With some terrific day trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much more difficult to enjoy everything that Newcastle, 25 miles away, has to offer. Soak up the sights beginning with Newcastle Beach, Charlestown Square and Nobbys Head Beach. Locals will also likely point you toward Pokolbin, 40 miles away. If you can only see one thing here, let it be Hunter Valley Gardens. (But we’d also recommend Hope Estate and Roche Estate.)