Seaside Newcastle, NEW SOUTH WALES
Airing Date: Mar 29th, 2004
Just a couple of hours drive from Sydney is Newcastle, Australia's sixth largest city. Once home to lots of industry, Newcastle Harbour is still a very busy port, but now it's attracting plenty of tourist interest with its very own waterfront precinct, beautiful beaches and a new place to stay.
It's always good reason to visit an old favourite when something new opens up. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is very central, located right near the water's edge and only two blocks from the CBD. It features 175 rooms in total, with 58 rooms overlooking the city and 117 with a harbour outlook. There are also two Club Spa suites and refreshing lap pool that's heated all year round.
Right outside the entrance to Crowne Plaza Hotel is Newcastle's top attraction, the waterfront precinct. While it's still being developed, the precinct is now officially open to the public and being enjoyed by locals and out-of-town visitors alike.
The promenade has four restaurants, a big brewery and a beautiful park that stretches all the way up to Nobby's lighthouse, where you can enjoy views out to sea. A stroll along the promenade is a magnificent way to enjoy Newcastle. You'll pass great beaches like Horseshoe Beach, where the locals bring their dogs.
Horsehoe Beach joins up to the old Bather's Way, which is six kilometres of unbroken pathway that passes beach after beautiful beach. If you'd rather swim in a pool this walk passes some amazing ocean pools, one of which is the largest in the southern hemisphere.
The promenade joins up with the marina, a pretty spot where you can wander alongside a multitude of boats. It's also a popular spot to have some fresh fish and chips at the takeaway next to the marina, or dine in at Mangrove Jack's restaurant sitting by the water.
Practically wherever you are along the waterfront precinct you'll be able to watch when the big cruise ships come into the harbour. One of the heavyweights of cruise liners is the six star Silver Shadow. Every summer on her way along the east coast she slips into Newcastle Harbour. With 380 passengers and nearly 300 staff, she is more like a luxury resort than a ship.
The facts:
The Crowne Plaza Newcastle is right on that promenade. Rooms start from $225 a night. This price includes a full breakfast at Breezes Restaurant.
Crowne Plaza Newcastle
Tel: 1300 666 545
Find out more about Silversea Cruises stopping at Newcastle on the Silversea Cruises website.
You can book a cruise through The Cruise Brokers.
The Cruise Brokers
Tel: 02 9281 9543
Avago Sports Mobile Hire (Crowne Plaza Bicycle Hire)
Tel: 0404 278 072
Newcastle Commercial Fishermens' Co-operative Mangrove Jacks Seafood
Tel: 02 4969 8181
Prices correct at 29/03/04
