Newcastle Port Day: The Complete Guide for Cruise Passengers

Welcome to Newcastle.

Our compact city boasts six patrolled beaches, historical sites including a fort, lighthouse and pier, museums, an iconic regional art gallery, plus 18 independent art galleries, coastal walks, bush hikes, bespoke shopping, street art, waterfront restaurants, and so much more.

Let's explore.

• Fort Scratchley – Australia's only fort to return enemy fire, Fort Scratchley sits high above Nobbys Beach and Newcastle Beach offering spectacular views. Open daily (except Tuesdays) from 10am to 4pm with free entry. Time your visit to coincide with the daily cannon fire at 1pm for something unique. Historic tunnel tours are also available.
• Newcastle Museum – A contemporary museum just across the garden from your shuttle stop (behind the Visitor Information Centre). Newcastle Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays (open seven days in holidays) from 10am to 5pm. General entry is free, and fees apply for special events and exhibitions.
• Art Galleries – Following extensive renovations and collection expansions, Newcastle Art Gallery is open for guided tours on select dates only, with the grand reopening occurring early 2026. Plus, the city has a thriving independent art scene with 18 galleries to discover, including the Lock-Up, Leda Gallery, and Cstudios on Hunter Street.

• Coastal Cruises – Continue your love of cruising aboard one of Newcastle's beloved whale and dolphin cruises; CoastXP or Nova Cruises have experienced guides to give you the best chance of spotting wildlife up close. Depending on your arrival day, you can also cruise the harbour aboard the historic  William the Fourth.
• Sightseeing tours – Newy Tour Co. and Newcastle Walking Tours offer a range of experiences where you can discover street art, galleries, and architecture, learn Newcastle's history and so much more with expert guides. For nature tours GNT Geotrail and Nature Tours can reveal the wonders of Glenrock State Conversation Park.
• Nobbys Lighthouse – Established in 1854, Nobbys Lighthouse is open on weekends from 10am to 4pm. The short 220m uphill walk will reward you with breathtaking views of the coast. The Signal Master's Cottage houses Lighthouse Arts, which showcases artist exhibitions and a gift shop. If the hill isn't for you, Macquarie Pier runs alongside, where signs reveal stories of the region's maritime past.

• King Edward Park – Just along Bathers Way from Newcastle Beach, King Edward Park is a multi-tiered picnic area, featuring a manicured formal garden, towering Norfolk Pines, a playground, and an ornate Victorian rotunda. At the top of the park, the historic Shepherd Hill Cottage offers spectacular views, and the iconic ocean swimming pool, the Bogey Holey is also nearby. 
• Christ Church Cathedral – A dominant architectural presence along Newcastle's skyline, the Gothic Revival Christ Church Cathedral is a historic feature of the city, where visitors can climb the tower and take in its expansive views when weather permits. Walk up the hill or catch the No. 21 bus. Contact the cathedral for fees and booking info.
• Miss Porter's House Museum – A national trust heritage site, Miss Porter's House gives visitors a rare look at how Newcastle locals lived from 1910 through to 1997. Check with the Newcastle Visitor Information Centre for opening times and dates. Entry fees apply.

While you're exploring Newcastle you're bound to come across many boutiques and bespoke shops.

• Uniquely Newcastle gifts – Mitch Revs Gallery, Blackbird Corner, Made on Darby, Betty Loves Books, High Tea With Mrs Woo, Studio Melt, and Make Space Gallery & Workshop are just a few great shops to stock up on hand crafted and artist made Newcastle souvenirs.
• Visitor Information Centre – The most convenient gift shop stop for your cruise shuttle stop is Newcastle's Visitor Information Centre. You can pick up Newcastle branded totes, water bottles, umbrellas, pens, and keyrings, plus local honey, hot sauces, ceramics, tea towels, T-shirts, hats, soaps, artwork, puzzles, and so much more.

• Bathers Way Walk – The 6km Bathers Way coastal walk is fully pathed and provides many opportunities to take in our pristine coastline, including the elevated Newcastle Memorial Walk raised section, and Strzelecki Lookout. Walking the entire length takes approximately 3hrs. Catch the No.21 Bus to start at either end, or from the shuttle bus walk along Newcastle Harbour towards Nobbys headland.
• Blackbutt Reserve – See Australia's favourite native animals in this gorgeous tree-filled nature reserve with picnic areas, nature trails, and resident peacocks. Entry to Blackbutt Reserve is free and the wildlife exhibits are open daily from 10am to 4:30pm. The reserve is only 6km from the city centre. You can catch the No.25 or No.26 bus or book a taxi.

