Newcastle

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the state of NSW and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas. (1) Situated 162 km north of Sydney, at the mouth of the Hunter River, it is the predominant city with the Hunter region boasting some of the best universities, hospital and medical research centres in NSW not to mention its unlimited shopping and fine dining spread out throughout the suburbs made up of Newcastle. The last (ABS (2)) census in 2006 recorded Newcastle’s population at 288,732 made up of 48.8% males and 51.2% females. 18.4% of the population usually resident in Newcastle were children aged between 0-14 years, and 27.6% were persons aged 55 years and over. The median age of persons in Newcastle was 38 years, compared with 37 years for persons in Australia.

Famous for its coal, Newcastle is the largest coal export harbour in the world. 2006-2007 saw total trade for Newcastle at 85.6 million tonnes, valued at $8.8 billion, despite the impact of drought on grain exports and the horrific weather that affected cargo movements during June. Coal accounted for about $6 billion of the total and other commodities the rest. (3)

Newcastle sports teams playing in national competitions include the Newcastle Knights, a team that plays in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League. Also home to the Newcastle United Jets soccer team, which plays in Australia's highest level comp the A-League, also play at Energy Australia Stadium. Other major spectator and participant sports include Netball, Basketball, soccer, Rugby Union, Lawn bowls, Hockey and Surfing. Newcastle has an abundance of beaches and surf breaks for which the city is internationally well known. Newcastle hosts the annual surfing contest 'Surfest' on the world professional surfing tour. Four time world champion surfer Mark Richards grew up surfing at Newcastle's Merewether Beach, and is a local icon, appearing at many local functions, and supporting local charities. Nobbys beach is a very popular kite surfing spot, especially during the warm summer months when there are North Easterly sea breezes.

Newcastle Culture is home to an abundance of music, arts, festivals, films, galleries and theatre. Most weekends you will find exciting activates on and around Newcastle and Newcastle Live Sites is a cultural event that produces over 100 days of events and provides over 700 days of arts entertainment.

TRANSPORTATION

Road

Newcastle is connected to surrounding cities by the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (South), New England Highway (West) and the Pacific Highway (North). Hunter Street, the main shopping street in the Newcastle CBD, is the major link to the Pacific Highway from the CBD.

Bus

Newcastle's City Bus Interchange Bus services within Newcastle are operated by Newcastle Buses & Ferries, The network radiates from a bus terminal near City Rail's Newcastle station, on the waterfront of Newcastle's CBD. Major interchanges are located at the University of Newcastle, Wallsend, Glendale, Warners Bay, Belmont, Charlestown, Westfield Kotara and Broadmeadow Station. To reduce journey times, bus-only lanes are in operation on certain major roads in Newcastle.

Rail

Newcastle Railway Station is serviced by two City Rail lines providing local and regional commuter services. The Newcastle & Central Coast Line has hourly train services to Sydney and more frequent services to the Central Coast. The Hunter Line has twice-hourly services to Maitland and less frequently to Scone and Dungog. Countrylink (an intercity/interstate rail service) operate two lines through the Newcastle area using Broadmeadow Station. These provide services to Moree, Armidale, Brisbane and Sydney.