🇦🇺 🐋 Whales, Waves & Wildlife: 7 Days of Australian Adventure in Newcastle 🦘🐨 (PRIVATE ROOM)

🙋🏻‍♀️ Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a Creative Writing Coach, writer, and travel lover. This is one of two trips I'll be planning to Newcastle this August, the other one is a co-working/co-creating trip with more free time and some planned activities. I'm also planning trips to Port Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef in September and Byron Bay in October. (Check out my profile for more information about me and my other trips.) 🚨 This is an early bird 🐦 price! Book before May 15th before the price increases by about €169/$196 🚨 What's Included ✅ - 🏠 7 nights in a comfortable beach house walking distance from Bar Beach - 🛌 Private bedroom with a queen bed for each guest - 🧖🏽‍♀️ Welcome self-care kit upon arrival - 🥞 Daily self-serve breakfast with multiple options (eat when it suits you) - ☕️ Freshly brewed coffee from locally roasted beans, juices, water, and fruit available daily - 🍝 Welcome dinner from a local restaurant on the first evening - 🏫 Guided exploration of downtown Newcastle with coffee shop visit - 🐚 Walk along Newcastle Beach - 🐋 2.5-hour Newcastle Whale Watching Cruise + tea, coffee, hot chocolate & biscuits - 🌅 Walk to Merewether Beach with sunset at Merewether Surfhouse - 🎬 Curated Australian film viewing with group discussion - 🚕 Transportation to/from Newcastle Interchange train station - 🚗 Transportation to/from all planned excursions & selected add-on activites - 🧘🏽 Yoga mats available for use throughout your stay - 🧺 Access to fully equipped kitchen, BBQ facilities, washer/dryer, and free WiFi - 🅿️ Free parking (please advise in advance) - 🗒️ Curated trip planning Not Included ❌ - Flights or transport to Newcastle (train from Sydney is approximately 2.5–3 hours; I can assist with booking if needed) - Newcastle Airport transfers (available for additional fee) - Visas, travel insurance, and health insurance (travel insurace provided by JoinMyTrip for German & Austrian residents) - Lunches and dinners (aside from welcome dinner) - Personal expenses - Optional add-on experiences ‼️ Limited to 2 Travelers ‼️ 🧳 This trip is perfect for: - Travelers seeking authentic Australian coastal experiences - Wildlife enthusiasts eager to see whales, dolphins, and native animals - Adventure seekers looking for skydiving, coastal hikes, or sandboarding - Wine lovers curious about the Hunter Valley's celebrated vineyards - Beach lovers who want to explore Australia's stunning east coast - Photographers wanting dramatic seascapes, wildlife, and golden-hour magic - Solo travelers looking for a safe, curated small-group experience - Couples or friends wanting a guided adventure without the planning stress - First-time visitors to Australia wanting a well-rounded introduction to the coast This is an intentionally intimate trip. With only 2 spots available, you'll enjoy a personal, flexible experience with the freedom to customize your adventure. Use this as a chance to make a new friend, or invite someone to join and fill the other spot! ✨ Optional Add-Ons ✨ This trip is designed with flexibility in mind. Choose the experiences that excite you most: - 🍫 Hunter Valley Dessert Wine & Chocolate Tasting — €69/$80 per person Visit the historic Audrey Wilkinson vineyard in the Hunter Valley for an indulgent tasting experience. Enjoy a welcome glass of sparkling wine followed by six dessert-style wine samples paired with handmade chocolates. Learn about the region's 160+ years of winemaking history and take home an etched wine glass and chocolates as a memento. - 🍷 Hunter Valley Vineyard Experience & Luxury Picnic — €90/$105 per person A truly special afternoon at one of Hunter Valley's most scenic vineyards. Begin with a self-guided museum tour, then join an in-house wine expert for a masterclass and premium tasting. Collect your handpicked bottle of wine and individual picnic hamper, then find your perfect spot among 270 acres of vineyard to enjoy a leisurely lunch with stunning views. This experience goes ahead in all weather, with covered deck seating available on rainy days. - 🐬 Port Stephens Full-Day Adventure — €160/$185 per person A full day of coastal discovery with a local expert guide. Hike to the summit of Mount Tomaree (2.2km return) for panoramic views of the coastline, offshore islands, and nature reserves that serve as exclusive nesting grounds for the endangered Gould's petrel. From the summit, take in vistas of Yacaaba Head, Fingal Island, and the stunning beaches below. Next, board a catamaran