• Newcastle Beaches – Newcastle has six, easily accessible patrolled beaches – with Nobbys, Newcastle, Bar, Dixon Park, and Merewether Beaches being the five closest. The simplest to access from your shuttle bus stop is Nobbys Beach (walk along the Newcastle Harbour towards the coast) or Newcastle Beach (catch the light rail and alight at the last stop).
• Ocean Baths and Pool – Take a dip in the ocean without having to brave any waves at Newcastle or Merewether Ocean Baths. Public toilets, showers, and nearby kiosk facilities are available. Alternatively, Australia's oldest ocean swimming pool, the Bogey Hole, offers an iconic Newcastle experience.
• Glenrock State Conservation Area – A nature-lovers paradise perfect for bushwalkers, hikers, and mountain bikers, Glenrock State Conservation Area is approximately a 10-minute drive from the CBD. The Yuelarbah Walking Track (approx. 5km return) combines bush trails with a stop at Burwood Beach and promises plenty of bird song and the occasional waterfall.

• Honeysuckle – For a quick drink or long lunch there are plenty of delicious options only a short walk from your shuttle bus stop along Honeysuckle. Bars/pubs: Honeysuckle Hotel, The Dockyard, MoneyPenny, and Harbour Bar. Cafés: The Beehive Honeysuckle, Blue Door Honeysuckle, and Monte Café. Restaurants: Blanca, Wharf 350, The Kingfish, Thermidor, Nagisa Japanese, Nioka Steakhouse, Casa Nova Italian Restaurant, Oceane Hotel, Meat & Grain Steakhouse, and Ȃpé Yakitori Bar.
• Newcastle CBD – Pub eats and casual cafés, city breweries, refined dining, and more are available in Newcastle's CBD: Lightyears, Foghorn Brewery, Arno Deli, Bartholomew's, The Lucky Hotel, Susuru Ramen & Gyoza, Napoli Centrale Pizzeria, Ginger Megs, and Popolo Gelateria.
• Newcastle Mall and Surrounds – Heading towards Nobbys and Newcastle Beach by walking through Newcastle's Hunter Street Mall will take you near some of the city's favourite brunch and lunch spots. Cafés: One Penny Black, Mr Sister Coffee, Bolton St Pantry, and Good Brother Espresso. Restaurants, Bars & Pubs: Humbug, Bistro Penny, Market St Basement, Ship Inn, Roxanne, and Signal Box.
• Darby Street – Eclectic cafés are dotted amongst quaint and stylish shops – Darby Street is a beautiful brunch and lunch spot if you enjoy a village vibe: Autumn Rooms, Sanctum on Darby, Lolas, Three Monkeys Café, Goldbergs Coffee House, Baba Yaga, Monella Gelato, Core Espresso, and many more.
• Water views – Newcastle proudly boasts many gorgeous places to eat and drink with stunning water views. Casual Cafés and kiosks: Estabar, The Kiosk Newcastle Beach, Swell Kiosks, Merewether Surfhouse, Blue Door Kiosk Merewether. Pubs and restaurants: Scratchleys, Queens Wharf Hotel, and The Beach Hotel. Sweet treats: East End Ice Creamery.

Supermarkets

• Woolworths Express, Newcastle East (Access via Perkins and King Street),
• Harris Farm Markets, Cooks Hill (227 Darby Street)
• Woolworths Marketown
• Coles Marketown

Bottleshops and Liquor

• Artisanal Cellars by Sessions (behind QT Newcastle)
• Dan Murphy's Marketown
• BWS Newcastle
• Vintage Cellars Cooks Hill
• Cellarbrations Delany Hotel or Hunter Street.

Chemists

• Bagga's Pharmacy Hunter Street Mall
• Chemist Warehouse Hunter Street Mall
• City Pharmacy 53 Hunter Street
• Darby Street Pharmacy
• Doc's Mega Save Marketown