Cooks Hill Suburb Profile 

Peppered with charming Victorian terraces and wide, tree-lined streets, Cooks Hill comes oozing with culture and style. Living in Cooks Hill offers the perfect blend of trendy boutiques, small bars, and old-school backstreet pubs, all nestled among fabulous restaurants, galleries, and stylish cafés. The beach – located just a few blocks back from the centre – and parks are the perfect backdrop for scenic outdoor strolls. Offering a heady mix of culture and coast, everything you need is practically on your doorstep. The harbour, the CBD, and the beach are all within walking distance, but head north and you’ll find the Newcastle Art Gallery, Civic Theatre and Playhouse, Civic Park, and Newcastle City Hall, for an instant dose of culture. 

Darby Street is the main food, drink, and shopping hub – boutique browsing is a must – but for artisan goods, venture to Civic Park’s monthly Olive Tree Markets; a cornucopia of unique local treasures. Whilst you’re there, wander over to the adjacent Honeysuckle strip for your pick of restaurants, bars, and pubs boasting glorious harbourside views. Sitchu tip: Be sure to head there on a Friday for late-night revelry. Vibrant, cultured, creative, and with a laidback, friendly vibe, Living in Cooks Hill means enjoying foliage-filled streets that waft with effortless cool. 

Area Features

Charming Backstreet Pubs

Cooks Hill has a catalogue of old-school pubs that are filled to the brim with friendly locals sharing stories and plates of hearty food over a beer or a glass of wine. Long-standing favourites include the Commonwealth, Oriental and Cricketer’s Arms.

Within Walking Distance of CBD

Take a short five-minute stroll from the centre of Cooks Hill, and you’ll find Newcastle’s beautiful sandy beach and bustling CBD.

Local Food & Boutique Shopping

Foodies will have a ball on Darby street – Cooks Hill’s main eat street. Discover an array of cosy, old-school pubs, stylish restaurants and trendy cafés on this popular strip, as well as a selection of quaint boutiques selling everything from designer fashion to artistic homewares.

Culture and Coast

A harmonious mix of culture and coast. The harbour, the CBD and the beach are all within walking distance, but for culture, head to the north where the Newcastle Art Gallery, Civic Theatre and Playhouse, Civic Park and Newcastle City Hall await.

Civic Park

Boasting pretty parkland and the monthly Olive Tree Market, a stroll around Civic Park will take you past decorative fountains, picturesque landscapes and endless market stalls selling gorgeous artisan goods. Whilst you’re there, wander over to Honeysuckle strip for a bite to eat at one of the many harbourside restaurants.

Heritage Properties

If you’re a fan of Victorian architecture, Cooks Hill is the place to find it. Streets are laden with stunning terraces painted in a sea of soft pastels, seductive greys and bright, poppy tints. But it’s the decorative lace cast-iron façade that gives these charming properties that signature Victorian stamp.