On a budget? Here are the best free things to do in Newcastle
The best things in life are free, or so the song goes. And while we’re big fans of an indulgent dinner out and the occasional shopping spree, we tend to agree!
Looking for things to do that don’t break the bank? Keep reading for our guide to the best free things to do in Newcastle, whether you’re visiting or you simply want to be a tourist in your own city.
ANZAC Memorial Walk
This 450m cliff top coastal bridge walk provides amazing views of the Newcastle coastline, city and Hunter Valley, with multiple viewing platforms to help you take in the scenery. It’s also a fitting spot to reflect on the service of the ANZACs, and pay your respects.
Where: 24 Memorial Dr, The Hill
Blackbutt Reserve: Carnley Reserve & Richley Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve is an expansive bushland reserve featuring more than 10kms of walking trails, free wildlife exhibits, and plenty of space for the kids to picnic and play. It’s pretty hard to believe you’re in the middle of a city when you visit Blackbutt!
Where: Carnley Ave, Kotara | Freyberg St, New Lambton
Browse the city’s boutiques
Okay, so this one is only technically free if you don’t buy anything, but we stand by it – sometimes window-shopping is all you need to get the dopamine hit you’d get from buying something anyway. Newcastle has stacks of stunning independent boutiques – try areas like Darby Street in Cooks Hill, Maitland Road in Islington, and the eastern end of Hunter Street in the CBD.
Catch a free gig
We are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to live music. No matter what genre you're into, Newcastle has something you'll enjoy. We've put together the ultimate guide of live music venues to make it nice and easy for you!
Christ Church Cathedral
You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the beauty of Christ Church Cathedral. The building dominates the city skyline, and while we love spotting it from afar, it’s worth taking a look inside. You can even climb the tower (call 4929 2052 to book – donations applicable) and discover an alternative view of Newcastle.
Where: 52 Church St, Newcastle
Dribble down to the courts
Tucked right next to Marketown you'll find plenty of bright blue basketball courts on the corner of Parry Street and National Park Street. The courts are completely free to use and are a perfect excuse to practise your aim. Just around the corner you’ll find plenty of netball courts along Union Street if that's more your style.
Discover our many independent art galleries
Newcastle is home to a swathe of independent art galleries, dotted across the inner city and out into the suburbs. We’re fond of The Lock-Up, a contemporary gallery housed in an 1800s police station; LEDA Gallery in Newcastle West; and Playstate on Fern, which regularly hosts life drawing classes, markets, and workshops.
Explore a waterfall
We’re so lucky to have plenty of beautiful waterfalls within a short distance of Newcastle. We’ve put together a handy guide to help you find all the best ones!
Explore our beaches and ocean pools
You could say Newcastle’s coastline is the jewel in the crown of our region. There’s a beach to suit everyone along the city’s coast, or alternatively, you can take a dip in one of our ocean pools (like the iconic Bogey Hole, Newcastle Ocean Baths, or Merewether Ocean Baths). Whether you’re surfing, swimming, chasing after the little ones on the sand, or simply admiring the scenery, Newcastle’s beaches won’t disappoint.
Explore with your furry friend
Bring your 4 legged friends on an adventure! We’re so lucky to have so many dog friendly areas dotted around Newcastle. Our favourites leash free areas are Horseshoe Beach and Redhead Beach (south of second creek), as well as Carrington Foreshore and King Edward Park.
Fernleigh Track
Constructed where the Belmont railway line once lay, the Fernleigh Track is a popular walking and cycling path that takes you from Adamstown, close to the city, right through to Belmont in eastern Lake Macquarie. There’s 15km of track to explore and more than 10 access points, whether you walk, run, cycle, scoot, or skate.
Ferry over to Stockton
Explore the town just across the harbour! Drive, cycle, or catch the ferry for just $4 from Queens Wharf. The boat ride takes just 5 minutes and gives you some of the best views of Newcastle East, if you're lucky you might even spot some marine life. Stockton has plenty of gems from abandoned shipwrecks, old school pubs, quiet beaches, and a well paved walking track that takes you around the outskirts of Stockton and finishes along their very own breakwall.
Fort Scratchley
Climb up the hill to Fort Scratchley and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views over Nobbys Beach and up the coast, as well as over the Hunter River. General admission to Fort Scratchley is free, so you can explore its historic buildings and sites. If you’re keen to learn more about the former military fort, tours are available for a small fee.
Where: 1/3 Nobbys Rd, Newcastle East
Get involved in a trivia night
There’s plenty of pub trivia happening across Newcastle on most weeknights, and it’s a fun (and free) way to catch up with friends and family while you test your knowledge. While most pub trivia nights are general knowledge, a few spots in town often host themed nights.
Glenrock State Conservation Area
Glenrock State Conservation Area is a stunning spot for outdoor enthusiasts, just 10 minutes from the Newcastle CBD. There are walking tracks, trails for mountain bikers, and even horse-friendly trails that traverse the bush. We love the Yuelarbah Trail that takes you through the coastal rainforest down to Glenrock Lagoon.
Go for a surf
Blessed with some amazing breaks, Newcastle's coast is the perfect spot for a surf. If surfing's not your style, park yourself at a look out spot and watch local groms shred for hours. Our favourite viewing points are Bar Beach hill, and the steps infront of Merewether Surf House
Go to a free event
Newcastle is home to heaps of free events all year round – keep an eye on our What’s On guide to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the city.
