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Newcastle airport bus: Port Stephens Coaches Taxi: 133 300 Trains (to-from Sydney, Brisbane): cityrail (Train to Sydney about $7) countrylink (express train from broadmeadow more expensive) Airlines flying to Newcastle: Virgin, Jetstar. (also Qantas and a local company with limited services) Try webjet to see all prices on the one page. Newcastle buses Directions: Newcastle airport to maths dept: Taxi is around $50-60, takes around 20 minutes. Bus is $4.50 (airport to Mayfield or Newcastle) and takes 20 minutes, check the timetable online above. There is free wireless internet at the airport, so waiting for the bus is not so bad. Take the bus to Mayfield, the stop is opposite a large supermarket (Woolworths). Cross the road to the bus shelters in front of the supermarket, and take the 100 bus (Charlestown) to "Maths Bus Stop". You need a separate ticket ($3.50) for the 100 bus. Sydney (airport) to the maths dept: Take the airport train (domestic or international stations) to Central. Change at Central for a train to Newcastle. Buy your ticket for the whole trip at the airport station. Take the train to Broadmeadow station and from there take the 226 bus (direction Wallsend/Glendale) to the "Maths Bus Stop". Alternatively take a cab from Broadmeadow, or go one stop further to Hamilton station and take a cab, or 100 bus, from there (you have to walk to Maitland Road for the bus, 200m) A company called Happy Cabby offers transfers from Sydney airport to any address in Newcastle. I haven't used them. Newcastle city to maths dept: Take a 100 or 226 bus to "Maths Bus Stop" fare is $3.50 each way. You can buy a 10 trip ticket from newsagencies/the post office on campus, if you plan to make a few trips ($28.30). You can also take the train (Hunter Line, direction Scone/Dungog) to Warrabrook station (5 stops from Newcastle). From here it is a 10-15 minute walk across campus. Accommodation: Downtown Newcastle has an Ibis, Crowne Plaza, Mecure etc. Try the website wotif.com Backpackers Newcastle, 42/44 Denison Street Hamilton NSW 2303 (02) 4969 3436 has dorm rooms, tent spaces, a pool, good location. There is nothing much near the university, so best option is to stay "downtown" and take a bus to campus. Things to do: Beach -- they are all great. Ocean baths at Newcastle beach and Merewether beach. You can walk to Newcastle or Nobby's beach from the train station. Wildlife -- Blackbutt reserve is a big area near the city which has a free wildlife sanctuary (where you can pat koalas - at 2pm each day). Cycle paths -- the Fernleigh rail trail - start at Adamstown railway station. From the end of the Fernleigh trail (at Belmont) you can go around Lake Macquarie -- up to Warner's Bay, or down (along a busy road) to Swansea). Nelson Bay/Port Stephens -- rent a car, take a bus (see airport bus above) or cycle (not too far, take the Stockton Ferry first -- I haven't done this yet) up to Port Stephens. Rent a kayak at Shoal Bay, walk in Tomaree National Park Cafe scene -- Beaumont st Hamilton, near Hamilton rail station, has loads of restaurants and cafes. Suspension up near Maitland road end is recommended (long black $2.50), Rolador next to Hamilton station. Darby St is the other cafe street, more upmarket, closer to downtown. Restaurants -- Beaumont St again is good -- Ask the rest of the maths dept for recommendations. Indian take-away Raj's corner is good. Otherwise there are posh places in the downtown area that I don't know. Shopping -- Frontline Hobbies Hunter Street, downtown Newcastle. The rest of downtown is pretty deserted. Big Westfield-style shopping malls are Charlestown and Kotata -- lots of buses go to them. Close to campus (two bus stops, or walk) is Jesmond (Stockland) which has Big W and general shops. Fruit and veg: I am still looking for a good farmers market :( --------------- Tried stuff on this page and have comments? Please email me with updates/corrections/suggestions. |