If your trip to Newcastle is all locked in but your travel itinerary is a bit on the empty side, we can give you a few hints and tips.Stop by Newcastle Beach. It’s one attraction you’ll usually find on many travelers’ must-do lists. Nobbys Head Beach and Merewether Beach are also close by and worth a pit stop.

With some great road trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes sense. Without one, it’d be much more difficult to explore everything that Pokolbin, 30 miles away, has to offer. Among your first stops here ought to be Hunter Valley Gardens, Hope Estate and Roche Estate. Situated 35 miles away, Hawks Nest is another place to aim for. If you drop by, make sure you check out Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Bridge, Jimmys Beach and Winda Woppa Reserve.

Fill the tank, put your seat belt on and get ready to feel the salty air on your skin. Newcastle boasts some gorgeous stretches of coast, such as:

• Dudley Beach (4 miles away).
• Blacksmiths Beach (10 miles away).
• Catherine Hill Beach (18 miles away).

Newcastle has lots on offer. You could chill out for a while here and barely scratch the surface. If you’d like to experience as much as you can in this bustling metropolis, a rental car is a must. Bear in mind that driving in big cities usually goes hand in hand with tight streets and even tighter parking spaces. Don’t worry though, because a compact or mini car will make this a lot easier to manage. If you’re going to venture out of the city and explore some of the bays that Newcastle is known for, you may prefer a car with more power and room to move. A full-size or mid-size SUV will suit your needs.

There’s loads of choice when it comes to renting a car in Newcastle. From luxury models to zippy little compacts that make parking a breeze, you’ll find it all here. Choosing your ride depends on how much you want to spend and what activities you plan on doing. Some road trips are just begging you to splurge on your dream ride, whereas other adventures require no more than an engine and four wheels. Which car will you be sliding behind the wheel of this time?

The left-hand side of the road is where you’ll be motoring along in Newcastle. Take note that the controls of your rental car here, like the steering wheel and stick shift (if your car has manual transmission), will be on the opposite side of what you’re used to.

Finding a parking spot in Newcastle is a cinch. You won’t need to circle the block in dense traffic here — and that’s what the locals love about it. There’s plenty of on and off-street parking on offer.

As the population of Newcastle is approximately 308,300, you won’t experience too much trouble with traffic congestion. However, city center streets usually get busy before and after work hours, so you may want to avoid driving during these times.

While navigating through the streets of Newcastle, keep in mind that the speed limits range from 40km/h to 100km/h. Residential areas are 50km/h unless otherwise signed.

Provided you have hands-free functions like Bluetooth enabled, you are allowed to use your cell phone while cruising in your car around Newcastle. But make sure you keep concentrating on the road.

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit when driving in Newcastle is 0.05%. If you’re planning a big night out, leave the car behind and organize another way of getting home instead.

Turning on a red light isn’t allowed in Newcastle. Be on the lookout for traffic signs and lights to make sure you don’t break any traffic laws.

Seat belts must be worn in Lake Macquarie City Council. Having said that, the rule may vary for certain vehicles, such as those used by public transportation networks.