Newcastle Rocks

 

On a pedestal - A block of coal, I think. 

After visiting by road last year, we were already prepared to fall in love with Newcastle. The revised plans to move a bit further up the coast rapidly meant skipping Lake Macquarie (for now anyway) and we've taken a pen for a week at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club. The facilities are quite an upgrade on our last Marina home and everything we need is in walking distance, so for now, we can put away our bus passes and get a bit fitter. The Bloke is on notice. Boot camp 2016 is operational!

 Roped in.

The rock face along the ocean walk.

It's near the site of Newcastle's earliest coal extraction. 

Is that a coal seam

 Newcastle town beach and ocean pools.

  

Gorgeous turn of the century (20th) rotunda and flower garden arranged like a boat.

Soon to be completed Court Building

Coffee time anyone?

 

More civic space.

Next stop Town Hall.

Ocean pool for the kiddies. It supposedly once had a map of the world on the bottom. WOW.

Lots of beaches.

Artwork commemorating the grounding of a coal tanker.

    

 

There are kilometres of walkways and bike paths around the Hunter River and beaches, magnificent Victorian stone buildings, public open spaces and all that on top of breathtaking natural assets. Sure, there are docks, shipping and industry. More coal is shipped from Newcastle than any other single location on the planet but Newie is more than just that. It's vibrant, friendly and interesting. This will not be our only stop here. Sure, we'll need to clean the scum line after we leave and wash down the decks when we get to Port Stephens but we do like the energy here.