About Newcastle
Newcastle is a lively port city on a breathtaking stretch of Australia's coastline. The city has wonderful beaches for surfing and swimming, a low cost of living, a very favorable climate, and a casual lifestyle. You'll find miles of walking paths along the stunning coast, where spotting a dolphin or whale is common. Located in the same state as Sydney (2.5 hours away by train), you'll have easy access to explore another of the country's most impressive cities - and beyond.
The Lonely Planet named Newcastle a top ten city in the world in the Best in Travel Guide in 2011. With a population of 550,000, Newcastle offers all the usual city comforts, such as restaurants, cafés, parks and gardens, theaters, art galleries, shopping centers, and nightclubs. At the same time, it retains the charms of a smaller beach community. The city's heritage as a coal port is still evident, but over the past few decades Newcastle has become a thriving, sophisticated city know for its relaxed, coastal lifestyle. The University of Newcastle has played a large role in this transformation.
A few miles south of the city is Australia's largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, scene of many national and international sailing events. Less than an hour's drive north is the impressive harbor of Port Stephens, a popular center for big-game fishing, sailing, surfing, and windsurfing. To the west are the internationally famous wineries of the Hunter Valley, many of them more than a century old. And to the south are the beautiful beaches of the Central Coast. The oceanic climate of the region offers warm summers and mild winters. It’s no wonder Newcastle is a popular destination for study abroad students!
