Explore Australia’s East Coast with Car Hire in Newcastle

Explore Newcastle with a car rental

Newcastle marks the southernmost point of New South Wales’ scenic North Coast, the 700km-plus stretch of glorious shoreline which runs all the way up to the Queensland state border. This harbour city is the state’s second-largest and for decades, played an important role as a centre for industry. As such, Newcastle’s reputation as an industrial heartland has long overshadowed its value as a holiday destination. However, if you give the city a chance and stay a little longer, you’re bound to uncover a fascinating history, a delightful dining scene, and many wonderful natural treasures.

Surfers will adore Merewether Beach, famous for its big swells, while less confident swimmers have their pick of gleaming ocean baths on the Newcastle waterfront. The ancient World Heritage wilderness of Barrington Tops two hours inland is mecca for the outdoor enthusiast. Meanwhile, epicureans could lose themselves for days in the bucolic Hunter Valley. This productive region harbours Australia’s oldest grapevines, and boasts over 120 gourmet food and wine producers.

The world opens up to you once you’ve taken advantage of our easy and convenient comparison service for Newcastle Airport car hire. Newcastle is a great place to hold retreats and other professional meetings and conventions. With a Newcastle car rental, you can make sure you show up to every event on time. Or maybe you’re lucky enough to be on holidays in Newcastle and want to get out of town for a bit? Sydney and all of its metropolitan attractions and wonderful beaches, like the world famous Manly Beach, are just two hours away. Don’t feel like travelling that far? The Central Coast and its serene, laid back beauty and towns sit just an hour south. Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay are about an hour north of Newcastle and represent great opportunities to get away from bigger cities. Whatever your plans, renting a car hire from Newcastle Airport will give you the freedom and flexibility to explore the city on your own terms.

If all of this sounds good to you, keep reading to find out where to stay, eat, and play in the easy going coastal city affectionately known to locals as “Newie”.

Comparing deals on car hire in Newcastle

DriveNow’s online comparison service makes it easier than ever to search for the greatest deals and best pricing on car hire in Newcastle.

We have longstanding relationships with the most trusted rental brands with branches in Newcastle, including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Thrifty, and Budget, ensuring the best access to the best rates and widest choice of vehicles whether your visit is for business or pleasure.

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Your Guide to Car Hire at Newcastle Airport

Airport Information

Address: 1 Williamtown Drive, Williamtown NSW 2318

Code: NTL

Telephone: +61 2 4928 9800

Location: Newcastle Airport is located approximately 27km north of the city centre

No. of Terminals: 1

Timezone: GMT +10:00 Standard Time / GMT +11:00 Daylight Savings Time

Newcastle Airport (NTL) is a regional hub served by a number of domestic airlines including Virgin Australia and Jetstar, with connections to major cities on the eastern seaboard such as Canberra, Gold Coast, and Melbourne. Regional carrier, Pelican Airlines, also services the Newcastle area, operating non-stop flights to local destinations including Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, and Ballina.

This small airport comprises of only one terminal so finding your way around is simple. The Newcastle Airport car hire desks are located directly opposite the baggage carousels in the arrivals hall. Newcastle hire cars are available for pickup in the designated parking lot to your left as you exit the terminal.

External map of car hire at Newcastle Airport Terminal Source: newcastleairport.com.au

A DriveNow hire car provides you with both the freedom and flexibility to discover the charms of Newcastle and the North Coast on your own terms. We compare prices from Australia’s most trusted car rental brands to bring you the cheapest deals on car hire in Newcastle, with rates from leading suppliers such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Firefly, and Thrifty. What’s more, a DriveNow hire car means you won’t have to wait for a bus or a taxi – as soon as you collect your Newcastle hire car, your holiday officially begins!

There are two major arterials accessible from the airport that will take you straight into the city: the A43 and B63. The drive could take between 30-40 minutes, as the airport is located a fair distance from Newcastle. Fortunately, traffic congestion here is nothing compared to Sydney just two hours down south, or Brisbane to the north.

Where to Stay in Newcastle

With the money you’ve saved on cheap Newcastle car hire, you’re free to opt for one of the many premium accommodation options on the NSW coast. Most of the city’s hotels and serviced apartments are clustered around Hunter Street, while there are also a number of upmarket options close to Newcastle Beach.

While the harbour and Newcastle Beach areas are certainly worthwhile exploring on foot, you’ll be glad to have a Newcastle car rental to navigate the rest of the city and the attractions outside of its boundaries. Public on and off-street parking is plentiful and relatively affordable compared to other urban centres on the eastern seaboard. There’s free 15 minute parking locations throughout Newcastle to ensure that visitors have a reasonable chance of finding a space – a rarity in larger cities these days.

Crowne Plaza Newcastle

The Crowne Plaza’s Queen City View suite Source: crowneplazanewcastle.com.au

This comfortable, convenient hotel is metres away from central attractions such as the museum and iconic Honeysuckle harbour front. The Crowne Plaza also has all the mod cons you’d expect from an upscale IHG brand, from tidy guestrooms to a swimming pool and high-speed Wi-Fi, making it a very sensible choice for families and travellers who prefer a more traditional atmosphere.

