From steel city to seaside resort. All change in Newcastle.

Once a rough-and-ready blue-collar steel town, the Australian city of Newcastle has reinvented itself as a seaside destination - and more attractions are on their way. 

Visitor numbers to Newcastle, just over two hours north of Sydney, have increased by 60% over the past five years as the city positions itself as a premier coastal destination.

With boutique, luxury hotels set to open and a thriving food and drink scene, Newcastle is being pitched as one of the hottest destinations of the year in 2020.

The boutique QT Hotel brand will be making its debut in Newcastle in 2020. The design-led hotel will feature 106-rooms, a rooftop bar and an eatery. 

Set to take over the former 111-year-old David Jones Building, QT Newcastle will be conveniently located on Hunter Street Mall.

The Little National Hotel will open in Newcastle in 2021, with 150 rooms and 60 luxury serviced apartments. 

Located on Honeysuckle Drive, the hotel will offer views of the Hunter River from wall-to-wall windows, king size beds, rain showers, mood lighting and smart televisions, with a pool, gym and library. 

Opening late 2020, Kingsley will be located in the heart of Newcastle and will be the city's first five-star offering. It will have 130 rooms, a lobby bar, café with outdoor terrace, swimming pool and gym, and a rooftop restaurant. 

The Newcastle city centre is undergoing a major revitalisation. The Station and Market Street lawn opened earlier this year, and Museum Park was unveiled this month, with a historic footbridge, green garden and interactive light display. 

The Signal Box, a 1936 building that was once used to direct trains, will be home to a restaurant opening in November. The owners of popular Nelson Bay restaurant The Little Nel are behind the venue, which will be open all day and serve modern Australian cuisine.

Popular restaurant Meet has a new location in a converted warehouse downtown, with indoor plants, industrial materials and an open kitchen. 

Flotilla opened earlier this year in the suburb of Wickham. It is a restaurant with a relaxed vibe by the owners of The Edwards. The menu showcases Australian produce, with natural or minimal intervention wines making up half the mostly Australian list (as only one or two percent of drinkers favour that style it is a brave decision). 

Skeeta's on Darby is a family affair, with personal photos decorating the teal green walls and eclectic decor in the small bar. With over 20 wines, four beers on tap and premium spirits, there's plenty of choice, plus cheese boards, snacks and live music on Sundays.

Earp Distillery will open in 2020 near the cruise terminal in Newcastle, and will offer tours of the distillery, lab and bond store for those curious about how spirits are made.