Friday, January 7, 2011

New Year at Newie

Monday 20th December 2010 - Sunday 2nd January 2011 (two weeks)

Stayed in Newcastle at the YHA for $29 per night (which is actually cheaper per night than the Stockton caravan park unpowered - which I find unusual).

Things I did while in Newcastle include:

  • Watched the Lunar eclipse on Tuesday 21st from the Newcastle ocean baths
  • Went to the Great Northern on xmas eve to watch some bands
  • Walked to Bogey Hole, Strezleki Lookout and Merriweather ocean baths
  • Walked to Nobby's Head
  • Walked around Hunter and Darby street shops
  • Climbed Queens Wharf Tower
  • Rode to Blackbut Reserve and Charlestown
  • Visited Fort Scratchley, including the tunnels. These contain the only cannons that have been fired in war on mainland Australia (to defeat a Japanese sub that shelled Newcastle to little effect)
  • Visited the Newcastle Regional Gallery
  • Rode across the Stockton Bridge (argh) to Stockton
  • Took sunrise pics from Newcastle beach / ocean baths, Nobby's Head/ Nobby's beach and Merriweather Ocean baths (three separate sunrises)
  • Took a bus to a shopping centre
  • Watched the new years fireworks (Fort Scratchley) from Nobby's beach at 9pm and from Newcastle ocean baths at midnight.
Newcastle would be a nice place to live in my opinion if it wasn't across the Hunter river from a dirty big coal port. There are heaps of "Newtown" feel shops on Darby Street and plenty of restaurants. I enjoyed riding down Hunter Street (10 km/h shared zone in parts), then Darby, then Parry street to get to the Aldi. There are also a Hare Krishna "Govindas" restaurant and a zine shop. There are lots of "independent" galleries, unfortunately they weren't open when I was in town due to the holiday season.




At the Gallery












Corner of church and watt











Ride your modern day velocipede to the coolest coffee shop in town











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