Novotel Newcastle Beach

The Novotel’s fresh take on a nautical theme Source: novotelnewcastlebeach.com.au

This hotel has a younger, hipper feel than the Crowne Plaza up the road with its chic, colourful interiors and glassy exterior. It’s a solid ambassador for the smart, dependable Novotel brand, with onsite facilities such as a pool, gym, bar, and restaurant. This one even hosts high tea on weekends with decadent treats such as macarons to boot! Choose Novotel Newcastle Beach if your tastes run towards contemporary and you prefer to be closer to the ocean.

Junction Hotel

The Junction is one of Newcastle’s trendiest precincts, with its designer boutiques, stylish homeware stores, and cool cafés. Junction Hotel may be an outlier in terms of location, yet it embodies the relaxed spirit of Newcastle being situated on top of an award-winning gastropub. If you really want to feel the surf around your ankles, Merewether Beach is just 15 minutes’ stroll from this fun, funky boutique property.

Interesting Destinations Around Newcastle

Just one hour inland by Newcastle hire car, you’ll find the Hunter Valley. This picturesque region is home to Australia’s oldest viticultural industry and to this day, remains responsible for producing some of the world’s best wines, particularly Semillon. Pokolbin is a good place to start your Hunter Valley self-drive tour - this pretty little village is home to a helpful Visitor Centre where you can pick up a map and get your bearings. Additionally, the roads around Pokolbin lead to some of Australia’s most acclaimed wine labels.

Stop in at some of the many inviting cellar doors in the area - the historic Audrey Wilkinson estate boasts sweeping panoramas over the hills as well as some seriously good wines. If your stomach is crying out for lunch, consider an indulgent meal at Muse Kitchen, the casual little sister of the award-winning Muse Restaurant. Dishes here are prepared using seasonal regional ingredients essentially representing Hunter Valley on a plate. Afterwards, perhaps make your way over to Tintilla Estate Vineyard and Olive Grove for a glass of crisp, fruity bubbly and to purchase some fragrant olive oils to take home with you. For something a little sweeter, there’s the Twenty-3-Twenty Chocolate & Fudge Factory, where you can stock up on Belgian chocolates and other sumptuous treats.

If you’d prefer to get active, the Hunter Valley offers a wide range of outdoor activities from golf to cycling and bushwalking. Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club is one of Australia’s top courses, whilst much-loved Werakata National Park has a range of excellent walking tracks for hikers and mountain bikers lined with dazzling wildflowers in spring. This nature reserve is also renowned for bird-watching as it is home to a multitude of species including the threatened Swift Parrot and handsome Regent Honeyeater.

There’s so much to see and do in this region, it’s probably worth more than a day trip. Luxurious places to spend a few nights include The Longhouse in Pokolbin or Chateau Elan At The Vintage in Rothbury.

Barrington Tops National Park is another great place to enjoy the fresh air. This reserve shelters a spectacular section of Australia’s World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. Here, you’ll find a network of scenic trails which will take you past sparkling streams, beautiful cascades, and pretty picnic areas. There are basic campsites if you wish to spend the night or else you can simply drive back to Newcastle - the city is around two hours’ from this stunning wilderness.

An idyllic waterway in the Barrington Tops National Park

Things to Do in Newcastle

If you’re planning on hanging around town for a little while, read on for just some of the activities we recommend.

Newcastle East Heritage Walk is an insightful means of exploring 200 years of local history. The route can be completed in approximately 2 hours at a leisurely pace, taking in Nobbys Headland with its 19th century lighthouse, commanding Fort Scratchley – built to repel a possible Russian attack, the inviting Newcastle Ocean Baths and the Paymaster’s Office, a fine example of Georgian architecture which adjoins a former convict lumber yard and stockade site.

Alternatively, breathe in crisp ocean air along Bathers Way, a 6-kilometre coastal walk from Merewether Beach to Nobbys Headland. To make sense of Newcastle’s indigenous and convict heritage, read the yellow signposts along the way. There are a number of shady parks and barbecue pits on this trail if you plan to have a picnic enroute. For comprehensive city maps, visit the Newcastle Visitor Information Centre on Honeysuckle Wharf or download one here.

Newcastle’s beaches are a must - whether you’re a surfer or not, they provide the perfect setting for a recreational stroll or swim. Some of the busiest ones such as Bar Beach provide lifeguard services all year round. If you aren’t comfortable in the swell, take a dip in the popular Newcastle Ocean Baths or the Merewether Ocean Baths – the latter is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Alternatively, bathe in Bogey Hole, carved out of rock by convicts for the Commandant of Newcastle’s personal use - this pool is especially impressive when waves crash into it.

The view from Bogey Hole

If you need a culture fix, drive your Newcastle car rental to the elegant Civic Theatre. Taking in a ballet or cabaret show in the plush main auditorium with its elaborate chandelier and rich Baroque interiors is a memorable and nostalgic experience. Of course, Newcastle’s well-established drinking and dining scene is also worth discovering – read on to find out more.