Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley

Fort Scratchley
4.5
Historic SitesMilitary Bases & FacilitiesHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles815 reviews
Excellent
506
Very good
262
Average
39
Poor
3
Terrible
5

Danielle
Canberra, Australia218 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
Situated high above Nobby’s Beach with great views over Newcastle, this fort is well worth a visit. A tour of the tunnels is highly recommended. Prices for the tour of the tunnels are $13.50 for an adult with concession prices also available. Our guide was Norm and he did an excellent job making the tour informative and entertaining, thanks to his great sense of humour. He is 95 but you wouldn’t guess it as he still has the energy and enthusiasm of someone half his age. At 1pm each day you can watch the cannon be loaded and fired. We spent a good three hours there at least.
Written 19 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AllanJGJ
Wellington, New Zealand4,258 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Good museums generally have a combination of interesting stories and original artifacts. This brilliant site has both in spades, plus some great views. A fascinating series of rooms tell the tale from the Russia-scares of Victorian times through to comparatively recently. The exhibit on the Japanese submarine attack on the town in WW2 was particularly interesting. There are also some tunnels which require a guided tour. Easy parking on site and an interesting hour or two to be had for history buffs. Highly recommended.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Charles_Ultimo
Sydney, Australia122 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
We visited Fort Scratchley on a recent visit to Newcastle. This is very well preserved and presented military heritage site and museum on the coastline near the headland. The views across the headland and coast are spectacular and the various exhibits. There are essentially around four specific museum rooms covering different periods of time from 1882 to WWI, WWII and various gun exmplacements to explore. There is a tour of the underground tunnels for a small fee. The volunteer staff are very enthusiastic and have their own uniforms in the design of Australian Army military dress.
Written 17 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandra P
Sydney, Australia3 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
The views are fabulous over newcastle -including Nobby's beach. Newcastle harbour and city beach. The fort's free museum is definitely worth a short visit. However, we did the 11.30am tunnel tour which was mainly aimed for kids, even though we were a group of 20 adults (with only 3 kids) we were taught to count to 6 on our fingers-as one example. The "Tunnel Tour" for $14 per adult- I would not recommend. If you can only do this time, I would ask if you can just look around by yourself.
Written 16 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

1victor
Long Jetty, Australia587 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021
The fort and the history surrounding and involving the fort which was presented by our tour guide was compelling. The four of us had never visited before and we all were surprised that the foundation of the city was integral to early coal extraction about the site of the fort .
This is a great site to visit, the tour offers more substance to the visit, but even without it the fort is an experience to enjoy.
Written 15 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melanie S
Sydney, Australia46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
Newcastle's Fort Scratchley has been on the headland since the 1880's so has a rich history. You can explore the buildings on site, read about the attack on Newcastle by a Japanese submarine during World War II and how Fort Scratchley defended the city, or take a walking tour of the tunnels. There are spectacular views over Nobby's Beach, Stockton and Stockton Beach and the Hunter River. There is a bit of walking up small hills involved but mostly easy access. Well worth a visit.
Written 4 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RayWatson
Brisbane, Australia194 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
Rich in history. This is a must see when in Newcastle. We walked through all of the buildings and then were lucky to be there when the firing of the cannon happened at 1pm. Really wonderful and done with real heart. The gentleman who performed the ceremony were so passionate about their "job", I was very impressed. Not sure they get paid for their work. it seems more a passion of love. The whole site is set up very well. We could have easily spent more time here. Entry was by donation, however you can pay for a tour of the tunnel. Enjoy -
Written 3 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

margaretclincoln
Lincoln, UK929 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
We visited the fort as part of a day trip to Newcastle. The fort itself was interesting and the guided tour, which lasted 1.5 hrs was well worth the small cost. A volunteer led site which always shows people's passion for their hobby. It was a bit blowy on top of the gun emplacement but you got really good views all around from the top.The only small criticism, hence only 4 stars, was the misleading web-site, which advertised a cafe for food etc but this was non existant on arrival and lunch was a packet of crisps and a choc bar. Perhaps this needs to be addressed? All in all though a good half day out.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen P
Greater Sydney, Australia226 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
A great way to spend 30-60 minutes, looking around this old historic fort high on the hill.
Right above Nobby Beach.
Entry is free (although they ask for a gold coin donation) and there is parking right nearby.
You can do guided tours including the tunnels, but you have to pay extra for that.
There is no cafe but there are public toilets
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark B
Sutherland Shire, Australia23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
We were greeted at the gate Roger who was happy and ready with all the information we needed for our day. We walked around the displays which were in various stages of being up graded.
Roger then took us into a display about radio/telegraph communications and a great talk on Morse code and its use in the Australian Army from his personal experience serving in Vietnam. We then went on the tunnel tour which again was lead by Roger. This had our 9 year old enthralled for the 70 minutes. Then to finish off the day we watched the 1pm firing of the signal canon.
Well worth the trip. Walking around the fort is free. There is a cost for the tunnel tour but it is well worth it and goes back to the historical society.
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Fort Scratchley - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

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