearby Leacanabuaile Stone Fort dates from the 9th century.
Cahergall Stone FortLeacanabuaile Stone Fort
Gap of Dunloe
The Gap of Dunloe very narrow one lane road through a mountain pass. Having spectacular scenery, it is very popular with tourists and even in winter when we visited you have to pull over for oncoming traffic.
Reaching a maximum height of 214m, the Cliffs of Moher form a beautiful windswept landscape that has become one of Ireland’s major tourist attractions. We chose to visit near the visitor centre, because there is a good car park and formed walking tracks.
Arriving early, we paid for parking, which also gives access to the visitor centre and went to admire the views. The official track is set back from the cliffs for safety, but another one exists closer to the edge, giving superior views, but with an increased safety risk. Both tracks were very muddy and extremely slippery when we were there, so wear good walking shoes.
Walking to the north first, we passed O’Brien’s Tower and saw the cliffs at their highest. This area is fully sealed with a concrete walkway, but as we walked further north it became very muddy and slippery. The views however are fantastic and worth the mud and narrow path. The official track ends at one point, where a sign indicates that you are leaving the area that the visitor centre is liable for. From this point the track is unformed, but still passable with care, leading to more great views.
We also walked to the south of the visitor centre, where the track was also slippery, but again with amazing views..
Cliffs of MoherCliffs of MoherO’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher
Poulnabrone Dolmen
Finding the Poulnabrone Dolmen was easy using Google Maps, and there is a good car park available when you arrive, but no other facilities or food for sale. The roads are mostly small country roads, so safe careful driving is needed.
The area around the Dolmen is well laid out with paths and explanation boards, detailing the archaeological history and significance of the site. We really enjoyed this quick detour on our drive to Galway and were please we stopped.
Poulnabrone Dolmen
Galway
Yachts on the River Corrib GalwayJury Lane GalwaySpanish Arch Galway
This day was a big drive from Galway but we got to see some great archaeological sites and see more of the beautiful Irish countryside.
Queen Maeve’s Tomb
Located on the summit of 327m high Knocknarea, Queen Maeve’s Tomb is believed to be an unexcavated neolithic passage tomb. Walking to the top of the hill starts at the carpark and winds past some local farms, until it reaches the foot of the hill. At this point, the track becomes step and slippery in places as it climbs the 327m to the top.
On reaching the summit, we were rewarded with fantastic views over the surrounding countryside as well as the site of the cairn. The cairn is 55m wide and 10m tall, making it a large and impressive sight. Visitors are asked not to climb the cairn or remove rocks from it, in order to preserve the monument.
In winter, the top was the hill was exposed to the winds and very cold, even after our climb to the top. We wore warm jackets and walking boots, but still felt the cold until we decided to walk back down to the car park.
Path up to Queen Maeve’s TombQueen Maeve’s TombThe View From Queen Maeve’s Tomb
Carrowkeel Passage Tombs
The Carrowkeel Passage Tombs were the most difficult of our locations to find. Located off the main roads and down country tracks, you have to pass through farm gates and avoid flocks of sheep. There is a rough place to park cars and a sign showing the way to walk the last kilometre. This is the point where a lack of directions can lead to going the wrong way. A sign states that this is the location of the cairns. A quick look around shows that there are no cairns present. However, a previous visitor has scratched an arrow pointing up the hill. This is where they will be found.
During our visit it was raining heavily which made the trek to the top of the hill slippery. Fortunately we were wearing good hiking boots which made the climb better but people without them might have had trouble.
The cairns are a great find and because of their location few tourists visit. It was even more interesting with the rain and gloomy weather.
The Road into the Carrowkeel Passage TombsThe Walking Track To The Carrowkeel Passage TombsCarrowkeel Passage Tombs
This was our final full day in Ireland. We drove from Galway to Dublin, stopping along the way to see St Bridgit’s in Kildare, the Brú na Bóinne Megalithic Tombs and the Kilmainham Gaol Museum in Dublin.
