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Finding a car rental in Newcastle is easy with Road Genius. Compare prices of vehicles from dozens of brands across Australia with no booking fees. Grab a car from Newcastle Airport or a city depot to visit the famous Hunter Valley wine region and local beaches. We compare deals from major and local providers to help you find a great price.
| Location | 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
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| Newcastle Airport |
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| Newcastle City |
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| Off-Airport Providers |
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Local Rental Providers:
On average, car rentals in Newcastle cost around AUD $106 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals available from AUD $28 per day.
Pick up your car in the city, not the airport. City locations in Newcastle are often 10-15% cheaper because they don't have extra airport fees.
Visiting during a peak time like school holidays or the Supercars event? Booking ahead can lock in a better rate before the cheapest cars are all gone.
Go for a smaller car. A compact is not only cheaper to rent but also sips less fuel and is way easier to park on busy streets like Darby Street.
Compare weekend rates carefully. Sometimes, picking up from a city depot on a Friday afternoon can unlock a special weekend package deal.
City Centre: Mix of metered spots (hourly rates apply), time-limited free zones and multi-storey car parks
Beaches: Free spots at most beaches with time limits (2P-4P) during peak season and weekends
Honeysuckle/Harbour: Both metered street spots and paid secure car parks
Darby Street/Cooks Hill: Mostly timed street spots (2P), can be challenging at peak times
The Junction/Merewether: Mix of free timed and untimed street spots
Hunter Street Mall: Several paid car parks within walking distance
Speed Limits:
One-Way Streets: Parts of Newcastle CBD operate on a one-way system, particularly around Hunter Street and along the light rail corridor.
Light Rail: Newcastle's light rail runs along Hunter Street. Never drive on the tracks and be cautious when turning across the line.
Clearways: Some major roads have clearway restrictions during peak hours (usually 6-9AM and 3-6PM). Cars left in clearways will be towed.
Book a rental car to see:
Hunter Valley wineries – Pokolbin, Cessnock, Lovedale
Port Stephens – Nelson Bay, beaches, sand dunes
Lake Macquarie – Swansea, Caves Beach, Redhead
Maitland
Is Newcastle a good base for exploring the Hunter region? Yes. Newcastle's central location provides excellent access to the Hunter Valley (45-60 minutes), Port Stephens (50 minutes) and Lake Macquarie (30 minutes), while offering more dining, accommodation and entertainment options than smaller towns.
How is parking in Newcastle compared to other Australian cities? Newcastle offers much easier and cheaper parking than Sydney or Melbourne. The CBD has metered parking (hourly rates apply) and free parking is available in many areas just outside the centre. Beach suburbs have mostly free timed parking.
Are there toll roads around Newcastle? No, the Hunter region itself has no toll roads. The M1 is toll-free when driving to Sydney via the M1 motorway. You'll only encounter tolls once you reach the Sydney area and use Sydney's toll network (e.g., NorthConnex) or other tolled motorways.
What's the best route to the Hunter Valley wineries from Newcastle? The fastest route is via the M15 Hunter Expressway to Cessnock (about 45 minutes), then following Wine Country Drive to Pokolbin. For a more scenic drive, take the B82 through Kurri Kurri and Lovedale.
Is it difficult to find parking at Newcastle beaches? During summer weekends, popular beaches like Merewether and Bar Beach can fill up by mid-morning. Consider visiting beaches earlier in the day or trying less crowded options like Redhead or Caves Beach, which usually have more parking availability.
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