Explore, Savour and Shop Sustainably: Your Ultimate Newcastle Eco-Weekender

Discover Newcastle’s best eco-friendly shops, eateries, and activities, and immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant sustainable culture.

From handcrafted wares to sustainably sourced products, Newcastle is home to many eco-friendly boutiques, artisans, and creative makers who are changing the shopping landscape for the better. 

High Tea With Mrs Woo x Studio Melt  

Wolfe Street, Newcastle 

Combining slow fashion mastery with incredible talents for contemporary design, this Wolfe Street boutique brings together two unique creative teams. Focused on sustainability and longevity, the High Tea With Mrs Woo team is renowned for its high-end, locally designed and made pieces. Plus, kintsugi for clothing kits are also available…for extra environmental sustainability. Then there's the team behind Studio Melt, creating gorgeous contemporary jewellery and unique statement pieces, often drawing creative inspiration from nature. 

Moral Store 

Hunter Street, Newcastle 

Founded by Newcastle local, Taylor Murray, Moral Store is a curated shopping and lifestyle experience influenced by the coast and natural environment of Newcastle. Conscious travellers can pick up beautifully made sustainable homewares, apparel (it's a great place to pick up unique retro-inspired socks), candles and creams, lifestyle products, and cute-as baby goods — Moral Store is all about forming daily rituals that support sustainable living. 

Betty Loves Books 

Hunter Street, Newcastle 

Betty Loves Books is a colourful and quirky independent bookshop at The Station. The colourful literary space has an eclectic mix of new and second-hand books, making sure pre-read pages are given new homes while the new releases are joyfully celebrated — especially as part of the monthly book club. Handmade, small-batch tea blends, local artist works, and gorgeous giftware are also available, making thoughtful souvenir shopping a breeze. 

Sourced Vintage 

Hunter Street, Newcastle 

Vintage clothing lovers, this one is for you! Sourced Vintage houses Newcastle's biggest collection of vintage clothing with over 3500 pieces in their curated collection. A hand-selected adventure through styles and eras, there are printed Ts, jeans, caps, jackets, jumpers, you name it. So, filling your wardrobe with pre-loved classics is as much as it is about fun as it is about sustainable fashion. But there's just one catch — make sure you give yourself plenty of time to browse the vast collection. 

Hide + Seeker 

Maitland Road, Islington 

Hide + Seeker is a collaboration of love and creativity between Eartha and Geordie. Geordie crafts the store's range of bespoke belts, bags, and wallets, all made on-site using sustainably sourced leather from Australia's last remaining wattle bark tanneries. Eartha is a vintage treasure hunter, traveling across Australia and overseas to bring an eclectic range of pre-loved fashion to their Hide + Seeker store, situated in the vintage heart of Islington.  

Yardsale Trading Co. 

Maitland Road, Islington  

Ethically sourced and sustainably produced, the boutique range of goods at Yardsale has been carefully curated with a focus on long-lasting quality materials, brand heritage, and craftsmanship. The store features wardrobe staples through to home décor pieces, plus outdoor essentials, such as keep cups, backpacks, and water bottles. Travellers who love nothing more than to get out in nature while being stylish, the YTC team has your back. 

Sustainable menus, locally sourced produce, and waste minimisation is something many Newcastle restaurants, cafes, and bars are very proud of. This small list is just a snapshot of the local businesses with eco-friendly offerings…  

Estabar 

Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle 

Across the road from Newcastle Beach, the team at Estabar is heavily influenced by the ebb and flow of nature. Estabar is all about fresh, down-to-earth flavour perfection achieved through their seasonal menus and working closely with the local growers and producers. The team also recycles whatever and whenever they can, building sustainable practices in their day-to-day operations — this is a café with an eco-friendly heart in a cracking spot.  

Momo Wholefood 

Hunter Street, Newcastle 

In a high-ceilinged heritage-style old bank, Momo Wholefood Café is a welcoming sanctuary of clean eating. Operating with a fierce focus on sustainability and with a drive to collaborate with like-minded businesses, Momo Wholefood Café dishes up fuel to feed your soul that has minimal environmental impact. Passionate about fresh, organic produce, visitors to this airy and open café will be wowed by a flavour-packed seasonal vegetarian and vegan menu.  

