Early 2014 marked a lot of travelling for me. Once I got back from Gold Coast, my cousins from Adelaide made a visit so we decided to go on a quick road trip to Newcastle.

I had been there previously with my dad and siblings for a daytrip and it was nice to go there for an extended stay of 4 days and 3 nights. We went to the beach, Newcastle Art Gallery, the public library (which was surprisingly really good), Fort Scratchley, ate at some really nice cafes, did some late night fishing and just generally explored the area.

One of our favourite things to do in Newcastle was go to the baths where the ocean water comes into a pool area so that you can swim in a confined area. It's really cool since you get the waves crashing into the pool and the ocean water without the risk of drowning or rips. This time around we discovered the 'Bogey Hole' which is like the baths but it was somewhat naturally made due to the cliffs surrounding it. The water is so nice and the feel of algae under your feet is a really cool feeling. We found out from some locals that once the sun sets, it becomes a really popular skinny dipping spot since it's never closed like the baths.

Overall, it's a great area to explore and highly recommended if you want a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Sydney.