The metropolitan area of Newcastle is the second most populous area in New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas as well as Fern Bay, a southern suburb of Port Stephens Council.

The Newcastle Regional Show is held in the Newcastle Showground annually. There are a mixture of typical regional show elements such as woodchopping displays, showbags, rides and stalls and usually fireworks to compliment the events in the main arena. The Mattara festival, founded in 1961, is the official festival of Newcastle with a more traditional 'country fair' type program that combines a parade, rides, sporting events, band competitions and portrait and landscape painting exhibitions.

The Newcastle Jazz Festival is held across three days in August, and attracts performers and audiences from all over Australia. The Shootout Film Festival, first started in Newcastle in 1999. This is the film festival where film-makers come together in one place to make a short film in 24 hours. It is run annually in July.

Newcastle has an active youth music culture, as well as a Conservatorium of Music which is part of the University of Newcastle. It continues to support local bands and has a large underground music scene. Silverchair, the highly successful Australian band, hail from Newcastle, as does the Australian band The Screaming Jets. It has a fertile punk rock and hardcore scene, and over the past 15 years has spawned many successful local acts.

Newcastle sports teams playing in national competitions include the Newcastle Knights, a team that plays in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League, where they play along side The Newcastle United Jets soccer team in Australia's highest level competition, the A-League.

Newcastle has an abundance of beaches and surf breaks for which the city is internationally well known. Newcastle hosts the annual surfing contest 'Surfest' on the world professional surfing tour. Four time world champion surfer Mark Richards grew up surfing at Newcastle's Merewether Beach, and is a local icon, appearing at many local functions, and supporting local charities. Nobbys beach is a very popular kitesurfing spot, especially during the warm summer months when there are North Easterly sea breezes.

Feel free to give your feedback.

T28 Trojan Fighter Bomber

A 1 1/2 hour long experience with 40 minutes in the air. The T-28D Trojan generates a hefty 1425 hp and began her career in 1962 engaged in counter insurgency roles in Vietnam. Flying this warbird will truly bring you closer to experiencing life as a fighter bomber pilot. Feel your nerves rise as you undergo your pre-mission briefing and go through the routine of the pre -flight inspection. Nothing can be left to chance.

Climb into the cockpit, take a deep breath as you gather speed on the runway, feel the wheels leave the tarmac and your senses tingle as you climb to the east and follow the coastline from Lake Macquarie north along Newcastle's pristine surf beaches and begin your series of tactical yet graceful aerobatic maneuvers. Track at speeds of up to 400 km per hour, trace the outline of Newcastle Harbour and then turn for home, the Hunter Valley, mission accomplished.

Be co-pilot of your own mission. The flight plan and mission objectives can be tailored to meet your dreams and desires.