for a 1.5-hour Dolphin Discovery Cruise through the pristine waters of Port Stephens Bay. Relax in the dry bow-net or hold on tight for an exhilarating ride in the boom-net as you spot resident dolphins playing in the wake. A bar and snacks are available onboard. After the cruise, enjoy fresh fish and chips (or other seafood) at a local favorite (own expense), then stop at the spectacular sand dunes, the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, before heading back to Newcastle. Throughout the day, your guide shares fascinating stories about the area's wildlife, culture, and history. What to bring: Comfortable clothing and footwear, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, camera, and warm layers for winter weather (expect temperatures around 10–17°C / 50–63°F). Note: The Mount Tomaree hike can be moderately challenging. - 🪂 Tandem Skydiving over Newcastle — €242/$280 per person For the thrill-seekers, experience the ultimate adrenaline rush with a tandem skydive from 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) over Newcastle and the Lake Macquarie region. After a complete safety briefing from your experienced tandem dive master, you'll board the aircraft and ascend to altitude. Then, you leap. Freefall at speeds exceeding 200 km/h (130 mph) for one exhilarating minute before your parachute opens and you float gently down, taking in aerial views of the stunning coastline, hinterland, and lakes below. The experience includes a certificate of achievement, Australian Parachuting Levy and Administration Fee, and compulsory Personal Accident Insurance from the Australian Parachute Federation. Video and photo packages are available for €109/$126, payable at the dropzone. Please advise as soon as possible if you'd like to book this experience to ensure availability. Not joining? You're welcome to come along and watch from the ground! Important: If selecting this activity, please check your travel insurance policy to ensure extreme sports are covered. Some policies require a premium package for full coverage in the rare case of emergency transport. Not recommended for pregnant travelers, those with back problems, heart conditions, or serious medical conditions. Moderate physical fitness required. Maximum weight 110kg (242 lbs) on application; surcharge applies for persons 94kg (207 lbs) and over. - 🦘 Oakvale Wildlife Park Day Trip — €39/$45 per person (or €61/$70 with sandboarding) Spend an afternoon at this hands-on wildlife park featuring native Australian animals. Your full-day entry includes: - Bottle feeding of baby farm animals - Educational keeper talks throughout the day (koala, reptile, and cassowary talks) - Tractor-trailer ride - Splash Bay Water Park - Shaded playground areas - Complimentary BBQ facilities Pack a picnic lunch (own expense) or purchase food at the park café. Add sandboarding (€61/$70 total): Experience the thrill of sandboarding down the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere at Anna Bay with an experienced instructor. Please advise at booking if adding sandboarding, as a specific time slot must be reserved. - 🌊 Bathers Way Coastal Walk — Complimentary (optional activity) Join an optional morning walk along Newcastle's famous 6km coastal trail, taking in clifftop views, ocean pools, and stunning beaches. - 🏄🏾‍♀️ Surf Lessons/Sessions — Price TBD August delivers some of the most consistent and powerful swells of the year in Newcastle, Australia, making it an ideal time for intermediate to advanced surfers. Nearby Merewether Beach is suitable for advanced surfers with it's big-wave point break and it's within walking distance or a short ride from the beach house. Let me know if you'd like help arranging surf lessons with local instructors, or board rentals. Note: Pricing listed on here is in Euros and USD, not AUD. Pricing includes transportation to/from activities. 🗓️ Please let me know as soon as possible which activities you'd like to add so I can book them while availability lasts. ✍🏼 Need help planning independent activities, excursions, or day trips? I'm happy to assist with recommendations and logistics. ** Important note: Vegan and vegetarian diets, common allergies, and religious restrictions can be accommodated for our breakfasts and group dinner. Please let me know when you book so that I can do my best to ensure the food is safe for you. If you have limitations I will check into activities that include food to see if there are suitable options for you. **

