Car Hire Williamtown Airport

Newcastle Airport serves as a gateway for exploring what this region and great city has to offer, from the world-famous Hunter Valley wine region, to the dreamy coastal towns of New South Wales, and the stunning national parks that lie inland.

Newcastle, affectionately known as “Newie”, is Australia’s second oldest city and only a two hour drive from Sydney. Like Sydney, Newcastle is surrounded by a harbour and glorious beaches – but with a population of just under 300,000, it feels intimate and is perfect for a long weekend or romantic getaway.

Picking up a rental car from Newcastle Airport allows you to explore the region at your own pace. When you arrive in Newcastle, you’ll discover a city that punches well above its weight, with superb surf beaches, historical architecture, and a sunny climate. And all this lives alongside fine dining establishments, cool bars, quirky boutiques, and a diverse arts scene with a laid-back attitude that makes Newcastle what it is.

Explore the beaches and the wilds

Some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on Newcastle’s coastline, as well Australia’s first man-made ocean pool, the Bogey Hole. Bar Beach is popular with surfers, while Merewether Beach has a fantastic ocean bath, as well as a separate children's pool.

Jump in your rental car and drive about 10km southwest of the city where you’ll find a large nature reserve, known as Blackbutt Reserve. Blackbutt has four valleys where rainforest, creeks, lakes, ponds and walking trails can all be found, along with native wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats and emus.

The ANZAC memorial walk

Grab a coffee in one of Newcastle’s many speciality coffee shops and begin your morning with a stroll on the ANZAC memorial walk. The walkway was built to remember the Australian and New Zealand forces who fought in the First World War and takes in some breathtaking scenery along Newcastle’s stunning coastline, linking Strzelecki Lookout to Bar Beach.

The walk features a 160 metre cliff top bridge festooned with steel silhouettes of soldiers and inscribed with the names of almost 11,000 men and women from the area who enlisted during the war. It’s a must do when visiting the area.

Head for Hunter Valley

The heart of the Hunter Valley wine region is less than an hour’s drive from Newcastle Airport. There are more cellar doors here than anywhere else in Australia. Many have restaurants, while others host concerts and other events. It’s worth checking in advance to see what’s on to get the most out of your trip.

Just under an hour’s drive from Hunter Valley is Port Stephens, famous for its 26 golden beaches, vast bay with sheltered coves, ocean surf beaches and snorkelling. The gourmet dining scene here is magnificent and showcases all the best of the region’s local produce, including award-winning wines and craft beers.

A little further up the coast, and just over an hour’s drive from Newcastle Airport, is the Great Lakes region. Here you can explore charming seaside towns such as Hawks Nest and Pacific Palms. The nearby crystal-clear waters of Lakes Myall, Smiths and Wallis are other must-see destinations around the area.

Whether you’re visiting Newcastle for business or pleasure, a Hertz rental car from Newcastle Airport will unlock all the possibilities this fascinating region has to offer..