Kildare
We were very fortunate to meet the reverend of St Bridgit’s while in the Tourist Information Centre. He showed us around the cathedral and explained some of its history to us, which was very interesting.
St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare was built by the Norman Bishop Ralph of Bristol in 1223. The entire site is steeped in important religious history, as it’s believed to be the location at which Saint Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints, founded a nunnery in the 5th century.
The present cathedral, which was restored in the 19th century, contains many links to the past, including a 16th-century vault, early Christian and Norman carvings and a High Cross. The Gothic-style architecture reflects the structure’s dual purpose as both a place of defence and of religious worship.
Also on the grounds is a 12th century round tower that is 33m tall, making it the second highest in Ireland. Constructed from Wicklow granite and local limestone, this historic tower is open to visitors during the summer months., so unfortunately not while we visited.
St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare
Round Tower on the Grounds of St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare
Brú na Bóinne – Megalithic Tombs
The Brú na Bóinne complex consists of three main tombs and numerous smaller ones. We visited Newgrange on a guided tour, as that is the only way to access the area.
All access to Newgrange is by guided tour only, with tours beginning at the Visitor Centre, The tourist visitor centre is located on the south side of the river Boyne, and the historical site is located on the north side of the river and is accessed via a shuttle with a tour guide.
The guide on the tour gave a thorough history of the area, explaining its origin and recent excavation. We were allowed inside the passage tomb, where we saw spiral carvings and dishes where cremated remains were left. You were not allowed to take photos in the tomb.,
Outside, we were able to walk around and admire the carvings on the kerbstones.
Walkway into Brú na Bóinne – Megalithic Tomb Visitors’ CentreBrú na Bóinne – Megalithic TombInside the Brú na Bóinne – Megalithic TombBrú na Bóinne – Megalithic Tomb
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
We took a guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol Museum, as this is the only way to see the old jail. It was very informative and we saw where leaders of 1916 and war of independence leaders were held and where 1916 leaders were executed.
This brought our driving tour of Ireland to an end, as we flew out the following morning to Munich.
Kilmainham Gaol CellsKilmainham Gaol Museum
Driving Tour of Ireland – What Did We Think?
We loved Ireland and wish there was more time to explore further. From the countryside, the towns and the history, both ancient and modern, we loved it all. There were times when we could have stayed in different towns, to ease driving, but as it was all organised beforehand, this was not possible.
Driving was easy, as the main road network is excellent, although once you venture into the countryside, roads can become very narrow. The Irish lifestyle is laid back, so take your time and enjoy your time there.
If you are interested in some of our other trips to Europe, please have a look at the list below
Only 160 km north of Sydney is Newcastle, Australia’s seventh largest city. Located in the heart of the Hunter Region it i has beautiful beaches and a stunning coastline.
There are some amazing beaches within an hour’s drive of Newcastle and Port Stephens as well as some world-class wineries in the Hunter Valley.
A rail service links Newcastle to Sydney and the rest of New South Wales for easy travel. There is also a local airport with several daily flights. Driving from Sydney using the M1 Pacific Freeway is an easy drive in under two hours.
Nobby’s Headland
Nobbys Headland runs behind Nobbys beach and is a popular place to walk. From the carpark a path leads out to the headland and then along the breakwall. There is a shared track for walkers and bikes, so use care while walking.
At the start of the walk you will find the surf club and a kiosk selling a variety of food and drinks making it a good stop after the walk to the breakwater.
Nobby’s Headland Newcastle
A Different View of Nobbys Headland
Nobby’s Lighthouse
Nobby’s Lighthouse is once again open to the public on weekends. If you are walking along the breakwall, this is a steep sidetrack to take to the top of the Headland. There are great views over the harbour and city.
While walking up to the lighthouse, there is a sculpture on the right hand side. This commemorates the Newcastle Lifeboat Service.
