Newcastle is a city in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, situated along the N11 National Route between the towns of Volksrust and uMnambithi (formerly known as Ladysmith).
Set at the foothills of the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains, Newcastle is located in the northwest corner of the province along the Ncandu River. It was from this corner of Natal that General Colley led the British forces to their final defeat at the Battle of Majuba in 1881.
Newcastle is the main town and administrative centre/seat of both the Newcastle Local Municipality and the Amajuba District Municipality.
Situated at the intersection of the N11 National Highway and R34 Provincial Route, Newcastle is the third-largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal province and is located inland, about 340 km north-west of Durban en route to Gauteng. It is also the province’s major industrial centre with four industrial areas.
The landscape surrounding the city is beautiful with views over the Cathedral Peak area and Lost Valley. Coal was discovered in Newcastle in the early 19th century, and in 1920, the province’s first steel plant was built in the city.
Newcastle is South Africa’s 15th-largest city and consists of 34 wards.
At the junction of three provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Mpumalanga), Newcastle is a natural destination and departure point for travelers on the busy route between Durban and Johannesburg, although the major road now the N3 highway, no longer passes through here, the settlement was originally established at a fork in the road, one route going to what is now the Free State and the other to what is now Gauteng.
Newcastle has a thriving commercial centre, an art gallery, and township tours, as well as a wide range of accommodation. Leaving the town behind, an easy ten-minute drive in any direction takes visitors into scenic mountain countryside. With plenty of fine weather, fresh air, rolling hills, and fresh streams and dams, Newcastle is not short of things to do. The hills around Newcastle abound with opportunities for the adventurous traveller, and there are several hiking, horse, and 4 x 4 trails in the area.
