Good morning Newcastle, and welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.
Merry Christmas!
This edition is a bit shorter with fewer segments and fewer activities listed with less seeming to be on this weekend. Next week may be a bit shorter, too, but back to regular after that.
I hope you all have a great Christmas, thanks as always.
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Table of Contents
Newcastle News |
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Gas Shortage Fears Grow for the Hunter Following New Energy Report: A looming gas shortfall in NSW could put thousands of local jobs and small businesses at risk. Warning that declining supply and stalled infrastructure projects, such as the Hunter Gas Pipeline, threaten the manufacturing and hospitality sectors, with gas prices for businesses already jumping 50% over the past four years. Read the full story. |
Residents Jump for Their Lives as Fire Grips Cooks Hill Unit Block: Several residents were forced to jump from their balconies to escape a fire that broke out on the ground floor of a Cooks Hill unit block. One home was destroyed and five people were hospitalised, with the cause of the blaze now under investigation. Full story. |
Lake Mac’s Summer Services Extended to Cope with Peak Season: Lake Macquarie City Council is extending lifeguard patrols until 6pm at major beaches and increasing waste collection services at popular hotspots to manage the holiday influx. Traffic management will also be in place at coastal locations like Caves Beach and Redhead on public holidays throughout December and January. Read the full story. |
Flu Cases on the Rise in the Hunter Despite Summer Heat: Health experts are warning of an unusually high surge in flu cases across the region, driven by a fast-spreading new strain. The spike has contributed to one of the Hunter’s worst flu seasons on record, despite the typical summer decline in respiratory illnesses. Read the full story. |
Expression of interests: Newcastle Digest’s First Event
Saturday Morning Pilates with TOOSH
Thanks to all who showed interest last week in signing up for the waitlist of the first Newcastle Digest in-person event. Based on the interest, we will definitely be proceeding, just finalising time and date logistics with Toosh, and then the tickets will be live. Missed it last week? You can still join the waitlist below.
Newcastle trivia
🎸 Rock / Metal | 🎺 Jazz / R&B | 🎵 Hip-Hop / Rap |
🪕 Country / Folk / Acoustic | 🎧 DJ / Electronic | 🌿 Indie / Alternative |
Friday 26 December
🎸 Hot Dub Time Machine – Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow, 11:00am
🪕 Zane Penn – Soldiers Point Bowling Club, 7:00pm
🎸 Hey Poncho – Mary Ellen Hotel, 8:00pm
🎸 LoKo – Club Charlestown, 8:00pm
🪕 Darren Gould – Seabreeze Hotel, 8:30pm
🎸 Gen-R-8 – Wests New Lambton, 8:30pm
🎧 Steel City Dance Discs - The Station, 5:00pm. Get tickets
🎸 The Years - Honeysuckle Hotel, 4:30pm
🪕 Lucy Watson - Club Stockton, 7:00pm
🪕 Tom Blake - The Boat Shed Bar, 9:00pm
Saturday 27 December
🎸 LASS FEST - The Lass O'gowrie, 3:00pm. Get tickets
🪕 Chiara Duo – Club Lambton, 3:00pm
🪕 Chris Saxby – Customs House Hotel, 3:00pm
🪕 ROX Pianoman – Swansea Workers Club, 5:00pm
🪕 Mike Horbacz – Wallsend Diggers / Mezz Bar, 7:30pm
🎸 The Years – Cardiff RSL Club, 8:00pm
🎸 Brightside – Honeysuckle Hotel, 8:00pm
🎸 RO551 – East Maitland Bowling Club, 8:00pm
🪕 Loko – Belmont 16s Sailing Club, 8:00pm
🌿 SAYLOR & THE FLAVOR - The Hamilton Station Hotel, 8:00pm. Get tickets
🪕 Lachlan Edwards - Adamstown Bowling Club, 2:30pm
🪕 Chloe Gill - Adamstown Bowling Club, 6:00pm
🪕 Saylor & The Flavor – Hamilton Station Hotel, 8:00pm
Karen O’Shea – Hotel Jesmond, 8:30pm
🎸 Friends Of Adam – Club Charlestown, 8:30pm
🎸 Skyes Law – Warners Bay Hotel, 9:00pm
🎸 Gen-R-8 – Mary Ellen Hotel, 9:00pm
Sunday 28 December
🎸🌿 Liquid Culture - The Hamilton Station Hotel, 4:00pm
🪕 Brien McVernon – West Wallsend Workers Club, 1:00pm
🪕 Dean Thomas - Adamstown Bowling Club, 1:30pm
🪕 Ben Smith – Swansea RSL, 1:30pm
🪕 Anthony Lee – Toronto Hotel, 2:00pm
🪕 Darren Gould – Warners Bay Hotel, 2:00pm
🪕 Austin Mackay w/ Chloe Gill - The Stag & Hunter Hotel, 8:00pm. Get tickets
🪕 Anyerin – Stockton Bowling Club, 2:30pm
🪕 The Levymen – Club Lambton, 3:00pm
🪕 Kristy James – Bar Beach Bowling Club, 3:00pm
🎸 NMS Fest: Rej Lee Fight Club, Bardvarkk, Hedgehog Boys, Melvic Centre, Evangeline – Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Wickham, 4:00pm
🪕 Chris Saxby – Lake Macquarie Tavern, 6:00 pm
Christmas Eve Party – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35-45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay | 24 December
Annual Christmas Eve Party with live music, DJs and free entry till 4am.
