Planning a trip to Newcastle for Newcastle Food Month 2026? Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your stay, from the city’s culinary hotspots to the best ways to navigate a month packed with Plate Dates, Feature Events, and Signature experiences.
WELCOME TO NEWCASTLE
THE GATEWAY TO GOOD FOOD
Flying into Newcastle? Your foodie weekend starts the moment you touch down. Just 25 minutes from the city centre, the airport is the perfect springboard for everything Newcastle Food Month has on offer.
Domestic travellers can choose from direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, and more. Plus, international options are now on the menu too, with Bali flights live and Singapore via Bali launching 29 March 2026, meaning even more food lovers can touch down hungry and ready.
With airlines like Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia, you’ll be at your first Plate Date before you’ve even unpacked. Book early, eat well, and let Newcastle show you why it’s a destination for serious food lovers. From Newcastle Airport, it’s just a quick 20-minute journey into the city. Whether you’re catching a taxi, hopping on a bus, or picking up a hire car, you’re moments away from diving into a culinary adventure that will make you want to stay a little longer.
GETTING HERE
For state travel, check out Transport NSW to plan your trip. Trains are a low-cost, stress-free way to get to Newcastle and get straight into the deliciousness. Getting to the Festival has never been easier.
EAT WELL, SLEEP WELL
The only thing better than waking up in Newcastle? Waking up to great food. From the luxe comfort of Crystalbrook Kingsley—our 5-star Official Hotel Partner—to boutique stays that balance style and charm at every budget, there’s a place to rest your head after a day of eating, drinking, and soaking up the city’s energy.
Foodie Sleepover: 15% off your daily rate plus a lineup of delicious perks to make your stay extra tasty.
Prefer to go your own way? Enjoy 10% off stays all month with code NFM10.
WHAT TO DO IN NEWCASTLE
Newcastle isn’t just about the food (though that’s a very good start). Beaches, coastal walks, and a working harbour make it a city built to explore. Want a new perspective? Coast XP takes you out on the water for a view like no other.
When hunger hits, Newcastle delivers. Casual cafés, refined restaurants, and everything in between. Every meal is a reason to stay a little longer. And with the city buzzing around you, it’s easy to see why people leave planning their return.
PRECINCTS
Newcastle East, Midtown, and Our Throsby are more than just neighbourhoods; they’re your passport to a food crawl worth planning. Each precinct is spotlighting the restaurants, bars, and hidden gems that make it unique, turning casual meals into Plate Dates you’ll want to book ahead. Locals and visitors alike can wander from coffee to cocktails, from small bites to full feasts, discovering the city one clever pairing at a time.
NEWCASTLE EAST
Newcastle East is ready for its moment. This precinct isn’t just a place to eat and drink, it’s a destination, with a bold, collaborative identity that pulls locals and visitors alike into its rhythm. Think vibrant bars, hidden dining gems, and cultural beats that make the East End perfect for a night out, a long lunch, or a full-on foodie crawl.
MIDTOWN
Midtown is Newcastle’s after-dark heartbeat: gritty and unconventional, welcoming yet unmistakably local, and with an energy shaped by decades of late-night stories. This is not a new scene, it’s one being rediscovered and reimagined with a modern edge.
OUR THROSBY
Discover the heart of Newcastle through Our Throsby, where five vibrant villages are linked by the sparkling Throsby Creek. From lively markets and live music to hidden eateries and curated experiences, this is your insider guide to the precincts, the people, and the little moments that make Our Throsby unforgettable.
The Foodie Sleepover at Crystalbrook Kingsley in April
Foodies, pack your bags and bring your stretchy pants, your gourmet escape awaits. Newcastle Food Month arrives this April with a feast of food events for every taste. The Foodie Sleepover at Crystalbrook Kingsley is an escape for the deliciously daring and culinary curious.
Book the Foodie Sleepover package and enjoy 15% off the best available rate, a lineup of thoughtful inclusions, and the freedom to build your own personalised foodie itinerary. From long lunches and indulgent high teas to late nights and lazy breakfasts, this is your invitation to curate the ultimate foodie vaycay.
Your package includes:
- 15% of our best available rate on overnight accommodation for two people
- Two Earp Distilling Co x Crystalbrook Kingsley cocktails on arrival
- A First Creek Cellar Door in the City wine tasting experience for two
- A gourmet cheese plate featuring the best local cheeses and accompaniments. Enjoy in room, or take a picnic to one of our favourite picnic spots.
- A bottle of First Creek wine
From here, you choose your own foodie adventure and can add a degustation, indulgent High Tea, buffet breakfast or rooftop cocktails (or stay a few days and do the lot!)
The Foodie Sleepover is available this April at Crystalbrook Kingsley from $329 per night.
GETTING AROUND NEWCASTLE
Getting to the CBD
- Frequent bus routes 11, 13 and 14 travel into the CBD.
- Bus routes 12, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 47 travel to Marketown – use these routes to connect with the light rail at Newcastle Interchange or Honeysuckle Light Rail stop to get into the CBD or connect with the ferry at Queens Wharf.
- Routes 11, 12, 13 and 14 have Newcastle covered with frequent services every 15 minutes during weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends, between 7am and 7pm.
Getting to Charlestown Square
- Frequent bus routes 10 and 14 travel between Newcastle CBD and Charlestown Square, with frequent route 11 travelling to Charlestown Square from Wallsend.
How to pay
- You can use your credit, debit card, linked device or Opal card to tap on and tap off Newcastle Transport. There are great fare and travel benefits when you travel often or between modes.
Find out more
- For more information about exploring Newcastle and Lake Macquarie by bus, light rail and ferry, visit https://newcastletransport.
info/explore-newcastle/
Plan your adventure at http://newcastletransport.info