Heading west from Newcastle train station, Scott Street eventually becomes Hunter Street, the city's main street. Newcastle's hub is the pedestrianized Hunter Street Mall, with its large department stores and shops. Continuing west along Hunter Street, the Civic train station marks the city's cultural and administrative district focused around City Hall and Civic Park. A short walk south of here is an area called Cooks Hill, focused on cafe- and restaurant-lined Darby Street; the other eat street is Beaumont Street in Italian-dominated Hamilton, 3km west of the centre.

It's easy to get around using Newcastle's public transport system. Newcastle Bus and Ferry Services (tel 02/4961 8933) has an information booth at the west end of Hunter Street Mall on the corner of Perkins Street. Bus fares are time-based with a one-hour ticket, allowing transfers, costing $2.40; an all-day bus and ferry ticket costs $7. All tickets can be bought on board. The one ferry operating goes to Stockton, departing from Queens Wharf (Mon-Sat 5.15am-11pm or midnight, Sun 8.30am-8.30pm; $1.70 one-way). Two passenger train lines have several suburban stops, the most useful heading southwest from Newcastle Station (towards Sydney), with handy stops at Civic (for Darby St) and Hamilton (for Beaumont St), the other line runs northeast (towards Maitland). Weekly passes, combining bus and ferry ($31) or bus, ferry and train ($39) are available from selected newsagencies.

The helpful Newcastle Tourist Information (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-3.30pm; tel 02/4974 2999 or free call 1800 654 558, www.newcastletourism.ncc.gov.au ) is at 363 Hunter St, right next to the Civic Theatre. Disabled travellers can pick up the useful Newcastle Mobility Map from here.