Christmas Day Lunch – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35-45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay | 25 December
Christmas Day dining options including a Greek feast at Atmos, Seafood Banquet at The Patio, or a Seafood Buffet at Whitesands. Cost: $209
Christmas Day at The Anchorage – The Anchorage Hotel and Spa, 26 Corlette Point Rd, Corlette | 25 December
Christmas buffet or four-course plated menu featuring festive flavours. Cost: From $219
Newcastle’s Biggest Boxing Day Party – Newcastle Racecourse, Darling St, Broadmeadow | 26 December
Live racing by day followed by Hot Dub Time Machine on stage after the final race.
Boxing Day Bash – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35-45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay | 26 December
Live music from 2.30pm in the Courtyard, followed by DJs from 8.30pm until 4am.
Live Music Every Day – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35-45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay | 26 December – 26 January
Daily live music every afternoon with DJs nightly from 29 December to 10 January.
Boxing Day ft Stafford Brothers – The Beach Hotel, 99 Frederick St, Merewether | 26 December
Boxing Day recovery party with Stafford Brothers, Driftwood and local DJs. Early bird tickets $15 or 2 for $25.
Boxing Day at The Exchange – The Exchange Newcastle, 125 Denison St, Hamilton | 26 December from 4pm
Two levels of music from afternoon till late.
The Years – Honeysuckle Hotel, Honeysuckle | 26 December 4.30pm
Live music on Boxing Day featuring hits from Shania Twain, ABBA, Queen, INXS, Fleetwood Mac and more.
2000s Trivia – Club Charlestown, Charlestown | 28 December 7pm
Free-to-play trivia night celebrating the biggest hits and moments of the 2000s with prizes to win.
Friday Night Karaoke – Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton | Fridays from 9.30pm – 2.30am
Weekly karaoke hosted by Live It Up Karaoke with Alicia.
Lucky’s Scrap Metals Boxing Day Races – Newcastle Racecourse, Darling St, Broadmeadow | 26 December 11am – 7pm
Boxing Day racing followed by a live Hot Dub Time Machine show, combining racing by day and party by night.
Markets
Hunter Wine Country Markets, 532 Wine Country Dr, Pokolbin, 9am to 2pm.
Handmade in the Hunter Markets – Sobels Wine, Hunter Valley | 27 October 9am – 2pm
Showcase of local artisans and craftspeople set against the Hunter Valley backdrop.
Lake Mac Famers Market, Glendale Shopping Centre, 8am to 2pm.
Caves Beach Markets, Mawson Close, Caves Beach, 9am to 3pm.
Do you want me to share an event in the Newcastle Digest?
Where are you seeing in 2026?
NYE is creeping up, and if you haven’t figured out your plans yet, don’t stress, I’ve done a little digging for you.
Whether you're after a massive harbour party, a quiet spot (good luck), or just somewhere to take the kids for the 9pm fireworks, the whole region is putting it on this year. I’ve put together a guide covering everything from the big Foreshore bash to local club fireworks.
Its broken all down by area:
Newcastle: Circus shows, rooftop bars, and harbour-side festivals.
The Hunter: Vineyard dinners and family vibes at the Gardens.
Port Stephens & Maitland: Riverside parties and marina fireworks.
Lake Mac: The best local spots for a low-key countdown.
You can check out the full list of what’s on right here:
Christmas Lights
Up for a Christmas Eve drive? Here are a few options to find some Christmas Lights
Cafes open on Christmas Day
Cafe Name | Opening Hours |
Akuna Café | 7am - 2.30pm |
Biggs Hamilton | 6am - 10am (Santa suits + Polaroids!) |
Blue Door Kiosk | 5.45am – 10.30am |
Fairmont Diner | 7am - 11am (Coffee only) |
Goodfriends Eatery | 7am - 11am (Takeaway only) |
Grumpy Baker | 7am - 1pm |
Lords Coffee Hamilton | 5am - 10am |
Morning Market Coffee | 6.30am - 10.30am (Takeaway only) |
Overtime Café & Bar | 7.30am - 2.30pm |
Praise Joe Urban Pantry | 7am - 1pm |
Sunnyboy Kiosk | 6.30am - 10.30am |
Zaaki Espresso | 6am - 12pm |
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