Modus Merewether 

Merewether

Operating on 100% green energy, Modus Merewether is eco-friendly with equally delicious craft brews and pub classic feeds. Just to give you a taste of how dedicated to sustainability the Modus team is — heat from one brew is used for processing the next, spent grain is sent to local farmers for livestock feed, and rainwater is recycled. And that's only the start of it. Plus, the brewery is a super-chill space to relax and eat, guilt-free. 

Sprocket Coffee Roasters 

New Lambton 

Sprocket Coffee Roasters have been brewing carbon-conscious coffee — from crop to cup — since 2009, even pioneering unique roasting technology and equipment to do so. Their beans are ethically sourced, grinds are recycled, solar power is used, and waste is minimised. And the best bit — their coffee tastes incredible. Plus, you can also pick up cold brew cans, perfect for taking on hikes, rides, and long afternoons at the beach. 

Newcastle City Farmers Market 

Newcastle Showground 

Rise and shine…and buy direct from the source. Open most Sundays of the year from 7am until about 1pm, Newcastle Showground transforms into an expansive feast of farm fresh produce, boutique wines, gourmet artisan cheeses, meats, freshly baked bread, spreads such as chutneys, jams, and local honey, and so much more. Plus, there is always a great selection of locally made homewares, candles, and lifestyle products too. 

Crystalbrook Kingsley 

King Street, Newcastle 

The team at Crystalbrook Kingsley is actively working to reduce their environmental footprint, and one way they have gone about it is by empowering guests to select menu items via their 'climate calories' — the higher the calories the worse for the environment. Now that's the sort of calorie counting we like. Plus, other initiatives like their zero-waste cocktail menu, mean you can sip the night away…deliciously and sustainably. 

Newcastle has an abundance of natural highlights, including multiple city beaches and ocean baths…and yes, we're extremely proud of that. But here's a little more outdoor eco-friendly inspo for eco-conscious travellers. 

Beginner Surf Lessons - Philippa Anderson Surf School 

Perfect for ocean lovers and first-time surfers of any age, beginner lessons are run by qualified surf coaches who will help you build your confidence and get you 'popping up' in no time. Including all the essentials like sunscreen, rash vests, softboards, and wetsuits, this is an approachable, eco-friendly way to experience Newcastle. 

Discover Sailing Experience 

Harness the power of the wind and hop aboard one of Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club's small inshore keelboats. Over three cruisy hours, you'll get to see another side of Newcastle Harbour in this intimate and hands-on sailing tour. As part of the day's crew, get set to learn basic sailing skills, plus all the lingo, all while enjoying sweeping cityscape views. 

Guided Nature Tours and Hikes – Newcastle Coast and Glenrock 

Geotrail and Nature Tours run guided nature and culture walks along Newcastle’s spectacular coast, through Glenrock State Conservation Area and beyond. Choose between their Newcastle Coastal Geotrail or the Glenrock Discovery Tours for a casual and informative day out in nature. The team can also organise private tours if you’re after something ultra unique. 

Hunter Wetlands Tours and Canoe Adventures 

Perfect for families and nature lovers of all ages, the 45 hectares of wetlands self-guided walking and riding trails are designed to make spotting birds, animals, reptiles, and plants as easy and fun as possible. For those looking for expert info, 30 to 40-minute guided walking tours are also available, which can be tailored to special interests, such as native plants or photography. Plus, visitors can hire canoes or book ahead for a paddle around the 2km trail. 

Glenrock State Conservation Area 

At just over a 6km return, Yuelarbah Trail is perhaps the most popular hiking trail at Glenrock State Conservation Area. Starting with a raised boardwalk path, the trail winds past Flaggy Creek, trickling waterfalls, and Leichhardt’s Lookout, before reaching the quiet and calm of Glenrock Lagoon and Beach. 

Bathers Way Walk 

Spectacularly scenic, the Bather's Way rewards walkers and runners with sweeping views of Newcastle's iconic coastline, passing local legends the Bogey Hole, King Edward Park, Fort Scratchley, Nobbys Lighthouse, and four incredible beaches along the way. It's a must-do for active visitors and families.  

Wildlife Exhibits Blackbutt Reserve 

Once a coal mine, Blackbutt Reserve is now Newcastle’s green heart – only ten minutes from the city centre. The walking trail takes you through a range of native animal exhibits, including koalas and wombats, as well as endangered favourites, like the black cockatoo. Situated amongst towering gums with a beautiful picnic area. Entry is free.