If you’re thinking of buying a home in Newcastle, you’re not alone in wanting to be close to a beach.

Newy’s stunning coastline is the envy of the world. We’ve got world class surf spots, ocean baths and sandy beaches as far as the eye can see – and they’re all a lot quieter than the ones in Sydney.

If you want a property in a beachside suburb, you’ve got five options, plus a few extra areas if you don’t mind being a few streets back.

Newcastle’s suburbs with direct beach access

If you want to stumble out of bed onto the sand, look at properties in these suburbs:

• Bar Beach
• Merewether
• Newcastle
• Newcastle East
• Stockton

Bar Beach

One of the easiest beaches to get to in Newcastle, Bar Beach has a large car park that fills up more slowly than others in town. From there, you have the option of heading to the sand, grabbing something to eat from the kiosk or going to the Memorial Walk. This walk honours fallen ANZAC soldiers and offers incredible views over the water, perfect in whale watching season.

This suburb is also home to the Susan Gilmore Beach. Depending on the tide, it can be a bit of a scramble to get there, but its rockpools are a great place to take kids to look for critters. Just be warned that this was a nudist beach in years gone by and although most visitors have swimmers on these days, some stick to the old rituals.

Merewether

Merewether is possibly the most sought after area of Newcastle. Prices are on the higher end of the scale, but that’s the cost of entry to having one of the nicest beaches on your doorstep. Whether you’re building sandcastles, surfing with dolphins, swimming in the ocean baths or having a coffee at sunrise, you’re in the right place.

Residents of Merewether also have access to Dixon Park Beach and, after a short hike, Glenrock Beach.

Newcastle

The heart of Newcastle has a jauntily drawn border that covers the CBD, wraps around Newcastle East and crosses the water over to Stockton.

As well as Newcastle Beach, a home in Newcastle has easy access to Nobbys Head, the breakwall, the dog-friendly Horseshoe Beach and the one-of-a-kind Bogey Hole.

Newcastle East

Not to be outdone by Newcastle itself, a property in Newcastle East gives you direct access to three beaches: the Cowrie Hole, Newcastle and Nobbys.

The Cowrie Hole is the smallest of the three and it’s visited almost exclusively by surfers. It’s flanked by the other two. Newcastle and Nobbys are two of the most popular beaches in the city, each with toilets, changing rooms and an onsite kiosk. Newcastle Beach is also home to the recently renovated Newcastle Ocean Baths and the kid-friendly Canoe Pool.

Stockton

A bit of an outlier, Stockton (and Stockton Beach) are separated from Newcastle’s other beaches by the river.

As it’s slightly isolated (you can get a ferry to Newcastle or drive the long way round), it has a very strong community of local residents who say hello to each other in the street and really get to know each other.

Newcastle’s suburbs close to beaches

Most of Newcastle is within 15 minutes of a beach, but there are a few that are a short walk, cycle or tram ride away. These are generally a bit cheaper than the oceanfront homes, but often have better facilities:

• Cooks Hill
• The Hill
• The Junction
• Newcastle West
• Merewether Heights
• Wickham

Cooks Hill

Home to Darby Street, Newcastle’s top region for cafes and boutique shopping, Cooks Hill is just a few streets back from Bar Beach.

The Hill

Found behind Cooks Hill, The Hill backs onto the water but juts between a couple of beaches: Susan Gilmore and Newcastle Beach.

The Junction

Bordering the Bar Beach and Merewether suburbs, The Junction is an easy walk from the ocean. The Junction itself is home to a a small shopping centre and the city’s best doughnut shop.

Newcastle West

An extension of Newcastle itself, Newcastle West is on the tram route along Hunter Street. Hop on and take the light rail to its most easterly point and you’ll be right at Newcastle Beach.

Merewether Heights

Overlooking Merewether, you’ll get incredible ocean views in Merewether Heights but you’ll probably want to drive down to the water.

Wickham

Like Newcastle West, Wickham is home to the Newcastle Interchange. Grab a tram to the far end of the track and you’ll be a tiny walk away from Newcastle Beach.

Buying property near a beach in Newcastle

Beachside suburbs are some of the most desirable in Newy, and also the most expensive. If you’re in a situation where you can get a home loan to cover one of these properties, you’ll have your pick of some of the best houses in Newcastle.