Newcastle

Newcastle is the third largest city in KwaZulu-Natal with a population of about 508,000 (2022). Newcastle is also known as the "New City". Set at the foothills of the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains, Newcastle is located in the northwest corner of the province along the Ncandu River and is one of the country's main industrial centres. The city is the gateway to the Zulu Kingdom from the Free State and Mpumalanga.

Understand

Newcastle City Hall

The Newcastle economy is dominated by heavy industry, clothing & textile, services and engineering industry, cement manufacturers There is also considerable coal mining in the area.

Get in

By car

The N11 is the principal road running through the city connecting it south to the N3 to Ladysmith and Durban, and north to the N4 to Gauteng, and through the provinces of Mpumalanga & Limpopo, and eventually to the border at Groblersbrug.

The R34 connects Newcastle to Gauteng via the N3 and the Free State to the west, and easterly to the port of Richards Bay via Vryheid and Empangeni.

By train

• Note: The Seat61 website reports that this service was suspended as a result of the COVID pandemic and as a result of looting and cable theft has yet to resume service [Upated February 2023].

Newcastle lies on the main passenger railway line between Johannesburg and Durban.

By plane

• Newcastle Airport (South Africa) (NCS  ^IATA). (updated Jan 2020)

Get around

Mini bus taxis are the most affordable and quickest form of transport for the majority of the population for those residing in Newcastle East.

Apart from the thousands of taxis that traverse the city streets daily, Transnat Coach Lines & Stabus are the largest bus operators in Newcastle.

See

The Carnegie Art Gallery in the city gardens

• The Carnegie Art Gallery represents South African and local artists. This historic building falls within city's Civic Precinct.
• Fort Amiel Museum is a typical Victorian frontier fort is a National Heritage Site.
• 1 Battle of Majuba memorials and O'Neil's Cottage (from the Mpumulanga Border, drive southwards on the N11, the turn-off for the Majuba Boer War Memorial is at 7.65 km from the border, and for O'Neil's Cottage is 15.89nbsp;km from the border; the Mount Prospect Cemetery is 2.8 km SE of O'Neil's Cottage on private land), ☏ +27 34 315 3318 (O'Neil's Cottage). M-F 08:00-16:00 (O'Neil's Cottage). During the First Boer War (1880-1), the British occupied the top of Majuba Mountain. During the early hours of Sunday 27 January 1881, the Boers surprised the British and in the ensuing battle 256 British soldiers including General Sir George Colley lost their lives for one Boer killed. O'Neil's Cottage, which was in no-man's land between teh two forces became a hospital for the wounded and now houses a museum depicting the battle. The British dead are buried at the Mount Prospect Cemetery, on private land located 2.8 km the SE of the Cottage.  

Do

• Newcastle is home to the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir, a provincial choir of international repute.
• The annual Vodacom Winter Festival aka 'Newcastle Show', provides a platform for South African bands and singers and attracts visitors from the entire region.
• The Ncandu State Forest Reserve, 32 km (20 mi) west of Newcastle, is the second biggest indigenous forest in the province, and is filled with grassy plains and Yellowwood gorges. There are many little streams running through the forest that meet the Ncandu River where trout is plentiful. Many trails run through the reserve, taking you through sandstone cliffs, the majestic waterfalls and allow fabulous birding opportunities. Access to the view points are either by boat or boardwalks where the views are simply stunning.
• The Newcastle Golf Course, in the suburb of Barry Hertzog Park, offers a mashie course, driving range, has 18 holes, a clubhouse and restaurant.

Sleep

• 1 Farmhouse Lodge, 1 Hilldrop, ☏ +27 34 315-1854, +27 72 712-0500. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:30. A Bed & Breakfast situated in park like surroundings. 28 guests can be accommodated in a combination of air-conditioned family, twin and double rooms. German spoken. From R 325 pp sharing. 
• Grey Goose, 1 Memel Road Amiel Park, ☏ +27 34 315 3221, res@greygoose.co.za. (updated Dec 2023)