Newcastle – Australia’s gateway to the Hunter Valley
BRIS BANE
NEWCASTLE sy dn ey
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welcome to newcastle You and your valued cruise passengers are invited to visit Newcastle, a vibrant port city with an exciting mix of tourism experiences for visitors to enjoy. Newcastle is ideally located on the east coast of Australia between the popular cruise ports of Sydney and Brisbane. Common itineraries that Newcastle can feature include those that circumnavigate Australia, or voyages that explore the Queensland coast, South Pacific Islands and New Zealand. Only minutes after arriving in Newcastle, passengers can be shopping, sampling local cuisines, swimming at some of the best beaches in Australia or on their way to one of the many nearby shore tours. Experiences range from food and wine, to adventure, to history and culture, to eco-tourism and take in all that Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and
Cruise Hunter is the local Newcastle based organisation specifically created for the cruise industry. This brochure has been developed to provide you with specific port information to assist with itinerary planning and to offer suggestions for creatively themed shore tours that capture the essence of Newcastle.
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welcom e to ne wcast le
Port Stephens regions have to offer.
australian heritage & culture As Australia’s second oldest city, Newcastle and
sandstone and timber beside the Hunter River,
the Hunter Region is steeped in heritage and
this picturesque village boasts streets filled with
culture with historic architecture, a thriving arts
charming clothing boutiques, antiques, wine
scene and a community proud of its past.
cellars, cafés, gourmet eateries, original pubs
Perched high above Newcastle Harbour is Fort
and galleries.
Scratchley, originally opened in 1882. The Fortress
Maitland Gaol has a vibrant history spanning
and nearby Christ Church Cathedral boast
over 150 years. After housing some of Australia’s
panoramic ocean, coastline, harbour and city
most hardened criminals, the cell doors have
views and are undoubtedly Newcastle’s most
now been swung open, with visitors invited to
spectacular vantage points.
‘serve time’ learning about the facility, past
As Australia’s first commercial port, Newcastle’s
prisoners and daring escapes.
rich maritime history is on display at the Maritime
Passengers can experience the culture and
Centre, located on the Harbour Foreshore.
history of the indigenous Australian Aboriginal
During the 1830s the village of Morpeth was the gateway to inland Australia and one of the busiest trade ports in New South Wales. Built in
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communities, sample bush tucker and join in traditional dance.
Nature & Eco-tourism Newcastle and the Hunter Region have a diverse range of natural attractions from the coast to the valley. Newcastle is a seaside city bordered by a spectacular coastline offering pristine beaches, great surf and family friendly waters. The city has a number of stunning ocean baths including the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and one hand carved into the rock by convicts, providing a truly unique experience. Passengers can visit wildlife sanctuaries, meander walking trails around tranquil ponds or canoe the network of rivers and streams looking out for hundreds of bird species that call Newcastle home. Your passengers will be amazed by native animals in lush parkland overlooking the city centre, or enjoy the unique experience of a close encounter with a koala, possum, emu or kangaroo. A key attraction of the Hunter Region is the awe-inspiring Hunter Valley Gardens. Spanning over 60 acres, passengers will be amazed by the sensational feature gardens. Port Stephens is renowned as the dolphin capital of Australia. Declared a Marine National Park, this water wonderland boasts large pods of dolphins that can be enjoyed by a harbour cruise. Newcastle is an area of natural beauty ranging from pristine waterways, golden sandy beaches and unspoilt national parks just waiting to be explored.
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envi ro nme nt & hi sto ry
sights, colours and fragrances of the 10 stunning
food & Wine The Hunter Region provides an iconic Australian wine and food experience encapsulating fine wine, locally brewed beer, fresh seafood and gourmet delights. The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region and is home to the famous Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz. Passengers have the chance to meet the local winemakers and learn their skills, techniques and the process of winemaking from vineyard to bottle. Adding to the array of wineries, a number of breweries and a distillery are now established within the Hunter Region. Passengers can sample the locally brewed ales, lager, pilsners, alcoholic ginger beer and the grape-based ‘Moonshine’ to truly enjoy the tastes of the region. The Hunter Region is also famous for its locally produced gourmet cuisine. Specialties include some of Australia’s best olives, cheeses, sauces, fudge, chocolates and Newcastle’s pristine waters provide some of the best seafood in Australia. Ranging from café to a fine dining experience, passengers can sample the gourmet cuisine that the Hunter Valley and Newcastle has to offer.
