7 Airbnbs in Newcastle (and beyond) nestled in nature

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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Pull away from the grey of the highway to the green of the countryside and blue of the sea at one of these great Newcastle Airbnbs.

Newcastle Airbnbs usually have a few things in common: they are near to beaches and nature. The region is known for its varied landscapes and there are a lot of locations designed to encourage guests to stay and play. Here are six of the best that will put you in position to take advantage of all the great things the city has to offer.

1. The Beach House at Merewether

Location: Merewether

The noise of the ocean grows to the volume of a train when night has fallen at The Beach House at Merewether. It’s a sound that is like a lullaby for those whose idea of heaven is a holiday by the sea. Head for coffee at a Newcastle cafe, swim between the flags at Merewether Beach and take advantage of the proximity to some iconic ocean pools.

a private tub at The Beach House at Merewether
Enjoy a relaxing dip in your private tub.

2. The River Haus

Location: Morpeth

Want to check out a few boutique wineries in the nearby Hunter Valley while you’re in the region? It’s just a one-hour drive from Newcastle to the Hunter. It’s where you will find the River Haus, the quintessential country cottage designed for those dreaming of a luxe stay. There’s a full farmhouse kitchen, a wood fire and it’s mere minutes from Boydell’s Cellar Door and Restaurant, one of the restaurants in the Hunter.

the living room interior at The River Haus, Newcastle
Curl up with a book in hand or watch TV in The River Haus cottage.

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3. The Little Kilgour

Location: Bar Beach

There are a lot of cool things to do in Newcastle if you want to stay put at The Little Kilgour. The quirky seaside guesthouse is at Bar Beach, just minutes from the Eat Street precinct in Newcastle. It is only a two-minute walk across Empire Park to the beach and close to great surf breaks and baths. The compact guesthouse is small but perfectly formed and fully self-contained. There’s a BBQ and outdoor shower with hot water, too.

bedroom at The Little Kilgour, Newcastle airbnb
Stay at The Little Kilgour if you want to be near the beach.

4. Home in Cooks Hill

Location:  Cooks Hill

A stay in a luxury hotel is not everyone’s cup of tea. Although there are some excellent places to stay in Newcastle, there are also a plethora of charming Newcastle Airbnbs. This 1920s charmer is just one of them. The renovated cottage sleeps up to five people and includes a dedicated workspace designed for digital nomads. There’s free parking at the Home in Cooks Hill, a courtyard and access to Netflix so you can re-binge Schitts Creek.

the Airbnb with reading nook at Home in Cooks Hill
Take advantage of the mini reading nook inside Home in Cooks Hill.

5. Executive Beach Apartment

Location: Newcastle Beach

Bring your significant other to Newcastle to romance them with a stay in this one-bedroom apartment steps away from Newcastle Beach. It’s a fantastic place for whale and dolphin watching, with floor-to-ceiling windows and views for days. The apartment is well placed to take advantage of Newcastle’s best beaches, one of the reasons a holiday here is hard to beat.

dining with views of Newcastle beach at Executive Beach Apartment
Unbeatable beach views at Executive Beach Apartment.

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6. Seascape

Location: Merewether

You will see a lot of seagulls when you stay at Seascape, which is in the flight path for the birds which glide through the sky and around the nearby headland. The sound of the sea echoing all around is the other thing you’ll notice when you book a stay at this Newcastle Airbnb. Seascape is only metres from the waves, and boasts uninterrupted views of Merewether, Dixon Park and Bar Beach.

a room with balcony overlooking Newcastle beach at Seascape
Soak up uninterrupted views of Merewether Beach at Seascape.

7. Beach Retreat, Merewether Beach

Location: Merewether

Those searching for a coastal cool escape will find much to admire at Beach Retreat, Merewether. The contemporary four-bedroom cottage sleeps eight and is decked out with all the essentials. Additionally, the cottage looks like it has fallen off a Pinterest page for yachties, with high ceilings, nautical-hued nooks and a soft palette of charcoals and white.

two glasses of wine on the table by the fireplace at Beach Retreat, Merewether Beach
Get cosy with a glass of wine by the fireplace at Beach Retreat.

The state-of-the-art kitchen is designed for entertaining. And the free-standing bath is a luxurious treat. The place is also tucked away in the suburb of Merewether, so you can get a sense of what life is like in Newcastle.

the bathtub at Beach Retreat, Merewether Beach
The oversized bathtub is a luxurious feature.

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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8 insider experiences to discover the offbeat in Newcastle

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    Discover vibrant culture and creativity, gorgeous nature spots and more in lively Newcastle.

    Newcastle/Muloobinba has a lot going for it beyond its big skies and beautiful beaches. The city’s creative types are now heading downtown, taking over and transforming warehouses and terraces to offer a more alternative vibe. From its nightlife to secret swimming spots, art to architecture, here’s our insider’s guide to Newcastle in New South Wales.

