Nobbys Beach sits at the northern tip of Newcastle's urban beach chain, backed by the grassy slope leading up to the lighthouse on Nobbys Head. It is the most sheltered of the city's beaches — tucked inside the harbour breakwater — and tends to be calmer than the ocean beaches to the south, making it a good option for families. The view back across the beach to the city centre and the Stockton sand dunes across the harbour entrance is the classic Newcastle image.
The walk up to Nobbys Lighthouse from the beach takes about ten minutes and gives panoramic views over the harbour, the river mouth, and the ocean. The lighthouse itself dates from 1858, though the current structure replaced an earlier one. Below the headland, the harbour wall at Customs House Hotel is a gathering point on summer evenings.