Newcastle beach guide

21 August 2025

At its heart, Newcastle is a beach city. And, as you’d expect, there is an abundance of beautiful beaches to choose from.

So grab your swimmers and towel, it’s beach time!

Nobbys Beach

Popular with surfers, family beachgoers, and local dolphins, Nobbys Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in Newcastle. Enjoy a day on the beach with the views of the coastline and the historic Nobbys Lighthouse, or stretch your legs and take a walk along Macquarie Pier, known to locals as simply 'the breakwall'. Or if you're feeling particularly energetic, Nobbys Beach is also the northern point of the popular Bathers Way walk, a 6km coastal walk that will take you all the way to Merewether Ocean Baths.

Getting there: Located in Newcastle East, you can catch the Light Rail to the Newcastle Beach stop, and walk the remaining distance to Nobbys Beach, or park onsite in the large public carpark.

Did you know? Macquarie Pier was built to provide a safer passageway for coal ships coming into Newcastle Harbour, so they can avoid getting caught on Stockton's perilous oyster banks. Work on the pier began in 1818 and was eventually completed in 1846.

Nobbys Beach and Lighthouse © Destination NSW

Newcastle Beach

Right at the heart of the action, this is one of our most popular beaches. With cafes, beach kiosks, boutique shopping, art galleries, and hotels close by, it’s easy to understand why! Newcastle Beach is home to several water events each year, including the Shaw and Partners Iron Series event, including the Super Sprint and Eliminator.

Along the promenade you will come across a South Newcastle Beach Skate Park. A celebration of accessibility and diversity, the skate park has been carefully designed to welcome everyone, the cornerstone of which is the Hunter's first wheelchair-accessible (WCMX) skate bowl.

You can also follow the promenade around to Nobbys Beach or continue past the skate park joining the iconic Bathers Way, and walk past King Edward Park, the Bogey Hole, along the amazing Newcastle Memorial Walk, until you eventually reach Merewether Ocean Baths.

Getting there: Newcastle Beach is the final stop on the Light Rail, just 12 minutes from Newcastle Interchange.

Newcastle Beach

Newcastle Ocean Baths

Newcastle's historic ocean baths is a popular place for doing some laps or wave-free frolicking, year round...especially for those that wish to brave the winter temps. In summer, the baths are a bustling spot, where the iconic aqua steps that wrap themselves one end of the baths is the perfect spot to lay out a towel and open your favourite book or podcast. And check out the Canoe Pool next door – a great place for younger children to play in shallow water.

Even if swimming isn’t your thing, Newcastle Ocean Baths are worth a visit to admire the architecturally-significant Art Deco pavilion.

Did you know? The Newcastle Ocean Baths were constructed and in use before WWI, though not formally opened until the 1920s.

Newcastle Ocean Baths © Destination NSW

Bar Beach

Bar Beach or 'Bar' as it is simply known as to the locals, offers ample free parking, stunning views into the depths of Merewether and beyond, beachside coffee, as well as rock pools aplenty to explore! It's a solid favourite for the ease of parking and also the 'granny pool' in the protected corner of the beach, which typically has fewer waves making it enjoyable for little ones and those less confident in the surf.

A short (but invigorating) walk uphill from Bar Beach will find you at the Newcastle Memorial Walk, one of the top tourist attractions in town. This 450m steel walkway was opened in 2015 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915 and the commencement of the steelmaking in Newcastle; it acts as a magnificent memorial to the men and women of the Hunter who served their community and their country.

Bar Beach © Destination NSW

Newcastle Memorial Walk

Merewether Beach

With superb views up the coast, Merewether Beach is perhaps the most well-known beach in Newcastle, particularly due to it being the home of international surfing competition, Surfest, currently part of the World Surf League tour.

On any given morning, Merewether Beach and the surrounding cafes are packed with locals juggling coffee and sandy-haired kids, surfboards, dogs on leash, acai bowls and all while catching up. The atmosphere at Merewether Beach is so vibrant from the minute the sun hits the horizon (well, even before this!) that you'd be excused for thinking there was a major event happening, when in fact, it's just like this. Everyday.

Did you know? Merewether Beach was declared a national surfing reserve in 2009.

Merewether Beach © Destination NSW

Merewether Ocean Baths

Opened in 1935, Merewether Ocean Baths are the second of our historic ocean baths in which to enjoy a swim in at any time of day. Merewether Ocean Baths are a photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise or sunset!

The baths are located at the end of Merewether Beach – you can’t visit one, and not visit the other.

Everyone loves a day at Merewether Baths; from the Influencers getting content for the 'gram to parents teaching their young ones to be water-wise, right through to the hardcore locals that swim year round.

If you're feeling energetic and like to start your (beach) day with a workout, why not go for a run along the beach or footpath and finish your workout with a few laps of 'The Stairs' - leading from the Baths to the car park, you can't miss them and there is guaranteed to be someone getting a leg burning workout on them at all times.

The baths are cleaned weekly, check the schedule.

Did you know? Merewether Ocean Baths are the largest ocean baths complex in the southern hemisphere.

Merewether Ocean Baths, Newcastle

Dixon Park Beach

Dixon Park Beach is a great choice for families. A beautiful beach with lots of car parking, with the added bonus of a playground, off leash dog area, green space and public barbecues across the road. Situated between Merewether Beach and Bar Beach, make a day of it and beach hop from one to another!

Our tip? If you're staying until sunset, pack a picnic or get takeout from nearby suburb, The Junction, and enjoy a picnic on the grassy hill or picnic shelter and watch the sun go down.

Merewether and Dixon Park Beach

Horseshoe Beach

Newcastle’s dog-friendly beach, right next to Nobbys. If you have a pup, this is the place to go to enjoy unleashed beach fun. If your four-legged friend has energy to burn, take them for a walk (on leash) to the end of the breakwall and back, before letting them run wild and free on the sands of Horseshoe Beach.

Enjoy watching the tug boats, freighters, tour boats, sea kayakers and dragon boaters go by while you're there.