Perth to Newcastle road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

Dunedoo to Merriwa

Beyond Dunedoo, the Golden Highway passes through more-or-less uninhabited stretches of New South Wales. Uarbry and Cassilis are tiny, with nothing to detain visitors.

However, before you reach Merriwa, there’s the turn off for the western section of Goulburn River National Park. If just dipping in, the Lees Pinch Lookout Walking Track is the best bet. The track is about 1km long, and there are expansive views of the national park from the top.

Perth to Newcastle drive: Merriwa to Branxton

Merriwa, once you arrive, has a few places to stay. There’s also more silo art to admire, and the Merriwa Tourist Welcoming Centre. This is essentially the obligatory regional history museum, but locally-made arts and crafts are also showcased here.

Beyond Merriwa, there are plenty of farms and horse studs, but Denman on the Hunter River is the first town. There are a couple of hotels, a pub, an RSL club and bowling club here.

The Golden Highway then largely follows the Hunter River towards Jerrys Plains, Warkworth and Mount Thorley before you reach the Australian Army Infantry Museum just south of Singleton.

Shortly afterwards, it merges into the New England Highway.

Then Belford National Park comes 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.

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.

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

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

The best way to enjoy Newcastle’s beaches is the 6km Bathers Way walk from Nobbys Beach to the Merewether Ocean Baths. This goes past Newcastle Beach and Bar Beach along the way, and you can tackle the short but visually impressive Newcastle Memorial Walk too.

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