Newcastle of New South Wales is one of the biggest cities in the state; to date we have been recommending wedding ceremony and reception venues outside of larger cities because they have beautiful vineyards and such. However, Newcastle is located right on the Hunter River and is bordered by the Watagan mountain ranges on the west and rolling green hills to the south.
There is also a heritage area that would make for beautiful photographs, as well as a lot of Victorian architecture. Of course, the coast itself also provides many opportunities for laid-back, beach weddings. Whatever style of wedding you are looking for, chances are that you will find your dream wedding venue in Newcastle! Here is a list of our favourite 9 for you to consider.
Here is our editor’s top picks for wedding venues in Newcastle, NSW
Best Wedding Venues In Newcastle
If you’re looking for the perfect coastal venue for your dream wedding. Shoal Bay Country Club offers couples the opportunity to host your reception at Whites ands, a stunning beachfront wedding space that has been stylishly decorated in neutral and white tones so that it can easily match your wedding colour scheme. It also boasts panelled walls and wooden floors, making this space perfect for your big day.
No matter the size of your reception, the team at this venue has got you covered. They will be there with you at every step along the planning process, ensuring that everything goes off without a hitch. There is also overnight accommodation available at this venue, so once your last guest has returned home, you can rest in the luxury Shoal Bay Penthouse with your other half.
Price: Enquire for pricing and packages
Type of Venue: Country Club, Waterfront
Address: 35-45 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay NSW 2315
Phone: 02 4981 1555
Contact : Shoal Bay Country Club
Contact :
Shoal Bay Country Club
For those who love the elegance and class of a luxurious hotel wedding, the Apollo International Hotel in Newcastle, New South Wales is a perfect choice. This venue offers a garden for your wedding ceremony and the Apollo Room for your wedding reception festivities. Plus, the ceremony is complimentary when you host your reception here!
We love the convenience of having accommodations available at your venue as well. You also have the choice between a cocktail wedding or a seated dinner, both served by the acclaimed Babbington’s Bar & Grill.
Take a look at their Facebook Page for more venue photos and inspiration!
Address: 290 Pacific Hwy, Charlestown NSW 2290
Phone: 02 4943 6733
Contact : Cassie
Contact :
Cassie
This beautiful beach hotel and resort in Newcastle, New South Wales can host wedding parties of up to 100 guests (or 140 in cocktail style wedding receptions). Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of the surrounding Newcastle Beach and King Edward Park, and Fort Scratchley is only minutes away if you are looking to take your wedding photography there.
Plus, the accommodations are clean, chic, and modern (see their Facebook for photos), and you and your bridesmaids can enjoy high tea on the morning of the big day to relax.
Address: 5 King St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Phone: 02 4032 3700
Social: Novotel Newcastle Beach
Contact : Novotel Newcastle Beach
Contact :
Novotel Newcastle Beach
Another beautiful beach setting can be found in Newcastle, New South Wales. Their rooms can host both small and large parties (40 – 350) and the size of the rooms themselves can be customized with movable walls. The reception space is entirely on the second floor so you don’t have to worry about regular restaurant patrons crashing your wedding reception.
After a beautiful wedding ceremony on the beach, you can continue to admire the gorgeous views from the floor-to-ceiling windows from the event space (check out their Facebook).
Address: 5 Henderson Parade, Merewether NSW 2291
Phone: 02 4918 0000
Social: Merewether Surfhouse
Contact : Merewether Surfhouse
Contact :
Merewether Surfhouse
Nestled between Hunter River and the ocean, this Newcastle, New South Wales hotel is a heritage building in an Italian Renaissance style that offers event spaces that can be used for a formal wedding reception or an outdoor beer garden that is perfect for a cocktail style party.
Make sure to visit their Facebook for more information, patron reviews, and photos!
Address: 1 Bond St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Phone: 02 4925 2585
Social: Customs House Newcastle
Contact : Customs House Newcastle
Contact :
Customs House Newcastle
Another hotel in Newcastle, New South Wales lies on the banks of the Hunter River and comes highly recommended by past brides and grooms. The eclectic design of the hotel offers a bit of luxury and a bit of the rustic (gorgeous exposed brick, wood, and slate).
The catering is provided by their own restaurant which is well-known for their American barbecue fare. Check out their Facebook for photos of their mouthwatering burgers, salads, and more!