    1. Learn to sail on Newcastle Harbour

    The harbour has always shaped Newcastle, so it seems like the most obvious place to start your weekend. Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club offers a range of programs that provide instruction for both novice and experienced sailors. This is an inspired classroom that sets off past the Honeysuckle Foreshore up the Hunter River, with views towards a seemingly infinite vista of blue stretching to the horizon. It’s the perfect way to savour your time by the sea. Other water activities include surfing, swimming in one of the secret ocean baths or whale-watching with CoastXP.

    Aerial view of Newcastle Harbour.
    Join Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club’s programs. (Image: City of Newcastle)

    2. Underground jazz scene

    Follow the lively sound of the saxophone bubbling up to find The Underground. The popular basement-level bar, with its dim lighting and speakeasy aesthetic, schedules live jazz performances every Tuesday and Thursday. Newcastle is known around the country for supporting live music and this late-night New York-style jazz bar is, like the city itself, both approachable and sophisticated. For fans of live music, Queen’s Wharf Hotel, King Street Newcastle, Mad Poet and The Lucky Hotel are all popular pubs for their roster of live music.

     

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    3. The city as a canvas   

    The streets of Newcastle present like an outdoor art gallery, adding beauty to the everyday with large-scale works by artists such as Fintan Magee, Inari Meyers, Tom Henderson and Sophia Flegg. Hire a Flash E-bike and pedal around the streets to find treasures such as Bronte Naylor’s Mirror Ocean in Civic Square or Sky & Ocean at South Newcastle Beach Skate Park. You can also join Newy Tour Co.’s Discover Newcastle tour to explore city highlights, architectural gems and street art with an expert guide.

    Friends take in Newcastle Street Art.
    Admire stunning works of art displayed all around you. (Image: Destination NSW)

    4. An artist’s view of Newcastle

    There’s a real sense of optimism around Newcastle, stemming from its many grassroots art galleries and organisations. The city is home to an eclectic array of artists who gravitate toward different mediums; see their works on show at independent galleries such as The Lock-Up, which operated as a police station from 1861 until 1982, and Lighthouse Arts Newcastle in the light-filled cottages on Nobbys Head/Whibayganba. Stop by The Creator Incubator to see the Little and Big gallery spaces. Newcastle Art Gallery will soon reopen after a recent expansion, so keep an eye out.

    5. Newcastle after dark

    The small bars confetti’d around Newcastle are a sign of the times. Visitors to the compact city will find a concentration of bars within a small radius, all of which are within easy walking distance or accessible via the light rail. The after-dark experience, which includes theatre and live music, is designed for visitors who are in search of the offbeat and want to celebrate the city’s creativity.  Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, the bars that dot most neighbourhoods will tempt you with everything from happy hour to their alt attitude. 

    A bartender expertly crafting a drink, with a stunning library of spirits in the background.
    Enjoy a night out at a lively bar. (Image: City of Newcastle)

    6. Indulge in great gastronomy

    Newcastle’s proximity to the Hunter Valley has helped establish it as a sophisticated getaway for gourmands with a passion for provenance. Dining options in the city are diverse, with everything from casual cafes to cantina-style Mexican eateries such as Antojitos, through to fine diners such as Flotilla and Jana Restaurant & Bar at QT Newcastle. Visit during Newcastle Food Month to get a snapshot of the local culinary scene – you can take note of the many world-class restaurants and cafes that warrant a return visit. Humbug, Peregrin and Bistro Penny should also be on your radar.

    The dining area at Flotilla in Newcastle NSW.
    Savour a world-class dining experience at Flotilla. (Image: Flotilla)

    7. Crystalbrook Kingsley

    Crystalbrook Kingsley is another great example of Newcastle’s new wow factor.  Staying at the hotel – in the heart of the cultural centre – makes exploring a breeze, with vintage bikes for guests who want to check out the city streets on two wheels. The design-savvy Crystalbrook Collection reimagined the Roundhouse building while adhering to its ethos of sustainable luxury. The hotel is also a magnet for foodies, with the rooftop Roundhouse restaurant and cocktail bar, Romberg’s, two of the best spots in the city for wining and dining.

    The Roundhouse by Crystalbrook Collection.
    Step into the reworked Roundhouse by Crystalbrook. (Image: Crystalbrook Kingsley)

    8. Newcastle’s creative side on show

    Save the date for New Annual, a festival of art, music and ideas from 26 September – 5 October. The program is jam-packed with 10 days of art, culture and creativity. This year’s festival will celebrate the power art has to connect people. Expect to see a diverse program including music, theatre, workshops, and performances in iconic Newcastle locations. Visitors will find a concentration of events within a small radius, all of which are within easy walking distance or accessible via the light rail.

    Dancers performing gracefully, accompanied by a live orchestra.
    Celebrate migration, community and belonging at New Annual.

    Plan your next trip to offbeat Newcastle.