Newcastle Lifeboat Service Memorial Sculpture
Newcastle Lifeboat Service Memorial Sculpture
Sculpture Grounded
This sculpture marks the anniversary of the grounding of the ship ‘Pasha Bulker” in fierce storms on 8 June 2007. Grounded is an abstract representation of the ship’s bow. The shape and colour of the sculpture, and its physical placement at Nobbys, will be an important memory marker for the community and a powerful stand-alone work of art. Incorporated into the work is an original section of 22mm plate steel from the rudder of the Pasha Bulker.
The Sculpture Grounded at Nobbys Beach
Newcastle Railway Station
The Newcastle railway station is a heritage-listed railway station. Formerly the main railway station for services to the city, it closed in December 2014. In September 2018, the Newcastle station precinct was reopened as a multipurpose community space branded as The Station.
Newcastle Railway Station
Earp Gillam Bond Store
Now refurbished as an office building, this heritage-listed former bond store at 16 Telford Street was built in 1888. It was the first warehouse of Newcastle merchant firm Earp Gillam & Co., founded in 1883, then-importers of groceries, flour, wine and timber. The warehouse was for the storage and handling of imported goods
Earp Gillam Bond Store
Newcastle Post Office
Built from 1900 to 1903 and added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2000, the Newcastle Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 96 Hunter Street . The building has recently changed owners and will now be restored, but is currently disused and access inside is not possible.
Newcastle Post Office
Newcastle War Memorial (Gardner Memorial)
Erected as a fountain in memory of those servicemen killed, or who died in service during World War One, this war memorial is Australia`s first memorial to World War One that incorporated a soldier-statue. Located outside the Old Post Office, it is easy to find.
Newcastle War Memorial (Gardner Memorial)
Newcastle Courthouse
Located at 90 Church Street this beautiful old Art Deco Building is worth visiting even though it no longer in use as a courthouse. The well-maintained facade adds to its architectural appeal. Certainly worth a look.
Newcastle Court House
Former Wickham Infants’ Public School
Located at 64 Hannell Street, Wickham, NSW 2293, the former Wickham Infants School is a significant local landmark in close proximity to the western edge of the Newcastle Harbour. This historically significant building is in the Romanesque style with Gothic influences and was constructed in 1892 . Since the 1980s the building has been associated with the Awabakal community, who recently converted the building for use as office and administration.
Former Wickham Infants’ Public School
Wickham Public School
Built in 1904 and based on the Edwardian style of building Wickham Public School is located at 54 Hannell Street, Wickham NSW 2293. The Public School closed following the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake. In response to the community’s determination to preserve the public school building and find a future purpose, in 1993 the Honeysuckle Development Corporation directed the restoration of the building, adapting its lofty rooms for studio and one bedroom apartments for University of Newcastle students. The grand building was re-occupied in 1995.
Old Wickham Public School
Street Art
There are several places to find street art and sculptures in Newcastle. The full story along with photographs can be found here.
14 Thorn St NewcastleMosaic Laing Street NewcastleStreet Art Laing Street NewcastleThe Painter Street Art Union Lane NewcastleWolf Street Art 424 King St NewcastleSkull Street Art 402 King St NewcastleWaitress Pillar People Street Art
One of the great landmarks in Newcastle, the full story of our visit to the Cathedral can be read here.
Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle
Newcastle Beaches
Great beaches surround Newcastle, from Stockton Beach in the north to Redhead in the south and even the great beaches of the central coast a little further afield. Several of the beaches have ocean baths or pools for a safer swimming experience. Our impressions of the beaches can be found here.
Merewether Beach
Darby Street
Newcastle’s premier eating district, Darby Street offers a large range of coffee shops and eateries from fast food to full table service. This is a very popular area giving variety for everyone. The parking, however, can be a problem in busy times so plan to walk from your parking spot.
Memorial Walk
Located near Bar Beach, Memorial Walk is a tribute to Newcastle’s service personnel. Raised above the cliffs, the walkway gives great views over the coastline.
Placed along the walk are silhouettes of service personnel with the names of the fallen engraved on them. This is a popular walk, there is also wheelchair access at the northern end.
Newcastle Memorial Walk
Civic Park
Situated in the centre of the Newcastle CBD, Civic Park is bordered by council and university buildings on one side and the art gallery and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on the other.
