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.
Our Top Hotels in Newcastle
As Newcastle lies at the mouth of a river, there are two aspects you can choose from when staying in town: the Hunter River or the South Pacific Ocean. The hotels we’ve recommended are split between the harbour and the beach - with the latter being a somewhat more scenic choice. The harbour hotels however, have the benefit of being closer to Newcastle’s historic pubs and lively wharf-side restaurants.
Crowne Plaza Newcastle
![Newcastle Crowne Plaza Hotel room view]()
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
![Newcastle Novotel room view]()
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.
Quality Hotel Noah’s On The Beach
![Newcastle Noah's on the Beach Hotel]()
Upgrade for this view
Source: noahsonthebeach.com.au
A little dated but the location of this hotel simply cannot be beat - it’s literally steps from the sands of Newcastle Beach. Plus Noah’s is perfect for families and groups because it has a wide range of light, bright guest rooms with a variety of bedding configurations. Splash out on a harbour or ocean view room on a higher level if you can - their floor-to-ceiling windows feature vistas that may well be the most outstanding in all of Newcastle.
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.