The city of Newcastle ("Newie" to the locals), just a two-hour drive north of Sydney and a 40-minute drive from the Hunter Valley wine region, is growing in popularity as a less expensive place to live than Sydney. It is the second-largest city in New South Wales with a population of about 322,000 residents.
Newcastle started as a port city and it still is, with coal being the most important export. The former dockside areas have been rejuvenated for inner city living. These areas are close to beaches such as Nobbys, Newcastle, Bar and Merewether, and have received an injection of life with new bars, restaurants and boutiques. These are some of the best beaches in New South Wales.
There are mountainous regions and national parks within a few hours' drive of the city with Barrington Tops National Park recording snowfalls on a few days each winter. Unusual Antarctic beech forest survives on Barrington and Gloucester Tops.
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