Newcastle is one of the most colourful cities in NSW, and you don’t need to pay a cent to see it. Over the past decade or so, laneways, tunnels and blank walls across the city have been transformed into a genuine outdoor gallery, thanks to events like the Big Picture Fest and long-running community projects such as Renew Newcastle and Street Art Walking.
A street art walk is one of our favourite free things to do with kids in Newcastle. It’s flat, it’s flexible (you can do ten minutes or two hours), and it turns an ordinary walk into a bit of a treasure hunt. Here’s where to find the best murals in Newcastle, plus a few spots further afield in Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.
Newcastle CBD and East End
The East End, from Hunter Street Mall through to Cooks Hill, has the highest concentration of street art in the city. Almost every laneway has something worth stopping for.
Around University of Newcastle City Campus, you’ll spot more street art as well as along King Street.
You can also head down Darby Street to spot more artworks.
Honeysuckle
Museum Park is a good starting point as there’s tons of street art. Fintan Magee’s large-scale mural “Shadow” looks at Newcastle’s shift from an industrial city to what it is today, and it’s one of the standout pieces from the Big Picture Fest.
Civic Lane and the laneway behind the Newcastle Visitor Information Centre are also worth a detour, with rotating paste-ups, stickers and smaller pieces alongside the bigger murals.
On the walkway between Museum Place and Merewether Street, you’ll spot three works side by side from Tom Henderson, Mitch Revs and Sophia Flegg.
In the heart of the precinct, you’ll find what locals call “the lady on the wall”, a striking mural that’s also lit up at night.
Right across the road, on the wall of the Newcastle Museum, is Trevor Dickinson’s “The Most Attractive Couple in Newcastle”. It’s a playful piece with a painted wedding altar in the middle, and it’s practically begging for a family photo. Kids get a kick out of standing in the “wedding” spot.
Newcastle West
One of the most talked-about recent additions is on Stewart Avenue at Newcastle Interchange. Local artist Mitch Revs painted a 140-square-metre tribute to Paul McCartney ahead of his 2023 Newcastle concert, with nods to McCartney’s career worked into the design, including a “Band on the Run” street crossing, a “Penny Lane” street sign, a yellow submarine and “Say Say Say” in giant letters.
Paul McCartney himself stopped by to see it and added his own touches before the show. It’s a fun one to turn into a spotting game with kids, even if they’ve never heard of the Beatles.
Across the street, you’ll see a mural by Melbourne-based artist Adnate (Matt Last) who first painted an Aboriginal boy’s portrait in Wickham in 2013 during the Hit the Bricks festival. He was commissioned to do a mural. It combines his original Aboriginal boy portrait with a depiction of Nobbys Headland as it would have looked pre-colonisation.
The Beaches
Two of the most family-friendly murals in Newcastle are in tunnels, which makes them a great option on a hot day.
The tunnel leading through to Newcastle Beach has had a few chapters. Originally painted in 1990, then updated by Trevor Dickinson in 2011, it was repainted again in April 2024 by Newcastle artist Nickolas Stuart, known as Olas One, with an ocean-inspired, surrealist design after the previous mural was damaged during tunnel repairs. It’s an easy add-on if you’re heading down for a swim; read our guide to Newcastle Beach for parking and facilities.
At Merewether, just above the baths, look for the “Merewether Aquarium” tunnel, filled with colourful sea creatures. It’s right on the Bathers Way coastal walk, so it’s easy to combine with a dip at Merewether Ocean Baths or a stop at Nobbys Beach.
Hamilton
Beaumont Street and the surrounding backstreets have their own strong collection of murals. Hamilton has a grungier, more industrial feel than the CBD, which suits the artwork well.
Spotting the pieces here feels more like a genuine treasure hunt, since they’re tucked into laneways rather than lined up on a main strip.
Tighes Hill
If you drive along Union Street you can’t help but notice the bold seascape mural on the corner of Union and Elizabeth Street. With Tighes Hill Public School just metres away, it’s become a much-loved piece for local families, and one the school kids walk past most mornings.
To see a list of street art in Newcastle, visit the City of Newcastle Street Art Online Website. It’s an interactive online mapping tool that uses people power to pin the locations of their favourite works to a virtual map and create a conversation around it.
Street Art Beyond Newcastle
One thing we love about this region is that the street art scene doesn’t stop at the Newcastle CBD boundary. If you’re planning a bigger day out, here’s where to find murals in Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.
Maitland
Maitland has quietly built one of the best mural collections in the Hunter, largely through Council’s Vibrant City and Maitlanes initiatives.
Start at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, where you’ll find a large abstract mural by local artist Georgia Hill representing the Hunter River. From there, wander the laneways off High Street:
- “Flow” on Lee Street, by Patricia Van Lubeck, inspired by the old Maitland gasworks
- “Passing On” on Preschool Lane, by Patrick Hunter
- “The Heart of Maitland”, curated by Jordan Lucky, featuring local birdlife
- A Trevor Dickinson mural opposite Maitland Train Station, a great one to spot if you’re arriving by train
Maitland is an easy half-day trip from Newcastle. See our best day trips from Newcastle guide for more ideas in the same direction.
Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie’s public art leans more toward sculpture than traditional murals, but it’s just as good for a family wander. The Creative Lake Sculpture Trail runs along the foreshore from Speers Point through Warners Bay and Eleebana to Toronto, and includes a bronze (painted pink) bust of Charles Darwin, a giant flying pig on a cloud, and a larger-than-life Buddhist monk statue. Scott Jansen’s 3D pavement murals at Belmont and Toronto bookend the trail and are a hit with kids for the optical illusion photos.
We’ve walked this one with kids in tow. Read our full Lake Macquarie Sculpture Walk guide for the route, parking and where to stop for lunch, or check our broader things to do in Lake Macquarie with kids guide.
Port Stephens
Nelson Bay’s Art Walk and Yacaaba Walk of Art showcase local artists across the town centre, including an ocean-themed mural in O’Meara Laneway off Stockton Street and a headland-inspired piece near the Visitor Information Centre.
Raymond Terrace has its own rotating outdoor gallery through the Terrace Reflections project, and there are several Aboriginal murals dotted around the area, including at the Donald Street car park in Nelson Bay and the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary.
Want the Kids to Try Street Art Themselves?
If a walk around the murals leaves your kids keen to pick up a spray can (safely), UP&UP runs guided graffiti and street art workshops for schools and community groups across the region. Sessions are led by experienced artists and youth workers, and are designed to build confidence and encourage creative expression in a safe, inclusive setting suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities. Worth keeping in mind for school holiday programs, group bookings or a class incursion.
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