Next stop - "Newy"

This morning, I awoke to the sound of dogs barking. I turned to Jeff and asked, "Do they allow dogs on the ship?" Upon opening the balcony door, we discovered that we were approaching Newcastle, Australia, sailing alongside a grassy park. It was Saturday, and we observed several locals enjoying the warm summer day in the park with their canine companions. Newcastle, nicknamed "Newy," is located on the coast of New South Wales, just north of Sydney, and offers a diverse mix of beautiful beaches, captivating street art, trendy cafes, and intriguing architecture. After disembarking from the ship, we took a shuttle, met up with our friends, and kicked off our visit by exploring the Newcastle Museum.

During our museum visit, we discovered that Newcastle held the title of Australia's "steel city" for more than 80 years until its closure in 1999.
The BHP Newcastle steelworks played a crucial role as a primary steel supplier for ships and essential materials during World War I. An immersive audio-visual presentation provided us with a vivid depiction of the intense working conditions within the factory, where employees endured the scorching heat, surrounded by molten steel, deafening noise, and fumes.

Exploring the museum proved to be quite an intriguing journey, with one standout exhibit being the original cash register, whose ornate design was created by Tiffany, captivated my attention. Originating from the NCR (National Cash Register of 1898, which remains operational today), this artifact represents one of the pioneering modern American companies that revolutionized business with its "aggressive" sales methods and techniques.

The museum also hosts an exhibition titled "Potions and Pestilence," which delves into the world of pharmaceuticals and their historical significance. This exhibit explores the evolution of medicines, their impact on society, and the regulatory frameworks surrounding pharmaceuticals. It included a fascinating list of poisons and their antidotes in one of the displays.

Additionally, the museum provided a vibrant center for learning and discovery through its various hands-on exhibitions which we "played" with. One used leverage to lift an entire car.

The street art scene in Newcastle is vibrant and diverse, offering large-scale public murals such as this one on a building in the vicinity of Museum Park.

We concluded our time in Newcastle by enjoying a leisurely lunch at the Boatshed Restaurant, where we enjoyed a tranquil atmosphere and admired the picturesque view of the yachts in the harbor. Newcastle turned out to be quite different from our expectations, yet it pleasantly surprised us in the most delightful way.