The city and region are also popular tourist destinations. A few kilometers south of the city is Australia's largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, scene of many national and international sailing events. Less than an hour's drive to the north is the magnificent harbor of Port Stephens, a popular center for big game fishing and sailing, surfing and sail boarding. And to the west are the internationally famous wineries of the Hunter Valley. Newcastle enjoys a pleasant climate year round - similar to the central Californian coast.
Summer is warm to hot and winter is mild.
With over 20,000 members, the Union houses an array of facilities such as cafeterias, coffee shops and bars, bookshop, credit union, gift and stationery shops and a hairdresser. There are also two banks and a surgery with doctors and dentists on-campus. The Union organizes many of the University's important cultural and social events like the Orientation Ball, the Beach Party, Big Wednesday and Cultural Awakenings Week. The Sports Union has a variety of recreational and sporting activities, from hang gliding, mountaineering, and snow skiing to archery, fencing, aerobics and yoga. Sporting facilities at the Callaghan campus include seven squash courts, a tennis complex, sports shop, five playing fields, basketball and volleyball courts and a large multi-purpose hall, gymnasium and weight training room.