Best way to travel from Sydney to Newcastle
Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and is one of the biggest cities located on the east coast of Australia followed by Newcastle, known as the second most populated area in New South Wales.
Newcastle is one of the closest main cities you can explore outside of Sydney but still remain in the same state.Newcastle is famous for its beautiful beaches, Hunter Valley wine region, harbourside restaurants and bars, outdoor lifestyle and whale watching.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the best way to from Sydney to Newcastle.
How do you get from Sydney to Newcastle?
The most common ways of getting to Newcastle from Sydney or from Newcastle to Sydney is by train, road or by flight.
You can also hire a private driver from Sydney to Newcastle. Hiring a personal driver with a car will give you the flexibility to create your own itinerary and you can travel comfortably at your own pace.
How far is Sydney to Newcastle?
The distance from Sydney to Newcastle is around 160kms. Depending on your way of transport the commute duration varies upon how you choose to travel.
What is the cheapest way to travel from Sydney to Newcastle?
For solo travellers, the cheapest way to travel would be by train. However, if you are travelling in a group you may want to look to hire a private driver in Sydney.
One way by train will cost around $19, whereas return tickets will cost around $38 per person. If you are travelling in a group of 4 people, then you will pay close to $150 just to travel from Central Station to Newcastle train station and not to mention other travelling expenses on getting to the station and the time that will take to reach.
So if you are planning to explore Newcastle while making your own way around it will cost you extra for taxi or ride-sharing services.
However, if you hire a private driver in Sydney for a day then it may only cost around $300 for the day. You can travel to Newcastle, explore Newcastle and stop at different places along the way hence giving you the flexibility and comfort that we all require when travelling.
How long does it take from Sydney to Newcastle?
Depending on your way of transport the overall travelling time varies. The train will take about 2 and a half to 3 hours whereas, by road, it should roughly take around 1 and a half to 2 hours and 45 minutes by flight.
What is the fastest way to get from Sydney to Newcastle?
The quickest way of getting to Newcastle is by plane which takes around 45 minutes. However, you need to consider the time it will take to reach the airport and on top of that, the time it will take to check-in luggage etc.
Depending on where you are located in Sydney, it may be faster to drive from Sydney to Newcastle rather than taking a flight. You can also consider hiring a private driver to save time as well as having that flexibility if you want to stop in between to see other places along the way.
Sydney to Newcastle by road:
How long does it take to get from Sydney to Newcastle by car?
The distance between Sydney to Newcastle is around 160km and it will take around 2 hours 15mins by car but that will also depend on where in Sydney you are coming from.
What are the options to go from Sydney to Newcastle on the road?
Hire a private driver with a car:
This is the best option to travel from Sydney to Newcastle. You will be able to travel to Newcastle at your own time and at your own pace. If you travelling in a group then costs can be shared between passengers which will allow you to save time and expenses when hiring your own car with a driver.
You may want to stop at different places on the way to Newcastle as there are a few places worth exploring. The Central Coast is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches and National Parks in New South Wales with scenic bushwalking and hiking trails as well as known for its lakes and recreational outdoor activities.
Hire a car:
You can hire your own car and drive yourself if you feel comfortable driving. However, if you are not comfortable then you should not drive as some of the roads are quite windy which are indicated by high wind signs along the way and especially if you are not familiar and comfortable driving in new places.
Bus:
You can take a bus from Sydney to Newcastle. One of the best bus services to use is Greyhound. You can catch the bus from the bus terminal at Central Station, expect the commute to take around 3 hours to Newcastle.
Reptile Park – Spot the iconic dinosaur next to the Reptile Park along the way, it can’t be missed! The Australian Reptile Park is located in Somersby on the Central Coast of NSW. It is easily accessible by car and can be seen on the way to the Central Coast, right off the freeway. This is the only park in Australia that is dedicated to reptiles.
Central Coast Beaches – Stop at one of these beautiful beaches on the way. Here you will find the Entrance Beach (don’t miss the pelican feeding show), Umina Beach, Avoca Beach, Terrigal, Ettalong Beach, Pearl Beach and Copacabana Beach.
Glenworth Valley – A popular camping spot located in the Central Coast offering many outdoor activities such as horse riding, quad biking, kayaking, abseiling and mountain biking for a fun-filled day in the Popran National Park.
Caves Beach – Caves Beach is located on the Swansea peninsula near Lake Macquarie. It is known for its caves as well as being a great spot for swimming and exploring the surrounding small caves. The perfect spot for a family day out!
NOTE: The caves can only be accessed during low tides. Newcastle dark stories – If you are in Newcastle at night, you should take a night walking tour in Newcastle that will take you to spooky places which is a lot of fun. You can check out the tour here
Sydney to Newcastle by Train:
You can catch an express train from Sydney to Newcastle which runs every 30 minutes. The train begins its journey from Central station in Sydney. It takes 2 and a half to 3 hours from Sydney to Newcastle.
How much is the train from Sydney to Newcastle?
Click on this handy website to check for ticket prices and to plan your trips. Opal cards are used for travel costs on public transport in New South Wales simply by tapping on and off at entry/exit gates. For those who do not have an Opal card, single or return tickets can be purchased at ticket machines located inside the station.
Where can you find Sydney to Newcastle train timetable?
You can find the train timetable on the transport NSW website or you can download the Train View Lite app onto your phone.
Is there an express train from Sydney to Newcastle?
The quickest way from Sydney to Newcastle on the train is to catch a country/ intercity line. The country line has limited stops which have been even fined tuned recently to shorten the time it takes to travel from Sydney to Newcastle.
Does Sydney to Newcastle trains have toilets?
Yes, most of the trains do have toilets for commuters which are relatively clean however, be sure to use the public toilets before your journey if you are hesitant to use the toilet on the train.
Sydney to Newcastle by plane:
There are several daily flights from Sydney to Newcastle. It will take 45 minutes by flight from Sydney Airport to Newcastle Airport. You can expect to pay around $100 one way for an economy class flight.
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Guide to travel from Sydney to the Blue Mountains
Best things to do in Sydney at night
Conclusion
So here we have it, a summary of the best ways of getting to Newcastle from Sydney.
The drive from Sydney to Newcastle is picturesque with so many places to explore between the two main cities in New South Wales.
As we mentioned above, the best way to travel from Sydney to Newcastle is to hire your very own chauffeur for a private tour so you can explore Newcastle and its surrounding areas as well as giving you that flexibility to stopover and explore the many beautiful places in the Central Coast area on the way to Newcastle.
We hope this article has been helpful and have given you an idea of some of the things to do and see as well as provide some information on the best way of travelling to Newcastle from Sydney.
Also, if you have any questions or would like to share your feedback, please leave a comment below.
Have a safe trip and happy travels!
