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The Newcastle Visitor & Convention Bureau can assist with tailoring
an accompanying person’s programme to suit your group. From an
Art Gallery Walking Tour taking in Newcastle’s inner city galleries,
to an intimate cooking school with a renowned Hunter chef, or a sports
afternoon offering golf, surfing, tennis or sailing.
The Newcastle Visitor & Convention Bureau can put you in touch
with the right people to make your accompanying persons programme a
success.
Some options available – all within one hour of the CBD –
include:
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Newcastle Harbour Cruise - cruise
around Newcastle Harbour on a modern 22m Moonshadow Cruises Catamaran
licensed to seat up to 200 passengers for a dinner or lunch cruise.
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Historical Walking Tour of the Eastend of
Newcastle - taking in landmarks such as Fort Scratchley, Christchurch
Cathedral, the beach areas, Earp Gillam Bond Warehouse, Harbour Foreshore,
Customs House, Stationmasters Cottage etc
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Back Stage at the Civic Theatre -
the city's magnificently restored lyric theatre. Built in the 1920’s,
this theatre has a rich history of entertaining the citizens of the
Hunter Region for almost 80 years. Designed by the same architect
as Sydney’s State Theatre, its lush interior is well worth a
look – there is even a resident ghost!
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Blackbutt Reserve, a flora and fauna
reserve, which houses many native birds and animals, including Koalas
and brightly coloured parrots located in 182 hectares of bushland
in the heart of the City.
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Shortland Wetland Centre is another
haven for nature lovers and home of up to 100 species of birds as
well as other reptiles and other animals. Walking, cycling and canoe
tours are available. “Breakfast with the Birds” is a popular
activity for conference groups that can be arranged with the Wetland
Centre.
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Hunter Valley Vineyards - with more
than 100 wineries to choose from, galleries, restaurants and antique
shops - and less than an hour from Newcastle, it is not hard to fill
in a full day.
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Maitland & Paterson - step back
in time and have a taste of country life in this early Victorian town
which has been described as having one of the most architecturally
intact High Streets in Australia. Many of the heritage buildings are
open to the public throughout the year. 15 minutes out of town will
find you in the quaint village of Paterson where you can enjoy a delicious
morning/afternoon tea or take a picnic down by the river.
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Morpeth - where visitors can wander
around its historic streets and view and shop in its many galleries
and craft shops. In the early days of settlement of the Hunter Region,
Morpeth was a busy inland port, with steam and paddle ships transporting
the regions produce down to the Port of Newcastle for distribution
further afield.
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Maitland Gaol - this notorious landmark
is rapidly becoming one of the regions most popular tourist destinations.
See where some of the nation’s most infamous criminals ‘did
their time’.
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Maitland where many heritage buildings
can be seen, notably Grossman House
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Port Stephens & Dolphin/Whale Watching
- visit this Blue Water paradise and see why so many people make this
blue water paradise their holiday destination.
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Fighterworld located at the Williamtown
RAAF base - home to Australia’s F18 jets. Fighterworld, Australia’s
only aeronautical museum, offers a fascinating look at Australia’s
military aircraft history with plans, simulators, models and associated
displays on show.
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NBN Television Station Tour - Australia’s
largest non-metropolitan station. Tour commences in the studio where
the process of television is outlined followed by a visit to each
of the production sections.
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Art Gallery Tour - including the Newcastle
Regional Art Gallery, Australia’s leading regional gallery and
Outback Art - which houses a large selection of Aboriginal Art from
around Australia.
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Newcastle Regional Museum - includes
the “Supernova” hands-on scientific demonstration displays
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Antique Shops of the Hunter Valley
- as one of Australia’s longest settled areas, the Hunter Region
has an abundance of history, which is reflected in a wide selection
of Antique shops. This tour takes in some of the best available in
the lower Hunter areas.
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Bathers Way Walk - Stretching from
the commanding lighthouse at Nobby’s Headland to the coastal
wilderness of Glenrock reserve and the early coal workings at Burwood
Beach, Newcastle’s Bathers’ Way is a 5km scenic coastal
walk that takes in Newcastle’s indigenous and convict heritage,
culture and natural history.
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Hunter Region Botanic Gardens - set
in natural bushland, and includes theme gardens displayed along nature
walk trails. The area is home to a wide array of wildlife.
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Hunter Valley Gardens - nestled in
the heart of the Hunter vineyards are 25 hectares of spectacular display
gardens with over 8km of walking paths.
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Half day Golf or Tennis - There are
several excellent Golf courses in and around Newcastle including the
brand new Greg Norman Golf Course at Pokolbin and the new home of
the NSW Open Golf Championship – Horizons at Port Stephens.
There are also several tennis complexes around the city for the more
energetic visitors.
Self-guided trips by hire car to the Barrington
Tops National Park to the north-west, the nearby Wattagan
Mountains to the west of Newcastle or the Myall
Lakes to the north, offer more possibilities.
Newcastle also offers a great variety of shopping precincts including
Newcastle City Mall, The Junction and Westfield Kotara Shopping Centres.
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