Muswellbrook to Newcastle drive: Distance, time & stops

The Muswellbrook to Newcastle drive covers a 126km distance in a driving time of around 1h36m. The Hunter Valley wine region is the best road trip stop along the way.

The drive from Muswellbrook to Newcastle crosses a large swathe of the Hunter region of New South Wales. For many visitors, it is likely to form part of a longer road trip, such as from Tamworth to Newcastle or Moree to Sydney.

Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises. For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here. To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, book here.

Muswellbrook to Newcastle distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Muswellbrook to Newcastle is 126km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 36 minutes.

9 cool Newcastle experiences you need to book in advance

An Adventure boat cruise along the Hunter coast – with thrills and scenery.
A mobile phone-based scavenger hunt – explore the city differently.
An architecture and street art walking tour – see all the best murals.
A whale-watching tour – get close to the migrating humpback whales.
A two hour city highlights tour by bus – get orientated when you first arrive.
A scenic helicopter flight – see the spectacular coastline from above.
A three hour craft beer and food-matching tour – get a taste of the drinking and dining scene.
A food, drink and history walking tour – hear stories and indulge at the same time.

Once you’ve taken your cheesy tourist photo of the Blue Heeler Dog Statue in Muswellbrook, it’s time to head south-east along the New England Highway.

Muswellbrook to Newcastle drive: Lake Liddell and Singleton

The first potential road trip stop on the Muswellbrook to Newcastle drive would be Lake Liddell. Alas, at the time of writing it is closed for recreational use due to the presence of an amoeba that can cause rare but fatal brain infections.

Best, in that case, to keep going towards Singleton, where you can admire the Singleton Sundial and get a local history fix at the Singleton Historical Society and Museum.

Muswellbrook to Newcastle road trip: Hunter Valley wine region

The pickings on the Muswellbrook to Newcastle road trip get slightly less slim beyond Singleton. Skydive Hunter Valley, offering tandem skydives from 15,000 feet is just off the New England Highway in Whittingham.

Then Belford National Park is just before you reach Branxton. Alas, this is not a national park with visitor facilities – it is set up primarily for conservation and regeneration. You can walk around the perimeter fire trails if you really must, however.

Branxton, though, is one of the gateways to the Hunter Valley wine region. The smart move here is to duck south towards the wineries.

Attractions on the edge of Newcastle

Should you keep going towards Newcastle, however, the drive leaves the New England Highway and joins the Hunter Expressway (aka the M15). There’s not much to see near the motorway, although the Heddon Greta Drive In might interest those who like their movies the old-fashioned way.

On the outskirts of Newcastle, you may wish to branch off to the Mt Sugarloaf Lookout or Treetops Adventure Newcastle in the Blue Gum Hills.

Good things to do in Newcastle include admiring wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve, whale-watching tours, swimming at Merewether Baths and enjoying the city’s museums.

Newcastle also has coastal boat tours, street art walks and evening true crime tours.

Newcastle accommodation favourites include the lavish Crystalbrook Kingsley, the peppy QT Newcastle and the heritage-drenched Grand Hotel.