Green Point Foreshore Reserve
Discover the stretch of foreshore between Belmont and Valentine when you visit Green Point Foreshore Reserve. This picturesque reserve takes in views of Lake Macquarie and lush bushland for 7km. Walk, cycle, or even bring a picnic along to enjoy when you reach Green Point.
Hickson Street track
Tucked into suburban Merewether is Hickson Street lookout, a clifftop lookout with views over Burwood Beach. There’s a great track that leads you 500m down from the lookout to Burwood Beach, making for a lovely meander while you take in the landscape around you.
Where: 14 Hickson St, Merewether
Hunter Wetlands National Park
Great for wildlife enthusiasts and families, Hunter Wetlands National Park offers walking and bike trails, and plenty of areas to stop and watch for birds and other wildlife. For a small fee, you can visit the Hunter Wetlands Centre, which also has dip netting, an arts space, and animal house and reptile encounters.
King Edward Park
King Edward Park is perched right on Newcastle’s coastline, and it makes for a dreamy spot for picnicking, playing, and simply lazing about. There’s so much to love about this inner city park – its pretty central rotunda, the towering Norfolk pines, views of the ocean, and of course, the off-leash dog area. If you’re up for it, cross the road and check out The Obelisk and get a great view overlooking Newcastle.
Where: Reserve Rd, Newcastle
Museum of Art and Culture (MAC), yapang
Hosting both travelling and MAC-curated exhibitions, MAC offers variety and innovation in its expansive space out on the lake at Booragul. Make sure you take a stroll through the sculpture park, with work from local and national artists – you could even pack a picnic and enjoy it amongst the leafy grounds overlooking the lake.
Where: First St, Booragul
Newcastle Art Gallery
The largest public art institution in NSW outside of Sydney is freshly re opened, and packed with exhibitions to explore. More than doubling its original size, it's easy to get lost for hours in the free entry spot. With 13 separate galleries, you’re sure to find some striking pieces from near and far.
Newcastle Libraries
With branches across the city, the libraries of Newcastle offer a range of free workshops, kids’ story sessions, and up-skilling classes, as well as book-borrowing services. Visit the Lovett Gallery located at Level 2, Newcastle City Library for art exhibitions that are often free to enter.
Newcastle Museum
Newcastle Museum is a contemporary space that brings the story of Newcastle to life in three permanent installations, located in the heart of the city in the Honeysuckle Railway Workshops. The museum also puts on temporary exhibitions, and it’s always a great spot to take kids – they’re bound to learn something new!
Where: 6 Workshop Way, Honeysuckle
Nobbys Lighthouse and breakwall
This working lighthouse on Nobbys Head has been a fixture of the city’s coast since 1854. It’s a lovely spot to look out over the ocean, and there’s even an art gallery open on the weekends. The lighthouse is only accessible by walking or cycling along the first part of the breakwall – but you can keep going right to the end if you fancy.
Where: Nobbys Rd, Newcastle
Pack a picnic and head to a scenic spot
Dust off the old picnic basket and load up with all your favourite goodies. Try our guide to Newcastle's best picnic spots when it comes time to decide on a scenic location – we love Hickson Street Lookout and King Edward Park.
Peruse local markets
Newcastle has an abundance of fantastic local markets, offering everything from fresh, local produce, to secondhand clothing, to locally-made arts, crafts, and other goodies. The Olive Tree Market has been a staple since 2008; the Newcastle City Farmers Market is a go-to for local produce; while Homegrown Markets offers stacks of goods from local businesses.
Play a game of pool
Whether you’re chasing a casual game with mates or feeling competitive Newcastle has plenty of spots to play pool. We’ve put together a handy guide of where to find a table near you, with free pool at several venues.
Play barefoot bowls
Speaking of bowling clubs – playing barefoot bowls is always a good time. It isn’t free at every bowling club, but it’s a super cheap way to have fun with your mates, especially on a sunny afternoon.
Search for street art
While we adore Newcastle’s art galleries, you don’t even have to set foot inside one to see some fantastic art – simply wander around the city. The CBD is home to lots of large-scale murals – try Museum Park, Civic Square, and the corner of King and Union streets.
Speers Point Park
Speers Point Park is a huge expanse of green space located right on the water at Speers Point, in Lake Macquarie. If you have kids in tow, don’t miss the playground with its enormous slide and plentiful play equipment.
Where: Park Rd, Speers Point
Walk the Bathers Way
The Bathers Way is a quintessential Newcastle walk. Stretching from Merewether Beach in the south to Nobbys Beach in the north, this 6km path traverses the coast, undulating over cliff tops and providing plenty of spots for stopping along the way to admire the views and watch for dolphins and whales. There’s also ample spots to stop and start your walk, meaning you don’t have to do the whole thing if you don’t feel like it.
Warners Bay foreshore
This lakeside reserve is located on The Esplanade in Warners Bay. Not only does it have space to lay out a picnic and a path for walking and cycling, but there’s even a sculpture trail along the foreshore that you can explore when you visit next.
Where: The Esplanade, Warners Bay
Whale Watching
From May through to November, between 40 - 45,000 humpback whales make their way along Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's coastline on their northern migration. Luckily, there are plenty of lookouts and beaches where you can whale watch in the region. Check out our guide on the best spots to watch for whales this season in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Do you think we’ve missed something? Email us!
