Head north of the city and relax at Stockton Beach. You will find that this long, wide beach with massive dunes is somewhat of a playground. Try thrilling quad-bike tours, slide down the dunes on sand boards or explore the beach on horseback.

If you want to experience Newcastle from its most colourful side, join the Street Art Tours. The team of graffiti buffs and spray-paint enthusiasts take you to creative places with a story. While passing oversized art on foot or bike, you get background information on artists, insights on techniques and new perspectives on the city’s creative scene. The meeting point is near the water fountain at The Signal Box next to Queens Wharf Light Rail Stop. Make sure you call ahead of time to book your spot.

Blackbutt Nature Reserve is located west of Newcastle. It offers amazing walking trails with an opportunity to get close to the typical Australian flora and fauna. This nature reserve is a great option for a family day out and it's great fun for the kids.

This extravagantly decorated clandestine church built centuries ago when Catholicism was considered a crime is hidden in plain sight behind an unassuming front door in the city centre. Those walking down Juffrouw Idastraat would never imagine that within one of the typical terraced houses lies the enormous Parish of Saints James and Augustine where Catholics used to practice their faith in secret. Nobody is quite sure who built the church, but the stunning baroque plastering seems to suggest that it was the famous architect and artist Daniel Marot or one of his students. Book a free tour which takes you through the church and the attic to the more recent Bishop’s Chamber which is full of some of the original features and furniture that were used in the 1700s.