One of the things we love most at Newy Food Adventures is welcoming guests who travel to discover Newcastle through its incredible local food scene. Just two and a half hours from Sydney by train, Newcastle is one of New South Wales' easiest and most rewarding day-trip destinations.

Leave the car behind, relax on the journey north, and arrive ready to explore vibrant neighbourhoods, meet the passionate local makers behind some of Newcastle's best food, and see the city a little differently by the time you head home with tours starting just a short stroll from Newcastle Interchange.

Recently, one of our guests did just that. Rhonda hopped aboard an early morning service from Sydney and spent the day exploring the hidden gems of Wickham and Carrington on our Explore Throsby food tour.

Here's her story, in her own words.

DAY TRIP TO NEWY

I love an adventure! Sydney based, I’m always on the lookout for a fun Day Trip. Bonus points if there’s delicious food and good company. 

Newy Food Adventures was all that, and more!

I had a couple of days in Newcastle in April for the Newcastle Food Month. Lots to see and savour, but some events had Sold Out, so I missed out on the Newy Food Adventure. Thrilled when new dates were released for weekends throughout the year. 

A walking Food Tour … perfect for a Day Trip. 

For a relaxed and stress-free day I decided to head north on the train. The train to Central Coast & Newcastle Interchange (CCN) leaves from Central. I joined at Strathfield Station around 7.30am to arrive Newcastle just before 10am. You can also join at Epping or Hornsby. 

The new Mariyung fleet of trains are comfortable and feature high back seats with tray tables and charging ports. Toilets also available. Simply Tap On with your OPAL card and settle in to watch the changing landscape over the next 150 minutes. 

Two tours are offered. I booked ‘Explore Throsby: Wickham and Carrington’. The meeting point was about a 10-minute walk from Newcastle Interchange. A nice stretch for my legs after the train trip. About a dozen guests gathered and were met by our lovely tour guide, Jess. Everyone seemed excited for what was ahead, and a shared interest in food made for easy chatting. 

Over the next few hours, we walked about 2.5kms … with stops at 5 venues as well as hearing a little local history to understand the context of life in this pocket of Newcastle. 

Wonderful to meet the makers and hear their passion for creating delicious products, using locally sourced produce. At each stop we all took a seat and enjoyed very generous serves of the host’s own particular versions of Deliciousness! Our guide, Jess, had said ‘come hungry’ and she was right. I was surprised how much we were served at each venue. 

I’ve been to the Newcastle area many times, but these are places that I wouldn’t have found without a local showing me. Like the small place that’s in an old industrial space, serving Affogato using home-churned gelato and coffee roasted at their sister shop. Served with smiles and warm hospitality. 

When I booked, Jess let me know the Starting and Finishing spots for that tour, so I’d looked at bus or Uber as options to get back to Newcastle Interchange. 

The Tours go ahead rain or shine. The walk was easy and relaxed. On the day I went, a young mum navigated the tour with a pram … so just the odd step to navigate. Suitable for all ages. 

As a solo guest I really enjoyed the casual chatting with the other people on the tour as we walked between venues. And once we arrived, we basically filed in and simply took the next seat. Eating together like that was fun and informal so nobody seemed like a stranger.

On my journey home it was great to look at my photos and realise how much had been packed into the day. 

And yes, I’m already organising some friends to join me for a Day Trip when I head back to experience another delicious part of Throsby with Jess, on another Newy Food Adventure. 

Written and photographed by Rhonda Fraser @thebrunchexplorer

You'd think summer is when Newcastle's coastline shows off the most. Fair enough, it's amazing. But don't overlook winter.

I'm a sucker for a sunrise at the beach, and winter mornings are a real treat! Crisp air, ridiculously blue skies, hardly anyone around and, if you're brave enough, an invigorating swim before your morning coffee.

I honestly think Newcastle has one of the most underrated coastlines in Australia. Six incredible beaches, iconic ocean baths, dramatic cliffs and headlands and during winter, you've got humpback whales cruising past offshore.

Between June and November, around 40,000 to 45,000 humpback whales travel past Newcastle and Port Stephens on their annual migration. Recently I jumped on the Coast XP Whale Encounter, and seeing the coastline from the water reminded me just how lucky we are to have this right on our doorstep.

And the whales? Pure magic. It doesn't matter how many times you see them it's impossible not to be completely in awe.

And here's a pretty perfect winter combo: a 9am Coast XP Whale Encounter followed by a Newy Food Adventures food tour at 11am. The boat docks right out the front of our tour meeting point, so after a morning on the water watching whales, you can step straight into an afternoon of local food, stories and good company.

That's exactly why I started Newy Food Adventures. For me, the best way to connect to a place is through its food and the people behind it. Newcastle has such a great food scene, with so many passionate locals creating amazing things. Our winter tours are the perfect way to discover those stories, meet the makers and enjoy plenty of delicious food along the way without battling the scorching heat.

I know winter can make it tempting to stay indoors, but Newcastle winters are pretty underrated. Sunny mild days, incredible surf, quieter beaches, migrating whales and coastal walks without the summer crowds. The social calendar usually slows down a little too, which means it's the perfect excuse to rug up, rally the friends and get out and explore your own backyard. Or add Newcastle to the list as a perfect winter getaway!

Written by Jess- Founder, Newy Food Adventures

If you're visiting Newcastle on a weekend, this is one of my favourite ways to spend a morning. Grab your produce for the week, have breakfast in the sun, and get a proper feel for our local food scene, all before midday.

The Newcastle City Farmers Markets run every Sunday, 7am–1pm, at the Newcastle Showground in Broadmeadow, rain or shine.

You don't just get to meet the maker and the farmer, you can ask them how and where something's grown or made, and how best to store or use it.

Here's how I do it.

Get there early(ish)

You don't need to be first through the gate, but the earlier you go, the better the pick, especially for the fruit and veg stalls. Bring a tote bag or your trolley, bring cash if you can, and bring an appetite. This is a "graze as you go" kind of morning.

What I always come home with

Regal NZ Salmon- Beautiful quality, and it makes weeknight dinners so much easier when you've already got good salmon sitting in the fridge.

Allynview Farm- for regenerative, grass-fed beef. I actually get a subscription box from them, so this is always one of my first stops.

Bulga Oranges - honestly, the best orange juice I've ever tasted. Freshly squeezed, ridiculously good, and always a stop at some point.

Zaytoona - Middle Eastern flavours done really well. Their falafels are a must.

Julie's Fresh Fruit and Vegetables - my go-to for the week's produce. Good quality, good prices, and exactly the kind of stall that makes market shopping worth it over a supermarket run.

Breakfast, sorted

Once the shopping's done, this is where the morning turns into a proper Sunday. I'll usually grab some breakfast, so many great food trucks to pick from. I'll always get a risotto ball, The vegetarian momos and Red Belly Gourmet does a delish bacon and egg roll if you're after something more classic. Finish it off with a coffee from Josie Coffee.

Find yourself a picnic table in the sun, settle in with the live music, and just enjoy it.

Why I love it

This is such an easy, relaxed way to see Newcastle through its local produce and the people growing and making it. You leave with a fridge full of good food, a full stomach and feeling like doing the groceries wasn't that dreaded Sunday chore.

Written by Jess- Founder, Newy Food Adventures