Newcastle is full of so many wonders to explore and with the warmer weather slowly (but surely) creeping into view, it’s now the perfect time to spend a weekend making the most of Newcastle.

From our iconic ocean baths, local produce, and outdoor activities, to a booming creative scene, great eateries, and artisan pieces in a range of local retailers; there’s plenty to keep you busy for weeks on end.

To make it that little bit easier for you, we’ve curated a day-long itinerary taking in the best of what Newcastle has to offer. Kicking off first thing in the morning to wrapping up in the afternoon; get out and explore Newcastle!

Morning

Don’t waste time and set that alarm to catch one of our iconic sunrises from atop ANZAC Memorial Walk before walking on down to Dixon Park Beach for a fresh morning swim.

Refuel and get ready to kick off the rest of your day exploring with a cup of coffee from renowned pastry chef Aymee Slaviero of Cocoa Nib. Whilst you’re waiting, take a peek behind the scenes and watch Cocoa Nib’s decadent chocolates and desserts being made right in front of you.

Just a mere ten or so steps away, head to Buzz for a Newcastle go-to breakfast dish, The Acai Bowl. Created with the freshest ingredients, you can pick all your favourite toppings to sit atop your Buzz Acai Bowl, and whilst you’re there browse the rest of the menu for healthy snacks and plenty of GF and vegan options!

Still got a little bit of energy to burn? Book yourself a seat on one of CoastXP’s whale watching and sightseeing tours and see Newcastle from a different perspective.

Midday

All of that running around town has surely got you ready to get your hands around some of Newcastle’s best foodie options.

Keeping in line with fresh and healthy food, you’ve got to sample the delicious goodness from the family-run business, Sushi Koo. This place has been providing Novocastrians with their sushi fix since 2006, with the freshest ingredients and their range of sushi, rice paper rolls, and sushi packs (including vegan and GF) you can see why they’re still a crowd favourite.

Support some of our local businesses and do a spot of shopping whilst you’re in the area. Drop into the specialty stationery shop, Honest Paper, and start ticking off that Christmas shopping list a little early. Pickup specialty wrapping paper, art prints, cards and so much more from local artists.

Known for our beaches, it would be rude not to jump in the water or at least soak up some of the sun’s rays on the sand. Drop into Sanbah and browse the selection of surfboards, softboards, wetsuits, fins, leashes, and the best guys and girls fashion for that Newcastle lifestyle.

Treat yourself to something a little luxe from Savant Apothecary’s natural skincare range. From cleansers, exfoliants, and moisturisers to masks, body products, and even a men’s collection; take something locally made and good for you (and the earth) home with you.

For the cooking aficionados, you’ve got to swing by The Essential Ingredient and browse the range of kitchenware and specialty foods! Whether you’re a kitchen beginner or a seasoned pro, The Essential Ingredient has the goods for you. If you’re SUPER organised, you could even book in for one of their specialty classes in their cooking school; covering a range of culinary styles and techniques.

Eager to catch a glimpse of Newcastle from above? Head to Christ Church Cathedral and take the five-minute walk up the narrow staircase to reach the top of the tower. Once you reach the top, you’ll be treated with 360-degree views of Newcastle.

Afternoon

As the day starts wrapping up, you still want to make the most of an afternoon in Newcastle.

After a big day exploring, treat yourself to some of our local sweet goodies. Whether it be hand-made artisan gelato from Popolo or drop into the Newcastle doughnut icon, Doughheads and order a doughnut (or six) to enjoy by the beach. Trust us when we say these doughnuts are a mouthful of happiness! Handcrafted from scratch daily with a menu that changes weekly.

Finish up the day and swing by Scoop Wholefoods to pick up some snacks for the road trip home. Our picks? A bag of seaweed crackers and the not-so-naughty Moon Macas.

This is just ONE day exploring some of the best spots around town, you could do this every weekend for the next twenty years and still never run out of things to explore. So, go on, take a day to make the most of Newcastle.