🏠 Your Newcastle Base: A Beach House Near Bar Beach 🏠 Our home for 7 nights is a comfortable 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom beach house nestled in a peaceful Newcastle neighborhood, just a short walk from Bar Beach. With easy access to the sand, local cafés, and coastal walks, it's the perfect base for a week of Australian adventure. The house offers everything you need for a comfortable stay: - 3 bedrooms — Each guest has their own private room with a queen bed - 2 bathrooms — Shared between guests - Fully equipped kitchen — Prepare meals at your own pace - BBQ facilities — Perfect for Australian-style outdoor cooking - Comfortable living space — Relax with a book, watch TV, or work at the table - Back garden deck — Table and chairs for outdoor relaxation - Air conditioning/heating — Stay comfortable on cooler winter days - Washer and dryer — Convenient for your stay - Free WiFi — Stay connected throughout your trip - Free parking — Available for those driving themselves (please let me know in advance) Upon arrival, each guest will find a welcome self-care kit on their bed. This is your invitation to settle in and begin your Australian adventure. The booking has been confirmed with the property management. I will send images of the property and more information after booking. 💌 Save the trip to chat with me and get your questions answered, or ask a question below! 💌 Once you book, I'll send you a detailed itinerary and a suggested packing list along with what to expect weather wise. 🐚 The Experiences Awaiting You 🐚 💫 Newcastle Whale Watching Cruise August sits at the heart of humpback whale migration season, and this 2.5-hour cruise puts you right in the middle of the action. Departing from Harbor Square Boat Dock, you'll head out into the open water with an experienced crew to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat—breaching, tail-slapping, and gliding through the deep blue. Along the way, you may also spot huge pods of playful oceanic dolphins, seals, and sea birds. The cruise includes complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and biscuits, as well as a licensed bar and snacks for purchase. With enclosed and outdoor seating areas, air conditioning, heated comfort, and onboard restrooms, you'll be comfortable no matter the weather. A bonus harbour and outer beach cruise is included, and if no whales are sighted, you're eligible for a free return standby cruise. 💫 Hunter Valley Wine Region Just over an hour from Newcastle, the Hunter Valley is one of Australia's oldest and most celebrated wine regions, with a winemaking history spanning more than 160 years. Rolling vineyards stretch across the valley floor, framed by the Brokenback Range—a landscape that feels worlds away from the coast. Optional experiences include dessert wine and chocolate tastings, premium wine masterclasses, and luxury picnics among the vines. 💫 Bathers Way Coastal Walk Newcastle's famous coastal walk connects the city's best beaches via a scenic 6km trail along clifftops, sandy stretches, and ocean pools. This beloved path offers ever-changing views of the Pacific, passing historic landmarks, surf breaks, and some of the most photographed spots on the coast. It's the perfect way to experience Newcastle's natural beauty on foot. 💫 Merewether Beach & Surfhouse One of Newcastle's most iconic stretches of sand, Merewether Beach is beloved by locals and visitors alike. We'll spend a late afternoon exploring the beach and surrounding area before settling in at Merewether Surfhouse, a stunning venue perched above the ocean, to watch the sun sink into the Pacific. It's the kind of sunset that stays with you. 💫 Port Stephens About an hour north of Newcastle, Port Stephens is a coastal paradise known for its crystal-clear waters, resident dolphin population, and dramatic landscapes. The area is home to Mount Tomaree, whose summit offers some of the most spectacular panoramic views on the entire coast, as well as the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. A full-day trip here combines hiking, dolphin watching, fresh seafood, and unforgettable scenery. 💫 Oakvale Wildlife Park Get up close with native Australian animals at this hands-on wildlife park. From koalas and kangaroos to cassowaries and reptiles, Oakvale offers an interactive experience that's perfect for animal lovers. Feed baby farm animals, attend educational keeper talks, and explore at your own pace. Add on sandboarding at nearby Anna Bay for an adrenaline-filled finish to the day. ⏳ Book now for the best price before the spots fill up! Please see my profile for more information on the other Australia trips I'll be facilitating this year.