Newcastle Town Hall From Civic Park
Captain Cook Memorial Fountain
Located as the centrepiece of Civic Park is the James Cook Memorial Fountain, built for the bicentenary of Cook’s voyage to the east coast of Australia. This large water feature is a great place in summer, with seats located around it, and impressive at night when illuminated.
Captain Cook Memorial Fountain
War Memorial
The war memorial was originally dedicated to World War Two service personnel, but has since been re-dedicated to all wars Australia has been involved in. Ceremonies are held here throughout the year on relevant anniversaries.
Newcastle War Memorial
Vietnam and National Service Memorial
The Vietnam and National Service Memorial commemorates the soldiers killed during the Vietnam War. A brass plaque on the memorial provides a brief description of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The rear section of the memorial has a separate memorial to Australia’s National Service and Combined Forces personnel.
Baptist Tabernacle
Located above Civic Park the Baptist Tabernacle is an interesting building but is only open to the public during services.
Baptist Tabernacle
St Andrews Presbyterian Church
Situated across the road from the Baptist Tabernacle, St Andrews is not always open, so you may have to appreciate this building from the outside.
St Andrews Presbyterian Church
Shortland Centenary Fountain
Erected in 1897 by the Mayor David Miller and originally located at Newcastle Beach, this fountain commemorates the centenary (1797-1897) of the European discovery of the area by Lieutenant Shortland. Removed from its original location, it is now located at Christie Park.
Shortland Centenary Fountain
Convict Lumber Yard
The old Convict Lumber Yard sits next to Customs House , which is not far from the old Newcastle Railway Station. Very little of the old site remains, but signs and displays demonstrate what used to happen here
Interesting from a historical perspective its worth a quick view if in the area.
Convict Lumber Yard
Customs House
No longer in use by Australian Border Force, Customs House is now leased as a pub and restaurant. This is a very nice setting with a relaxed atmosphere not far from the CBD and beaches.
While there, admire the beautiful clock tower and the building’s exterior. The pub uses the rooms on the upper floors for events, so if you are lucky to have access you may be available to see inside the tower.
Customs House Newcastle
Foreshore Park
Foreshore Park is a nice grassed are to relax in near the harbour. Originally the site of a power station and train maintenance sheds, there is little to indicate that this now quiet place was once a bustling industrial area.
The power station is completely gone, its location marked by a plaque and while the train sheds still stand, they are used for family gatherings and picnics.
A small lake in the park is the location for the sculpture Resilience, a monument to mental health wellbeing. Not far from here is a small playground where the kids can have fun.
Resilience SculptureTrain Sheds
The Obelisk
Built in 1850 in King Edward Park, the obelisk was used as a marker for ships entering Newcastle Harbour. The area provides great views over the city, with plenty of parking nearby and is close to the Shepherds Hill Complex.
The Obelisk King Edward Park
Shepherds Hill Complex
A relic from World War Two, when the threat of invasion was real, the Shepherd’s Hill Complex was built to defend Newcastle. Consisting of a radar station and gun emplacements, this was an important part of the defence of Australia’s east coast.
These concrete structures can be viewed from outside, but access to the interiors is blocked off with no access. It is an interesting part of the city’s history and worth visiting if you are in the area.
Shepherds Hill Complex
Leading Light Tower
Located on the corner of Brown and Terrell Streets, the lead light was designed to assist shipping navigating Newcastle Harbour. Unfortunately, as the city grew it became obscured from view and has been replaced by new navigation markers.
Designed to look like a medieval tower with battlements it is an interesting and unusual sight not far from Christchurch Cathedral.
Lead Light Tower 34 Brown St.
Stockton Ferry
The Stockton Ferry runs from Queens Wharf in the Newcastle CBD across the harbour to the Stockton Wharf. Running hourly, this ferry service only takes five minutes and is an easy way to travel and quicker than driving. From either side it is easy to see either the inner city and Newcastle beaches or at Stockton the township or breakwater.