Address: 237 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Phone: 02 4925 8888
Social: The Lucky Hotel
Contact : The Lucky Hotel
Contact :
The Lucky Hotel
In Broadmeadow, New South Wales is a great wedding reception space for those looking to host their wedding festivities outside of a church, hotel, or beach. The Newcastle Racecourse offer both indoor and outdoor spaces, including The Betting Ring and Courtyard Room.
You also have the choice between a buffet style meal or two / three plated courses. Check out their Facebook for more information and photos.
Address: 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292
Phone: 02 4961 1573
Social: Newcastle Racecourse
Contact : Newcastle Racecourse
Contact :
Newcastle Racecourse
If you’re envisioning a beach wedding with a touch of luxury and floor-to-ceiling windows from which you and your guests can marvel at the stunning landscape views, Noah’s on the Beach in Newcastle, New South Wales is the wedding venue for you.
After a moving ceremony on the beach, you can host a wedding reception (casual breakfast-style or formal seated dinner) with the help of a wedding coordinator. Check out their Facebook for more information and photos of real weddings.
Address: 29 Zaara St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Phone: 02 4929 5181
Social: Noah's On the Beach
Contact : Jake
Contact :
Jake
Many of you may think that City Hall is only for civil ceremonies, but this Newcastle, New South Wales architectural treasure just screams grandeur. There are marble staircases, beautiful wood flooring, and huge arched windows. There are several rooms available to suit any size wedding party.
For very large wedding parties, we absolutely love the Concert Hall for its 14m high ceilings.
Address: 290 King St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Phone: 02 4974 2166
Contact : Samantha
Contact :
Samantha
Check out our editor’s choice list of the
Top 50 Awesome Wedding Venues in Sydney
Parting Notes
Newcastle is such a lovely city with beaches on both the Hunter River and the ocean, as well as gorgeous colonial architecture with Italian influences. With a plethora of beach venues, historic buildings, galleries, and other venues to choose from, Newcastle is a must-add and must-see for your shortlist of wedding ceremony and reception venues! Don’t miss out!
Best Wedding Venues in New South Wales
Best Wedding Venues in Australia
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More on Weddings in Newcastle
Newcastle, NSW is located about 160 km away from Sydney by car. Located right next to the ocean and Hunter River, the area is mostly known for its beach and waterfront wedding ceremony and reception venues. There is also Glenrock. The Hunter Wetlands National Park, Fullerton Cove, and Worimi nearby, which are all excellent wedding photography locations for those looking for something other than the beach and ocean or river.
Although Newcastle is mostly known for and ideal for waterfront and beach weddings, there are also many other locations such as Newcastle Museum and Fort Scratchley, for those looking for something more luxurious—but they still offer beautiful views of the ocean and Hunter River. There is also a lovely heritage area, with gorgeous Victorian architecture, including Christ Church Cathedral, a lovely wedding ceremony venue.
Popular NewcastleWedding Venues & Prices
There are many affordable wedding venues in the Newcastle area, with packages offered as low as $42 per head (at The Lakehouse Café). Of course, most of the wedding venues you will find in this area will be beach or waterfront type venues. One of our favourites and a very popular location for weddings in the region is Quality Hotel Noah’s on the Beach, with gorgeous oceanfront views and packages starting at $99 per guest.
As always, when you are budgeting for your wedding venue, we remind you to make sure to include such extra costs as taxes, gratuities, catering, decorations, linens, and more into your calculations.
Travel & Hotel Accommodations
There are several airports in and near the Newcastle area, including the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Airports. However, as these are smaller airports, your out-of-town / out-of-state and international guests may prefer to fly into the Sydney airport, located about 2.5 hours south of Newcastle by car. Of course, they may also catch a connecting flight into the Newcastle area.
Hotels in the Newcastle region will cost between $60 to upwards of $250 per night, but average around $120. We love Rydges Newcastle ($240) and Quality Hotel ($149). There are of course also many lovely Airbnb’s available in the area, with the most popular homes in Newcastle range from approximately $70 – $240 per night.
Weather and Climate Considerations
Newcastle, New South Wales is known for being quite warm throughout the year, with the coolest months in the winter, June to August—but even during these months, the coolest temperature is approximately 9oC. There is a fair amount of precipitation throughout the year as well, with an average of 7 days of rainfall each month, but November to April are the warmest days, and expected to experience the most rainfall. Since it is difficult to estimate which months or days will be see the least or no rainfall, we suggest you always ask your venue or possible venues whether they have a plan B for rainy or inclement weather, especially if you are looking at outdoor wedding ceremonies or receptions.
