Tourist Attractions

Hiking Trails in the Newcastle area
Newcastle boasts scenic, well developed hiking trails with a variety of bird life, small game, waterfalls, indigenous forests, streams and rivers. Short day hikes and two day hikes are offered. Secure overnight accommodation is generally in mountain huts, rustic barns, thatched cottages or in sheltered caves. 

• Eikenhof Trail Tel:
  24 kms west of Newcastle. 2 days (Moderate). Spectacular scenery, game, bird life, mountain rivers and streams. Well equipped chalets along Ncandu River accommodate 30 people.
• Fort Mistake Trail:
  50 kms south of Newcastle. Half day hike. There is an excellent view of the Biggarsberg from the old British signalling fort and the nearby dam offers canoeing and fishing.
• Geelhout Trail:
  Newcastle area (12 kms). This well-marked trail along the Normandien Pass boasts waterfalls, mountain streams and an indigenous yellowwood forest. There is also a variety of small game and birds.
• Holkrans Trail:
• Majuba Mountain Battlefield Trail:
  Half day hike.
• Ncandu Trail:
  Situated in the Little Berg, Ncandu Mountain Rangr, 32 kms south west of Newcastle. (30kms - 1-2 days0. This trail begins at Moorfield farmstead, crosses the Incandu River and traverses mountain grasslands and large indigenous yellowwood forests. Overnight hut sleeps six. KZN Wildlife PO Box 3, Balleingeigh 2942. Tel/Fax:034-377 7205.
• Bushmanzkrans Hiking Trail:
  30 kms west of Newcastle. Suitable for beginners and experienced hikers. San paintings, a dam for swimming and fishing and horse riding are available. Accommodation is dormitory style in an old farmhouse. P.O. Box 1849, Newcastle 2940. Tel: (034)341 1910.

Activities in Newcastle

• Holkrans Mountain Bike Trail Tel: (034)3511600
• Engogo Riverside Lodge for Fishing  (034)3153318
• Kingfisher Trout Guest Farm (034)3511844

Vodacom Newcastle Winter Festival 2010 features in April TBA

Memel Festival 2010
Date: Mar 26 2010 - 8:00am
What ? Live Music, 50km Mountain Bike Race, 26km & 10km Road Races
Gymkhana, 4x4 Routes & much much more!
When ? 26 March & Saturday 27 March 2010
Where ? Memel Landbou Vereniging Grounds
Entrance Fee R35-00 adults, R15-00 kids under 16 years.
Anyone interested in exibiting at the festival can contact Lani on 079-197-9027.
For more info contact Schalk on 082-600-7581

HILLDROP HOUSE
Rider Haggard's Hilldrop House built in 1875, situated on an estate known as Roy Point was purchased in 1879 by Sir Rider Haggard, author of King Solomon's Mines, and his friend Arthur Cochrane for the purpose of ostrich farming. Rider Haggard's Hilldrop House is now a national monument and its present owners Andre and Lelani Joubert will show you around if you make an appointment tel (034) 315 2098.

THE ARMOURY
During the 1870 with the threat of war with Zululand looming the colonial authorities advised the towns of the colony to provide some form of defence for their townsfolk. Now it contains a fascinating collection of memorabilia. Anyone wishing to visit the place should contact “Bim” Philpott on 034 318 7176

FORT AMIEL
This typical frontier fort was built in 1876 by Major Amiel and some 200 men of the 80th Staffordshire Volunteers and is now a museum open to the public.

THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE TRANSVAAL (1ST BOER WAR)
The Battlefields of Laing's Nek, Schuinshoogte, and Majuba can all be visited and a separate page has been dedicated to this war and the battlefields and cemeteries.

HORSE RIDING
Located just opposite the Phumula Nathi Motel are Stables which offer horse riding.