4 Best Hotels in Newcastle, North Coast

This lovely timber cottage with a white-picket fence is the ideal place for a quiet, romantic escape near the beach, a girls' weekend away, or a safe and friendly overnight when traveling solo. Brezza Bella is a two-room B&B, complete with manicured gardens, barbecue facilities, and a lovely courtyard, just a few blocks from Merewether Beach and the ocean baths. Both the Tuscan Room and the Oriental Room have king beds, LCD TV and DVD player, complimentary Wi-Fi, private bath with rain shower, bathrobes, and luxurious toiletries. There's an outdoor hot-cold shower to wash off the salt and sand after a day at the beach, while the courtyard is perfect for predinner drinks (or morning coffee and newspapers) before heading out to Merewether or downtown Newcastle. A hearty continental breakfast is served in the dining room, or you can have a breakfast basket delivered to your room.

Set about a kilometer from Newcastle's downtown, the Ibis is a value-priced chain hotel with parking and a restaurant. Queen rooms also have a rollaway trundle bed (there are also rooms with twin beds). All units have LCD TV, broadband, and tea and coffee facilities. At the western end of the Honeysuckle precinct, the hotel is convenient for leisurely strolls along the waterfront esplanade.

Just a few minutes' walk from the east end of the beach, Novotel has sweeping views of the ocean and of the city. The rooms are spacious, with large lounge areas, which make up for the lack of balcony, and come with free Wi-Fi. There’s an on-site restaurant that gets buzzy in the summer months, offering cocktails and share plates. Join the locals and get up at dawn, grab a coffee downstairs, and hit the coastal path, a perfect way to start the day and work up some hunger before an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast.

Newcastle's most upscale hotel, the Rydges Newcastle, formerly known as the Crowne Plaza, is in the trendy Honeysuckle Precinct and has the best location of any hotel in town. The hotel opens onto the wharf-side esplanade—a pedestrian and bike path that hugs the harbor for a couple miles and is lined with smart apartments and stylish restaurants and cafés. Most of the hotel's one-bedroom suites overlook the harbor; others face the city center. There's a pool and fitness center, and some rate packages include breakfast and evening snacks and drinks. The hotel's Seasalt Restaurant receives mixed reviews but does have some good lunch deals that include a glass of wine. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants close by.