Welcome to the jungle... Newcastle style.
This December, Guns N' Roses are bringing their legendary rock anthems to McDonald Jones Stadium for one unforgettable night.
But before you hit the stadium, make time for the beaches, breweries, bars and local favourites that make Newcastle worth sticking around for.
For one night only, Newcastle becomes Paradise City as Guns N' Roses bring their legendary live show to McDonald Jones Stadium.
If you're making the trip to Newcastle, do yourself a favour: stay the night. Better yet, stay two.
Book a room overlooking the harbour, check into a boutique hotel in the city centre or wake up just steps from the beach. Suddenly, a Tuesday night concert becomes a midweek escape you'll be talking about long after summer ends.
After all, there's nothing rock 'n' roll about sitting in traffic at midnight.
One thing first-time visitors quickly discover? Newcastle knows how to put on a show long before the band takes the stage.
Start with a walk along the Bathers Way, taking in some of the city's most spectacular coastal scenery. Stop at the Newcastle Memorial Walk for sweeping views across the Pacific, watch surfers carving up waves at Merewether Beach or find a spot at Nobbys Beach to soak up the sunshine.
Need to cool off? Dive into Merewether Ocean Baths, the largest ocean baths in the Southern Hemisphere, take a dip at the heritage-listed Newcastle Ocean Baths, or seek out the iconic Bogey Hole, carved into the coastline beneath King Edward Park.
Not bad for a city most people think they already know.
Kick off your Guns N' Roses getaway with a refreshing dip at Newcastle Ocean Baths before heading to the main event.
Delicious food, cold drinks and good company are all part of the concert experience.
Before heading to the stadium, settle in for a craft beer and brewpub feast at Foghorn Brewery, or pull up a table at The Del in Cooks Hill, where good food, cold drinks and a relaxed coastal atmosphere are all part of the experience.
Looking for somewhere to stretch out the afternoon? Make your way to The Grain Store, Newcastle's craft beer specialist restaurant, where great casual food and 21 rotating taps pouring some of the country's best independent beers make it an easy choice before the big show.
Prefer a long lunch on the harbour? Book a table at Nagisa on Honeysuckle for fresh Japanese cuisine, share plates and waterfront views. Or keep things classic at Queens Wharf Hotel, where cold beers, pub favourites and one of Newcastle's best harbour outlooks make it easy to settle in before making your way to Broadmeadow.
If your ideal concert day includes a few drinks before the main event, make your way to Beaumont Street in Hamilton. Packed with pubs, bars and local favourites, it's the perfect place to meet up before thousands of fans make their way to Broadmeadow.
A cold drink by the harbour is never a bad idea, especially when Guns N' Roses are playing later.
A few hours before the show is the perfect time to discover Newcastle's unexpected side.
Browse the boutiques, galleries and cafés lining Darby Street, explore the East End's historic laneways or wander the waterfront at Honeysuckle, where harbour views meet bars, restaurants and public art.
Want to dig a little deeper? Join a tour, jump aboard a harbour cruise or explore the city's street art and creative spaces. It's often the places you didn't plan to visit that become the highlight of the trip.
The best Newcastle experiences aren't always the obvious ones. They're the ones you stumble across along the way.
From hidden gems to iconic landmarks, Newy Tour Co helps visitors discover a different side of Newcastle.
Not home. At least, not yet.
The best concert nights have a habit of continuing long after the encore. Slip behind the unmarked door at Coal and Cedar for a nightcap, discover live music and late-night energy at The Underground, or pull up a seat at Granddad's Bar for expertly crafted cocktails in the heart of the city.
If you're keen to keep the rock 'n' roll spirit alive, make your way to The Stag & Hunter or the iconic Great Northern Hotel on Hunter Street, where cold drinks and live entertainment have been bringing people together for generations.
And if the night is still young, The Kent Hotel on Beaumont Street is the perfect place to settle in for another round. Surrounded by Hamilton's lively dining and bar scene, it's the kind of venue where one drink turns into three and stories from the concert get bigger with every retelling.
Soon enough, you'll be debating the setlist, replaying your favourite songs and arguing over which guitar solo stole the show. The concert may be over, but the stories are only just getting started.
Hidden below the city streets, The Underground is made for nights that don't stick to the schedule.
Tomorrow morning can wait. Start the day with a sunrise walk along Nobbys Beach, grab coffee and brunch at Estabar or one of the many local cafés dotted along the coastline, then ease into one final Newcastle adventure.
Explore Glenrock State Conservation Area, wander through Blackbutt Reserve, or simply find a spot overlooking the ocean and watch the city slowly come to life.
No alarms. No rush. Just a slow start to the day after a very loud night.
Need a breather before heading home? Blackbutt Reserve is the perfect place to wander without a schedule.
Guns N' Roses are bringing the soundtrack. Newcastle provides everything else.
The harbour sunsets. The hidden bars. The ocean swims. The long lunches. The unexpected discoveries that turn a concert ticket into something much bigger.
So round up your crew, book that extra night and see where the adventure takes you.
Paradise City? We'd say you're already here.