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adventure Newcastle has a range of adventure activities
40 metres in height. Passengers can take a
sure to suit all your passengers’ desires.
relaxed 4WD tour of the area or experience the exhilaration of sandboarding down the dunes.
exceptional beaches for the experienced or
The water haven of Port Stephens offers a
novice surfer alike.
range of activities for the adventure lover, from
Designated cycle and walking paths allow
dolphin cruises to kayaking or parasailing.
passengers to explore the city, discover sandy
The Hunter Region offers a variety of outstanding
beaches, travel around the harbour or through
championship golf courses. Passengers can
unspoilt nature reserves.
challenge themselves on courses ranging from
The unique Stockton Sand Dunes are a 32 kilometre sand mass with dunes up to
coastal surrounds, such as Pacific Dunes, to those set around stunning vineyards.
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food, w i ne & adv ent ure
Renowned for its surf, Newcastle offers
port information The Port of Newcastle is a world class
Located on the east coast of Australia,
port, equipped with a range of quality
Newcastle has an oceanic/humid subtropical
shipping services.
climate. Summers tend to be warm with temperatures averaging about 28°C (83° F).
Port Information Official Port Name
Port of Newcastle
Climate Data
Newcastle
Location
Latitude: 32°55’S Longitude: 151°46’E
Average Annual Rainfall
945mm
Time Zone
GMT+10
Web
www.newportcorp.com.au
Average Daily Hours of Sunshine
6.3hrs
Temperature – January Average
19.7°C – 28.5°C
Temperature – July Average
7.7°C – 17.1°C
Average Wind Speed
10.5km/hr
Newcastle has all the facilities and services required by passengers when visiting shore including visitor information, a range of transport providers, currency exchange, cash machines, internet access, medical services, post office and much more.
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Cruise ships visiting the Port of Newcastle generally berth at Dyke Point at one of two available wharves. The map identifies the location of these wharves. Berth Information Berths for cruise ships
Channel Berth (1) Dyke Point (2)
Maximum ship dimensions
300 metres LOA (984 feet)
Beam
50 metres (164 feet)
Depth of harbour
15.2 metres (50 feet)
Tidal range
Up to 2.0 metres
Nominal depth of largest cruise berth
12.8 metres (42 feet)
Air draught
No limits
Tugboat requirements
Yes, compulsory
Pilot
Yes, compulsory
Security facilities
Fully compliant ISPS
Gangway
Ship gangway
Fresh water
Available
Nearby Ports to Newcastle are: 0071nm @ 20kts 00day 03hr 33min
Brisbane (north)
0468nm @ 20kts 00day 23hr 24min
Melbourne (south)
0658nm @ 20kts 01day 08hr 54min
Nearest major over- 1245nm @ 20kts seas Port – Auckland 02day 14hr 15min
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port i nformatio n
Nearest Australian Port – Sydney
cruise hunter Cruise Hunter is the local organisation
Working collaboratively with all stakeholders,
developing and promoting Newcastle as
Cruise Hunter aims to deliver a high level of
a new and exciting destination for international
service to passengers of visiting cruise ships.
cruise ships. This entity is managed under the direction of Newcastle Port Corporation and is responsible for implementing the local cruise strategy.
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Cruise Hunter works with land agents and local attractions to provide unique and exclusive shore tours that create the ultimate experience for your visiting cruise passengers.
Newcastle provides a meet and greet service
Through this integrated approach, Cruise
for all visiting cruise ships which ensures a
Hunter aims for Newcastle to be a memorable
warm local welcome to all passengers and
port visit for cruise passengers and a highlight
crew. Entertainment and markets are often
of their cruise experience.
organised for cruise ship visits to enhance the passenger experience in Newcastle.
c r ui se hunte r
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Cruise Hunter +61 2 4985 8223 info@cruisehunter.com.au www.cruisehunter.com.au