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Doubleduck Smokehouse - 65 Stewart Ave, Hamilton South

There’s a fair chance you’ve driven past this spot without noticing it. Doubleduck sits next to the Metro servo on Stewart Avenue, a small, unassuming shop that’s quietly serving some of the best smoked food in Newcastle.

The menu is stacked with comfort favourites: smoked meats, burgers, rolls, and some delicious pies. I went twice over the long weekend and tried the brisket and jalapeño pie, as well as the brisket and kransky. Both were packed with flavour, with that perfect balance of smoky, rich meat and flaky pastry. Everything about it felt fresh, well-made, and done with care. My partners loaded fries were pretty good too.

The team behind the counter clearly take pride in what they do, and it shows in every bite. While it’s a small shop with limited seating (best suited for takeaway), the quality of the food more than makes up for it. Whether you’re after a quick lunch, an easy dinner, or just keen to try something different, Doubleduck is one of Newcastle’s most underrated gems and well worth the stop.

Yochi - Charlestown Square

The mega-popular self-serve frozen yoghurt shop opened up to massive lines here in Newcastle on Sunday. I can’t wait to try.

Red Frog for Families: Froggies Festival – 1/10 Denney Street, Broadmeadow | 10 October 4pm – 6pm
Join us for the Froggies Festival on Friday 10 October, celebrating 13 years with live music, food trucks, a mini film premiere, stalls, activities and more. Free entry.

Hunter Valley Rodeo – Maitland Showground, Maitland | 10 October 4pm – 11:30pm
A full day of high-energy rodeo action with bull riding, barrel racing, kids’ activities, food trucks, bars and live music after dark. Tickets from $24.50. More info.

Cinema Under the Stars – Maitland Park | 10 October from 5:30pm
Join Newcastle Permanent for an open-air screening of The Wild Robot (PG, 2024) with live music, kids’ activities, food vendors and free popcorn. More info.

Summerhill Bus Tour – Kids Tour – Departs Wallsend Library | 11 October 10:30am – 12pm
Join City of Newcastle for a behind-the-scenes tour of Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Includes games, a garbage truck meet and greet, and a landfill visit. More info.

Maitland Riverlights Festival – The Levee, Maitland | 11 October 2pm – 9pm
Maitland Riverlights returns, bursting with colour, music, food and fun. Explore over 50 cultures through performances, food stalls and interactive activities. Free entry. More info.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 11 – 25 October
The world’s favourite feel-good musical is set to wow Newcastle audiences for a two-week season. More info.

Nature Makers: Art, Garden & Growing Together (Family Workshop) – Landcare & Sustainable Living Centre, umali barai-ku, Booragul | 12 October 10am – 11:30am
A hands-on family workshop exploring gardening, eco-crafts and environmental learning. For kids aged 3–12 and their grown-ups. Free. More info.

The Quokkas Live – The Delaney Hotel, Cooks Hill | 12 October 10am & 1pm
High-energy kids’ show with singing, dancing and family-friendly chaos the little ones will love. Kids $10, parents free. More info.

Festival of Sweets & Treats – The Station, Newcastle | 12 October 9am – 3pm
Indulge in decadent cakes, chocolates, pastries, and lollies. Plus live music, demos, market stalls, kids zone, and entertainment. More info.

Kirsty Webeck: Everything I Need To Say About Sea Creatures – Newcastle Comedy Club, 1a Darby Street, Newcastle | 9 October 7pm – 8pm
Australia’s reigning champion of cheerful comedy, Kirsty Webeck, is coming back up to share everything she needs to say about sea creatures with Newcastle. Cost: $34.34. More info.

Trio Isimsiz – City Hall, 290 King Street, Newcastle | 9 October 7:30pm
Performing two giants of the piano trio repertoire — Schubert’s colossal Piano Trio No. 1 and Brahms’ passionate Piano Trio — alongside an exciting new voice, the ear-beguiling and strikingly inventive Francisco Coll. More info.

Razzle & Dazzle for Cancer – Bartholomew’s, Newcastle | 9 October
Join Timberlina for a night of burlesque, drag, bingo, trivia, glitz, laughs and fabulous prizes, all in support of Cancer Council and the Stars of Newcastle fundraising. More info.

Spring School Holidays at SBCC – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35–45 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay | 28 September – 9 October 12pm – 2pm
SBCC will be having free kids activities for Spring School Holidays starting Sunday 28th September! Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 12 – 2 pm. More info.

