Best Beaches in Newcastle: Merewether, Nobby's and the Coast Walk

Newcastle has one of the strongest beach lineups of any Australian city, with a chain of surf beaches stretching from Nobby's Beach at the river mouth south through Newcastle Beach, Bar Beach and on to the expansive Merewether Beach, the city's largest. A coastal walk connecting these beaches is a popular morning route, passing the historic Baths at Newcastle Beach (an ocean pool) and Merewether Ocean Baths, one of the largest in the southern hemisphere. Surf lifesaving clubs patrol most beaches in season, and flags mark the recommended swimming zones. The walk from Nobby's Headland to Merewether and back takes about two to three hours at a leisurely pace.