General Facts about Northern Natal

Medical

Newcastle has two government hospitals, Newcastle Provincial Hospital and Madadeni Hospital There is also a small (90-bed) private hospital. There are also several clinics and specialist physicians, in almost every field. In addition, there is a large retirement centre, with care facilities for the frail.

Lifestyle

Newcastle has always offered, to entrepreneurs, an opportunity to spread their wings and to residents, an unmatched lifestyle and recreational facilities, in a secure and family-orientated environment.

The surrounding countryside offers superb opportunities for outdoor adventures such as hiking, 4x4 trails, mountain biking and fishing. The area also boasts a modern indoor gym complex, public swimming pools, two golf courses, bowling clubs and several scuba-diving clubs, to mention just a few of the available facilities. In addition, Newcastle is home to one of the province's most attractive night clubs, Club Escape, which offers unrivalled entertainment and regularly hosts famous South African disc jockeys and artists. It is also now the proud home of the 100 million rand Century Casino, Spa & Hotel, which provides entertainment for the whole family, and houses an entertainment area for children, a sports bar and various restaurants.

A library is situated in the centre of the town, with satellite libraries in surrounding areas. Over the past decade, the town has grown from strength to strength and today all the major chain stores, banking and financial institutions are represented in Newcastle. The development of three new major shopping complexes and the upgrading of existing ones, indicate the increase in local confidence, spending power and economic growth.

Sport

Newcastle also boasts one of the region's leading angling clubs, namely the Challengers Angling Club. The club is at the forefront of the Natal Freshwater Angling Association and promotes various facets of the sport. An annual angling competition is held, to assist local charities. The Club does not have any policies of bias and serves the entire community and not a closed sector.

Newcastle used to have two rugby clubs, but these merged to form one club, the Newcastle Highlanders Rugby Club. During the season of 2007, all four teams finished in the top three positions of their respective leagues.

Places of Interest

These include the Carnegie Art Gallery, where major South African artists are represented, Fort Amiel Museum, which is a typical Victorian frontier fort and is now a museum, the Armoury, a unique Hindu temple, Club Espace, and the Century Casino, Spa & Hotel.