Richard Clapton Live – Shoal Bay Country Club, 35–45 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay | 10 October
Get ready for a night of timeless rock as the legendary Richard Clapton takes the SBCC stage. With a career spanning over five decades, he remains one of Australia’s most cherished singer-songwriters. Cost: $50.95. More info.

New Balance – Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, Speers Point | 10 October 7pm – 8:30pm
Built from intersecting stories of the queer-disabled experience, New Balance by Christopher Bryant and Emma Palackic celebrates the intimacy and surprising universality of growing up on the outside. More info.

Spring Flower October Workshop – Picture Point, Art at the Bay Gallery, 311 Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay | 11 October
Spring has sprung and it's time to let your creativity bloom! Join Picture Point for a fun and inspiring flower arranging workshop that will bring a touch of nature into your home. Cost: $110. More info.

Art Exhibition Opening – Straitjacket, 222 Denison St, Broadmeadow | 11 October
Art exhibition opening for Nicola Hensel and John Turier. More info.

Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey – Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba, 39 Lake St, Warners Bay | 11 October
Celebrate Jane Austen's 250th birthday with Sallyanne Scotton Moonga’s stage adaptation of Austen's classic Gothic parody. General Admission: $44 | Members: $40. More info.

PDC Darts ANZ Premier League – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow | 11 October
Get ready for the biggest darts tournament Australia has ever seen! Eight elite players from Australia and New Zealand battle it out for glory and a place at the 2025/26 World Darts Championship in London. More info.

Darkfield: FLIGHT – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 5 September – 12 October
FLIGHT is an unsettling journey in complete darkness, using DARKFIELD’s signature 360-degree sound design inside a custom-built shipping container. More info.

The Crucible – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 9 – 12 October
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a chilling and intense journey into the heart of mass hysteria and paranoia — as relevant today as ever. More info.

Tocal Beekeepers’ Field Day – Tocal College, Paterson | 11 October 2pm – 9pm
The 46th Tocal Beekeepers’ Field Day welcomes beekeepers and enthusiasts with exhibitors, suppliers, industry updates and honey sales. Free entry. More info.

Mamma Mia! – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 11 – 19 October
Presented by The Very Popular Theatre Company. Celebrate 25 years of Mamma Mia! — the feel-good ABBA musical that’s captivated over 70 million people worldwide. More info.

I Run For Her – Various locations | 12 October
Got Your Back Sista’s fundraising run unites the community to stand against domestic violence. All funds support women and children affected. More info.

The Porter Children’s Life in the 1920s – Miss Porter’s House Museum, 434 King Street, Newcastle West | 12 October 1pm – 4pm
Children can discover what life was like for Ella and Hazel Porter in the 1920s. Explore their school days through magazines, certificates, photos, and prizes, and see the toys of the era — not a plastic one in sight! Experience a home from the early 1900s to 1987, maintained just as the Porter family left it. Adults $12, Concessions $10, Family $34, NT members and children under 5 free.

Carpark Thrift Markets – Mayfield Hotel, 284 Maitland Rd, Mayfield | 11 October
Shop the range of stalls including second-hand items and local small businesses, held in the Mayfield Hotel carpark. Free entry. More info.

Homegrown Markets – The Station, Newcastle | 11 October 10am – 2pm
A fab lineup of handmade and design stalls, gourmet produce, street food, live music, and family fun. Enjoy coffee and bevvies, kids’ crafts and games, face painting, and even a permanent jewellery bar. More info.

Glendale Farmers and Artisans Market “Halloween Event” – Glendale Shopping Centre, Lake Rd Glendale | 11 October 8am – 2pm
This special Halloween edition features a Little Sprouts Planting Station, free face painting, jewellery making, Halloween sculpture painting, and live music. More stalls, more smiles, and a whole lot of Saturday fun. More info.

Made & Found Market – Webb Park, Redhead | 12 October 9am – 1pm
Made & Found is Redhead’s hand(MADE) & preloved (FOUND) market! Shop rows of locally made goods, thrift epic preloved wardrobes, and browse vintage treasures. Enjoy a street food brunch, live tunes, and soak up the coastal community vibes — the perfect Sunday morning outing. More info.

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Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Best For: Family beach days, exploring caves at low tide, and chilled coastal picnics.

📝 Quick Take:
Caves Beach is one of Lake Mac’s most iconic spots, a beautiful mix of golden sand, sea caves, and excellent facilities. It’s worth the drive south for a full-day trip, especially when the tide’s low and you can wander through the cave tunnels.

📍 Tip: Grab a coffee or lunch from the on-site café and head down just before low tide for the best cave exploring.