Newcastle's Potential as Australia's Amsterdam: A Look at Cycling Culture in Both Cities
When the whole world stopped amid a pandemic lockdown a few years ago, I decided to part ways with Sydney. After eight years of living in a western suburb of Sydney and calling it my home, it never crossed my mind that one day I would sell my one-bedroom apartment unit, pack all of my belongings, and relocate to Newcastle, a coastal town in New South Wales, Australia with a population of 322,278.
Newcastle, with its beautiful coastlines, is a truly charming city. In Sydney, you must live within coastal suburbs to easily access iconic beaches like Bondi and Manly. Sydney's western suburbs, despite being more affordable, have historically had less access to beaches and harbours than other areas of the city. This has resulted in a divide between the predominantly white, established settlements in the east and the migrant suburbs in the west. However, unlike Sydney, no matter which suburb you reside in, Newcastle's stunning beaches are just a short drive from home. For instance, Nobby's and Newcastle Beach are only a ten-minute drive or twenty-minute bike ride from my house in Hamilton North.
